Easter: The Same, But different

Our Easter was both the same and different this year. 

What was the same:

• We celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What was different:

• We heard a total of three sermons--one by Stephen's brother, Michael, who is pastor of First Baptist Church, Marshall, Missouri; one by Joel Taylor, pastor of our church, Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino; and one by Julio Contreras, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva, San Salvador.
• We wore comfortable clothes--not a thing new or dressy--all day and took a 2-mile walk.
• We had a "big Easter lunch" by ourselves. I roasted a whole chicken with potatoes, onions, carrots and celery.
• We watched our grandchildren  (from a safe distance) hunt Easter eggs in their yard.

Church in the Time of COVID-19

On Sunday morning we "go" to the 8:30 service at Peninsula Bible Church as we sit on the couch in our living room.  Our church, like many others, reacted quickly to get on board with the new reality.  This week we celebrated the Lord's Supper with our fellow church members and were reminded that "doing this in remembrance of his broken body and spilled blood" can take place in whatever situation we find ourselves.  

Our weekly Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) small groups are held on Zoom calls, and we watch the BSF recorded lecture on the BSF.org website. Our small group has not met during the month of March.  

It takes an effort to stay connected to people during this time, but it can be done through face-to-face sharing apps, regular phone calls, emails, texts or even by going "old-school" and writing letters or notes.  

What's even more important than staying connected to people is staying connected to the Father.  He's always there and easily found through his Word and prayer. He is not surprised by current events or our individual circumstances. He is faithful. He is and always will be in control of his creation.

How then shall we stay well?

These good questions help us focus on the fact that WELLNESS is more than just physical health.  Wellness takes the big picture into account; it includes spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health.  

Spiritually--I'm so glad that my Bible Study Fellowship class is still meeting every Tuesday morning.  It gives me the opportunity to connect with my Christian sisters and take some time to focus on the Word which is the source of all truth. 

Mentally--Since I love to read, I'm finding that I'm not feeling guilty for spending my quarantine time with my nose in a book!  It's easy to relax when I read because I can set aside the present and connect with the story. 

Emotionally--I'm connecting with family by phone/video as often as I can--probably more than I did when I was "really" busy.  I have to admit it's been a challenge not to spend time with the four grandkids, especially Little M as he doesn't really understand.

Physically--I'm getting my 2+ mile walk in on most days; cooking healthy food (no eating out), taking vitamins and supplements and generally staying "oiled" up. Of course, we're under a mandatory shelter in place here in California. It's Day 18 of 48, but I know that these restrictions protect us which speaks to my physical health.  Here's an interesting article that dives into the use of Nutraceuticals to Combat COVID 19.  It's a balanced look from a blogger I follow who has a doctorate in pharmacy.  

Drive-by Visits

We are on Day 9 of 21 (or more) of Shelter in Place here in California.  We're pretty much staying in the house unless I walk or Stephen runs.  Daniel has been doing our grocery shopping for us . . . . drops our order off on the back patio. We sure are missing the grandkids.  While video is better than nothing, it's just barely better!  

We've been in our car twice in the last 11 days. The most recent car trip was for a "drive-by visit" to see the grandkids.  It works like this....we drive over, park on the sidewalk in front of the house, stay in the car and they come out to the front yard and talk to us.  Everybody maintains the six feet distance needed to comply with the rules.  Actually, Daniel said he heard the term "distant socializing" and we all think it may make more sense than the other way around.  This is our reality until things settle down and get back to a new normal.


As I mentioned a few posts ago, we were lucky enough to get together for family pictures before the crisis really hit. Here's a look at another great shot from our photography session.  You can see just what we're missing, right?  

Shelter in Place Has Started

As a former teacher and school district employee I am familiar with the terminology "shelter in place."  We used it with schools and students when it was necessary to lock down the school in response to some type of threat, i.e. weather, police activity in the neighborhood, etc.  

As an individual, I now have personal experience with the terminology "shelter in place" because that's the latest requirement here in Santa Clara County.  For those over 65, the recommendation came out last week.  Today our county is part of a larger group of counties/cities in the Bay Area that are requiring this for everyone, not just seniors, as they try to slow down the spread of COVID19.  Here's the order if you want to read all the details.

Yesterday, I "went" online to watch services at two different churches.  At 8:30 Stephen and joined our home church, Peninsula Bible Church, in their very first live streaming service.  Pastor Brian departed from his series on Jacob and taught Psalm 23.  At 10:00, I joined Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva's Facebook Live service.  Pastor Steve and Pastor Julio taught from Psalm 91.  

In the midst of all of this confusion, information, misinformation, fear, we are looking for peace.  

Here is where we find it!  Ask God and He will give you peace in the midst of trouble.

This is my why!

I've been trying to get family pictures scheduled for more than a year; last Saturday we finally got everyone together.  We got a "teaser" proof and are really looking forward to seeing all of the photos. 

Given what's going on all around us, there's really no way for me to separate the parts of my life into the three categories of Jesus, Grandkids (family) and Wellness.  In fact, they have always been interrelated.  

First, God has given me the gift of salvation through belief in Jesus, his only Son.  This is the foundation of my life.

Second, I have been immeasurably blessed with family--from my parents/siblings, to my husband, to my sons, daughter-in-law and then to my grandchildren.  

Third, these things are the "why" behind my pursuit of wellness.  I want to be well to serve my Savior and to be able to spend time with my family. 

So here we are living in Santa Clara County, which happens to be the California county with the most COVID19 cases.  We're staying at home for a couple of reasons--almost all of our activities have been canceled or have gone "online" (BSF, church) and we are both "high-risk" based upon age group.  We are being prudent about the things we do and where we go. We are also consciously working to keep our immune system strong.  I have my diffusers running with Thieves oil, using Thieves fruit and veggie wash for all produce, Thieves cleaner for all surfaces and Thieves hand sanitizer at front/back door and in the car.  We're taking Inner Defense tablets, chewable ImmuPro tablets, extra Vit. C, liberally using Thieves Roll-on and being sure we get our daily dose of Ningxia Red. I have a supply of essential oils that provide respiratory support (Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Peppermint, Raven and more.)

On the other hand, we're not stockpiling toilet paper, rubber gloves or masks.  We are not in panic mode, but rather are trusting our gracious, loving Heavenly Father and his plan for us, all of his children and His world.

Grandkids and BSF

All four of our grandkids are part of Bible Study Fellowship. The two youngest go to the Tuesday morning BSF Pre-School Program while their mom and I are in our small groups and lecture. 

The two oldest go to the Tuesday evening BSF Children's Program with their dad and grandpa.

Tuesday Bible Study Fellowship is a family affair!  I encourage you to find and participate in a BSF study . . . . nothing can changes us like time in His Word.

Not in Part, But the Whole

I'm so honored that my quilts are on display for the February-April "Art in the Auditorium" series at our church (Peninsula Bible Church.)

About the title:  In mid-January, I was trying to come up with an appropriate title, but nothing seemed right.  The last Sunday in the month we sang the hymn “It Is Well With my Soul,” at church.  As we sang the third verse, I felt like the Lord was giving me the name for the exhibit.  

“My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought? My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!” 

The quilts are made up of many small parts/pieces, but it is the whole that tells an individual story.  Beyond that, the ten quilts tell the bigger story of God's faithfulness throughout my life.  Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Soap Designers!

I hosted six friends who became "soap designers" at my house this morning.  They were all new to the process of using melt and pour soap base to create their very own soaps. When you make things for yourself you are in charge of the ingredients and the process so you know exactly what's in your soap.  

We started by talking briefly about the history of soap. 

• No one knows when soap was discovered, but there is a legend that after animal sacrifices, rain would wash animal fat and ash that collected under the ceremonial altars, down to the banks of the river. Women washing clothes in the river after heavy rains noticed their clothes were much cleaner. 
• By the 1500s and the reign of Queen Elizabeth soap consumption in England was greater than in any other European country. Evidently, the Queen took a bath every four weeks "whether it was necessary or not.“ 😲
• Bathing came into fashion in the late 1700s resulting in the need for soap.  
• In the 19th century, Louis Pasteur proclaimed that good personal hygiene would reduce the spread of diseases which helped increase the demand for soap.  

Our process of designing soap started with answering the who, what, why, where, how questions.  I want my soaps to be free from chemicals and other irritants.  So I introduced them to my Young Living essential oils. In soap, essential oils are used for adding fragrance and for their therapeutic properties.  Here are the oils we used:

ESSENTIAL OILS  FOR FRAGRANCE

CITRUS OILS

Lemon— Smells like “clean”.

Lime-- The uplifting fragrance of this oil will make you happy! 

FLOWER OILS

Geranium—calming, flowery scent

Lavender—one of the best-known flower fragrances used in soaps, lotions, etc. 

HERBS/PLANTS

Patchouli—musky scent makes it popular in soaps and perfumes.

Peppermint A great way to wake up; fresh, invigorating smell. 

TREES

Fir—warm woodsy, outdoor smell

Pine—refreshing, invigorating smell, first investigated by Hippocrates

ESSENTIAL OIL THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES

ANTIBACTERIAL

Lavender--Helps to shrink pores and balance oil production, lessens dry skin, is calming and relaxing, promoting a good night’s sleep

Peppermint—Medicinal oil from Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Reduces itching, skin irritations. 

ANTIOXIDANT

Frankincense—an ancient oil and one of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus. It visibly improves the appearance of skin, helps with wrinkles, scars, and sun/age spots.  Perfect for daily facial care.

Thyme—reduces free radicals with cleansing and purifying effects for the skin

ANTISEPTIC

Cedarwood-- This oil has antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties.  Soothes irritated skin, redness and itchiness , and dryness that leads to cracking.  Great for balancing oil on skin. 

Tea Tree—germ fighting properties for bacterial and fungal skin conditions. Natural hand sanitizer

ASTRINGENT

Grapefruit—naturally reduces excess oil and tightens skin

Lemon—used to treat acne, eliminate excessive grease from skin and hair, good for skin toning

We had lots of fun silicone molds to choose from and they were all so creative . . . . here are some of the pictures:

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Swimmers, Take Your Mark

We became a swimming family in the summer of 1987 when Daniel joined the Lakewood Cruisers summer swim team.  By winter of 1988, he was swimming year-round with the Kansas City Blazers.  A few years later, Jon joined the Blazers, as well.  We traveled to meets around the state and out-of-state and could tell you what the pool was like in Oklahoma City, Wichita, and various other cities, but not much else about those towns.  Swim meets dominated our weekends.  They both swam in high school, too, and we loved watching them compete.  Time spent at swim meets ended when Jon graduated in 2000.

Not only was Daniel and swimmer, but my daughter-in-law comes from a family of swimmers, as well. All of them swam from the time they were little, with two of her brothers swimming in college--one for Stanford and one for Cal Berkeley.  So, we've come full circle and have been fortunate enough to go to meets with M and J who are part of the DACA swim family.  It's taken a little time to get used to the fact that no matter what time of year it is, all of the meets are outdoors. 

Swimming is great exercise and requires so much individual discipline. It's a "team" sport only to the extent that the points earned by the individual swimmers are credited to their team.  The swimmer, however, is all alone in his/her lane with very little awareness of his/her competition.  

We're happy to be back at poolside watching the next generation of Parris swimmers.

A Song for Blind Bartimaeus

We sang a new song at church on Sunday.  It was written by our assistant worship leader, Kady Taylor and several others, during and for the women's retreat several weekends ago.  She told the congregation that in reading the account of Jesus healing Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10, she pictured what it must have been like for him to receive his sight.  She challenged us to imagine what it would be like for Jesus' face to be the very first thing we ever saw.  Beyond that, we need to strive for Jesus' face to be the first thing we see each day.  

Here's the link to her beautiful song, Behold.

Nobody likes a fishy taste

My PCP had been quite happy with my cholesterol over the past several years . . . . that is until my recent annual physical. My lipid panel results did not please her or me.

So at her insistence (for good reason) I am on a journey to lower my overall cholesterol and triglycerides while raising my good cholesterol. She suggested diet changes, more exercise and fish oil supplements for 3 months and then repeating the lipid panel.  If the numbers aren't to her liking then she told me she will want to prescribe a statin drug.  

I DO NOT WANT to take a statin!  So, here's what my "lowering cholesterol naturally" regimen looks like:

• Less bad fat in my diet--basically goodbye butter and sweets
• Brisk 30-minute walk 4-5 times per week. Trying to get in 7500 to 10000 steps per day.
• Omegagize3 tablets which have three core daily supplements-omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D-3, and CoQ10 (ubiquinone.) The fish oil is harvested from small cold-water fish such as anchovy, mackerel, and sardine which have a higher amount of Omega-3’s and a lower level of contaminants.  PLUS it's enteric coated which minimizes the terrible fishy taste of most fish oil supplements and also reduces the chance of rancidity due to oxidation.

                           

 

• Diffusing and topically applying Young Living essential oils that support healthy cholesterol levels. I use lemongrass, clove and bergamot.  

Stay tuned for the results in mid-April!

Baby (Family) Dedication

We had the privilege to be at Peninsula Bible Church (two Sundays ago) when Daniel and Shannon had the baby/family dedication for Little M.  

It was a sweet time of prayer for the whole family and for the congregation who promises to show our precious grandson who Jesus is.

He was so cute reaching out for the Bible that Pastor Bernard presented!  He definitely understood that it was his!  

Hard Questions to Answer

My goodness, Tim Keller knows how to ask the hard questions!  As I mentioned earlier, our small group is studying the book Gospel in Life.  Stephen and I did the homework before small group last week.  You know when you start underlining the good stuff and then realize you're underlining the whole page/chapter?  That's the way it was with this section entitled, "Three Ways to Live." He started with a chart that contrasted eight differences between "religion" and the "gospel," and, I have to admit that several of them were very convicting.  Look at two examples:

EXAMPLE 1:

RELIGION--"My prayer life consists largely of petitions, and it only heats up when I am in a time of need." 

GOSPEL--"My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration.  My main purpose is fellowship with God."

EXAMPLE 2:

RELIGION--"When I am criticized, I am furious or devastated, because it is critical that I think of myself as a 'good person.'"

GOSPEL--When I am criticized, I struggle, but it is not essential for me to think of myself as a 'good person.' My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God's love for me in Christ."

He concluded with this question--Look at the table and circle anything that is true of your own heart.  Is there anything you would like to change?

Being honest with myself and with God is not easy!  It shouldn't be so hard, though, because God already knows my thoughts, motives, desires and my heart.  

Gratitude, Wellness and Valentine's Day

Wikipedia is an expert on gratitude:

"Grateful people are happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships. A large body of recent work has suggested that people who are more grateful have higher levels of well-being. Grateful people also have higher levels of control of their environments, personal growth, purpose in life, and self-acceptance."

If gratitude is good for us then what better day than Valentine's Day to let those we love know we are grateful for them. It doesn't have to mean expensive flowers and giant boxes of chocolates, but it could if "receiving gifts" is your love language. 

Our Valentine's Day was a leisurely lunch out at one of our favorite places.  I'm grateful to have a faithful, loving and funny Valentine.  

Valentine's Day Fun

I can't believe I didn't take any pictures yesterday when the grandgirls were here.  We made a strawberry cake, waited it for it to cool, broke it up and adding frosting.  This was our "cake ball" batter, but instead of rolling them into balls, we pushed them into my silicone heart mold.  Once they were frozen, we dipped them in melted dark chocolate.  '

During the waiting we made Valentine cards and played Valentine Bingo.  It was a girls' day all around.

Gospel in Life

Since Stephen and I joined this small group a little over a year ago, we have focused on the discussion questions written about the previous Sunday's sermon.  The questions went beyond a restatement of what we learned or what the pastor said, and directed us to discuss how we could apply what we learned in our daily life.

Our small group did not meet in December but we are now back on track with our twice-monthly meetings.  We decided to change things up a bit and instead of continuing the sermon questions, we started a new video/book study of Timothy Keller's book, Gospel in Life.  We saw the introductory video last week which stated that:  

The eight-session course focuses on the gospel and how to live it out in all of life--first in our hearts, then in community, and ultimatley out into the world.  

There are a few discussion questions at the end of each video session. The group found them to be thought-provoking.  Here are a couple of them:  

• It is often said that Christians today have little impact on the world around them. Is that a correct assessment?  Why? What prevents us from becoming more engaged in the world around us?
• In what specific ways can you and your group seek to serve and love the place where you live?  What can you do to become genuinely interested in its peace and prosperity? 

The questions are going to challenge our status quo and I'm praying that we will be honest with ourselves and with each other.  In order to prepare for the next session, we will have Therehomework (home study) each week. The study should take us through May, the end of our small group year.  We find that summer schedules/travel/vacations make it difficult to meet June through August.

An Appliance Love Story--My Instant Pot and Me

I got a 6-qt Instant Pot for Christmas either 3 or 4 years ago--can't really remember.  I do remember packing it in a suitcase and taking it to El Salvador after the holiday.  At that time, I wasn't sure if I'd like it or use it, but today I can say without reservation that I absolutely love my Instant Pot!

My first IP success came in El Salvador when I realized I could hard boil eggs with just a cup of water.  Since I didn't use tap water to boil eggs, the IP method saved us gallons of filtered water, not to mention that they were cooked perfectly and peeling was a snap.

Yogurt was a staple in my frig in ES, but it was impossible to find fat-free yogurt and almost impossible to find low-fat free yogurt there. (It's quite the reverse now that we're back in the states.)  The answer was to use my IP to make yogurt.  It was always available and tasted great.

Obviously, they're not for everyone.  For me, it strikes the perfect balance between cooking something all day long in the crockpot and rushing to throw something together for dinner at the last minute.  I encourage you to invest in one!  I have 173 recipes I would be happy to share, if you're interested--everything from classics (hard and soft boiled eggs, yogurt) to soups (Olive Garden minestrone, beef stew, tortilla soup) to main dishes (pulled pork, country ribs, meatloaf, lasagna, roast) to side dishes (risotto, potato salad, corn on the cob) to desserts (cheesecake, chocolate lava cake, flan) and more!

Legos Take Over

Daniel loved building Lego sets, but he never wanted to tear them down and build anything else.  His childhood room was filled with all kinds of sets and, yes, they collected dust. When we moved, we decided that it was time to break down the sets. He wanted the sets preserved, so they were broken down individually and placed in a ziplock bag with the original instructions.  We had no idea how difficult and time consuming it would be. I'm pretty sure we paid a friend's kid to do the hard work.

Fast forward to today and you'll find Legos taking over our dining room table on Tuesday afternoons. Stephen and J are almost always working on building a set from Daniel's collection.  Yesterday they got started on the historic Red Baron.  

When they finish, this plane will join the Sopwith Camel that hangs from the ceiling in J's room.

Lego fun for three generations!

Are you a candle or a brush fire?

A friend was telling me about the sermon her pastor preached yesterday.  It was called, "Enduring to Mature."  In Romans 5:3-4, Paul wrote about the beautiful progression that comes when we glory in tribulations.  In growing through trials we are able to persevere; in persevering we build character; and building a strong character produces hope. 

He asked this question, "Are you a candle or a brush fire?"  When the strong winds of trial come against you do they blow out your candle and cause you to plunge into the darkness and give up?  Or do they fan the flames and cause you to burn bigger and brighter than ever?

It's our choice . . . . choose to believe James 1:2-3

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

What do I fix for dinner?

In an earlier blog post, I talked about how we are making changes in our diet. Obviously, it is a process, not a destination.  

For me, it all starts with menu planning. I looked at several different types of planners, but couldn't find one that fit all my needs, so I created my own. I've been using it for over a year and really like the fact that it gives me a set structure. It's easier for me to resist going out to eat if I have done a menu plan and have shopped for it. I always fill it out in pencil as I doubt the meals for the week ever end up exactly as written/predicted. I created a column for each mealtime, but rarely fill-in breakfast. As you can see there's a column for Notes (I remind myself when I need to thaw something) and then a column for my grocery list.  

Another thing that is a plus for me is that I like change. In fact, I get really bored eating and making the same things all the time, so I'm always looking for new things. I use Feedly to follow a variety of food bloggers so I've got lots of "new" things to chose from. I follow some whose recipes are "healthy/clean/," some who focus on specific cooking methods (crockpot/Instant Pot) or categories of food (vegetarian/baking) and others that have a mix of everything. In any event, I always review the ingredients and nutritional information, if provided, and make changes based upon our tastes (nothing too spicy), cost of ingredients and fat/sugar content. 

You'll also see a few non-food-related blogs, but that's a story for another day. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Nicole at PreventionRD.com
• Gina at Skinnytaste.com
• Kate and CookieandKate.com
• Sonja and Alex at ACoupleCooks.com
• Karen at 365daysofcrockpot.com

I use CopyMeThat to save my recipes which allows me to add website recipes with just a couple of clicks. It also allows me to add in my own recipes so all of our "old favorites" are in there, as well. I've been told that the app is no longer available on the Apple store (trying to work out an issue with copyright), but I use it on my Android (still available on Google Play Store) and there is still a PC version. It has more features than I use, but I'm very happy with the ease of use. The picture may be too small, but it shows that I have over 1400 recipes! One of my favorite things is that you can give each recipe a star rating and indicate whether you've made it or not.

So, you ask, what have we been eating lately? Here's a couple of pictures from the last week or so. I'm NOT a food blogger so the pictures aren't anything special!  

Crustless Asparagus Quiche and Spinach Salad

Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya with Slaw

Chicken Lo Mein

Happy to help with recipes and links if you want more. Healthy eating is a great way to "get your wellness on."