SOUP OF THE DAY...

SWEET CORN CHOWDER WITH BACON!

Amazingly, this soup was really sweet with the fresh corn.  (Almost too sweet for me - may have to add more spice to cut it)  It was also fun to prepare.  I don't buy fresh corn very often, almost never, in fact! Just so much mess!  I do have fond memories of a day at my Grandpa's farm picking and shucking corn.  And being scared of the weird diseased/infested ears...and now I'm thinking, did I ever let my kids help me shuck fresh corn???  I'm wishing now maybe I had - would have been a fun experience.  Another unusual thing to me about this recipe is that you put the corn cobs back into the soup to simmer for a while, I guess to help develop the flavor.  

FORGIVE ME...

Forgive me, Lord

for wanting back my time

to do mindless tasks

All these tornado ravaged lives

would love a mindless moment

Forgive me, Lord

for wishing this was over

and my life was back to normal

All these victims

have to find their new normal

Forgive me, Lord

for impure motives

when the world is upside down

All these people

like little children

trying to turn things 

right side up

Just my thoughts this morning...I hadn't posted in a few days and this is what came out!  Blessings for your day and keep praying for Oklahoma tornado victims and relief work!

GENEROSITY...

is a lovely thing to get to witness!  Disasters somehow bring out the good in folks!  After working at an actual tornado ravaged mobile home park on Wednesday, I admit I was physically and emotionally spent.  (No, I won't tell the dead dog story again) I got a call from someone at the church asking me if I would consider working information/receiving/dispersing donations.  So that's what I've been doing lately and probably will for another week or so.  Hopefully all this craziness will slow down then!  

Pictures of GENEROSITY:

 Little ones happily bringing in donations

Mountains of water

 Just finished homemade quilts from a group of ladies in Burkburnett, TX

 Diapers for the babies

Supplies taking over the old auditorium

 A Kentucky church mailed us 3 large boxes of these drawstring bags 

full of hygiene items - love this idea

So many giving up their free time

ANOTHER WORLD, NAMED DISASTER...

Had some "Girl time" with my niece, but not spent in the world of fluff...it's cliche but the pictures do speak for themselves.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9

DONATIONS FOR DISASTERS: LESSONS LEARNED FROM MAY 3, 1999

Hello to all my blog buddies.  I woke up this morning and the weight of the disaster is on me and I'm 20 minutes away from it.  Wow, does OK need your prayers!  I'm probably not going to tell you anything new but I just feel the need to say something today and it's the only way I know to say:

HELP!!!

The tornado in Moore, OK was one of the biggest tornadoes ever.  Lives were lost, hundreds are now without homes and there is such tremendous property damage.  Cousins of mine that live down there are okay.  I am getting ready to go to work to help through my Disaster Relief team at church doing whatever we can do today.  

I actually went and worked at the Oakcrest Church of Christ in Moore, OK when we had the last big tornado there on May 3, 1999. This is what I saw and what I learned:  I saw a whole classroom full of stuffed animals.  Not new.  Clothing spread all over the auditorium, much of it without identifiable tags.  People trying to sort the various items by article, size, and gender.  Laundry baskets of dirty shoes.  It was not a pretty sight.  That place smelled to high heaven!  It was embarrassing, folks.  Don't take this opportunity to clean out your closets and old stuff!!!

Gift cards to Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Walgreens, and CVS are the best thing you can do besides making a monetary donation.  This was confirmed last night by a woman in our own congregation whose husband is our new Disaster Relief Coordinator.  They lost their home in Cashion to a tornado just two years ago.  She said, "People mean well, but it is really hard to get sizes right" (they have four children).  Please pray for Joe, our new DR Coordinator as he tackles this incredible task.  He has personal experience and contacts in the community so we can get started being the hands and feet of Jesus today.  

Here's a link to our church if you would like to help:  http://www.mrcc.org

THIS CALLS FOR A STRAWBERRY BANANA MILKSHAKE...

As soon as the tornadoes rolled through our area yesterday, people were out helping - always an awesome thing!  They missed us by a half-mile and thankfully the damage was mostly limited to trees.  The hubs got out with my son and some others from church to help do some Disaster Relief in the neighborhood next to us, while I stayed home, fielded phone calls, and picked strawberries.  Which became my hub's reward.

LITTLE BLESSINGS ARE NOT LITTLE!

 

Unfortunately the storm grew in strength and did some major damage east of us, so say a prayer for all those that are putting their lives back together today.  Have a great week and count your blessings!

SOUP OF THE WEEK...

SWEET ONION WITH BLUE CHEESE TOASTS!

We got another winner here!  If you are a fan of French Onion soup - you know the kind covered in cheese and croutons?  You'll like this one.  Balsamic Vinegar is one of my favorite things, and it's in it too.  It's delicious and easy to prepare.  The toasts are just a version of a crouton, and I made them with Laughing Cow cheese since it spreads so well.  A crowd came in just about dinner time and they all tried it even though they had already eaten.  The cheese toasts were a big hit and most of them enjoyed the soup too.