Author: Joy

Write Your Story

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When I hear Christian pop artists sing about “losing their keys” and “rips in their jeans,” I’m usually not too impressed.

That was my first impression of Francesca Battistelli.

Francesca Battistelli
Francesca Battistelli

Fancy name. Bland message.

But I was being prejudiced. Francesca’s style might not be what I prefer, but I know that many people love her music. And even if she is mainstream, a lot of her songs have a good message. So, I’m not bashing her entirely. In fact, my appreciation of her music went up a notch after hearing her song “Write Your Story” while shopping at the mall.

I didn’t recognize it as one of Francesca’s songs at the time, but I could tell that it was a love song written to God. (You just don’t call someone “maker of the stars,” no matter how great they are.)

The chorus caught my ear:

I’m an empty page
I’m an open book
Write Your story on my heart
Come on and make Your mark

Author of my hope
Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Won’t You write Your story on my heart

As someone who loves to write, the song resonated with me.

The empty page–that is what we are in God’s hands. He washes us of our sins and makes us pure. We are nothing without him.

The open book–that is our lives. We are stories. But we shouldn’t strive to write our stories on our own. We need God to write our stories. We need him to direct our lives.

The work of art–that is what we are in God’s eyes. We are crafted in his image. We are shaped by his hands. A work of art isn’t perfect, but it’s always being perfected.

What greater calling is there than to be God’s work of art? To offer ourselves as empty pages, and let the Author of Hope write His story on our hearts.

Dear Diary,

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My Diaries

There’s something monumental about finishing a diary.

Yesterday I wrote the final entry in a diary I’ve been keeping since last September. I usually try to end each diary with something poetic about life–how much it’s changed and how far I’ve come. This time I scribbled about mortality and thankfulness and then wrapped it up with a paraphrase of the verse on its front cover.

And now these three remain:
Faith, Hope, and Love.
But the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:13)

I hope that my diary embodied that verse in some way, even if only a little.

Many of the memories in my diary wouldn’t seem momentous to others. A lot of the entries are just about plain old life, people, and thoughts, and trying to sort it all out. But my diary isn’t for others to read (I dread the thought!). It’s personal. And that’s what makes it special.

I sometimes relinquish the task of writing in it. There are times when I either don’t know what to say, how to say it, or even whether I should say it. But somehow my pen always finds its way back to those blank pages. My diary knows more about me than I would like to know about myself. It holds more mysteries than I can solve. It’s not perfect, but that’s what makes it beautiful.

By keeping a diary, I’m telling myself something important. I’m admitting that life is not only worth living, it’s worth remembering.

“There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.”
–Alexander Woollcott

Blueberry Banana Muffins

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I feel like I’ve posted too many muffin recipes on this blog.

In fact, I’ve counted it up. This is the eighth one.

But there’s no such thing as too many muffins, right?

Blueberry Banana Muffins

I can’t help it after all. I love muffins, and this recipe is no exception–moist, diary free, oatmeal muffins flavored with banana and blueberries.

Yup. They make breakfast so much better.

Blueberry Banana Muffins
 
Print
moist, diary free, oatmeal muffins flavored with banana and blueberries.
Author:
Yield: 1 dozen
Ingredients
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ¾ cup rolled oats
  • 2 Tbs ground flaxseed
  • 1 Tbs baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup coconut oil, melted
  • ½ cup vanilla almond milk
  • ¼ cup sucanat (or brown sugar)
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 large ripe banana
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
  • 2 tsp sucanat (or brown sugar)
Instructions
  1. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. Stir together the flour, oats, flaxseed, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a sauce pan, melt the coconut oil over medium low heat. Stir in the almond milk, honey, and sucanat. Heat until warm (not hot) and the sucanat had dissolved.
  4. In a separate bowl, mash the banana. Blend in the coconut oil mixture.
  5. Add the flour mixture and blend until combined.
  6. Fold in the frozen blueberries briefly (so that the blueberries don't stain the batter).
  7. Pour evenly into the muffin cups.
  8. Optional: sprinkle the tops with finely chopped walnuts and sucanat.
  9. Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes, or until golden.
  10. Serve warm or cooled.

My Father’s World

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A bouquet of broccoli and Brussels spout shoots from our thoughtful neighbor--It made my day.
A bouquet of broccoli and Brussels sprout shoots from our thoughtful neighbor–It made my day.

I love the world outside my window.

Every day the sun rises and then sets again. Every year the seasons change–spring, summer, fall, and winter. Every few seconds we breathe in air and then exhale carbon dioxide. It’s all a routine. A continuous loop. We don’t often think about this loop. It’s as natural to us as…well…breathing. But whether we realize it or not, this routine gives us a sense of security.

Yet the world around me is so much more than a monotonous machine. It abounds with personality, quirkiness, and mystery.

It’s a world of patterns and paradoxes. Questions and answers.

It’s a world of unity and diversity. Simplicity and complexity.

It’s a world of countless shades of color. Countless angles. Countless songs being sung at the same time.

It’s My Father’s World.

And what a privilege it is to live in it. To hear the birds sing the songs that God composed for them. To see the mother holding the baby that God has given her. To feel the sun shining down on me. To taste the salty sea.

To live is to be surrounded by God every moment of every day.

This is the world we live in.

Our Father’s World.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains.
The world, and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas.
And established it upon the rivers.”

(Psalm 24:1-2)

Basic Italian Croutons

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For some reason, croutons are a rarity around our house.

Basic Italian Croutons

But they’re so yummy and crunchy.

I should make them more often, especially when they’re so easy to make.

Here’s the gist:

Whole Wheat Bread (I use my Homemade Whole Wheat Bread)
Olive oil
Italian seasoning
Garlic salt

Toss the ingredients together, cook them until golden, and then toss them on a salad.

Yep, simple and yummy.

Crunch. Crunch.

Basic Italian Croutons

Basic Italian Croutons
 
Print
simple, dairy-free, Italian croutons
Author:
Ingredients
  • 5 slices whole wheat bread, cubed (about 4 cups)
  • 2 Tbs olive oil
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp garlic salt
Instructions
  1. Cut the slices of bread into cubes.
  2. Drizzle with olive oil and and seasonings.
  3. Mix until evenly coated.
  4. Spread the croutons on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
  5. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Stir and then bake for 5 more minutes, or until golden. (Be careful not to burn.)
  6. Let cool; store in sealed container.

 

An Afternoon Vacation

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Cheaha State Park

Last Sunday found my family and me at Mount Cheaha State Park with some friends. Even though we were at the highest point in Alabama–2,413 feet above sea level–it was still a warm day.

It was October the last time I was at Cheaha, so the change in season was even more obvious to me. This time the sun was shining in the clear blue sky and the trees displayed their bright green leaves. Children splashed in the lake. There was no need for jackets anymore. Spring had made its arrival on Mount Cheaha.

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We hiked the Blue Trail, a steep one mile trek up Mount Cheaha. I heard the peaceful sound of the gurgling creek running alongside the trail. It blocked the path at one point and we stepped on rocks to cross it. There were many trees down, due to the ice storm of a few months back, but the trail had been cleared well enough.

Hiking the Blue Trail

Despite the canopy of treetops above us, the air was still warm on the trail and everyone was sweaty by the time we reached the top. I kept thinking of my older brother who recently ran a 50K up Mount Cheaha. His race ended with the trail we were hiking. I realized once again how crazy–and amazing!–my big brother is.

View From Top of Cheaha

The view from the top was beautiful, as always. We could see the rolling mountains in the distance, the lake where we had started, and the vast range of treetops that someone said reminded them of broccoli. We saw the small waterfall that the creek descended from. My dad splashed me with a bit of the cold water. A cool breeze finally swept the stagnant air. That felt good. Very good.

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After hiking back down, we chilled out while the kids splashed in the lake and built sand castles on the small beach. Three of us gently swayed on a lovely, but partly-broken bench swing and chatted. The boys entertained us with their castle fights, and my little sister entertained us by acting as the mediator: “Guys! Stop fighting and work on your castles!” But evidently making castles wasn’t nearly as fun as destroying them, so the war raged on.

Cheaha Lake

Time slipped by, and as we finally left Cheaha, it seemed as if we had been on a mini vacation. Just for an afternoon.

The Blue Trail

Writing Isn’t the Only School Subject

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Pencil by jay Williams (dview.us)

I suppose I don’t post many fictional stories on this blog. But I write fiction almost every day. In fact, I’m writing a fiction novel right now.

Yes, I just told you a big secret.

I’m going to title it “Don’t Write a Book in High School.”

Just kidding.

Actually, I’m thrilled to be writing a book. It’s an exciting, challenging, frustrating, and encouraging, roller-coaster-like experience. One of the problems I face is that writing is not my only school subject. If it was, then my high school education would be much easier, and I would have more time to write. But it isn’t. I have a list of subjects and courses to complete before I graduate high school next year. It’s a good thing. I’m thankful for that long list. I strive for a well-rounded education. But my mind still seems to struggle with the concept that writing isn’t the only school subject.

Sitting down and reading my senior year “to do list” is overwhelming. But I’m going to get through it, and I’m planning on writing my way through it too. I’ve just got to remember that writing isn’t the only school subject. Maybe if I keep typing that, my brain will finally register it. Maybe then it will be easier to break free from my long sessions of maniac typing to study astronomy and delve into a book on ancient history.

So the future for me looks like a long list of assignments, but I’m excited. I’m taking deep breaths. I can’t get stressed. This is fine. I am fine. And I will graduate next spring. I will. It’s just a matter of realizing that writing isn’t the only school subject.

There. Maybe I’ve hammered it into my head by now.

(photo by Jay Williams, dview.us)

New Piano Song: Spring Bloom

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I think I’m enjoying the beauty of spring more this year than ever before. I’ve been spending more time outside under the cheery tree in the backyard–sitting down and reading a good book or strumming my guitar.

cropped-IMG_6621.jpg

And even though some days are rainy, and sometimes the cold creeps back, the world around me gets greener and greener everyday.

It’s spring. That’s something worth celebrating.

So here is my latest song celebrating this delightful season.

YouTube: Spring Bloom

A Passover Treat: Matzo Candy

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A special treat for every Passover is matzo candy.

Matzo Candy

Another classic around here is the matzo song: 20 Things to Do With Matzah (Yeah, it’s silly.)

I have yet to try the matzo tea that the song suggests…

But I can vouch for this matzo candy.

Matzo Candy

This is a healthier version of the typical matzo candy recipe, but I like it more than any of my previous attempts. It features honey instead of sugar, and coconut oil instead of butter. It’s unleavened deliciousness for sure!

Matzo Candy
 
Print
An unleavened, dairy-free, and delicious Passover treat
Author:
Ingredients
  • 3-4 salted matzo squares (I used 3½)
  • 2 Tbs coconut oil
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips, divided
  • ¼ cup roasted peanuts
Instructions
  1. Heat the coconut oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat until melted. Stir in the honey and vanilla until combined.
  2. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the matzo squares on the tray, breaking them as needed to fit.
  3. Coat both sides of each matzo piece in the honey mixture and place on the parchment paper.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. The caramel should be bubbling on the tray and the matzo golden. Be careful not to overcook.
  5. Sprinkle ¼ cup of chocolate chips (or more!) on the matzo pieces. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread the melted chocolate evenly on the matzo.
  6. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips and peanuts if desired. (I like to spread the chocolate chips around a bit to coat them in the melted chocolate and then sprinkle on the peanuts.)
  7. Place in the freezer or refrigerator until the chocolate is hardened.
  8. Break in pieces and store in the refrigerator.

Passover 2014

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Passover Matzo

Last night was a special night.

It was Passover.

The festival of Passover is special in many ways. Not only does it commemorate the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt, but it also commemorates Jesus’ death upon the cross.

It’s a solemn night to remember the Messiah’s sacrifice, but it’s also a joyful night to remember that His death is not the end of the story. He rose again, conquering death and condemnation once and for all. It’s a night to celebrate that redemption.

Several families joined us in the celebration. It was a wonderful time of fellowship, so wonderful that we never even stopped to take pictures. Thus you will have to trust me that I’m not making all this up.

We youth (me being the oldest) were annexed to a table by ourselves for the Passover meal and were soon laughing far too much. Between pranks with horseradish sauce and cracking silly jokes about Bible characters, it was a hilarious time. One of the guys said it was one of the funniest meals he had ever had. Maybe it wasn’t the most reverent way to celebrate the Passover meal, but we definitely embraced the celebration side of the festival.

After the meal, we had a time of group worship led by my sister and me. Hearing the voices blend together in praise was beautiful. The first song we sang was “Passover Lamb,” a song my sister and I wrote two years ago, followed by “Lead Me to the Cross,” “Oh the Blood,” and “10,000 Reasons.”

After the praise time, we took turns reading the account of the ten plagues in Egypt. My mom and dad helped bring the account to life by tossing rubber frogs and Ping-Pong ball “hail stones” in the air, swatting people with fly swatters, and turning off the lights when the plague of darkness was read.

My dad then shared his testimony and we watched a few videos on the importance of Passover. By eleven o’clock the party was over, but for many of us the festival had only begun.

We now have the seven days of the Festival of Unleavened Bread to celebrate and the festival of First Fruits next Sunday. With the house free of leaven, I’ll be baking plenty of flat bread this week.

I suppose we’re a bit unconventional in our celebration of the biblical festivals, but what’s important is that we celebrate them the best we can according to the Bible.

It’s not that complicated.

And it’s a lot of fun.