Flying Solo

Wednesday 1 on 1 with Karen cont............

Our interview this month is my friend Karen Finley. Karen and I met a couple years back at one of our Fun and Frolic weekends with my precious friend and mentor Ann Platz. Karen has a beautiful story. She grew up the child of an evangelist and school teacher. She had wonderful success in the corporate world, and spent the last seventeen years working in conflict resolution for Bell south. She also has spent the last thirty years as a member of Mt. Paran Church in Atlanta, where she works with the Women’s Mentoring Program.

Karen, last week you shared with us the story of your fire and that day. What did you do in the days to follow?

 

My neighbor Peggy moved me upstairs with her where I spent the first week with her and her kitties. The cats saved all three of our condos. That week I had to be up and down the stairs meeting with insurance companies. I found out that our condo insurance company had to build me back as I was before the fire. That was a huge favor of the Lord. I only had $20,000 of insurance for the structure and that was not even a start.

In that early season I could not sleep. I was so scared, shaking like a leaf and all I could ask was why? Why Lord? Why me? With this fire, I almost went back to that emotional place I was following my divorce. But I cried out to the Lord and said I would not repeat that again. I have had 20 years of Bible studies and scriptures and as God as my witness I will never do that again…Scarlett O’Hara.
 
And finally I heard Him say…”Why not you? You are not exempt, my dear. You are my child and I will take you through all the fires in your life.”

 

How did you see God love you in your details?

ServPro came the morning after the fire and took everything out of the condo but the fabric. I have never seen so many boxes. A huge moving van came and left that afternoon with furniture and items that were in the condo. As James was handling the ServPro project, ask if there was anything he could do. I looked at the picture of my father that was chard and burned and started crying. The one thing I wanted in the estate of my parents was the picture of my father and Fido. Daddy was 10 years old. The glass rim was so black and I turned it over and cardboard was on the picture. James took a solution and put it on a cloth and wiped off the glass and the picture was there. Another favor of God. Then I really started to cry.

“Lord you are restoring what I love and have even protected some of these things.” Individual pictures of me and my brother were hanging on the wall. James wiped those and they looked as good as new too. This was a huge start for God working all things together for my good.

People in the neighborhood started washing clothes for me. They took up a collection for me at Mt Paran. I am going to have a Mt Paran sofa in my solarium for people from church to sit on and see beauty coming form the ashes. Lots of people took me to lunch at the OK Café to get me through this trauma.

 

 

Tuesday Tips

Thanksgiving tips If you are a guest...
By Andrew Boorstyn

- Arrive no earlier than the time the host has announced and no later than half an hour after the time.

- Plan to stay about an hour after dinner unless travel plans or sleepy children necessitate leaving earlier.

- Bring a gift and write a note of thanks afterward.

- Offer to help set up for dinner and to clean afterward.

- Notify the host of any special dietary needs -- if you are a vegetarian, diabetic or allergic to common foods. You can tell the host how to prepare a dish you can eat, or even better, offer to bring that dish yourself.

- If you're going to a potluck Thanksgiving, bring a serving dish with your contribution. Remember, the best potluck dishes are those that need minimal preparation in the host's kitchen, can be served at room temperature and require only a fork to eat.

http://www.rd.com/home-garden/thanksgiving-tips-for-hosts-and-guests/article13894.html

 

Got some of your favorite Tips you want to share? Email them to valencia@denisehildreth.com

 

Monday Musing

Our new favorite movie is Secretariate….
It begins with these words from the book of Job. “Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting? He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength and charges into the fray. He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing: he does not shy away from the sword. the quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance.”

From the first line of that movie you know this is going to be about something that is eternal. And it is. But I won’t give it all away here…

This passage comes from the moment God confronts Job. Job has lost his children. Job has lost all of his livestock and servants.  Job’s body is covered in painful, oozing sores. Job’s friends have accused him of harboring sin in his heart confirming that is why all of this calamity has come upon him. His wife has begged him to curse God. And Job has had some questions of his own. He’s been a good man. Lived a good life. Done what’s right. And now here he is. In hell…  It’s much harder for a “good” man to understand why he’s going through pain. Why he is suffering. Because “good” men shouldn’t suffer right?

There in lies our first issue. We have begun life from the wrong premise. There is no “good” thing in us. We came into this world layered in sin. The only good thing about us is that God indescribably loves us.

And God counters Job’s entitlement perspective beginning in one of the most beautiful couple of chapters of scripture that I believe there are in all of the Bible. Job 38-41 And He begins with these words, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” And then it starts…”Where were you?” Oh my….Where was I? Where were you?

When God was laying the foundations of the earth?
When God was giving orders to the morning?
When God made the clouds like a garment?
When God saw the gates of death?
When God shut up the sea behind doors?

The next time the spirit of entitlement sweeps over you, read these passages of scripture. And the vastness, the enormity of our uncontainable God will be made all too real. And the fact that He has privileged us with anything at all...in this season of Thanksgiving, should make us indescribably thankful...

Sunday Reflections

This is your time. Reflect with us about your week, your friends, or what God has become to you. This is your space. Your time.

Saturday Dinner and A Movie

Some of you might have never had a Fried Turkey. Well, any true southerner knows you can pretty much fry anything. Don’t believe me just watch Paula Deen. Trust me; she’s tried everything from Lasagna to chocolate. But if you’ve never had a fried turkey you don’t know what you’re missing. If you’ve got the time. Try it. And here’s Butterball to tell you how to do it.

Southern Deep Fried Turkey

Yield: 12

Ethnicity: New Southern American

Meal Type: Main Course, Entrée

Occasion: Thanksgiving, Superbowl, Fourth of July, Christmas

Preparation Method: Deep Fry
Product Type: Whole

Ingredients:
10 to 12 Pound WHOLE
TURKEY, non self-basting
2/3 Cup vinaigrette
1/3 Cup dry sherry
2 Teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning salt
1 Teaspoon garlic powder
1 Teaspoon onion powder
1 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
As needed peanut oil

1.  Remove the giblets and neck, rinse the turkey well with cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Take care to dry both inside cavities. To allow for good oil circulation throughout the cavity, do not truss or tie legs together. Cut off the wing tips and plump little tail as they may get caught in the fryer basket.

2. In a medium bowl, mix vinaigrette, dry sherry and seasonings together. Strain the marinade.
 
3. Place the marinade in an injection syringe. Inject the marinade in the turkey breast, thighs and legs.
 
4. Place the bird in a large plastic bag, refrigerate and marinate for at least 2 hours. Turn the bag and massage the turkey from time to time.
 
5. Drain the turkey from the marinade and discard marinade. Place the turkey in the fryer basket or on a rack, neck down.
 
6. Place the OUTDOOR gas burner on a level dirt or grassy area. Never fry a turkey indoors, in a garage or in any structure attached to a building. Do not fry on wood decks, which could catch fire, or concrete, which could be stained by the oil. (Safety tip: have a fire extinguisher nearby for added safety.)
 
7. Add oil to a 7-10 gallon pot with a basket or rack. At the medium-high setting, heat the oil to 375 degrees F; (depending on the amount of oil, outside temperature and wind conditions, this should take about 40+ minutes).
 
8. When the oil temperature registers 375 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer, slowly lower the turkey into the hot oil. The level of the oil will rise due to the frothing caused by the moisture from the turkey but will stabilize in about one minute. (Safety tips: to prevent burns from the splattering oil wear oven mitts/gloves, long sleeves, heavy shoes and even glasses. It is wise to have two people lowering and raising the turkey.)
 
9. Immediately check the oil temperature and increase the flame so the oil temperature is maintained at 350 degrees F. If the temperature drops to 340 degrees F or below, oil will begin to seep into the turkey.
 
10. Fry about 3-4 minutes per pound, or about 35-42 minutes for a 10-12 pound turkey. Stay with the cooker at all times as the heat must be regulated.
 
11. When cooked to 170 degrees F in the breast or 180 degrees F in the thigh, carefully remove the turkey from the hot oil. Allow the turkey to drain for a few minutes. (Safety tip: allow the oil to cool completely before storing or disposing.)
 
12. Remove turkey from the rack and place on a serving platter. Allow to rest for 20 minutes before carving.
 
13. NOTE: Use only oils with high smoke points, such as peanut, canola or safflower oil. To determine the correct amount of oil, place the turkey in the pot before adding seasoning and add water until turkey is covered. Take turkey out of the water before marking the oil level. Measure the amount of water and use a corresponding amount of oil. Dry the pot thoroughly of all water.

Recipe Source: Recipe by the National Turkey Federation 
 

No Holiday is not complete without a Charlie Brown Movie

 
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving    

The special opens with Lucy enticing Charlie Brown to kick the football she is holding. Charlie Brown at first refuses, correctly suspecting that Lucy will pull it away as always; but Lucy convinces him that kicking the football is a Thanksgiving tradition, and that being asked to do so is an honor. Charlie Brown decides that Lucy would never pull her trick on a national holiday, and ends up getting deceived and landing flat on his back once again. 
 

Fridays with Ken

Why do you think God entrusts some of us to greater storms?

He knows just what the vine needs to produce the best grapes.   Often the process is hard on the vine because it causes the roots to go deeper when all we really want is relief.  I like the way you stated the question because it is an act of trust on God’s part when we go through difficult seasons on the journey.

We talk so often of entering into the pain of our losses and storms. Can you explain this to our readers?

Pain is a natural indication of a problem…you experience pain when you break a bone.  Pain is valuable because it’s God’s way of letting us know that we’re in trouble.  Moving toward the pain will simply bring us closer to the very thing that God wants us to see.  In the seeing we come to realize that we need God’s help to engage the issues that He has brought to light.

 

Ken Edwards is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and has earned a Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling and a Master of Arts in Religious Education of Southwestern Seminary. But his discernment matches his education and for me often the greater gift. He lives with his wife Janet and three children in Franklin, Tennessee. And this is him enjoying what he loves, the mountains in Wyoming. Except he's usually behind the camera. And he has been kind enough to spend Friday’s with us. What he is offering us regarding his time is a gift. I hope we will take advantage of it.

 

Got Question's for Ken? Email your questions to valencia@denisehildreth.com

Thursday Thumbprint

A few years back I wrote this on my old blog…

Since Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, I wondered if we could spend them thinking about things we are thankful for. The idea came to me the other morning lying in bed with the cloud over my head about as gray as the cloud that loomed outside. I knew why it was there. It was that lovely week of PMS when all women take one moment to tell Eve how much they wish they could slap her. I'd ask for forgiveness when I was through, but I have to say there is a brief moment each month that it takes all I have to not despise the woman.

But as I was lying there I gave myself a task. Keep your eyes open for things to be grateful for. No complaining for the next two weeks. Only talking about what your thankful for. Now, granted this has been a year and a half of noticing all the beautiful places God has moved in my life in even a more real way than in years past, but this truly cognizant approach to my day had me quite amazed at all I saw. Here's my list for this past week. I challenge you to do the same this week and share with us what you noticed...

I'm thankful for makeup.
I'm thankful for Cromer's who makes the best boiled peanuts.
I'm thankful laughter, the kind that you feel in your gut and experience in your soul.
I'm thankful for tears that come right before healing takes place.
I'm thankful for people who are willing to be morticians, because Lord knows I would never do it!
I'm thankful every time I hear Maggie snore because that means she's still alive. (She's 14 on Christmas Eve...)
I'm thankful that Sophie doesn't care when baby Georgia pulls her hair.
I'm thankful that Georgia can laugh now because it is the most wonderful sound in the world...
I'm thankful for long car trips because it gives me time to catch up with old friends, listen to books on tape and sing to the top of my lungs.

 

Wednesday 1 on 1 with Karen cont.....

Our interview this month is my friend Karen Finley. Karen and I met a couple years back at one of our Fun and Frolic weekends with my precious friend and mentor Ann Platz. Karen has a beautiful story. She grew up the child of an evangelist and school teacher. She had wonderful success in the corporate world, and spent the last seventeen years working in conflict resolution for Bell south. She also has spent the last thirty years as a member of Mt. Paran Church in Atlanta, where she works with the Women’s Mentoring Program.

Karen, Last week you shared the pain of your divorce with us. You had another tragedy strike you a little over a year ago. Would you share that with our readers too?

It was April 16 2009 and my friend Joyce Leggett told me that at three am that morning she sat straight up in bed and said, “OH LORD Karen Finley is dead!” She didn't know what to do or who to call. She started interceding and covering me with prayer until morning. Finally she went to the phone and tried to call me.

It was 7:30 am. I was at the work out center where I work out every morning around that time and that day I was anticipating a great day of fun and frolic with some long term friends of 40 years. I didn't check messages and Kay, Wiletta, Sue and Gay met in LaGrange Ga. to have lunch with another friend of ours and see her antique store. We had a ball talking about old times and kidding each other. We were also celebrating mine and Kay's birthdays. Meanwhile Joyce was trying to call people who might know where I was. She was still disturbed over her call from the Lord early that morning; In LaGrange all of us had a grand time and started back to Atlanta at 3:15 and arrived home at 4:30. We made great time on the road.

I picked up my car at OK Cafe and headed home to my condo. I had purchased my condo in 1984 and knew it was God telling me to buy it at $77,000 and the address was 77 Chaumont Square. God's perfect number. As I rounded the corner I saw 5 fire trucks down at the end of the street and 2 more across the way. I thought some one is in terrible trouble.

I pulled into the condo and saw the door open and said, “OH MY GOD it is me.” You never know how you would react in a situation like this and I was very surprised at my reaction. I ran into 10 firemen in my solarium and dinning area and the solarium was burned to the ground. Only the structure was standing.

 
 

My sofa’s steel rim and springs were exposed. The T.V. was in ashes on the floor and the stand was burned to ground. Two Queen Ann chairs and a large blue chair were burned. Bookcases were burned with end tables on each side gone. I said to the Lord and looked up at the ceiling. "LORD I DO NOT WANT TO DRINK THIS CUP" and repeated it. Everyone's eyes were on me and I then said however I do trust you and you will pull me through.

The fire chief then walked up to me and said, “Is this your condo?”
I said with a sigh, “Unfortunately yes it is.”
He said, “Lady it is a good thing you were not here or you would be dead.”
1200 degrees went through my condo from that solarium. The curtains were an inferno with fibe glass all around the two sides of the room. They took gasses from everything and went on a rampage through the dining room, the iliving room and the three bedrooms with baths got the remainder of the fire. Black soot was on the ceiling in each room with heavy smoke webs like giant spiders everywhere.

The only damage on the condo above me was a hole in his solarium from the fire and some water damage. I then heard Peggy my 3rd floor neighbor saying, “Karen I am so sorry.” She was working from home that day and her cats were acting funny looking out the window. She went over and looked out the window and saw the smoke coming form my condo. She called 911 and the Cross Creek office. Gerald and Dan, our managers came and hooked up a hose and had the fire almost out by the time the fire trucks came. I have never seen such a mess in all my life. Everything I owned was affected.

 

Tuesday Tips

Thanksgiving Tips for Hosts and Guests
By Andrew Boorstyn
 

Want to be the perfect holiday host? Follow these tips on etiquette and entertaining, and your dinner companions are sure to be thankful.

- Plan to provide a traditional Thanksgiving feast, then be creative with side dishes.

- Whenever anyone offers to help or bring a dish, say, "Yes, thank you!"

- Use hollowed bread loaves for charming serving containers for cheeses, dips, olives, chips and small sandwiches.

- Once the table settings and centerpiece are in place, sit in each chair to make sure each guest will feel comfortable.

- Include favorite kids' foods, especially those they can eat neatly with their fingers.

- Provide at least one low-calorie dish and a vegetarian option. Then serve a sinful dessert.

- Completely clear the table of all dishes from previous courses before serving dessert.

- Fill the sink with soapy water so cutlery and small dishes can soak clean as the guests are finishing.

- Make it easy for guests who help you clean up to help you recycle. Place bins in the kitchen labeled "glass," "cans" and "trash."

- Keep club soda nearby to clean spots or stains on the tablecloth or clothing.

http://www.rd.com/home-garden/thanksgiving-tips-for-hosts-and-guests/article13894.html

Got some of your favorite Tips you want to share? Email them to valencia@denisehildreth.com

Monday Musings

I was recently reading the first chapter of Job. It’s the chapter where God offers Job up. Yes, you heard that right…God offers Job up. The angels come up to present themselves to God. Maybe to get their assignements. Maybe it’s the relief pitchers, going to take over for some others so they can come back and worship God and Satan shows up in the mix. God asks him where he came from. Not because God doesn’t know. He knew. He knew so well, He read right through what Satan offered him. “Oh, just roaming around.” Satan said.

God’s next question can take your breathe away. At least it did mine recently when the enormity of all of it overwhelmed me. “Have you considered my servant Job?” He asked.

Now, our first reaction is “Job, you just got sold out! God Himself just offered you up!” In my finite way of thinking the thought struck me the other day. If God knows everything, He knew that Satan was going to find someone to devour. After all, isn’t that what scripture tells us, “Satan is like a roaming lion seeking whom he may devour.” And God knew how few people would be able to withstand the assault that Satan brings their way. And don’t we know this is true? We see the carnage all the time, we see it in marriages, in lives, in families. Broken debris from the enemies assault. So, in “offering up” Job if you will, God was doing two things. One, He was saying, that “Job can handle it. Job is so steady. Job so trusts me. Job has so surrendered his heart to me, so lives with a heart of gratitude that no matter what he won’t turn his back on me.” The second thing God was doing was protecting a weaker man who would.

Do you know that when the storms of your life come your way God is doing the same two things. First, He knows, that you can handle it, if you’re willing to surrender even your darkest days to Him. Not everyone that can handle it does. No, very often when tragedy comes we succomb to the bitter place, the self-pity place. But God would never have allowed it to cross our path if first, He didn’t know that He could be all that we need. Second, in allowing us to walk through our storm He was possibly protecting someone else from one that could destroy them forever.

The next time the challenge comes your way, the next time the broken places of life find you, look up to heaven with a spirit of gratitude. Because the Creator of heaven and earth has just found you able…trustworthy…and He will supply all of your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus.