Remembering 9/11

I'll always remember that Tuesday morning.  Tweenager was just a baby back then ~ and I was still in my first trimester with Bubby.  In the midst of folding laundry and hearing "Sesame Street" in the background, the hubs called and told me that an airplane had flown into the North Tower.  I immediately flipped to the early morning news show, and sat horrified as I witnessed the second plane slam into the South Tower.  Even though they were trying to be professional, the news anchors were visibly shaken as they announced that America was under attack. 

I'll always remember the look on President Bush's face as he was informed of the breaking news.  In recent interviews, he admitted the feeling of rage and sorrow he felt at that moment, and at the same time, trying to keep it neutral so that he wouldn't upset the children surrounding him.

I'll always remember the sight of the buildings crashing down upon themselves, and horrified people running for their lives.  I'll always remember the looks of terror, devastation, and sorrow.  I'll always remember Mayor Giuliani walking around his city, asking people if they were okay.

I'll always remember seeing the Pentagon ~ the symbol of our military might ~ with a smoldering, gaping hole in its side ~ people again, fleeing in terror, running for their lives.

I'll always remember seeing the fiery, charred remains of an airplane in Pennsylvania.

I'll always remember feeling shocked and appalled that this would happen to MY country.  This was the USA.  No one ever messes with us, I reasoned.  What will become of us?  What will happen?  Will there be even more attacks?

Then, in the midst of the darkness, a song.  I'll always remember how Congress stood on the steps of the Capitol and sang "God Bless America". 

I'll always remember President Bush's telling us about the attacks.  The resolute, firm determination in his voice ~ in spite of the tears in his eyes ~ made me proud of my President and my country.

I'll always remember President Bush with the bull horn on Ground Zero saying, "I hear you, the world hears you, and pretty soon the people who did this will be hearing you."

I'll always remember the service where Franklin Graham spoke, reminding us that God didn't just "let" this injustice happen.  It happened because of sin.  All mankind were sinners, needing a Savior.

I'll always remember how fierce and determined the American Spirit was and is.  I'll always remember how we, as a nation, finally seemed to realize that we were, in fact, completely dependent on God.

I'll always remember.

My Home ~ My Ministry

TGIF ~ thank goodness it's Friday! Today is the final day of an incredibly busy week. This move has really done me in ~ physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I need to have order in my life, and having things in disarray for almost 3 weeks has gotten me down. Just as I try to organize things and get settled, something else needs to get done ~ laundry, cooking, general housework ~ did I mention laundry? I just couldn't get a handle on things and had fallen way behind. I was miserable!

Wednesday was the hardest. I felt like a complete failure as a wife, mother, and homemaker. My home was disheveled. I was exhausted. I broke down. I cried tears of frustration, anger, regret, and self-pity. Thankfully, my husband was home.

He quietly dismissed the children (who were flabbergasted to see their mommy have a major melt-down) and took me into his arms and let me cry. The solid strength of his chest and comfort of his arms allowed me to collapse into a sobbing mess. He stroked my hair and rubbed my back. He listened to my unintelligible mutterings.

When I was finally spent, he took my face into his hands. Looking deeply into my eyes, he began to compliment me ~ he told me how much he loved me, how much he appreciated the work I had been putting into our home, how lovely things looked that I had finished, and how happy he was that I was his wife. His sweet words uplifted me.

As I reflect back on my husband's love and patience, I can't help but think of Christ. He's waiting for me to bring my many burdens to Him. He knows the groanings of my spirit and wants me to share them with Him. Jesus loves me with an unconditional love. He is happy that I am His Bride. His precious Word uplifts me. And one day soon, He will say to me, "Well done."

Lord, help me to focus my thoughts toward You and to Heaven.

Boxes!

Since we've moved, I've been unpacking a plethora of boxes! We have boxes of every size, shape, and color. Although I tried to label every box, many got stuff thrown in at the last minute. You know how it is when you move. You start out all organized and label everything carefully, but by the end, you just throw stuff in boxes to get it out of the house and on the truck!

As I look at the 20 boxes that still litter my kitchen floor, bedroom, hallway and entryway, I begin to realize this is a spiritual metaphor.

Although I know what general items are in the boxes, I don't know the contents of each one individually just by looking at the outside. I search the contents and move each box from place to place, distributing the items where they belong ~ either to keep, store, trash, or set back for a garage sale.

We all have issues that burden us ~ hurts we keep in the imaginary boxes of our hearts. No one can tell the contents of our boxes just by looking at the outside. We can choose to distribute our items from place to place ~ keeping them within reach to allow anger or resentment to fester ~ storing them to revisit or to remind others how they've hurt us ~ setting them back to rehash with others. However, with God's help, we can choose to place them at the foot of the cross and let Jesus take them from us. In return, He will give us the grace, strength, and mercy we need to go on.

"Come unto me," Jesus urges. "All ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Salt

Disclaimer: This isn't a post about hospitality like I had planned. The Lord laid this on my heart early this morning. Hello. My name is Shelly ~ and I'm a die hard Food Network Junkie. I've been known to watch the Barefoot Contessa for an hour straight, even though I may have already seen the episode. I enjoy Paula Deen and Giada at Home. I actually bite my nails during Iron Chef and will admit that I've shed tears at the reveal during Restaurant Impossible. My kiddos love seeing how things are made on Unwrapped, and they absolutely adore Cupcake Wars. In fact, the hubs has been know to watch a little bit of "Triple D" (when nothing else was on, mind you!). My cooking as improved immensely ever since we had satellite installed ~ Food Network available. The hubs has even declared that it pays for itself because of the delicious, new dishes I've brought to the dinner table. I've picked up little tips and hints over that past years, but one that amazes me over and over is the use of ~ salt. Salt actually enhances and brings out the sweetness in sugar. I tried an amazing chocolate bar a few months ago that was a bittersweet chocolate laced with ~ of all things ~ sea salt. It was incredible! Salt also brings out the sugars in veggies, especially onions. I love sauteing onions in butter ~ there's nothing quite like that smell ~ and I add in a little pinch of salt. It causes the moisture in the onion to evaporate, and the natural sugars come out and caramelize the onion into tasty goodness! I also love roasting veggies, chicken breasts, and pork tenderloin with a mixture of salt, pepper, and olive oil. It's simply amazing what the salt does! I also have learned to toss in a good amount of salt when I'm boiling potatoes, rice, or pasta. None of these items have much flavor on their own, but when you add salt ~ flavor! Not only does salt season food, it also preserves food. I used quite a bit of pickling salt last summer during my pickle-making episode. I've seen Ina Garten use a rub of kosher salt and dill plus other spices to make gravlox. Salt can also used as an abrasive. Rachael Ray uses a bunch of coarse salt and garlic to make a garlic paste. I've seen Martha Stewart clean tarnished copper pans with a paste made of nothing but salt and a lemon wedge. Although inedible, rock salt melts the ice and keeps one from slipping on it. Salt. Who would have thought? Something so inexpensive and readily available can improve almost anything! I've now become a bit of a "Salt Snob". I have four different types of salt in the cabinet right now. Regular table salt ~ I bake and finish foods with it. Kosher salt ~ I cook with it all the time. Pickling salt ~ umm ~ I make pickles with it. I've also used it in baking since it dissolves so quickly. Coarse sea salt ~ I finish dishes with it when I want a salty bite, like on the crust of Chicken Pot Pie. As I did my little study on salt and its uses, the Lord reminded me of his command from the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5:13) "Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." Also, the Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle (Colossians 4:6) "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." That got me to thinking, "What kind of salt am I?" First of all, only the genuinely born-again person is salt and can help meet the needs of the world. Just as salt adds flavoring, acts as a preservative, melts coldness and heals wounds, we are called to do the same. Which brings me back to the question ~ What kind of salt am I? Do I enhance and bring out the sweetness of Christ in my life? Do I add a liveliness/flavor? Do I warm people, or leave them out in the cold? Are my words wholesome and encouraging? or am I too abrasive? If I "loose my savor", then I loose my effectiveness as a Christian. My "testimony will be trampled under the feet of men." So, my dear sister, "What kind of salt are you?"