Stretch

Five Minute Friday:
Stretch
The same rules ,the same fun. Write away for 5 minutes. And watch what comes out of the mind and heart.

GO

Part of my self betterment plan is to lose weight and have a nutritious and a healthy life style.  So I started the Game on Diet and is almost done with week 4. The end of the first run. Part of it is 20 minutes of exercise everyday. Now that was a big stretch for me. Nevertheless, I braved it out with Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. It has 3 levels and I am still stuck on Level 1. One of the circuits had this squat type of exercise that stretched my thigh muscles like I have never used it before. Wasn't walking enough was what I thought. I couldn't bend beyond a certain position and that left me with terrible muscle pain. Walking down the stairs was hard. But I knew I had to continue daily in order to tone my muscle and get used to it. The pain would eventually, most likely in the first week itself go away. And it did. I just had to continue and brave on.

Stretches are good. God has this funny way of doing it once in a while to see how far we would go for Him. It doesn't kill us but it sure does change us. For the better.

STOP

Beyond me

What's today? Its Friday. Its time for Five minutes of unplanned, quick , unedited writing.

GO

His love for me, irrespective to what I do or don't do... is beyond my understanding.

Not knowing what the next day.. let alone the next moment will carry.. is past my mothers intuition.

Nothing is possible, or attainable with my skills alone.

Knowing that He alone knows best and that I need to wait for His best to be revealed is beyond my human patience.
     The Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right Psalm 84:11

Remembering God's Word at times of need is beyond the number of furrows on my  brain.

Do not be afraid or discouraged , for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you;he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8

He is beyond the understanding that I have of Him.

So beyond my understanding yet close to me and in me.

STOP

Five Minute Friday: Enough

Every Friday hundreds of women around the globe, look forward to "THE WORD".

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

So, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.
What's the buzz word?


ENOUGH


Go....
I had the gift of waking up this morning, sun in my face and even better, two boys on either side, snuggled in. Isn't that enough?


The gift of family, friends, a comfortable home and the overflowing love from her heavenly Father. What more does a girl need?


But....

There is always wants and needs. The two getting blurred more times than one can count.
A bigger house, A Pinterest perfect house.
More money.
Better image of oneself.
More time.
Orderly obedient kids.
A husband who brings flowers everyday.
A magic machine  to whizz up our daily dinner.


What I wouldn't mind more of is the constant burning desire to be in His presence, the dedication to meet up with Him first thing in the morning. Wisdom to me on my tongue. Christ like love to show and share to another.
Now that would be enough .


Stop.

DANCE

DANCE

After missing a few FMF's, due to getting ready for our India trip... I write my piece of the word here, from India... a few hours after the engagement ceremony of my sister in law. Here is my Five Minute Friday on a Saturday....

GO
In our church here in India, a couple before marriage is required to finish a few hours of counselling sessions with lessons and an exam. My sister in law picked up a very interesting point. God did not create an Eve, Hannah, or Esther  (names doesn't matter). He just created one Eve. Why didn't He give Adam a choice to pick up a wife and a helper from a queue of girls? God knows that Eve was meant to be Adam's wife and helper.... bone of my bones.. flesh of my flesh(Gen 2:23). That was a relief to my sister in law, that this person that she was going to marry is God's chosen one for her and that her parents prayers were answered in showing only His one to them.

To follow God's voice and to act upon it, we have to be that synchronized partner in following His every  lead in this" life dance"... God's journey for  us here on this earth. We being "we", and having the assumption that we can also come up with our own dance steps, using  the "free will card", end up stepping on God's feet. Hurting Him by our choices and falling off the sequence of events God has planned for us. God being our Abba Father, holds onto us tightly, never letting us go, holding our feet on His. He picks up on those faulty steps  and turns them into beautiful movements. 


Follow His lead.... and enjoy the "life dance" He has set for us.


STOP

Do you see it?

Five minutes on Friday... Here we GO

Having a kid old enough to be your extended arm ,when you feel lazy to pick something up is awesome. Many times I use Benjamin to get me something from upstairs, when I am lazy to get it myself. But sometimes its more of an effort to tell him where it is. He just doesn't see it , when its right in front of him.

I am sure God feels like me most times when he is trying to show me something.Look Manju, its right here! Don't you see it? This is what you asked for...stop whining and look!Here is the answer! Open your eyes!

Often God needs to force our attention to His wonderful provision.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

STOP

IT'S ALL IN THE PERSPECTIVE


Joining The gypsy Mama on pouring away for 5 unedited no turning back minutes.
Join me? Read what others have to say about the golden word for today "Perspective"?

GO
We passed by the sweet shop called Jammin, and Benjamin spotted the blue and red ice slushy machine. "Can I have that", saidBenjamin. I said, we couldn't since it wasn't very tasty,didn't know what they used for the color and it was really cold you couldn't  taste anything, anyway. He thought for a few seconds and said," But thats your taste." "My taste is different and I might like it". Now, I played the "Its still a No" card, mothers use when they cant think of anything else.

Reminded me of my relationship with God. I want something. I ask Him. He gives a clear NO.And I justify my reasons on how it can be good for me and how much  I want/need it. (The want and need all blurred up).

I understand the frustration Benjamin had when he didn't get the slushy thing.He just had to accept what I said. I had to accept what He said. And it isn't a pretty sight with the temper tantrum of the mind and heart.

Mama knows best, so they say. God knows best and thats for sure.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(Jeremiah 29:11)

STOP                                                               

Best ever Chocolate cookie Recipe

This is a recipe , from  Meredith Graham, a friend I know from church here in Eindhoven. Cookie. Chocolate. Who can't resist. So I made an excuse to bake these with my boys. Elijah wasn't too enthusiastic about it. He made it clear by saying:Elijah very angry!.Mind you, he is only 2 years old and check out that attitude. Humph. Benjamin, my sweetie was all in for cookie baking. He loves to help make stuff. Well, mostly the licking part. So, I thought I would test out Meredith's recipe and give it is "BEST EVA" title.

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies (I got around 35 cookies)
77 g butter @ room temperature (1/3 cup)
120 g crisco- vegetable shortening (2/3 cup)
157 g granulated sugar (Fijn Crystal suiker) (3/4 cup)
187 g packed brown sugar (light bastard suiker) (3/4 cup)
2 eggs
2 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
270 g all-purpose flour/ zeuwse bloem(2 and 1/4 cups but please use a scale for the flour)
250 g chocolate chips (9 oz)

Ingredients needed for the cookies

1. Pre-heat conventional oven to 375 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. Cream the butter and shortening until light and fluffy. 
3. Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar and beat until well blended. 
4. One at a time, add the eggs, scraping down the bowl after each addition. 
5. Add the milk and vanilla and mix just until combined. 
6. In a separate bowl, sift the salt, baking powder, baking soda and flour. 
7. Add flour mixture to butter/sugar mix a bit at a time, mixing just until combined each time, and scraping the bowl often. 
8. Once flour is almost completely incorporated, add the chocolate chips, mix just until distributed. 
9. Drop by rounded spoon onto cookie sheets (I use the two spoon method, scoop with one and push the dough out of the spoon with another spoon) and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. 
10. If you like your cookies very soft, take them out just before you think they are done. If you like a bit of crisp on the outside, leave them until they just begin to brown. Rotate your cookie sheet half-way through baking if your oven is uneven (most are).

Elijah not so happy and made it clear that he was angry

Here are the steps in pictures:

Elijah adding the Crisco

All the butter and Crisco mixed. And licked too!

Benjamin cracking his first egg. And Elijah ready to wear glasses to avoid splashes

Mastering the spooning technique

All set to pop into the oven

Klaar!

I definitely would have got at least 40-45 cookies. But some didn't survive the cookie monsters. They didn't even make it on the baking tray before baking. Monster tactics used: speed licking and eat one spoon-scoop on one spoon. Meredith, I got to say they were the best. I even wrapped a few in baking paper and tied a bow. Benjamin went and gave it to our neighbors on either side. They absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the wrapped goodies before they were whisked away to the neighbors.

They were baked wonderfully in exactly 10 minutes. Left it out to cool and into the box when the next batch came out of the oven. Some of them had funny shapes , but what the heck, they tasted superlicious!


Meredith, has an interesting blog of great bakes, among other things. She has found places to get those baking,cake decorating items in Eindhoven, that long timers like me haven't discovered yet. And she has been here for just a couple of years.Thanks Meredith for your Holland adventures!