Why?

Why?

The most daunting question.

Beautiful people, precious children.

Lives have been lost - people hunting for survival.

Pain. Famine. Anger. Death. Darkness.

If you're anything like me, this horrific disaster in Haiti has taken your breath away. I stare at the images in disbelief. I wonder why. [Other than the logical reason of pressure in the earth causing plates to slide against one another.] Why do people have to die in such tragedy's? People who already have so little in a place where clean drinking water is difficult to find.

The answer is a difficult one. Even outside the great suffering in Haiti, there is pain in every corner of our world. If it's not an earthquake, it's raging fires, overpowering tsunami's, ravaging hurricanes and other natural disasters. Even closer to home it's murder, abuse, homelessness. Where in the world is hope?! Why would God allow this to happen?

On Monday, the day before this disaster struck in Haiti, my 8 year old and I happened to read some of the story of Job from the bible. We were talking about why God would allow so much pain to come into Job's life. He lost his entire livestock, his family and even his own body was covered in sores from head to toe. What draws my attention to this story more than God allowing this to happen, is Job's response. Job continued throughout each incident to trust in God. His hope and faith grew weaker through each tragedy (to the point of asking God to take his life). The Lord's response to Job (and his unwise friends) is truly unprecedented and packed full of God's character. This is just a small snapshot of what God says:

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Have you comprehended the vast expanse of the earth? Tell me if you know all this. What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind? Do you give the horse its strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread his wings toward the south?"

Profoundly, Job just responds "I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth." God replies again and Job says "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. Surely you spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." Job chose to believe (with what little faith remained) that God could still be trusted.

At the end of this story, the bible tells us that "the Lord made him [Job] more prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before...the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first." Job 42:10, 12

This story gave me hope 20 years ago and continues to be a compass for my life. I have a lot of "why's" and not a whole lot of answers. So often I lose sight of what is true. I lose my joy...and my hope. In my own eyes, I cannot see what God sees. Choosing to trust Him in the darkest of times, as well as the good times, takes the pressure off the need to "see ahead". I don't know the answer to the "Why?" questions. However, I do know and believe that God can still be trusted and that His plan is still yet to be revealed. There is hope in the journey of our lives. Putting our trust in Him would be the wisest answer.

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Warm Comfort Soup for a Cold Day

A favorite soup loved by so many! I make this every fall and many have requested the recipe. Enjoy!

Nature Day Baked Potato Soup

(Makes 6-8 servings)

by: Mary Stevens

You Need:

4 large baked potatoes

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup flour

6 cups milk (skim, 2% or whole - depending on how rich you desire)

3/4 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

4 green onions, chopped

12 slices of bacon, fried & crumbled (Hormel bacon bits in the bag work great)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream

Cut potatoes in half. Scoop out pulp and put into small bowl, breaking up large chunks.

Melt butter in large kettle/pan. Add flour gradually. Add milk in small amounts while stirring. Continue to stir until smooth, thickened and bubbly. (I use a small handheld blender to incorporate any small lumps.)

Add the potato pulp and stir in the salt, pepper, and 3/4 of the onions, bacon and cheese. (I will put the onion on the side for those that don’t care for onion.) Cook until heated through and add the sour cream.

If you wish to serve it in a crock pot, transfer to slow cooker and top with remaining cheese, onion and bacon.

Bearing Fruit

We have been blessed with a plentiful crop of raspberries this year. Early one morning last week, my husband joined me to pick some for breakfast. As I plucked them quickly from their life source, I began noticing how full of character each berry was as I studied their design.

A raspberry.

Not a fancy building.

Not a classic car.

Not a designer sweater.

Simply a raspberry.

A small berry is just starting to take its shape, while the fully mature berry sits proudly next to it. Both look so different, yet they are attached to the same vine. It occurred to me that in order for this fruit to grow into a beautiful, strong and mature berry, it needed to be connected to the vine with a root system that would provide it life. I needed this reminder.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Two Days Later...

The same raspberry...disconnected from it's source of life - this is what happens to my heart when I choose not to stay connected to my Creator (my vine). Thankfully, God never lets me go.

Mommy, Will You Play Marbles With Me?

I responded with a "no" and continued to communicate my laundry list of tasks to her little face. Something caused me to stop. I decided to play for just 1 minute to appease her.

As we played, I found myself remembering something I had long forgotten. As a young girl, I was so fascinated with these colorful glass balls, that I would collect them. Different colors and sizes, I always found them so beautiful, so alluring. You could do so much with them - the possibilities were endless. I had forgotten how much I truly enjoyed them as a child. And now, here I was with my own child, playing a simple game of marbles watching her delight in them. While we organized them by color, I recounted my marble stories with her and she listened intently. At that moment, we had so much in common. A moment I only wish I could have been frozen forever.

And to think I almost missed it. Not only recalling the innocent joy of collecting marbles - but even more, seeing my daughter's joy and excitement all while playing a simple game of marbles. Stopping midst the busyness was the best thing I could have done.

Elizabeth, will you play marbles with me?

Sun Dried Tomato, Kalamata Olives & Peas

FLAVORFULLY DELICIOUS

Toadal Laughter

Never knew a toad could bring so much joy to the face of a child. Something that feels so strange, yet brings such delight. His bumpy and slimy body squirming to get away, this little creature has no idea that he is being held by the hands of a sweet boy who wants to play with him. A simple moment between an unsuspecting toad and a very curious little boy.