The Tale of the Turkey...And so much more

I made our first turkey yesterday.  I got a lot of suggestions, but I was nervous.  All I have to say is I think this experience would have turned out a lot better if the company would have put the weight on the turkey....just sayin'...

I ended up using the recipe from my Williams and Sonoma cookbook.  It seemed to be the easiest for my first time. 

I ran into a brief blonde moment when I say this plastic thing inside.  I wasn't sure what it was. Was I supposed to take it out or not????  I came to my senses and realized that I must just have to take it out, because I feared it would melt and then John and I would get some kind of poisoning....just sayin'.

So.... after taking out the giblets and the neck(which I have to say was probably the most disgusting part), I gave the turkey a nice massage of butter and a little bit of oil, along with seasoning salt.  Inside I stuffed him (or her) with onions and fresh sage.  I put him in the roasting pan on top on a boat load of onions.  I preceded to cover the breast with foil and stick him in the oven at 325.  

My intention was to keep him in for 4 hours.  John and I were trying to guesstimate the weight of the bird.  At one point, John had a ten pound dumbell in one hand and the turkey in the other.  True story.  So... we were thinking that maybe Mr. Turkey was around 11 pounds.  Four hours later, we took the turkey out of the oven, and let it sit for about ten.  Then we cut into it.  Oh... and I forgot to mention that we found out our meat thermometer doesn't work. (This would be a great stocking stuffer mom). 

I had another blonde moment using the thermometer.  I didn't know the actual thermometer was in a protective case, so I was sticking the thermometer with the protective case into the turkey.  I was getting frustrated when it would only register 80 degrees.  I just couldn't understand how this could be since the turkey was roasting for 4 HOURS!!  John saw me stick the thermometer into the turkey and said, "Please don't tell me you have been sticking the thermometer in like that."   He then explained that there was a casing over the actually thermometer.
Oh. 

It turns out though that the thermometer was busted.   

So, at four and a half hours, we took the turkey out.  John cut into it and it was pink.  I had also noticed blood coming out. I didn't think that was normal.  John googled, yes googled, turkey blood and came back to report that all juices should be clear.  So we put theturkey back in the oven for another 45 minutes.... still pink.  ANother 45 minutes passed.... by this time we ate our baked potatoes.  Then I said, "If the turkey isn't done this time, I am just going to settle for potaotes and apple pie."

My friends, that is EXACTLY what happened.  

Baked potaotes and apple pie.  

By the time the turkey was done, we were tired.  John cut it up, and we just put it in the refrigerator.  He then went to our wooded backyard and threw the rest of the turkey as far as the eye could see for our furry friends to enjoy.  

The good thing that came out of this whole experience:  While John and I were waiting for the turkey to be done for the third time, we sat on the couch and reminisced about our season of dating.  It was super sweet.  

  

First picture ever taken of John and I. 

A year and a half later....

Photos courtesy of Adrienne Seng www.artevitae.com

Wedding Pictures

I love Shutterfly so much.  They are extremely good to their customers, and it seems like they are always having some kind of sale.  I would like to share my Wedding Album with you... because I'm really proud of it:-)

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly photo books offer a wide range of artful designs and embellishments to choose from.

HELP!!!

I know Thanksgiving is over, but since John and I were out of town visiting family for Thanksgiving, I am going to make a turkey this Thursday for us.  It will be my first attempt at making a turkey, so I need your help.  I am looking for easy turkey recipes.  Help a girl out.....

Just Dance

If you want a great work out that will make you sweat all while you are having fun, check out Just Dance 3 for Wii.  I discovered it a few weeks ago and all I'm saying is...get ready for a butt kickin'.

Just Dance 3 full track list:

• 2 Unlimited - "No Limit"    
• African Ladies - "Pata Pata" 
•   a-ha - "Take On Me"
• Anja - "Dance All Nite"
• Bananarama - "Venus"
• Bollywood Rainbow - "Kurio ko uddah le jana"
• Brahms by Just Dance Classical Orchestra - "Hungarian Dance No. 5"
• Cee Lo Green - "Forget You"
• Countdown Mix Masters - "Beautiful Liar"
• Daft Punk - "Da Funk"
• Danny Elfman - "This is Halloween"
• Donna Summer - "I Feel Love"
• Dr. Creole - "Baby Zouk"
• Duck Sauce - "Barbra Streisand"
• Girls Aloud - "Jump (For My Love)"
• Groove Century - "Boogie Wonderland"
• Gwen Stefani - "What You Waiting For?"
• Inspector Marceau - "The Master Blaster"
• Janelle Monae - "Tightrope (Solo Version)"
• Jessie J featuring B.o.B - "Price Tag"
• Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg - "California Gurls"
• Kiss - "I Was Made For Lovin' You"
• Konshens - "Jamaican Dance"
• Latino Sunset - "Mamasita"
• Laura Bell Bundy - "Giddy On Up (Giddy On Out)"
• Lena Meyer-Landrut - Satellite
• Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
• LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock - "Party Rock Anthem"
• Madness - "Night Boat To Cairo"
• MIKA - "Lollipop"
• Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland - "Promiscuous"
• Pointer Sisters - "I'm So Excited"
• Queen - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
• Reggaeton Storm - "Boom"
• Rita Mitsouko - Marcia Baila
• Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman - "Somethin' Stupid"
• Robin Sparkles - Let's Go To The Mall
• Scissor Sisters - "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"
• Sentai Express - Spectronizer
• Sweat Invaders - "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"
• Taio Cruz - "Dynamite"
• The Black Eyed Peas - "Pump It"
• The Buggles - "Video Killed The Radio Star"
• The Chemical Brothers - "Hey Boy Hey Girl"
• The Girly Team - "Baby One More Time"
• The London Theatre Orchestra & Cast - "Think"
• The Sugarhill Gang - "Apache (Jump On It)"
• Tommy Sparks - "She's Got Me Dancing"
• Wilson Pickett - "Land of 1000 Dances"

Biggest blessing

Hands down, the biggest blessing of this year was marrying my best friend, John.  Having to move to another state has been really hard and has brought many challenges, but I thank God for John and for the way he supports me every day. I love you John.

Do you want to get well???

I love Wednesday mornings because I get to attend a ladies Bible Study.  Today is just radiating with sunshine and I'm just in a really good mood. I love my small group at Bible study, because then women in my group are so transparent and aren't afraid to get real with each other.  Today we studied the tail end of John 4 and delved into the beginning of John 5.  I love these two stories because they both showcase the healing power of Jesus.  Any story in the Bible that has to do with healing always touches me and excites me.  In these two stories you see two different people:  a royal official whose son is near death and a man who has been an invalid for 38 years.  The thing that strikes me about these two stories is that Jesus healed both in two different ways.  This is just evidence that God knows what is best for us and his timing is impeccable.  I am particularly drawn to the the healing of the man at the pool of Bethsaida.  JOhn 5:1-15 says the following: (I've added emphasis to some of the words to bring attention to them.  My comments will follow the passage)

John 5

The Healing at the Pool

 ¹ Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 
²Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda^[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 
³ Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.^[4] [b] 
5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 
⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
 ⁷ “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
 ⁸ Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 
⁹ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
   The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 
¹⁰ and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
 ¹¹ But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
 ¹² So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
 ¹³ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
 ¹⁴ Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 
¹⁵ The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

John 5:4 Some manuscripts include here, wholly or in part, paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.


I find it interesting that Jesus' first question to the man is "Do you want to get well?"  Seems a little strange because you would assume that this man that has been an invalid for 38 years would say "Yes, yes, I want to be well".  But notice he doesn't give Jesus an answer of yes or no.  He just says he hasn't had anyone to help him to the pool.  I get the feeling that his tone was very "woe is me" like. 


 Think about people you know, or even yourself that have been sick.  It is very easy to sometimes like the things that come along with being sick:  
more attention from others, 
people dropping meals off,
 people offering to help around the house, 
pity from others.  


Now I am not saying that sometimes these things aren't needed, because they are.  I myself have been very grateful for the ways others have reached out in my time of need.  But again, there are some people out there that get caught up being sick and actually don't really want to get better.  Some people let their diseases define who they are and then use the disease as a crutch or an excuse not to be lazy and not do things.  Again, I am not trying to be offensive, because there are people that are suffering greatly.  I am not undermining that.  I am sure though someone came to your mind when I first mentioned someone making excuses for everything under the sun when they are sick.  Or the people who "milk it for all it's worth". 
This is the sense I get about the man at the pool.  He tells Jesus that he has no one to help him in the pool.  Now.... this pool was very crowded, especially around the times when people thought they could be healed by it.  My question to the man would be, "How much effort does it take to ask someone to help you?"    
Many of us do not like to ask for help, myself included.  But actually, what it comes down to is a pride issue.  By not asking for help, you are saying you are too prideful to ask someone to be a blessing to you.  You are actually robbing someone of being a blessing.....think on that for a moment. 
Jesus wanted to know if the man wanted to be healed.  How often have you been doing something that you know is a sin, especially something that has become a habitual sin for you?  Think about it.  We are all "sick"  due to our sinful nature.  It's interesting how we get comfortable in our sins.  If we really wanted to change, we would be on our knees repenting, finding an accountability partner to hold us to our wanting to change, and daily asking the Lord to give us the strength to fight against our flesh.  
Jesus is asking us today, "Do you want to get well?"    Take a moment to evaluate your life. Think of something that is "ailing you" whether it be physical or spiritual.   Commit it to the Lord.  HE WANTS TO HEAL YOU, SO LET HIM BE THE GREAT PHYSICIAN THAT HE IS. Sometimes he chooses not to heal our physical sickness but he can heal your attitude toward it. 
Notice that in the story, Jesus tells the man get up, pick up his mat and walk.  Three distinct actions.  And guess what??  The man did so immediately.   If Jesus is asking you today if you want to get well, you need to act now!!!  He's waiting for you to recognize him as the Great Physician.   The man later on then told the Pharisees that it was Jesus who healed him.  Do the same.... give honor where honor is due. 

DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?

LET YOUR MISERY BE YOUR MINISTRY...

Be joyful always..... A Challenge

So I have to admit that there have been some days where I have struggled down here in South Carolina.  I have struggled with missing home, having a purpose, not teaching, loneliness.... you name it, I have felt it.  Moving to a new state is a BIG DEAL, especially if you have lived in the same city for 29 years.  

Last week was a break through week(even though the Phillies lost)  as I saw God answer many prayers.  I got a call from a school, I had a fun lunch with my neighbors, a fun outing with my mother-in-law, awesome weekend with my husband, and just great stuff.  It was just what I needed to boost my happiness.  But I was also challenged by this as well.  Why do I let circumstances in life determine how happy I am??  There are things to be thankful for every single day that we take for granted.  I have really struggled with knowing my purpose down here.  I went from a life of teaching at a job I absolutely adored, being a social butterfly.  being surrounded by many friends and family to a life where I am happily married but in a new state, knowing only three people here, and a DRAMATIC  change of pace in life.  


I had a revelation last week:  I have no excuse to sit around and feel sorry and sad and wallow in my so called "lonliness".   I am not lonely.  I have a wonderful husband, fantastic in-laws, and  wonderful family and friends that check in on me.  (Thanks mom and dad for the Skype call last night).  And... I have my Lord and Savior who is always there to listen.  And guess what else????  TO HAVE FRIENDS, YOU HAVE TO BE A FRIEND.....  Reach out to people!  It's a benefit to you and them.  


If you are struggling with purpose in life. take encouragement from these verses.  I love, love, love them!!


"Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I Thessalonians 5: 16-18


So here is my challenge for you today.  Answer these five questions.  They are taken from a book that my mother- in- law gave me called "The 4:8 Principle" by Tommy Newberry.


-What are five things I am thankful for right now?
- What are five of my strengths or positive traits?
-What are five of my best achievements so far?
- Who are the five people who love me the most?
-What five things am I looking forward to in the next seven days?


Answer these questions, and then thank the Lord for your answers and the things he has blessed you with.