no rhyme or reason.

Who DID that?

Well...I gotta admit, yesterday's post took a way different turn than I intended.

I was going to tell you about the geese Ian and I saw flying overhead the other day. And the migration of little black birds we saw at sunrise on Saturday morning while driving down the highway to the wrestling tournament. It was amazing...thousands of birds as far as the eye could see in both directions...it had to have been miles.

I was going to tell you that my job ended...and there isn't another one in sight...yet.

I was going to tell you about the chickens and that I let them out to free-range for a while Sunday morning while I cleaned their pen...and they were happy. (And well behaved...ahem.)

I was going to tell you how if I don't have to leave the house...I won't. And how I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

I was going to tell you about some more recipes.
I still will.
But not today.

I had a lot to talk about yesterday...but instead, I wrote about my walk with God...as I do now and then. It poured out...and I let it. Sometimes I feel unsure about what comes out here at Give a Girl a Fig. I don't want to turn anyone off from church...or worse yet, turn anyone off from God. I hope I make it VERY clear that church and God are two totally different things. I hope it's clear that my journey at this point is about making sense of "organized religion" and the people in the church and not about making sense of God. God always makes sense. Even when I don't understand. That's just how He is.

Give a Girl a Fig is a place for me to sit and talk with kindred spirits (likeYOU) that God has brought into my life through the crazy world of the Internet. It's a place to walk my walk with God...out loud...through the good times and the bad times (if were talking "church talk" I'd say something like "through the mountains and the valleys"). It's a place to walk my journey with God with others...with you. Because what I'm learning is that walking this journey with God is best when walking it with others.

And ultimately, now that I think about it, that is what church is for. Church is an opportunity to gather with like-minded people who will join you on the mountain tops and in the valleys and who will pray with you through it all. I have to continue to remind myself that church is not full of perfect people that do all the right things and say all the right things and who never hurt one another's feelings. I mean, come on. Churches are full of people. And people are imperfect and will make mistakes. As the song says...love them anyway.

Yesterday's post surprised me...as my posts often do when God is in the mix. I come here to write and to share with whoever chooses to read my ramblings. But every once in a while, as I write to you, God writes to me...to us.

My greatest hope is that as you read my words...you also hear His. Sometimes you may have to read between the lines as my words can be jaded and opinionated at times. (ahem!) But in the end...when all is said and done...the bottom line is that I love God. And I trust Him. And I hope spending time here encourages you to do the same.

murmuration...

Murmuration...the act of murmuring or a flock of starlings. I am loving this word. I feel like it should mean more... 

Oh wait...look what I found:

mur·mur  /ˈmɜrmər/  noun

1. a low, continuous sound, as of a brook, the wind, or trees, or of low, indistinct voices.

2. a mumbled or private expression of discontent.

Hmmm..."a low, continuous sound...of low, indistinct voices." That is so interesting to me given my spiritual state of mind lately. Whose voice have I been listening to?

I had another breakthrough at church last night. I really do love this little church we've been attending. The pastor is great...his wife is great...the people are great...the worship is great...but then there I am, stuck behind a very big and ominous wall. The pastor called it out last night...talked about how we can be so on fire for God, serving Him and running after Him as hard as we can...when all of a sudden...BAM!...you hit a wall and it all comes to a screeching halt.

Yes. Wow. YES. He was totally speaking to me...and I mean He, as in God. Yes, the pastor is the one who spoke the words...but God put those words in his mouth so that he would speak them to me, last night, at that very moment. And to think...I wasn't even going to GO to church last night. I decided to at the last minute. (As if it were up to me.) God had a plan...as He always does. And part of His plan was for me to find a little weak spot in that wall...a little crack to let the Light shine through. A tiny little peep hole....so that I could see that He was right there, waiting patiently.

Of course He was...I always knew that. I know that God is never the one who disappears no matter WHAT we think. He is always, always, always, always there. Always.WE are the ones who disappear. And build walls to protect ourselves from...hurt. But the really crappy part is that we build them one little lie from the enemy at a time.

Strange how I can be so far from God but so close to Him all at the same time. This time in my life is no surprise to God. And it will not be wasted. God uses everything...even the bad, painful, unimaginable stuff...for our good and HIS glory. Amen.

No one will be able to stand against you all the days

of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will

never leave you nor forsake you.

-Joshua 1:5

Speaking of spiritual breakthroughs...

have you ever seen this video of this murmuration?

It leaves me breathless...and I cry every time I watch it.

Some see starlings. I see God.

God is everywhere...how can some people not see it?

And do you love the background music as much as I do?

How appropriate that it's titled Nomad Soul?

Here is the full length version...I'm listening to it for the third time in a row.

a new recipe.



credit.

I may have mentioned that I am working on making a few changes in the way I cook...more protein and vegetables, fewer carbs. My boys made the request a while back (they're conditioning for sports) and I figured it could only benefit all of us.

However, I'm finding this is easier said than done. I never realized how much I relied on a starch when planning our meals...rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, tortillas...they were staples at every meal. And I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing...I believe in balance. I am not an "all or nothing" kind of gal when it comes to diet. But there was definitely room to cut back on the serving sizes.

Anyway...a few days ago I found a Martha Stewart recipe on Pinterest that looked tasty. And it just so happened I had a few sausages that I needed to use up. As a matter of fact, I had all of the ingredients I needed for this dish...canned beans, onion, garlic, carrots, sausage, broth...it was super easy. And very tasty. Everyone liked it and agreed that it should become a new addition to our menus.

Admittedly, these beans could be eaten as a main dish. Add a tossed salad and some warm, crusty bread and you'd be good to go. But this time I decided to make it an even more protein rich meal and served them alongside some broiled tilapia.  Then I added a big bowl of stir-fried vegetables cabbage and asparagus. It was all delicious. And all gone! Not to mention...hearty and healthy.

(See? Pinterest isn't all bad. It can be a wonderful way to waste time very helpful.)

slow and quiet.

After a whirlwind week of life and wrestling tournaments and then a pinched nerve in my left shoulder blade...I realized it was time for me to take things nice and slow.

So today...will be slow and quiet and easy.

The house is a wreck. But it will have to wait.

Instead I will eat my "heart-healthy" serving of oatmeal, take a nice HOT shower and sit quietly and read my textbooks. Because of my shoulder I was unable to sit at the computer to do my schoolwork so I am a bit behind. But that's OK...I'll get caught up. I always do.

the weeks are flying by...

The girls.

It's Friday...and it's raining. Looks like a good day for some bullet-points!

• Yes...it's raining. Finally. You know I'm glad. I love it. So does the garden.
• The girls...oh, the girls. They haven't laid an egg in...at least a month. Maybe longer.Their new pet name? Free-loaders.
• I've started my new classes for the semester. I am considering dropping the art class. Sad...yes. It just seems like a lot more trouble than it's worth at this time. So...it's on the back burner. For now.
• We've got the wrestling extravaganza this weekend. Ian had a dual meet yesterday afternoon, then he has a tournament tonight hosted by his school, then tomorrow we drive almost two hours away (leaving at 6am!) to another tournament in Grass Valley. Whew. I'm tired just thinking about it. I see a pajama day in my future...Sunday, you're all mine.
• The new job is going well. The teacher I am there to assist has been out sick since we got back from vacation and will probably be out for a while more. We've had a different sub every day since I've been there. There was talk of getting a long-term sub...that will be nice.

So that's it really...not a whole lot to report. Life is moving right along...everyone is healthy, the heater works, the water is hot and there's food in the cupboard. Life's good.

Wednesday in the Word.

Because you are my help,
 I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
 your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:7-8



the winter garden.

chard...collards...broccoli

I realize that calling 10 little plants in my backyard a "winter garden" might be a bit of a stretch. But for me...it's kind of a big deal. This is the first time we've ever planted winter vegetables. And I'm pleased to say they're not doing too bad.

They're a bit small, I think. I would think with all this warmth and sunshine they'd be a bit farther along. But...we did plant them late. And there hasn't been any rain. So maybe this is to be expected.

I'm not worried about it. Any time I do something like this for the first time I consider it a learning experience. So if things don't work out ideally I don't get discouraged. I just take note, see what happens, and do it differently the next time.

The good news is that we have actual broccoli florets growing! Chris came in the other morning and told me...so you know I had to run out with my camera!

See it? It makes me happy. I can't wait to eat it!

The other thing we have growing right now is the Meyer Lemon and it's producing beautiful lemons. I picked some the other day and they smelled so good. That has got to be one of my favorite scents ever...

So it's supposed to rain this week...maybe tomorrow. Or the next day. I'm ready. And so is the garden.

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness;

it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.

- Gertrude Jekyll