Category: Inspiration

What I Believe

Posted in Inspiration, Life, Opinion, She said...1 Comment

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” John 3:16-18, from The Message

Love is LoveI am not a theologian. I am a believer. I don’t know what God thinks about the world as it is today, but I do know what I believe. I believe God loves everyone who calls upon his name. Everyone. I believe he looks at the heart not at the head, or the gender, or the ethnicity, or the sexual orientation of those he loves. I believe when God gave his only begotten son to die for the sins of all, he made no exception about which believers are covered by the gift of grace. I believe that my loving understanding of a just God accepts that he is Supreme and I am not. I believe when we are so busy finding reasons to judge and criticize, we miss out on life. Believe Out Loud gives an overview of the LGBT equality position from the Christian perspective of gay and lesbian believers. It’s the view you don’t typically see in the media. If politicians must have something to fight about, maybe they should focus on poverty, mental illness, literacy, and health care, and stay away from debating equality, which every citizen in the U.S. is guaranteed under the constitution.

Thank you for being a reader/subscriber. It is my goal to present informative, interesting and creative content on this site. Your likes, shares and comments are welcomed and hugely appreciated.

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Chicken Anyone? Not For Me!

Posted in essay, Opinon, She said...6 Comments

Chicken YellYou can apply nut job to my character profile. My ever so slight wackiness has to do with food generally, and chicken in particular. This if from someone who has included chicken and eggs in meal preparation since forever.

…And then I found out chickens eat meat. Meat. Chickens eat meat. They are carnivores. AND, they eat pretty much any kind of meat – frogs, snakes, other chickens. The most alarming meat they eat is – I looked it up on Google, so it has to be true – mice. Chickens. Eat. Mice. This is information I could have done without. I am phobic about mice. I have not been able to eat chicken or anything related to chicken since I found this out. Do you have any idea how many products have chicken, eggs, or chicken products in them? A lot.

I’ve tried to reason with myself.

Sharon, you’ve eaten chicken all your life. It is no different today than it was the last time you ate it. Chicken didn’t kill you then and it won’t kill you now.

And yet, every time I lift something to my mouth that has eggs or chicken in it, I see a mouse tail trailing out of the beak of a chicken. I KNOW. It’s completely unreasonable. My husband says I’ll get over it. Maybe, but at the moment poultry of any kind is off the menu in our house.

To make matters worse, I just found out through a “Reader’s Digest” article entitled 50 Things Food Manufacturers Won’t Tell You, that the bacteria responsible for sourdough bread originally came from – GET THIS – rodent feces. Excuse me? Rodent feces?

I can live with crushed bugs – barely – providing the red color in some products. I can accept – marginally – that it’s okay for manufacturers to have up to 30 insect parts per 100 grams in peanut butter. (Before I read the article, I had just bought a 28-ounce container of JIF!) I can believe without question that labeling on products is not to be trusted. I can’t abide the idea of putting MY FAVORITE BREAD OF ALL TIME down my gullet knowing it’s “starter” involved rat shit. Sorry. Just can’t do it.

So here I am in my food fog of not knowing what to eat, because let’s face it, as my dad used to say, “If you don’t eat the food they say is bad for you, you run the risk of starving to death.” At the moment I’m eating fruits, veggies, nuts, and grains. Turns out those are all pretty good for me, so I guess that’s what I’ll be living on for now, unless of course I start obsessing about genetic changes made to seeds to enhance growth and longevity, or about the pesticides used to ward off bugs, fungi, and plant diseases of varying kinds.

Oh, Lord above, I’m going to starve to death!

I would love to say this is all tongue in cheek, but I just threw away my last loaf of sourdough bread, and I haven’t knowingly eaten anything chicken-related in nearly a month. That jar of JIF may never see the light of day.

I know, nut job, right?

Happy eating!

(Author’s note: I wrote this in June 2016 and I’m back to normal – whatever that is! Chicken and eggs are back on the Vander Meer household menu.)
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Thank you for being a reader/subscriber. It is my goal to present informative, interesting and creative content on this site. Your likes, shares and comments are welcomed and hugely appreciated.

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I Believe in Miracles

Posted in Inspiration, Life2 Comments

Getting BetterOur great granddaughter was frighteningly ill, and now she is on the road to recovery. I believe with all my heart that God is watching over her. The doctors now believe she was in early stage SIDS (Silent Infant Death Syndrome). Thankfully her dad responded quickly, the ambulance service arrived in a timely way, and doctors immediately hooked her up to all the life saving devices her little body needed. This was taken this afternoon. She’s a little tired of the poking and prodding by the doctors and nurses, and just wants to go home.

Most important, she is on the mend and responding well to treatment. I can only say, “Thank you Lord, and thank you to every single person who prayed for her, the medical team, and our family.”

Hug your kiddo today.

Thank you for being a reader/subscriber. It is my goal to present informative, interesting and creative content on this site. Your likes, shares and comments are welcomed and hugely appreciated.

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Walk in faith

Posted in Inspiration, Life, She said...

Walk in faith“ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17

My life is not easy, but then I don’t know anyone whose life is easy. The outward person, the one we see every day, bears scars we will never know about. They hurt in silence. I will not tell you my pain; it is no greater or more significant than yours. I will tell you my secret to peace and joy, which is no secret at all. God so loved the world that he gave his son that I might be saved. I believe that. It is not an idle promise; it is God’s clarity beyond any concept we are able to grasp. It is the gift of grace. Despite our flaws and failings, God loves us. He sees our strengths and weaknesses, and helps us build on both. This gift of grace is available to all. When we call upon God He will hear. He will answer. He will comfort. In this truth I find comfort. God loves each of us for who we are. How amazing is that. (Photo: Graphic Stock)

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Thank you for being a reader/subscriber. It is my goal to present informative, interesting and creative content on this site. Your likes, shares and comments are welcomed and hugely appreciated.

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Encourage one another…

Posted in Inspiration, Life, She said...

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  1 Thessalonians 5:14

EncouragementIt is good to encourage others. By doing so, we are encouraged as well. When we reach out to help someone who is struggling, we understand that at some point we, too, will need help. Find the good in your neighbor. Look for the talents in your friends. Tell someone how much you appreciate them. Draw strength from being patient and understanding. Kindness builds character.

You never know when your encouragement will make a difference in the life of another person. Anne Mansfield Sullivan did not give up on Helen Keller. She encouraged her, instructed her, and brought discipline into her life. She gave Helen hope, which put an end to her unruly behavior and gave her a future. Helen overcame her limitations and became world famous for her advocacy for the blind. “We are never really happy until we try to brighten the lives of others,” she wrote. Keller understood perhaps better than most that encouraging someone else has a personal benefit to the one who gives it.

Thank you for being a reader/subscriber. It is my goal to present informative, interesting and creative content on this site. Your likes, shares and comments are welcomed and hugely appreciated.

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6 Terrific Gardening Sites

Posted in Inspiration1 Comment

Farmer’s Almanac 2015:

This is a respected guide book chock full of information. The gardening calendar stretches from spring through fall Farmer's Almanacplanting and tells you when to sow indoors, plant in the ground, and when to harvest. It is customized by location based on the nearest weather station. Click this link for Las Vegas, NM.

Giant Veggie Gardener:

Jannine Cabossel calls herself an artisan farmer because she likes to create beauty in her gardens combining art, flowers, and vegetables, and because her gardens are not big enough to be called a farm, but too large to be an urban garden. Her garden is in Santa Fe, NM. Her tips and advice are  applicable to growers in the central and northern highlands of New Mexico, but can be applied elsewhere. She blogs about growing specific vegetables and about a variety of other gardening questions for the avid grower. Click this link for more tips, calendar of classes, and garden tours.

20 Perennials

Blanket FlowerWhen it comes to flowers, I love to plant once and have beauty come back year after year. This link is a slide presentation from Better Homes and Gardens that shows and tells you about 20 fabulous perennial choices, most of which are drought resistant. Since I haven’t had the courage to put anything in the ground yet – it is April in Northern New Mexico after all – I’m going to be looking for some of these for the little bit of area I will be cultivating, mostly in pots.

 Perennials vs Annuals

And wouldn’t it be nice to know which flowers will be back year after year and which will be in bloom for a season and then gone? This HGTV post is all about perennials and annuals. The site is a good resource overall for gardeners.

 Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico

VegetablesThis guide is available online and can be downloaded as a PDF.  Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico provides general information for growing vegetables. Use this publication with its companion, Circular 457-B, Growing Zones, Recommended Crop Varieties, and Planting and Harvesting Information for Home Vegetable Gardens in New Mexico. Circular 457-B includes a map showing New Mexico growing zones, as well as a table providing crop variety recommendations, recommended planting dates, days to harvest, planting instructions, and yield information.

Container Gardening

Container GardenSeveral sites on the web focus on container gardening. This link takes you to a High Country Garden blog about the care of pots as well as the plants inside them. Worth a read if you are into patio container gardening.

There are a number of show gardens in Las Vegas. A late summer tour organized by the Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation showcases several of them. With help from these sites, and a lot of hard work, your garden could be on the 2015 tour.

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Playing with the camera

Posted in Inspiration

Yellow DeterminationPhoto 1: Yellow Determination. Why? For some little while, I didn’t think these lovely harbingers of Spring would ever be anything but leaves, but here they are, bright and beautiful. I have a row of them waiting to open. Anticipation, a great stimulus to creativity.

Photo 2: From a background of resting stems and dead leaves, this purple beauty and new green growth emerge, sure signs of warmer weather. I REALLY must get out the rake and start tidying up the yard, and yet… the spontaneous music of an untended garden sings to me, riotous and rollicking, laughing at winter, God’s great gift of resurrection.Purple Spring

Photo 3: These are three different kinds of succulents. I don’t know where I got them, but I never expected to see them again. Last summer was their first season in the patio pots, and here they are, back again. What a delightful surprise! If I’d known they were going to be this hardy I might have installed them as ground cover. Maybe this year? Assuming I ever get to work in the yard.

Coming to LifePhoto 4: We have a “rainbow catcher” in our kitchen. At least that’s what I call it. It is solar activated, turning and turning throwing rainbows of color across our breakfast time, making us act and feel like children. “See! There it is. Isn’t it beautiful?” Our eyes chase the hues as they land on the wall and then the ceiling and off the mirror in the living room. We’re treated to a carousel or light. I caught this slice of rainbow resting on a copper plate mounted on the wall. In the next photo you can see the plate in context.

Photo 5: The collage of images is an eclectic grouping. Each image speaks to me Catching a Rainbowseparately and collectively. The wreath of eucalyptus still has – after several years of hanging there – a distinctive aroma. My friend Kathy, gave me the cross for Christmas one year. The horizontal post reads “Journey,” and the vertical post is the Jeremiah 29:11 scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to proper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The fruit collage is tin art, a funky fun piece that makes me smile. The San Pascual Baylon retablo by Peter Lopez, has the following message on the back:

CorneredSan Pascual Baylon, 1540-1592 A shepherd who became a Franciscan lay brother and worked in the dining room or as a door keeper; very devoted to the Eucharist. Patron Saint of the kitchen, cooking, shepherds and sheep. He is also said to guard against a sad spirit. “May the Lord bless and protect you.” Tio Pedro 6/93

Lovely, yes? And I think it works; I rarely have a sad spirit.

The Aztec calendar copper plate was rescued from the basement of my husband’s office right before we sold the building several years ago. It fits that space just right. You can see the “rainbow” on the copper plate to the left of center.

These items serve no purpose other than to make my workspace cheery, and remind me of good friends, laughter shared, and the joy of life.

Playing with the camera is always fun. It’s even more fun to share the experience. I hope you enjoyed this post. Please comment, share and like. I will greatly appreciate it!

Rejoice and Be Glad

Posted in essay, Inspiration, Life2 Comments

SunriseThis is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

Glory hallelujah! We have every reason to rejoice and be joyful. When we enter each new day with an attitude of optimism life is sweeter. In Anne Lamott’s book, “Help, Thanks, Wow, The Three Essential Prayers,” she encourages the simple approach to prayer. It doesn’t take a deluge of words to get your message across to the one and only present and loving God. Ask for help when you need it, give thanks all the time and don’t forget to acknowledge the “wow” moments with awe and praise.

Sunrise is a wow moment. Rejoicing in the gift of life is a wow moment. The birth of a child, the touch of a mother, the strength of a father, these are all wow! moments. Life is full of wow moments. The heart-stopping, heartbreaking moments come as well, but not in the abundant way the wow moments come. When they do come, we can still rejoice in the Lord for he is standing with us. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4. NIV

Rejoice. What an awesome word. It means to be happy and to make someone else happy. You can’t beat that as a way of life.

Thank you for being a reader/subscriber. It is my goal to present informative, interesting and creative content on this site. Your likes, shares and comments are welcomed and hugely appreciated.

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5 Awesome Reasons to Try Sparkpeople.com

Posted in Inspiration

SparkPeople.comWhat is Sparkpeople.com? It’s not just another weight loss program; it’s a FREE weight loss program that emphasizes healthy lifestyle, above all else. It has fitness tools, nutrition and fitness tracking, support through online resources, and a broad array of fitness videos with instructions on how to safely do the exercises in your home.

The site’s promo copy points out countless activities you can do to get healthy and reach your goals. Among those activities are:

  • Lose weight
  • Live a healthy lifestyle even if you don’t want to lose weight
  • Guides to nutrition, fitness, and motivation
  • Health and wellness information about conditions, treatments, and health news
  • SparkPeople experts
  • Recipes

 Awesome Reason #1

It’s FREE: This is not a hook to get you started on a 10-day free trial with a fee kicking in after that. It is 100 percent FREE. Every resource is available to anyone who signs up. That isn’t to say there aren’t items available for sale, including a fee for direct coaching if you think you need it. But you aren’t required to buy anything. Sign on and have immediate access to tools you can use.

Awesome Reason #2:

Spark. You receive regular e-mails from SparkPeople with links to helpful articles. Do you want to know more about living a healthy lifestyle, weight loss, exercise, diabetes, high blood pressure, allergies, or wellness concerns? SparkPeople has articles to answer your questions. These daily e-mails spark you to log on every day, which is the first step to following through.

Awesome Reason #3:

Goal setting. You can’t know where you’ve been until you know where you are going. How many Sparktimes have you said, “I’m going to lose 25 pounds by my cousin’s wedding, or my class reunion (or whatever special date or time is out there).” That kind of thinking leads to yo-yo dieting. SparkPeople’s strategy is to spark participants to embed lifelong changes designed to ensure good health. By setting realistic goals, you set yourself up for success.

Awesome Reason #4:

How many times have you read that keeping a “food journal” or an “exercise journal” is crucial to weight loss success? Have you tried that? Writing down every single thing you eat throughout the day? Writing down your physical activity? I’ve tried. I just can’t do it. SparkPeople has trackers. All you need do is search for a food or activity, select the measure and add it to your tracker. Not everything is there, so you may need to add something now and then, but it is, for the most part, easy to do. (I say “for the most part,” because there is a learning curve, but you can do it.)

Awesome Reason #5:

This site has terrific articles and videos about health related subjects. And I cannot overstate this – it is all FREE. Select from nutrition, fitness, motivation, health and wellness, weight loss, Spark recipes, and more. You will find multiple articles or videos on subjects of interest to you.

There is more to the site. Explore. See if it will work for you. It is working for me. I’ve lost 12 pounds over 40 days, have not felt deprived, upped my activity, and physically feel better than I have in years.

One thing I don’t like about the site is the very reason it is free; it is loaded with ads, and the pop-ups are annoying. But I reiterate the site is free to you. SparkPeople developers learned early on that if you have a good idea you can make “passive” money by offering something everyone wants, and then charging advertisers to offset the cost of delivering that content to readers. SparkPeople hit the mother lode. SparkPeople.com gets more than 100 million page views a month and has more than 15 million registered users. That’s a lot of potential buyers for advertisers. The ads are sometimes annoying, but not to the point of detracting from the mission of SparkPeople.com: to provide tools for a healthy lifestyle, a service people want and are in need of… and it is FREE to the consumer. You can’t beat that.

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Note: I am in no way affiliated with SparkPeople.com . These are my thoughts based on my experience. There may be other similar programs in the marketplace. I have not tried them.