How can I worry about the future when I have so many inexplicably beautiful creations around me?

How can I have any regrets about what I’ve done or haven’t done in my past when I know there is an ocean of grace, waiting for me to take the plunge below its waves. 

I want to know the depths of the oceans.  The mysteries just beneath.  The possibilities, the discoveries that are still left to unveil.

The Cross was gruesome, bloody, sweaty, and so much more. It was revolting. Think of the smell. Think of the pained look on his face, on the men’s faces next to him.  

He chose this.  He went willingly. Endured more pain and suffering than anyone could imagine, in order to save people who weren’t even born yet, people who mocked him, spit on him, laughed at him. 

His father chose it for him, knowing that he would come through it more beautiful and glorious afterwards. 

And it was predicted long ago.

Isaiah 53 says: 

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Remember the cross for what it was today, a brutal reminder of what we should have endured, but no longer have to. 

A beautiful reminder of love. 

I think there is something significant about Good Friday and Easter occurring so close to the equinox.  The start of a new season of life, whether it’s spring up here of fall down there. Knowing that change is coming.  

This song has been my anthem for the past 5 months.

I’m desperate.

(pause my player at the bottom of my blog if you wanna listen :) )

It’s been an interesting, fulfilling, breathtaking 4 months.  

Ireland, first Christmases, puppies, MRIs, plane and bus rides, excel worksheets after excel worksheets, job applications and trusting God with all we have.

Who knows where we will be in May, after we’ve spent the time and energy these past 4 years building up resumes and building a home together, after we’ve put on our caps and gowns and walked across the football stadium, after we’ve packed up our first house, all our gifts and pictures, pots and pans, endless coffee cups, the heavy tv, the old couch, the cat and dog.  We could be packing our things into a few cars to simply move one town over.  We could be packing those boxes into a Penske truck, and unpack it at our next house across the country.

All I know is I trust a God that has always provided for me, and continues to surprise me in the most amazing ways.  Like a surprise check that comes in the mail and just happens to cover the costs of a procedure I didn’t know I needed until the day after. 

He sees everything.

So I keep on getting up early to take our new puppy out.  I keep making graph after graph and manipulate so many tiny details to figure out some big picture on a subject I’m not so sure about.  I keep on driving to pick up the man of my dreams after a weekend where he has worked so hard and all I can do is smile because I am so overwhelmed with how hard he works for God.  I keep on studying for my last semester of classes.  

And I try not to think too much about the blurry, vague, every changing scene of our lives together after we hang up our caps and gowns for good.

Because we are in the transition, and we are so ready to risk it all to be caught up in grace. 

First Food Blog Post! 

Nutella Pancakes

So I guess my blog will sortof be a food blog now too.  I mean, food is a huge part of my life…and this blog is about my life… so there ya go.

I recently got an AMAZING present from my husband for Christmas, a used Canon EOS 20D.  I’m in love.

So anyways, I’m not into these huge intro things for food blogs, they always kinda tick me off…  I just wanna get to the recipe ya know!?

So this morning, Tim was sick, and I wanted to make him breakfast.  I love serving him in this way, mainly because I love to cook, and I love to make him eat things.  Its a win win really.

Ingredients:

Kroger Pancake Mix  (1 cup for like 4 good pancakes)

Kroger Nutella (1 tbsp to the mix itself)

Butter for no sticking (duh). 

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We are all about Kroger brands in this house, mainly because we are poor, newly-wed college kids and you get loads of savings with Kroger on their brand-name stuff + gas when you shop there all the time. 

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Ok so… Directions:

Follow the measurements on the mix packaging (or whatever pancake mix you have with you for those of you who actually make homemade pancakes!).  Add either 1-2 tbs of nutella to the mix itself (although I’m not sure it actually makes a difference in the taste). 

The most IMPORTANT step is when you take your mix and add it to the warm, buttered pan (medium heat).  Wait until it starts to fluff up alittle and drizzle some nutella on the top.  The way I did this was I took a spoon and kindof mixed the nutella up in the jar so the juices all mixed, then pulled the spoon out so there was some hanging off of it.  Then I had fun making pretty swirly designs on the pancake with the nutella (see pic!).

Flip the pancake when it’s time, then add some more nutella on the other side.  This side won’t be as pretty as the other one though.

Once both sides are done cooking, flip the pancake back over to the prettier side for serving.

I like this because I like to think it’s healthier than just regular chocolate chip pancakes…and it gives you a chance to make some edible art. 

Next time I’ll probably add some sort of picture to the pancake.

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And there ya go!  I probably over-explained this a bit too much, but hey…I’m new to this whole food blog thing.

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Enjoy eating

Megan