Thanksgiving 2012

I know this post is late but I figured since my annual holiday party is tomorrow I should probably post about Thanksgiving before I post  about my party.

I had this desire to cook a turkey this year.  I know you are thinking, why you are vegetarian. I know I  know.  Well Williams Sonoma, released this little Thanksgiving holiday cooking guide with a really cool recipe for a turkey and I thought I want to make that.  It also had a recipe for quonia that I made as well.  According to those who ate it, it was pretty good.  So I was able to make a great turkey without having ever tasted it.  Always tell people they can cook if they can read and follow directions.  It is priceless.  Here is a photo gallery of my turkey cooking experience.  Oh I did brine the turkey but I forgot to take pictures of that process and I cooked it in the slow cooker.

Sewing Adventure

Well this weekend was a friend of mine's daughter's 4th birthday.  I wanted to get her a good book.  To my disappointment I learned there were very few African American children's books.  I finally found the book 'I like Myself" by Karen Beaumont.  It is a great book.  I just wish there were more like them.  I made little bag for the book and the lose roll of quarters I added to make it seem like she had lots of money ( a roll of quarters equals $10).  She loved it. Which was great.  The bag is below.  It has some minor little mistakes.  Overall I think it is pretty good considering I did it without a pattern and it's lined.

Weekend at Callaway Gardens

I spent the weekend at Callaway Gardens for their annual hot air balloon show! It was a nice end of summer getaway. Here are a few pictures!

Patches

I took a picture of Patches this week to cheer up a friend and I realized I really liked it so I thought I would share it here!

Table for two/ wordless Friday lunch

View on morning run in Palm Springs

God's promise to me

The biblical meaning of a rainbow is the sign God gave Moses that He would never destroy the world by flood again. Found in Genesis 9. Today as I was seating in my living room I saw this rainbow which I kind of took as God's promise to me about my own story.

Sunday breakfast

Since I am rarely home in Sunday I decided to make homemade blueberry pancakes. You wonder how do you make them good ole flour, baking powder, soy milk, sugar and oil. Who needs bisquick?

Sabbath lesson for me

Today I attended Berean SDA church. Pastor John Boston spoke and shared the following story from his childhood.

Pastor Boston was around 10 years old and was being disobedient in Sabbath school and his father noticed and pulled him out of the class. He knew he was about to be physically disciplined by his dad. He thought of all the things he could say to get out of it. His father asked him to hold out his hand and then his father took off his belt. He knelt down before him, and his father started hitting himself on his knee and he asked Pastor Boston to cry. Mercy prevailed his father told him to act as though he was physically disciplined.

Pastor Boston brought his story full circle in that, that is what Jesus has done that for me and you. Christ Jesus died for me. But even more deeper than what Pastor Boston's father taught him that day, Jesus took the punishment I deserve for my disobedience/sin in well advance.

Father, help me think of of the sacrifice your son made on my behalf each time I am tempted stray from your will for my life.

Sabbath lesson for me

I attended Berean today for church and Pastor Russell spoke His scripture was James 4:1-6.

He highlighted what happens in the absence of humility

1. I missed this one
2. Ungodly desires create battles
3. End up with wrong motives
4. Take on the values of the world

He went on to the book of Matthew 26: 57-63, in these text Jesus is before the Sanhedrin, the powerful take away was the following;

Defend other people never defend yourself. When you know who you are you do not have to defend yourself.

BCJA 5K run

Sunday I was able to participate in a 5 K run  fundraiser for the church school I attended (a long time a go).  I finished in 31 minutes.  I was kind of excited I was just hoping for 35 minutes.  God is awesome.  The route had some serious hills that kind of discouraged me at time but I made it thru.  I just thought I would document the day.  We shall see what my next time will be! Stay tuned!

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting

This past week I had the privilege to go to prayer meeting something I have not been able to do on a constant due to working at Pottery Barn more than normal lately.

We had a guest speaker from one of the surrounding churches and he spoke on power.  He said the following with Biblical references which I did not get all of them.

1.  Man's power is perceived.  We as individuals give people power.  We make them powerful in our own eyes.

2.  The devil's power is permitted.  God allows the devil to have the power he has.  For example in the book of Job, the devil had to go to God to ask permission to cause calamity on Job, and God permitted it.  And the devil has to do the same thing with each of us.

3.  God's power is preeminent.  God is all powerful , need I say more!.

How awesome is that revelation, no man on this earth has power over us, only if we allow him/her to.  The things the devil tries to put in our way to hurt us God has permitted it because God knows we can handle it.  And God is all powerful and He knows how to adjust everything perfectly in our lives.  Thanks you Father!

Atlanta Botanical Garden

For Good Friday my mom and I went to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  I had  planned to go for my birthday but then I found out they are closed on Mondays.  They had a tulips in bloom exhibit that I was looking forward to seeing but unfortunately the tulips decided to decrease their blooming season, there was not a bloom in sight, one of the gardeners told me they had removed the remaining dieing tulips yesterday.  I was very disappointed however here are a few of the highlights.

My 36th Birthday

Today I celebrated my 36th birthday and it was great.  The celebration started a few days ago with me getting my eyebrows threaded and a manicure and pedicure with a friend of mine.  It continued with a party Saturday night thrown by a good friend, thanks CJ.  The theme was blooming sunflowers.  I invited my customary 12 people who can thus invite 12 people capping my entertainment abilities down to 24 people max.  We had a total of 13 people some people bought dates others did not.  I actually did not have a date which was actually ok, I had a great time.  Everyone painted  their own canvas using a bouquet of sunflowers for their inspiration.  You can see their final contribution on the last set of pictures below.  Thanks to everyone for making the party and my birthday awesome!

my birthday party dress

everyone's final masterpiece

Quotable Quote and Sabbath Blessing

Yesterday was Sabbath of course and I went to church  at Berean.  We had an unexpected speaker - Pastor Whitney Phipps.  He was good as always.  I spoke from Matthew and talked about how the Pharisee were trying to convert people to be like them and not like God.  They were legalistic.  He made the comparison of us today and we attempt to convert people to Adventist with the do's and dont't.

He made the quotable quote for the day by stating the following;

People fed pigeons however they shoot eagles.  I think about my own life.  I thought about  how people have no problem lulling you into mediocrity however they discourage you when are trying to make strides for yourself to succeed.

Quotable Quote

I found this quote/post card on a fellow bloggers blog and I thought it was worthy to share.  She found the postcard on this site.  I also found further elaboration on the site that I have included below that I thought was pretty poetic as well.

..."But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid." Einstein's quote reminds us to think twice before measuring ourselves (and others) against inappropriate standards.


Everyone has a different ability or particular "genius." Often, comparing yourself to someone else's abilities might mean overlooking what it is you are naturally more suited towards doing. In other words, stop being a fish trying to climb a tree and embrace your fishiness.  The point: We're not all made to be theoretical physicists. Aim for what you're good at, work hard for what you want, and don't beat yourself up when you can't do everything perfectly.