The purpose of today’s fun little game is to pause over a quote and somehow apply it to ourselves. You are free to comment boldly or simply go about your day thinking about our musing moment quietly. Whatever works for you!

Ready? Let’s get to it!

The Quote:

I am something of a recluse by nature. I am that cordless screwdriver that has to charge for twenty hours to earn ten minutes use.

Feel free to link up or comment with what you’ve been loving, learning and listening to as of late. Details can be found here.

***

Lately I’ve been asking the Lord.

Lately I’ve felt, in the words of Winston Churchill, this is perhaps “the end of the beginning”.

Lately I’ve been really tired.

Lately I’ve been really busy.

Lately adventure has been calling my name.

Lately I’ve longed for people in my life who are true.

Lately late night walks and hot tea have been comforting.

Lately I’ve had such fun with my guy.

Lately I’ve been making my way through The Voice. And loving it.

And I’ve been wondering, what have you been up to as of late?

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.

He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”

Matthew 5:6, The Message

My husband Eric & I had planned a romantic dinner a few months ago. It was a weekend, so we weren’t in a rush to get things done. Eric was roasting a chicken and put it into the oven a little later than normal – we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited for it get done.

We kept waiting until we realized somewhere along the lines the oven that was once on was now off.

We’re still not sure how that happened but we didn’t notice it until the chicken was cold. Basically after two hours we had a half cooked bird.

So, we decided to throw it out and go pick something up.

I’m not sure what we were thinking but we tied it up in a bag to throw it out and left it next to the garbage can.

When we came home, our puppy,  whose name happens to be Humphrey Bogart, looked drunk with chicken love. He had eaten through the plastic bag, and the bottom of the chicken. His face was a mess, he literally was sluggish from the overstuffed stomach he had. It was like Thanksgiving canine style. He could barely move from the weight of his feast!

Finish reading this devo at the Internet Cafe!

The Quote:

“Who can map out the various forces at play in one soul? Man is a great depth, O Lord. The hairs of his head are easier by far to count than his feeling, the movements of his heart.”
-Saint Augustine

The Question:

What is one thing that moves in your heart today?

The Quote:

Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.

The Question:

To be able to say ‘yes’ to the best, what do you need to say ‘no’ to? Anything you can say ‘no’ to this week to free yourself up?

]]> http://exemplifyonline.com/editor/monday-morning-musing-no-yes/feed/ 8 http://exemplifyonline.com/editor/as-of-late-august-15-2010/ http://exemplifyonline.com/editor/as-of-late-august-15-2010/#comments Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:11:29 +0000 Kristen http://exemplifyonline.com/editor/?p=3492

Lately I’ve been asking the Lord, “Who is like You?”

Lately I’ve been enjoying home.

Lately the Lord has been urging me to speak what has been given to me.

Lately rhythms and melodies and lyrics have stopped me in my tracks as I revel in their beauty.

Lately I’ve laughed joyfully in spite of deep struggle.

Lately inspiration has been blowing like a gentle breeze.

Lately a friendship has bloomed and blossomed into something more than I could have prayed for.

Lately it seems the temporary aims to steal the eternal.

Lately heritage has meant the world to me.

Lately I’ve remembered 140 characters do not sum up a heart, but a life lived out loud does.

And I’ve been wondering, what have you been up to as of late?

Feel free to link up or comment with what you’ve been loving, learning and listening to as of late.  Details can be found here.

Today we’re musing a quote by one of my all. time. favorites.

The Quote:

“I have had prayers answered – most strangely so sometimes – but I think our Heavenly Father’s loving-kindness has been even more evident in what He has refused me.”

-Lewis Carroll

The Question:

Can you think of a time the Lord, in His loving-kindness, refused you something? Looking back, what are your thoughts on the thing you wanted so? Have you thanked the Lord for withholding whatever it was?

I haven’t felt much like writing lately. I’m in the middle of a horrible few months, honestly, and I often process things by embracing quiet. Plus I’ve been on a work vacation that was much needed!

Ever have one of those years that you wish would just fly away already? That would be how I feel about 2010.

I hope you will stick with me! I know I just returned and I haven’t been a good blogging friend.

I have some plans in the works for this place as we head into the next season.

Hopefully you’ll love them and want hang out at my virtual home!

Until then, feel free to browse the archives, stop by on Mondays for some musing and check me out at the Internet Cafe.

With love,

Kristen

The quote:

“And I think that’s what our world is desperately in need of – lovers, people who are building deep, genuine relationships with fellow strugglers along the way, and who actually know the faces of the people behind the issues they are concerned about.”

—Shane Claiborne

The question:

Can you name the faces behind the issues you are concerned about? What kind of deep, genuine relationships are you building with fellow strugglers along the way?

I thought long and hard about my favorite summer recipe to share with you today. Really, my husband is the one who chose for me. He LOVES when I make my Summer Grapefruit Granita.

Since it is refreshing and easy, I knew it was the one to share.

Did I mention refreshing?

And easy?

Okay. Good.

Here are the basics:

What You Will Need

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (Although dried mint works too, I’ve done it before when I didn’t have fresh leaves on hand.)
• 2 cups fresh grapefruit juice  - roughly 3 medium grapefruits (I’ve also experimented with other citrusy fruits. They are all delicious! So, if you feel creative, go for it. Grapefruit is my favorite option though.)
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice -roughly 2 lemons

What You Will Do

1. In a small saucepan, bring sugar, mint, and 1/2 cup water to a boil over medium-high. Stir often, until sugar dissolves.
2. In a blender, combine fruit juices and mint syrup and puree on high to combine for 30-ish seconds. Pour mixture into a shallow, shallow, shallow baking dish.
3. Freeze until solid.
4. With a fork (or if you are like me, a hammer!), break granita into large chunks. Transfer to a food processor/blender and pulse until little delicious crystals form.
5. Serve deliciousness to your loves.
6. Serve to yourself. Since we all know, no one else is going to do it!
7. Kick back and relax.
8. Peruse your favorite magazine. May I suggest this one?

*Adapted from a recipe I ripped out of an Everyday Food during a long and boring winter day. Grapefruit names have been changed to protect the innocent. Oh, I kid. I kid.

Head on over to the fabulous Critty Joy to get cooking!