Wednesday, July 15, 2009
And away we go........
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Monday, July 13, 2009
SOLD
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009
iTouch: Don't say I didn't warn you
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Sunday, July 5, 2009
Book Review, Part Two

A while back I mentioned that I'd recently read three books that subsequently rocked my world. The first book I shared last month started me on this journey of questioning how my life was making a difference anywhere outside of my own family. My heart has been stirred over how I'm called to serve the rest of the world. These thoughts came out of nowhere. But I know it's no coincidence that these books have found their way to my nightstand. I'm still not sure where this is all leading but this next book sure gave me a lot to chew on.
Most of you are probably familiar with Rick Warren, author of the The Purpose Driven Life. But, like me, you might not be aware of the lovely woman he's married to. Kay Warren has rarely been in the limelight over the years but, if more people read her book, it won't be long before she's more recognizable than him.
Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God is a book that will leave you, as Kay puts it, "seriously disturbed" and "gloriously ruined." It all began with an magazine article about the world AIDS crisis that disturbed Kay to transform from "housewife to humanitarian" in the blink of an eye. She was so bothered by what she read that, next thing she knew, she was on a plane to Africa to see for herself the reality of this tragedy. The manner in which Kay writes makes you feel like you're sharing a cup of coffee at her kitchen table. She's real, honest, challenging, humorous and vulnerable. Yet she's not suggesting anyone do something she hasn't already tackled.
An excerpt from the first chapter:
Jesus' words "Much is required from those to whom much is given" (Luke 12:48 NLT) began to reverberate inside my mind, taking their place alongside the disturbing images I had seen. I had been given so much—what was my responsibility in return? God clearly tells us that we are "to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [our] God" (Micah 6:8). I began to wonder how to apply this truth to my life. How does becoming a seriously disturbed person affect the way I live?
At the end of each chapter, Mrs. Warren poses a question for the reader, another question to share with your reading partner and a website address to watch a podcast pertaining to the discussion. Each chapter is even more heart wrenching than the previous. She makes you want to DO something. Anything.
The pages are filled with anecdotes from her personal journey including two bouts with cancer, literally witnessing child prostitution take place and a woman dying of AIDS while laying on a piece of plastic. In spite of all the setbacks and real-life horror she experiences, she never loses her passion for the calling God has engraved on her heart.
An excerpt from the end:
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Friday, July 3, 2009
Foodie Friday: Happy Independence Day
- 12 large egg yolks
- 1/2 c. sugar
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- salt
- 2 c. heavy cream
- 1 c. whole milk
- 3 tsp. vanilla
Trifle:
- 2 1/2 lb. strawberries, hulled and cut into quarters
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 3 T. orange juice
- salt
- 3/4 c. heavy cream
- 3 T. powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 24-36 ladyfingers
- 3 c. blueberries
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and have another large bowl filled with ice water near stove.
- Make custard; In a large saucepan, whisk yolks, sugar, cornstarch and a pinch of salt until blended.
- In a medium pan, heat cream and milk to a boil. Stirring constantly, add a few tablespoons of cream mixture; gradually add remaining cream, whisking.
- Cook over medium-low heat, whisking until hot and slightly thickened but not boiling, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, strain into bowl. Place bowl in ice bath; let cool, stirring occasionally, for 40 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Place plastic wrap directly on custard and refrigerate until cold.
- Make trifle: toss strawberries with sugar, orange juice and pinch of salt. Let stand while custard cools, stirring occasionally.
- Whip cream, powdered sugar and vanilla until firm peaks form. Fold one third into custard then remaining cream. Arrange half of ladyfingers in a 3-quart bowl. Top with half of strawberries, then half of custard and half of blueberries; repeat. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate for 3 hours.
Posted by Dana Hope at 10:40 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Monday, June 29, 2009
Who's to blame?
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Foodie Friday
I love to try new recipes but don't do so very often. Mostly because my kids turn their noses up at anything that "looks weird". It gets so old. But when we have guests for dinner I relish in making them my "guinea pigs." Last weekend I broke out the "100 Chicken Recipes" cookbook and found this gem. For the kiddos, I poured some barbecue sauce on a couple of extra chicken breasts and everyone was happy.
- 1/2 cup smoked almonds
- 1 piece firm white bread torn in small pieces
- 1/4 t. black pepper
- 1/4 cup light sour cream
- 1/2 cup bottled barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's)
- 4 chicken breasts
In a food processor or chopper blend the almonds, bread and pepper. Pour onto waxed paper. Mix sour cream and 1 Tablespoon barbecue sauce in pie plate. Roll the chicken in the sour cream then the almonds. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes. Serve with rest of the barbecue sauce. So easy and delicious!!
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Happy Belated Father's Day

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Monday, June 22, 2009
A boy who writes poetry?
Tonight I tackled the mound of papers that came home on the last day of school. Most of it made its way to the recycling bin but you can always count on a few finds that absolutely, positively need to go in the cedar chest (do people even have those anymore?) This little diddy from Quinn's sixth grade poetry book was just begging to be shared. Thanks for indulging me.
Posted by Dana Hope at 9:16 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Economy Hour

Wait. There was one small problem. What about the boys? UGH! After I rolled my eyes, Ian quickly left the room and consulted Dad who then consulted "Google." Thank God for "Google." Ten minutes later my child was going door-to-door in search of dryer lint. Apparently the combination of the lint, in a cardboard eggshell carton, covered with melted paraffin is an excellent fire starter. Who knew? Problem solved. Wrong.

Ian walked in the following day and informed me that he couldn't do the fire starters because they were.........flammable. You've got to be kidding me??? Isn't everything flammable when it gets near a FLAME??? Gotta love public school. Safety over imagination and creativity. Always. I had to draw the line. Or at least Trey had to. He played phone tag with the principal for a couple days and they never connected. Ian decided to take matters into his own hands. (I love that about this kid!) While I was racking my brain for a new idea, he came home and told me "we can do fire starters now". I assumed that the two men had spoken and worked it all out. I said as much and Ian said "No, I saw him today and asked him myself and he said it was OK." Me: "You did? Did you tell your teacher?" Ian: "She was standing right there." You know what I'm thinking so I'm not even going to say it. Smile.

The proud proprietor of "Fuzzy Flips and Pyro Paks"
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