When They Saw the Star

Here is our youth choir this past Sunday singing one of our new favorite songs. Mind you, it may not be the best quality! God bless you all and Merry Christmas! Enjoy the video :)

When they saw a star - Youth Choir of Slavic Pentecostal Church of Rochester, NY from spchurch on Vimeo.

Strange Way to Save the World

Why me? I'm just a simple man of trade.
Why Him? With all the rulers in the world...
Why here inside this stable filled with hay?
Why her? She's just an ordinary girl.

Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the world

 This song speaks for itself, give it a listen. 
Merry Christmas everyone!

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

Yummy Soup/Chili for the cold winter months :) It's like giving your tummy a big warm hug!

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped
  
  
  1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
  
  
  1 (15 ounce) can black beans
  
  
  1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
  
  
  1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  
  
  1 cup chicken broth
  
  
  2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained (I actually forgot this ingredient when I made it)
  
  
  1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
   
  3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  
  
  shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
  
  
  sour cream (optional)
  
  
  crushed tortilla chips
  
  
  
  

  Directions

• Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, beer, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 5 hours.
• Remove chicken breasts from the soup, and allow to cool long enough to be handled. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup, and continue cooking for 2 hours. Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.  

•  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Taco-Soup/Detail.aspx
   

Some Thoughts

"Religion is what sinful people try to do for a Holy God. The Gospel is the Good News of what a Holy God has already done  for sinful people."

And praise Him for that!! Something else I am thankful for: the closing of this semester! Phew, nursing is tough. Today was my final exam! One more micro exam and I'm done. What's next? Relaxation...? Reading novels? NOPE! A crazy month. Maybe I'll post about it later. Let's just leave it at the fact that I can't finish this year without God leading me. God bless you all in your day of rest tomorrow.

Go.

 "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near." -Matthew 10:7

To go means to proceed, to be in motion, to rise up. Refusing to continue sitting in my comfort zone. To step out from my own desires and to GO. 

 Going to NYC has been a lesson to me about doing something for God's Kingdom. Sometimes when I'm there I think to myself "Am I doing anything of worth here?" This weekend I was contemplating that inward war wondering if this trip was a God-sent mission or just something I do to just do.  Then God sent us to a broken neighborhood.

    This is a house on that street. It is completely tipped over to the point where someone could climb into the basement from the outside. The house we were working on (2 houses down from this one) was flooded to the ceiling at one point during the storm. The house owner was naming off people who had passed away due to drowning or being swept away by a wave. At that point we could only listen to the nightmarish story. I knew at that moment that God not only sent us to help this family with their house, but to hear their story. We took a burden off them in many ways. I pray that this family comes to know the peace of Christ in their hearts, the light in the midst of utter darkness. Join me in prayer.   

More About Sandy Relief Missions

Honestly, it's hard to believe that I have been able to take a total of 3 trips to NYC this past month. It is unbelievable that I am able to go during the semester while in nursing school and in a high level biology course. God has been making miracles, what can I say! Each trip has been so dear to my heart, I will forever remember the families we helped, the things I saw and the people I had the opportunity to become close friends with. It really has been an adventure.

Here is our team on Coney Island. We came into this Buddhist couples house mid-day. We started by removing everything from the 1st floor and throwing things out. Then we began to remove all the tile from the floor, let me tell you, that is super hard work. 1st timers were shocked that we were doing something so dangerous! I thought that was silly until I thought about it, it really is not safe because when you hit the tile, little pieces fly all over, it could easily hit someone in the eye and cause damage. God protects us when we are doing His work and being His hands and feet! Removing the tiled floor took most of the day. We also removed the bottom half of the wall if you can see it to the left. The flooding reached about 3 feet into the house, and mold could grow 2 feet above that, meaning we removed about 5 feet of dry wall.

Here I am doing my best to remove the tile. Let me tell you that medal pole thing is heavier than it looks!

It's been a blessing to visit these places. And I will keep encouraging everyone to go help out! There is SO much to be done. People are waiting, living in the mold, hoping someone would help. They can't afford moving into a safer home. What an opportunity to share God's love!!

The Adventures of Dee in Regular Life

Every day is an adventure.
These moments are not based on a true story- they are based on true moments: hence, "a blog about life". Brace yourselves...

-The moment when I feel so confident in my driving backwards skills. I end up in the neighbors lawn (fail).

-The moment when I let the dog out without a leash and he runs off on his own walk without permission (stubborn animal).

-The moment when the dog growls at me (Who does he think he is? I am master).

-The moment when I am singing and washing dishes, mom says I sing like a black lady (best compliment ever).

-The moment when dad tries to convince me that buying 35 POUNDS of raisins is a good idea. 35lbs, 35 dollars (frugal?).

-The moment when I figure out part of the Poplavskiy OCD gene is in my DNA as I continue dusting. With a Q-tip (It's in my blood).

-The moment when I find a half used, old looking pack of Russian amoxicillin on the counter. We were talking about antibiotic resistance in 3rd world countries in micro that morning (OTC antibiotics, anyone?).  

"Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments." Rose Kennedy

Buffalo Chicken Soup

My mom's reaction "Diana, it so good, but too spicy." It was perfect to everyone else! Some people cannot handle hot sauce. This soup turned out really yummy, partly because I added my own spin on it*.

 

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

3 stalks celery, diced (I didn't have celery so I added one medium carrot, graded)

1 Small onion, diced

 

1/4 cup all-purpose flour (We ran out of everything except whole wheat flour)

3/4 cup half-and-half cream (Seemed too fattening so I used our 2% milk, and it was still perfect)

3 cups water

  

1 cube chicken bouillon (All I could find was pork bouillon... strange but it worked. lol)

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce, or more to taste

1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (Mozzarella is fine too)

1/2 cup rice (not part of original recipe)

 salt and pepper to taste (+ billions of different seasonings that I thought smelled good, can't even name them.)

*When saying I added my own spin, I mean I couldn't find half the ingredients so I had to use what I could find.

Directions

 Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat; cook the celery and onion in the melted butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the flour and allow to cook until absorbed, about 2 minutes more. Slowly stir the half-and-half and water into the mixture. Dissolve the bouillon in the liquid. Stir in the chicken, buffalo wing sauce, and Cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stirring occasionally, allow the soup to simmer until the the cheese has melted completely, about 10 minutes.

 

I am notorious for not following recipes. So you try something new, who knows it might be delish!

 

original recipe link: 

 http://allrecipes.com/recipe/buffalo-chicken-soup/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=buffalo%20chicken%20wing%20soup&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe%20Search%20Results  

November 21st

I do not know if I am the only one with this memory, but I feel I should share just to check to see if any one else can relate.

 I remember all the kids gathered around a big calender and the teacher lady went around to each of my peers asking with enthusiasm, "When is your birthday, *insert name*?" Finally this strange tall lady asks me that same question. My palms get sweaty and my heart races.

I don't know.

Teacher probably had to look it up.

The End.
------------------------------------------
A sad story indeed. Considering I was a wide-eyed 4 year old in preschool, that was a scary moment. I was sure to practice saying my birthday in my head from then on. Anyway, that day is today. Happy Birthday to me! November 21st. 20 years old. Landmark moment. I have a path ahead of me. And now here is a song that really touched my heart: 

Already There

From where I'm standing Lord it's so hard for me to see Where this is going And where You're leading me I wish I knew how All my fears and all my questions Are gonna play out In a world I can't control

Oh, oh

When I'm lost in the mystery To You my future is a memory Cause You're already there You're already there Standing at the end of my life Waiting on the other side And You're already there You're already there

Oh, oh, oh, oh

From where You're standing Lord, You see a grand design That You imagined When You breathed me into life And all the chaos Comes together in Your hands Like a masterpiece Of Your picture perfect plan

When I'm lost in the mystery To You my future is a memory Cause You're already there You're already there Standing at the end of my life Waiting on the other side And You're already there You're already there

One day I'll stand before You And look back on the life I've lived I can't wait to enjoy the view And see how all the pieces fit (x2)

One day I'll stand before You And look back on the life I've lived Cause You're already there You're already there When I'm lost in the mystery To You my future is a memory Cause You're already there You're already there Standing at the end of my life Waiting on the other side And You're already there You're already there

You are already there

Sandy Relief Weekend

Looking back three weeks ago, I never would have imagined what was to come. Two weeks ago I had no idea that one of the largest storms to hit New York would be on it's way to reek havoc on us. Even more so the idea of going to NYC to provide relief for the storm was not on my list of things to do. It all simply happened. I love how God does that. He does exceedingly above all I dream of and could possibly imagine.

This is what the typical street on Staten Island looked like (more towards the beach). Filled with 1. Debris 2. People (residents and volunteers) 3. Supply trucks/vehicles 4. People giving away food, supplies, clothing

  You would see this typically in front of each house. Our team pretty much spent the entire day tearing down a basement.

Our living quarters. You just gotta love waking up on an air mattress with your body sinking to the floor!! By the way we were located in a convent! I totally felt the holiness of the previous nuns rub off on me!

 

We spent day two moving stuff from this basement which was filled to the rim and ceiling with boxes/bags of clothing and blankets. 

Spending two weekends in NYC is something I will never forget. If you ever get the chance to go out and be a help to someone in need, you should go without questions. 

Free Song Download- Holy Sprit by Jesus Culture

Here it is: this week only we're giving away a free track from the new Jesus Culture New York album! Get it and let a friend know! 

http://JCw.bz/nytrack
  
(Make sure you click save file when you download it, not just open)

Apple Squares

  Sounds plain? Yes. BUT... They were so moist and yummy, not plain after all! I was surprised! I added a caramel glaze on top while it was still warm (apple dipping caramel). PS don't test it with a toothpick, it won't come out clean because it is very moist. Simply bake it for allotted time and look for it to be semi firm and bounce back when you touch it.

(Recipe makes 1 9x9-inch pan)

Ingredients

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped apple

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

2 tablespoons white sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x9 inch pan. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of white sugar with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture until just combined, then stir in the apples and walnuts. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the remaining cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over the top of the bars.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in preheated oven; finished bars should spring back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan, and cut into squares.

 http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Squares/Detail.aspx

Hereditary Disposition

"I have a heredity I had no say in; I am not holy, nor likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is tell me I must be holy, His teaching plants despair. But if Jesus Christ is a Regenerator, One Who can put into me His own heredity of holiness, then I begin to see what He is driving at when He says that I have to be holy."

http://pinterest.com/pin/277745501989485073/

"Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into any man the hereditary disposition that was in Himself."

-My Utmost for His Highest

Superstorm Sandy

60 million people have been effected by this storm. It is massive. I am so grateful to God that our family has been safe. I woke up this morning and looked out the window to see that my neighbors tree toppled over into their driveway, good thing no cars were hit. And looking into our backyard, a lot of work is to be done picking up debris and branches!

  I was only able to pick up some branches, I gave up because there was too much!

These neighbors took extra precautions to keep their trampoline from flying away.

Interestingly enough just a few days ago we were singing this with the Sunday School kiddos, unaware of what was to come:

The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the wise man's house stood firm.

I realized how prophetic this song was as I read from Matthew 7 last night during the peak of the storm, Jesus said: 
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."

Do not get me wrong, I am not reffering that those who suffered damage to their homes are guilty of having the wrong foundation in life, because that I do not know. I just thought that it was ironic of God to have me read that exact passage last night as the wind was beating down on our house. Let us all take a moment to thank God for securing those who are safe and ask Him to provide for those who are suffering on account of this storm.

Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients:

2 egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
14oz package shredded coconut (I used the whole pack)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat the egg whites until peaks begin to form.
Gradually begin to add sugar.
Add vanilla and salt.
Continue beating until stiff peaks form.
Stir in the coconut.
Drop the coconut onto a cookie sheet using a tablespoon.
Bake 18-20 minutes.
Garnish anyway you desire. I like putting them into colorful cupcake cups and drizzling with milk chocolate.  

*This is Lesya's recipe*

The Cross

"The cross of Jesus Christ is the signature symbol of the central event in the history of civilization. Yet today we depict the cross as common. Jewelers pound it into all sorts of finery so we can staple crosses to our ears and wear them around our necks. Merchandisers manufacture this symbol of unlimited atonement into fuzzy things for our rearview mirrors or decorations for our gardens. From tea

cups to t-shirts, people have used the cross to corner the market on crassness. Department stores hawk chocolate-covered crosses for Holy Week. Baseball players and businessmen cross themselves before a big moment. The cross itself has become big business, but it was never intended to be some lucky trinket. Making the cross common or cheap is profanity in the truest sense. Is it any surprise we have lost the wonder of what happened on Calvary?

 The resurrection of Christ was the event that accomplished salvation and verified Christ's victory over death, but it was the cross of Jesus Christ that showed us the grace of God. Everything that God wants us to know about Himself comes together in those crossbeams.

Our entire purpose in life is to elevate the Cross. Think on Jesus Christ nailed to the wood. In your mind's eye, picture Him stretched out against the sky. What's He doing up there? Answer: He's subbing for you and me. He's taking God's wrath for your sin. He's satisfying the just demands of a holy God. He's paying the price that God's holiness requires so that you and I can be forgiven. In the place where our blood should have stained the ground, Jesus hung as our substitute.

You can't understand the Gospel until you understand this idea of substitution. Jesus’ death was in the place of every person who has ever lived. I am in that line. You are too. Each of us deserves to die in punishment for our own sin, but Jesus stepped in and took that penalty for each of us."

Thanks Vitaliy B for sharing this!  
Photo Credit:
 http://pinterest.com/pin/195554808790493193/

To Those In the Valley

Why are you in this place? You do not understand.
  Waking up has become a chore. You feel like you are being crushed by a load.
Each day gets heavier and harder. Frankly, you do not know why.
  You cannot explain this simple state of drudgery. The valley is dark and lonely.
Your thoughts are constantly swirling round and round, you are lost in them.
 Peace does not exist. You turn off the music, but then the silence proves to be even louder.
  You think: Where do I stand? Where is my Savior?

http://pinterest.com/pin/80853755779643200/

My Child. That is who you are. My child. Formed by My hands. The breath of My life is in you. Remember the mountaintop where I showed you My glory? We grew as one, our hearts beat in unison. You saw My power. That is why you are now in the valley. I have lovingly placed you here. I desire to explain the vision to you, and I can only do this here. This is where your faithfulness is revealed. This is where I show you your true worth as My child.

Love, your Father.

  

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 pinch ground cloves

1 pinch ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

I did not think of this recipe! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Double-Layer-Pumpkin-Cheesecake-2/Detail.aspx

Pour Out

"She was desperate to see Jesus again, and she overheard someone saying that he was having dinner at the home of Simon the Pharisee- a dinner she would never be invited to, not in a thousand years. Of course, she normally would have no interest in attending. But she had to see Jesus. It's hard to imagine what it would take for her to walk into that courtyard. But she was so focused on Jesus that she forgets about herself. She is desperate to express the love and affection she feels for Him. What she does next is reckless, it's impulsive, it's inappropriate, and it's exactly the kind of follower Jesus wants."

"Picture the scene. Jesus is reclining at the table.This woman approaches and stand at the filthy feet of Jesus. The table grows silent. Everybody is watching. Everybody knows who she is. What is she doing? She looks around at the guests. She feels from some that familiar glare of condemnation. Others keep their eyes down, embarrassed by her presence and the awkwardness of the moment. But when she looks at Jesus, He seems to know what has happened in her heart. He gives her a warm smile. He seems delighted that she has come, and He looks at her with the eyes of a loving father watching His beautiful daughter as she enters the room. She has never had a man look at her that way before. She is so undone by that that the tears come, just a few at first, and then more. She falls to the ground and begins to kiss His feet. Soon, the tears are just pouring down her face. They begin to drip onto the dirty feet of Jesus. As she looks at the muddy streaks she suddenly realizes that His feet haven't been washed. She can't ask for a towel, so she lets down her hair. In those days women always wore their hair up in public. For her woman to wear her hair down in front of a man that was not her husband was considered to be such an intimate expression that it was literally grounds for divorce. When she did this there was likely an audible gasp. She begins washing the feet of Jesus with her tears and drying them with her hair."

"Then Luke says she had an alabaster jar of ointment. Most likely this refers to a flask that was often worn around the neck as a kind of perfume for women. As you might guess, because of her profession, this flask was quite important. She had used it a drop at a time many, many times, for many men. But now she empties it. She just empties the whole thing out. She will not need it anymore. She pours this flask, her life, on His feet, and kisses them over and over."

-Not a Fan: Teen Edition: What it really means to be a follower by Kyle Idleman 

Those Stars are like a Rainbow

It is a simple group of seven stars. I remember the first time I found them. It was the night after that elementary school lesson about the "great, wide and unsearchable universe". Accomplishment. Joy. Pride. That's what I felt as I gazed up at the night sky. I felt like a grown up.

In high school I would learn more about this constellation. Throughout those years whenever I came home from coffee with the youth, or a late church service, I would stop and look. In my skirt, by my still closed garage, I would stand there in the darkness. Sometimes alone, sometimes with my sister. Just looking.

This summer I found myself halfway around the world, in Buryatia, Russia. Before crawling into the tent, or during a camp fire, I would look up. Finding that group of stars became something incredible. Sometimes all I needed was a glance, "this is the same big dipper in Rochester..." I would think.

The same stars can be located no matter the season, year or location.
 They remind me of God. Through them He gently says:

"Diana, I am the same forever and always."     

"I watch over those beautiful children in Russia."

"I am like that ladle, constantly pouring out my love for humankind."

So as I drove home last night, I saw the big dipper again.
I'm like Moses and the stars are like a rainbow.
God's voice proclaims His promise:

"I will not leave you, I love you abundantly, I am never ending, I am the great I AM."

http://pinterest.com/pin/29062360064877034/

The Big Dipper.

:)

Torture, oh Torture!

Torture, oh torture!
Inside and out
My blood has been spilled
On the ground all about
No pain can compare
To the ache that I feel
My wounds are too deep,
They won't ever heal.

Torture, oh torture!
I gave you My heart
You threw it away
You tore it apart
Pretending that I
Was worth nothing to you
You treasured the old
And cast out the new.

Torture, oh torture!
I wanted to heal
You fled from My care
You wanted to steal
I mourned for My loss
I cried out your name
You left Me alone
With nothing but shame.

Torture, oh torture!
I offered you grace
You laughed at my tears
You spit in My face
They shouted and cheered
You joined in the throng
They wanted Me dead
You joined in the wrong.

And still My heart cried out to you.

Torture, oh torture!
My vision goes black
These nails bite My wrists
This cross burns My back
If only you knew
The truth of it then
If only for you I'd go through it again.


Thank you Myron Vasilik, for allowing me to share this poem.

Homemade Hummus

Ahhh I forgot how much I love spending the evening in the kitchen! I baked some pie pumpkins to make pumpkin pie for the future (freezers work miracles), made raspberry pretzel jello for our neighbor (long story) and hummus! If you do not know, I am a student, a nursing student to be exact. I'm not exactly made of money, so this is a "frugal" approach to enjoying hummus (which can be quite expensive!) All props go to Moneysavingmom.com where I found this recipe!

http://allrecipes.com/Cook/11694711/Photo.aspx?photoID=471245

Homemade Hummus

Price Per Serving: $0.05 (1/4 cup)
Recipe Yield: 1 1/2 cups

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (about 3/4 cup dry) — see cooking notes below
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all of the ingredients other than the water into a quality food processor or blender and let it do its thing.
2. Add some water 1/4 cup at a time and continue blending, scraping down the sides occasionally if needed. You can add more or less water than suggested, depending on your desired consistency.
3. Enjoy!

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

To cook dried chickpeas, first soak them over night in cold water. Then, bring the soaked chickpeas to a boil in plenty of water and reduce the heat to a simmer for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours until tender. Leave the lid of the pot tilted slightly to allow some of the steam to escape. If you’d rather, you can cook them in a slow cooker instead.

If you’d rather just use canned chickpeas (already cooked), just realize that you’ll probably be paying more like $0.12 to $0.15 per serving instead.

 http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/09/easy-homemade-hummus.html

Healthy, yummy, simple. :)  Enjoy your week!

Date-less Distress (For All the Single Ladies and Guys)

To be single.
For some, that is a distressing thought. For many I have met, to be single means to be missing something (namely, their "second half"). Everyday I see young men and women in this world searching for a soul mate. They desire to undergo the transition from single to pair, and they want it NOW!
I believe we as humans are fashioned beautifully. God has made us as creatures who desire a significant other. We dream of that one person who will complete our soul by fitting their heart perfectly into the ragged edges of our heart. It is not good for man or woman to be alone.
So then the question comes to timing.
What if it is not our time to be searching for our other half? What if there lays a treasure before us, waiting to be opened? The treasure of singleness is not made to be ignored, pushed aside or treated with contempt. In it we can find the gold of time, the gem of ministry, the sapphire of serving and the crown of intimacy with Christ.
Careful, lest we look past this treasure and gaze too much into the horizon. That other treasure will be given to us at the right time.

So I do not know about you, but I'm taking hold of the treasure before me. When Uncle Fedya calls and instead of engaging in small talk (like normal people), asks if I am engaged; or when someone asks if I have a boyfriend, I will not be discouraged in my singleness!
Let the haters hate and the babas gossip, I'm single and content where I am in this season of life. How about you?

http://pinterest.com/pin/75787206199373347/

-Diana, 19, date-less and not in distress.

     

Southern Peach Cobbler

 

A delicious cobbler that intensifies in taste when eating and speaking in a southern accent. 

Anyway, you can add any kind of fruit into this cobbler... I imagine blueberry would be simply the bomba!

Ingredients

• 8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
•  
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup boiling water
•  
• MIX TOGETHER:
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.
4. Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes. 

Thank you Allrecipies.com! This website app on my phone always lets me search the best rated recipes according to what I have on hand. Very helpful. Click HERE for the link to the site.

Cell Group Meeting

    
     In our cell group we are currently reading and discussing the book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris. Frankly, we are having an incredible time growing together and learning about purity. This book is not only about dating, it describes a way of Christ centered love for ALL relationships. Here is an excerpt of what we read yesterday.

     "I fear that God might forget me. Instead of trusting in His perfect timing, I often try to take things into my own hands. I grab my life's calender from God and frantically begin to pencil in my own plans and agendas. 'God I know your omnipotent and all that,' I say... Eventually I sheepishly hand back the scheduling of my time, energy and attention, saying, 'Of course I trust You, Lord, but I just think You could use a little help.'"

     "Do you believe that God knows best? Then place your life's calendar at His feet and allow Him to handle the scheduling of your relationships. Trust Him even if it means not dating when other people think you should. When God knows you're ready for the responsibility of commitment, He'll reveal the right person under the right circumstances."

     "'For I know the plans I have for you,' God says, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future' (Jer 29:11). Let's live our todays for His kingdom and entrust our tomorrows to His providence."

     "We couldn't lay our futures in better hands. All we have to do is trust."

Presenting Self to God

While The World Watched (Kindle Edition)

 

Get this book for free on your kindle/kindle app on smart phone/computer by going on this link:

http://www.amazon.com/While-the-World-Watched-ebook/dp/B004JZYB20/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347234382&sr=8-1&keywords=while+the+world+watched 

(it should say the price is $0.00, if not, then the deal is over)

 "Not many young people can pinpoint the exact date, time, and place they grew up and became an adult. I can. It was September 15, 1963, 10:22 a.m., at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama."

While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry (with Denise George) is a moving memoir of horror and forgiveness. What struck me almost every page is that this happened less than 50 years ago. The title kept being played in my head with the question, "How could the world simply let this happen?"

The book details the accounts of the murders of Addie Mae Collins, Carol Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley who died when Sixteenth Street Baptist Church was bombed. More than that though, it details the struggles of of the civil rights movement through the eyes of the author. It is simply an amazing account of two wars. One, the fight for equality for Black America, and two, the fight for meaning in the heart of a young girl who was forever changed in a moment.

I have to admit that I did not think I would enjoy this book. I assumed it would be of the "all whites are evil" variety. It was nothing of the sort. There was horror, but there was also hope. There was tragedy, but there was also triumph. There was hatred, but it was not ultimately returned - there was forgiveness.

As I finished, the same question continues to haunt me, "How could this happen?" And yet tragedy continues to flourish and the world still remains silent.

(Amazon Review)

I cried because this horror took place just 50 years ago. The depth of hatred is portrayed in such a real way. I really recommend this book, it is a thought provoking read! (And it's free

The Adventures of Dee in Nursing School

Do you not love that feeling of fresh ball point pens and highlighters? The feel of opening that new pack of index cards?! I DO! The next two years are going to be rough, but as long as I find joy in the little things, I'll get through it. Today was our first "clinical", not yet in the hospital (we have no idea what we are doing). We had time to practice basic skills such as checking and listening for pulse, blood pressure, checking temperatures and donning sterile gloves. I was serious when I said we are clueless. I will always remember the moment when the poor lady got the poor thermometer probe stuck in the rectum of the poor dummy hiney. Hey, last I heard, apparently you learn from mistakes. So better make mistakes now and not get probes stuck in people's hineys later.

PS: I'm having so much fun :)

He Simply Wants Us.

I'm really having trouble writing a caption for this. Let's just think about this truth, saturate our souls in it.
I once caught myself praying "Lord, help me surrender this part of my life to You." But if this prayer is studied, there is a visible mistake. I don't need to surrender a part of my life to Him. I need to surrender my entire life to Him. He wants US.  

Back to School

Today was my first day back at college, and after an amazing summer... going back to school feels almost normal. Schedules, books, parking and sitting next to Dasha in biology lectures, I'm used to that kind of stuff. As we were in the hallway we discussed how this summer was like a dream, and now it is time to get back to reality.
Anyway in my lovely community college, the first semester always has a plethora of new students arriving. Which means NO parking spaces. Good thing that I don't mind walking. But then, God decided to let it rain. In fact, He let it pour. So I had to run outside to my insanely far parked car in the rain. It reminded me of running in the rain in Buryatia with Mia.Only she was not there with me :( So I ran with a smile and laugh, making the most of it.
I hope who ever is back in school has a blessed semester. Now I'm just anxious for my first nursing class. Let the studying, running around, lab, lecture, conference, number two pencil days begin again!

Mom's Zucchini Bread

If you have never tried zucchini bread I suggest you try out this recipe! I think it is delish :)

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool. 

 

Props to Allrecipies.com for providing me with this recipe! Find the link here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/moms-zucchini-bread/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=zucchini%20bread&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page 

You can even watch a step by step video here: http://allrecipes.com/video/628/moms-zucchini-bread/detail.aspx?prop24=RR_RelatedVideo

Pray For Mexico!

Hey Everyone! Don't forget to pray for our lovely missionaries who are in Mexico even at this very moment!

Evelyna Z

Lesya L

Ira K

Can't wait till they come back to tell us wonderful stories of Juarez, Mexico!

David Dunn - Heart Stops

We dicovered this artist recently and this song got me thinking. I suggest you take a few minutes and listen to it :)