Dreams...

At lunch on Monday I was asked if I believe in dreams. Well, in a sense, of course. Everyone dreams while they sleep, and some even while they're awake :) But do I believe my dreams tell me of some things going to happen in my life? Not really. At least none of my dreams so far have seemed to forecast anything that will happen in my life...at least of significance. I dreamt one time I would be called into work on Friday, but it was Thursday that I was called in for :)

I know dreams can be a message from God and I don't doubt it; I'm sure most of us have heard of Joseph in the book of Genesis who had the ability to interpret dreams for others. The lady who asked if I believed in dreams says she will have the dream and then a while later when something happens, she wonders if she's re-living part of her life and realizes that she had a dream about it before.

Have you ever had that feeling of going through the same event twice only to realize one of those times was in your dreams recently?

Blessings in Christ,

What About Next Year...?

I have mentioned before how I feel led to teach. I still feel that way, but I do not feel led into going into (more) debt to reach the point of being able to teach in a school.

There are two programs that I have been looking into that could help me either fund my schooling or get around the paying for my education. One is a fellowship, which is pretty much like a scholarship, but this one provides extra above what tuition costs to help with bills because they do not care for participants to work while going to school. The other is the Teach for America program.

Both these programs I would be placed in a low-income school and expected to teach either for 3 years or 2 years, depending on the program. One program I can choose my licensure area, the other program they place me in my subject area as well as region.

I've been praying about it and feel led more towards the Teach for America program but that is a scary step. Of course there are rigorous application processes for both programs and I am leaning towards applying to both, but what if I get accepted to one? I know...I think five steps out. I think that is one reason why I haven't seriously applied for any engineering positions that would utilize the degree I earned.

I know God will give me the strength to get through everything He puts in my path, but will I have the strength to rely on Him? I don't know. I already am questioning that with just the "minor" things going on in my life right now.

There was a saying once, I don't know if it's true or not, it actually seems backwards to me, but that people tend to flock to God when they are experiencing hard times. I am the opposite of that. I can easily stay by His side when there are good times, but when I go through trials in my life, I often feel that He is not listening or helping me through those and so I go and try to take control of them. I know it's not right, but that's how I am. No matter how much I tell myself that I am going to leave it in His hands and what happens does and He will help me through it.

I just picked up a book at the Library today... Overcoming Negative Emotions: Gods's path to becoming a positive woman. I am half interested in it because we sell it at work and so then I can give my recommendation on the book, but also because I wonder if it can't help me. Someway. Somehow. Maybe?

Blessings in Christ,

Sweet & Spicy Pickles

My parents found "Famous Dave's Spicy Pickles" at a store and absolutely loved them. So I got asked to try to duplicate them. I found Emeril's recipe :) But I couldn't just let it be. I had to adjust it...of course!

If you like a little bit of spice, you will probably enjoy this recipe. Of course you can adjust the amount of heat that you put into the recipe so if you want it spicier, add more heat and if you want them less spicy, don't add as much!

Here goes:
16 pickling cucumbers
2 large onions
1/2 cup salt
Cold Water

Wash and slice the pickling cucumbers into 1/4" slices (do not peel the cucumbers...yes I made that mistake once)

Slice the onions

In a large bowl (or split between two) mix the cucumber slices and onion slices

Add the salt (or divide between the two)

Fill bowl so that the cucumbers are covered with cold water (the colder the better...if needed, add some ice cubes)

Set aside for 3 hours

Wash and sterilize 5 quart jars and lids (or 10 pint jars and lids) while you are waiting

After 3 hours, drain and rinse the cucumbers/onions for 5 minutes with cold water.
Pack into the jars leaving 1" head space at the top of the jar

The pickling juice:
4 cups white vinegar
2 cups apple cider vinegar
4 1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons yellow mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons whole black pepper corns
4-5 whole cloves
3 tablespoons roughly chopped garlic
20 chopped jalepenos (leave some seeds in for extra heat)

Combine everything in a pot, bring to a boil.

Pour hot liquid into each jar coming to 1/2" below the rim of the jar

Put lids and rings on each jar

Hot bath jars for 15 minutes in a large canner

After 15 minutes, remove from water if you have more to do, or if that is all, turn off the heat and allow to come to room temperature in the canner -- that seems to help the seals stay better sometimes.

Check your seals after the jars have cooled down to make sure they held. If they did not, either store pickles in the fridge or if it is within 24 hours, try the hot bath again.

Now the tough part...you're supposed to let the jars sit for 2 weeks before you break into them and try the pickles. My first batch...I didn't :) I waited 4 days and they tasted wonderful.

The only comment I have about this recipe is that the pickles get "tangy-ier" as they sit in the juice. I haven't figured out how to correct that yet, but other than that, I enjoyed the pickles and my parents did too.

Blessings in Christ,

I just want to feel pretty.

I feel so...blah...? With my hair pulled back all the time. Wearing long cape dresses constantly. No make up. No jewelry. I miss my "old life" sometimes. The past week has definately been one of those times.

I look at the girls who come through the restaurant where I work with their hair done, make-up on, jewlery and their pretty clothes and I wish I could wear that stuff again. I know I could...but I would not feel comfortable in it. Especially the pants. I like my skirts 98% of the time. The other 2% of the time, I do wish I had a pair of pants to just put on.

So I decided to take a "break" from my cape dresses. I am still dressing modestly, just with skirts and shirts for a little bit. I haven't started "doing" my hair...although I have been tempted.

Please tell me I am not alone in wanting to feel pretty. I feel like people judge me for wearing a cape dress and then they judge me for not wearing a cape dress. What am I to do? I am not convicted that cape dresses are the only modest clothing out there so I personally do not have a problem wearing my skirts. But I know some people will definately "have a cow" if they find out I am not wearing my cape dresses all the time...specifically the people at the church I am on-again-off-again attending.

If only I was content with how I am...that's what I pray for.

Blessings in Christ,

If they know God...

...they'll be happy.

We were in Sunday school discussing how you could tell is someone really truly knows God or is just putting on a front. Something that is extremely hard to do...determine what is in someone's heart. One girl said she didn't know that we could tell just by looking at someone, that it would be after knowing the person for a while whether you saw inconsistencies in their life between what they say and what they do. I tend to lean towards that thought. Another girl said she thought you could tell by if the person was happy, because a person who is happy truly knows God but if a person doesn't know God and the joy of God in their heart would not be happy.

Is that true? I know many people who are not Christians (unfortunately) and they appear to be extremely happy. Some people are just happy people. I also know some people who are Christians and they are not happy all the time. Does that mean that they are not true Christians? I don't think so. I think just like anyone, Christians go through the roller coaster of life, including all the emotions that everyone feels. It's just that most will rely on God when things get rough and so they don't seem to struggle as much through the difficult times in their life.

What do you think? How can you know if someone is truly a Christian and knows God or if they just claim to know Him?

Blessings in Christ,

Canning...again.

It's hard to believe that it's already August... It seems like just yesterday it was winter... With August comes the warmer temperatures...yes that's right. Where I am, August is typically the warmest month of the year. And also with August comes the start of canning.

This will only be my second year canning and in a way I'm dreading it, but also, I don't have as much to do as last year because we have a lot of green beans left from last year as well as tomatoes. We are going to be canning tomatoes again this year though because we have many-a tomato plants and my roommate wants to make her "mater mess". I call it a homemade ketchup, but she says it's not. All I know is it is not my favorite thing...she can have all that she makes! I will also be making pickles this year and getting rid of the ones that I made last year. I found a better recipe...one that I will post coming up soon. Other than the tomatoes and pickles I do not think we will have much to can and for that I am thankful.

Do you have a favorite canning recipe or even a recipe that uses the fresh fruits and vegetables that are coming up right now?

Blessings in Christ,

"Veils are fashionable"

Cory Anderson, the author of Beachyam.org, has written a book entitled "The Ornament of the Spirit". A book about different covering styles and how and why the styles changed over the years. I have not read this book yet, I hope to one day, but the lady at meal last Sunday had read it. This book started a discussion about veils being fashionable. I do not know if that was in the book or if it was her opinion, but anyway, it started a discussion about why women go away from kapps towards veils.

The lady also maintained that that reason is why veils should not be worn because pretty soon women would go away from the modest dress (meaning a cape dress) and then their veil would get smaller and smaller. This may be true for some women, but I told her I like to wear a veil because I feel it is more practical while I am cleaning and working. It is easier to wash, cheaper to make and easier to make than a kapp. Her response? That's what the women will say but really it's because it is more fashionable. Both my roommate and I pointed out to her that the Bible does not specify a shape, color or size to a woman's covering and she acknowledged that. If God had wanted us to wear a specific kind of covering, He would have inspired Paul to specify those things in scripture, but since He did not, I do not think God looks at the shape, size or color of a covering. He looks at a woman's heart.

IMHO, I do not think a veil causes a woman to trend towards anything immodest. There are plenty of churches around here that a woman will wear a cape dress all the while wearing a veil. I do not think wearing a veil changes a woman's heart, but rather a woman who wants to be more fashionable will trend towards veils. And that may be where the generalization comes from.

Blessings in Christ,