Welcome To My Oven

I'm someone that never tires of pulling out the mixing bowl, opening the fridge door, searching for ingredients, and spending all afternoon pulling delectable dishes (although more often sweet tidbits) out of the oven. After studying, I honestly love cooking as favorite hobby. Not only is cooking rewarding to the taste buds, it's very fulfilling to watch others enjoy the things you put love and energy into making.
The purpose of this somewhat unique blog post is to share a visual representation of some of the things in my family's kitchen, made by yours truly, during the month of January. Granted, I don't carry my camera around with me all the time, so this is just a highlight of some of the things I turned out. (I had quite a bit of "extra" time in January, hence baking and then taking pictures of what I made)

Plain and Onion-Sea Salt-Poppy Seed Bagels (extra brown for optimum toasty flavor) (that wasn't opium tasty flavor ;-) )

How about Cinnamon-Sugar?

Sunday morning Scones :-)

I'm not a fan of chocolate or carob (yay for me and for you since all of you get more that way), however, there are times I hanker for both. So, when I know I need to be healthy (that actually is how I feel all the time, but I sometimes am stubborn and rebellious) I make these amazing carob muffins. (I'll stop interrupting each sentence with side commentaries [consider them to be my thought bubbles- and for those of you that know me, you know that I insert ideas mid-sentence all the time])

I know these two photos are very much the same, but I had to share two because this way you'll ask for the recipe because you see twice as much goodness on this blog page.




I realize that these are pictures of exclusively baked sweet and savory things and metal objects (okay, there was one wood item on here). I am never as wowed by savory food as I am by sweet things. Once I feel like dragging my DSLR upstairs while I'm cooking soup or making a casserole, I'll dedicate another blog post to my friends food and fotography. :-D (I had to get some alliteration in there for my literature and grammar friends)
I may not know how to play soccer as well as the average American female growing up in the last twenty+ years, but I bet I can cook more than most of those soccer players. My mom always nit-picks on girls in the high schools that can play sports but can't cook when they get married, or on the college graduate wives that can't cook for their husbands on HGTV (home and garden improvement channel). I can cook so there. I could care less about you soccer ball, give me baseball, please. That's besides the point, though. Cooking is a lot of fun, and I get a lot of enjoyment out of. Having a relaxing activity (except for multiple boiling pots of water and noodles etc.) is a really nifty thing to have in life. Thanks for checking in on this posting. I've had fun taking pictures of some of my food. Hopefully I'll get some more good ones here sometime.
And I know, this wasn't how to cook 101 (deceiving title, but it looks really neat!), but it is a little taste of what can happen when you start cooking. The title of my blog post is the main theme -- Welcome to My Oven. This is what I do; maybe you can think about sharing what you do. Cooking is grand. We all live off of it, we all enjoy it, and we all like seeing tasty things (no, we all like eating tasty things!). Not to dwell on the stomach or taste buds unnecessarily here, rather, it's the things you can do with cooking that should be emphasized. I think it's a great tool to help other with. How often do you make something for a family member- don't they love it (if it is good :) )? Even if it isn't great, the effort and care that goes into the action means a lot. So, pull out your mixing bowls, measuring cups, ingredients -- see what you can do to bring a smile to your loved ones' faces!

February Snapshots

I can't let February go by without a post. Especially since today is Leap Day! How special is that? In honor of this day to make up for that extra 1/4 day each year of 365 days, I'm posting a couple of this month's photos. It's been a snowy month - beautiful! And it's been busy for me. I am planning on blogging more when I have time. But for now, do enjoy a snapshot of February. I must now return to studying Cultural Anthropology (italicized to show my disdain for it! :) ), because I have a big quiz in it tomorrow. Happy Leap Day!

Isn't the view from my house spectacular?

Snow on our deck.

Cayce and I pose for a sledding-snow afternoon photo (Feb 26)

Matthew Shaffer and Cayce rolling a snowball down the hill.

Sabbath, February 11 with Silke at my house

Two of my best friends, Emily and Melissa, spent the weekend (Feb. 17-19)

A Briefing Of the Life and Works

It’s time for a simple blog update, one of those informal ones lacking amazing life parallels or composition worthy of college generals. I think that description fits most of my posts, but that’s because random expositions of writing are what I do best.

My life: Wake up and partake of 3-4 chapters out of the Bible, followed by a glass of water and various other morning activities- if it’s a day I go to school I come my hair and get dressed, but if not, I throw my hair into a pony tail and hit the computer for online classes in comfy rooster PJs. Twice a week I get to the college in Colville at about 9:00 to help in A&P lab, but other mornings I don’t roll in until 10:30 for precalculus class. I normally get math homework done as soon as possible after class, to maximize the value of the money I’m spending for Math 141. If I wait too long I maximize the money I’ve invested into taking a class from a real teacher, but I prefer to figure problems out on my own. I’m taking Cultural Anthropology and Music Appreciation online, so I have a little work to do for anthropology to stay up to speed- mostly a lot of reading, critical writing, and other things. I could sleep through music class- but I guess I kind of do since I don’t actually go to the classes- I assist in biology labs on the same day as music class, so I listen to the lectures on the computer. School is going great. So far I’ve not had to study much any weekend, and this is week 5. I come home and do random things then before I go to bed I read a chapter out of Patriarchs and Prophets- tonight I'll read chapter 31!

Having more time at home and for my own personal activates is a nice change of pace after 2 years of working fairly hard! I’m playing piano for the little Presbyterian church in a town south of me each Sunday, to save money for going to Europe this summer. I can’t wait to get a job- hopefully at the local feed store in Colville! In the meantime, I’m relishing time at home to BAKE and COOK (I’m looking forward to a future blog I’m going to post on this subject!) many good things, be with my family, have fun with the animals, and practice music.

My schedule this term at school is just what I needed. I’m incredibly happy with my life. I’m anxious to see how future plans unfold, but I’m confident that with prayer my path will be directed, as it has been to date! So, I’m hanging in here- alive and kicking! Plans are being made for an amazing summer- way different than it has been for years and years. And fall plans are unraveling. Until then, however, you can think of me as sitting happily in North East Washington- exactly where God wants me at this point in my life!

Time to Committ

Sometimes I wonder if I actually like distractions! Often it seems as if I go looking for them and bring them upon myself intentionally. However, as a part of my 2012 resolutions, I’m committing to using my time carefully because God is some day going to ask me to account for it (Romans 14:12). Thus, 2012 has a schedule for the school days, because these are the days I’m most inclined to go looking for excuses to staying on track.

Another way I’m going to discipline myself this year is through reading the Bible in its entirety and the Conflict of the Ages series! I’ve been incredibly blessed in the nine days of this year doing this and am excited to keep on track! (thanks to the nice cards passed out at GYC). My morning devotions include Bible reading and at night I lay in bed reading SOP on my iPod. This way I’m filling my mind with Christ morning and night. By God’s grace I’ll keep this up.

Having New Year resolution or two or three really doesn’t work too well if you don’t have the personality to stick with it. I vary in that attribute. Right now the year is young and I’m feeling strong. However, we all know how it goes; in a couple months things get put aside bit-by-bit. I have some accountability partners, which is a great help. I’m planning on blogging on the subject every once and awhile to keep it in my thoughts. I’d really encourage you to find some one to help you, prayer of course being the connection to God that can make anything happen, however, a friend that is hard on you is also great. I have a sister for that task!

My goals for this year: Read the Bible through and all 5 Conflict Series books, exercise every school day, spend some time outside every day, eat at least 1 raw vegetable a day(I must be a fruit/grain-atarian…), and spend time in prayer for the world SDA church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” Romans 8:37. And with this same conquering love of God, I will lay aside the distractions Satan tosses at me!

My Christmas Story

            Despite the fact that I have lived for twenty years and experienced twenty different Christmases, the feeling of Christmas is not something that I’ll discover with coming years. Yes, I fully believe that the true meaning and the true spirit of Christmas are connected to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as prophets foretold in the Holy Scriptures. This fact is very sacred and beautiful and will always be the same amazing story for the rest of time. However, all American children grow up picturing Christmas with great anticipation for presents, family, snow, laughter, traditions, Bing Crosby, It’s a Wonderful Life, and oh so many more components.  Yet, Christmas in feeling doesn’t get better with age, rather it reforms and morphs as an ever-changing event that is not the stable holiday known to boys and girls across the country.

            My memories of Christmas go back to very early in my life. I have very vague recollections of my toddler years in Seattle; Christmas lights. Definite memories of the holiday formed in my mind while living in Chehalis. Always our cute little imitation Christmas tree on a table and presents piled around it. Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Bob, my family- we all gathered for a classic American meal of turkey soup left over from Thanksgiving, apple pie, and other delectable goodies. Oh the love and laughter that floated around at that time of year. And then the memories that define Christmas as my standard; Port Orchard. Here Tanner and I discovered that Santa Clause was actually two people, two people that we knew quite well. We were quite happy to make this discovery since our intellects just told us we had been having our legs pulled. Christmas time took on the best elements during these years in Port Orchard. Since we lived just up the road from Oma, she instructed me in the art of Krumkake making; Norwegian Christmas dessert that her mother Olga Sakariason had passed down to her. We faithfully ate our Julegrøt- Norwegian Christmas Eve dessert made from cooked rice, with cream, butter, and cinnamon-sugar on top. Oma always came up for package unwrapping- our German/Norwegian family tradition on Christmas Eve. Traditions from our mother countries became ingrained in my life during these years. Traditions will always be a part of my Christmas and they do contribute to the feeling of Christmas, however they aren’t everything to my definition.

            Christmas day in Port Orchard meant that Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Bob would be coming over. We’ve been close to my dad’s family all my life. They knew how to make me feel important to them. In the earliest years of Port Orchard my Opa would be a part of our lives during Christmas, and sometimes even my mom’s brother and his family. I never can remember a Christmas that we all were together for a meal, but perhaps that occurred before my memory was functioning too well, back in Seattle. People came to our house for Christmas. Everything was perfect. Christmas was eagerly anticipated each year.

            And then. And then the Christmas feeling changed. First Opa died, but I was only eight years old, and didn’t know him very well. However, losing my first person I knew to death changed me a lot. Christmases went on much the same. They were still complete with the childish Christmas dreams I held. But after I was twelve, Christmas has changed forever. Uncle Bob passed away after a long, hard battle with colon cancer, he being the prime source of joy to my siblings and I from our extended family. He was the most amazing person who had a heart that loved his little nieces and nephew. His death has changed my life more than any other event.

            Family is the biggest component of Christmas. Of that fact I am so sure. No one loves you like family. When someone is missing forever from Christmas, it will never be the same. I long for the day when in Heaven the faithful will be reunited, but until then I know I will need to ever understand that no Christmas will never fit my imagination of a perfect Christmas.

            As I’ve learned things over the few years of my life, I’ve come to appreciate that celebrating the gift that God gave us on Christmas day (although I don’t believe that Christ was born on Dec. 25) is the most important part of a holiday. Family will come and go, but Christ is my Alpha and Omega- always there for me.

            Now I live somewhere totally different. Five Christmases near Kettle Falls and Colville has refined my theory on Christmas even more. The last two Christmases my Oma has been living with us. She is our one comfort of family. Dear Grandma and Grandpa celebrate with other family members on the west side of the state, while we do Christmas across the snowy state with church family. At least we are almost always guaranteed of snow over here. We enjoy the very best vegan meals here each Christmas, and truly enjoy the fellowship with good friends. Christmas changes in feeling but in spirit and meaning it will be the same all my life. One thing I can say, and that is thank-you God for sending us Jesus to give us the hope of salvation in Heaven one day soon.

Finite

We live in a world have haves and have nots. Some have what other don't have and other don't have what others have. Each one of us has the choice to make a difference in the quality of the planet we call home. It is our choice to choose how we will use the finite resources that God has provided planet Earth with. There are billions of hurting people who would give what they have to have what the don't have.
The individual choice of each man, women, and child influences the health of the planet. We live in a complex world where humans have a God-ordained supremacy- let us not abuse that power, but rather use it in stewardship to the planet to protect  biodiversity and habitats that God has created and man is destroying.
This world is alive. This video is a tribute to those that have died trying to protect her.

Sayonara

Nineteen years. It's my final day to be this age, and most significantly, the last day I'll be a teenager. When I look back at the ideas I had as a little kid about one day being twenty, I'm so glad that dreams don't always come true! At 6 I knew I was going to be married by twenty (hardy har har!), and I thought I'd be done with school. Yeah, and I was going to be running for president pretty soon after twenty (apparently the president of the USA didn't have to have a lot of education...). Or was I going to be a famous opera singer? I don't remember exactly.
Obviously I had some far out ideas. I had some good ones too. Thankfully, with age comes an ever expanding mind. I've learned so much in my 19.9999999 years that I thought I wouldn't learn until I was old. The decade of twenties is going to require a lot more maturity, but hopefully I'm up for the character challenge.
Nineteen has been a good year for me. I got my drivers license (oh yeah!) and thereby acquired a level of independence which I think has been really good. In the long run, I've made my own choices about my education and scholastic plans (we're not going there right now!). I've had to say goodbye to some people that I've been really attached too, which has taught me the valuable lesson that there's the time and season for wonderful teen years growing up with wonderful friends and family and then there's the reality that one day we do have to make up our own minds and move on. I've learned not to get depressed about that very fact. Nineteen has taught me that life is an adventure and that when directed and guided by wise counsel, it's exciting and can be used for the benefit of mankind.
But hey! I still have a lot of life to go. I don't know much! I'm not very old! Sometimes I feel like I'm about 15 still. :-) This is a blog post to just toss some of my brain's considerations out. I like looking back over my life and doing some analysis on my choices. Just the same, I like to look ahead and evaluate my future goals. Remember, THINK BIG! God has great plans for each one of us, let's not be afraid to let Him direct us to being the BEST that we can be!
Sayonara. Au revoir. Cheers.