Pleasant Places

A few years back, during an exceptionally trying time in my life, these verses resounded in my heart. At the time, it seemed like something so far away, so hard to finally come to, to rest in. Yet here, at the close of 2011, I find myself again drawn to this passage, and this time realizing its reality. He has indeed brought me to pleasant places. I'm so humbled at what the Lord has done, and so expectant for the coming year:

Psalm 16

⁵ The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
⁶ The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

⁷ I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.^[d]
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being^[e] rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
¹⁰ For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.^[f]

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Sweet, Salty, Spicy Quinoa Salad

I have been experimenting with quinoa salads lately, and this has been one of my favorites so far:

1 C quinoa, rinsed and toasted

1 C water

1 C chicken stock

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 green onions chopped

1/2 jalapeno, deseeded and finely chopped

1 C broccoli, lightly steamed and chopped small

1 pear (or mango), cored and chopped into dime-sized bits

1/4 cup queso fresco, crumbled

Directions:

Bring water and chicken stock to a boil and add rinsed, toasted quinoa (toast in a pan lightly until it starts to crackle). Bring heat to low, and set timer for 15 minutes. Add olive oil to a saucepan and bring to medium low heat. Add green onions and jalapenos. Stir for 2-3 minutes. Add steamed broccoli. Stir 2-3 minutes more.

When quinoa is finished cooking. Remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes. Mix in onion, jalapeno, and broccoli, then add chopped pear and crumbled queso fresco. Stir and enjoy!

Military Pop Stars.

We've been watching a lot of war movies lately, and when I say "we," I mean Blake. Sometimes, war movies bother me, so I do dishes, or iron, or talk on the phone. And then I watch an education documentary like "Waiting for Superman." In any case, while getting ready for our days, Blake was singing one of my favorite White Christmas classics, "We'll follow the Old Man, wherever he wants to go..." and slowly moved into, "Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition..." (not from White Christmas).

All this soon got me thinking of Bing Crosby in White Christmas. He plays a talented and well-known crooner who serves in the army during World War II. I started to consider our current entertainers and how well they might fare if their fate suddenly involved a draft into the military. It caused me to chuckle. Now, obviously I don't know any of them personally, but the difference that has occurred in a few generations shocked me. I don't even know quite what to call it, other than the reign of almighty self. I love that I am living now. Present. Here. I also respect a lot of what other generations before us valued: Serving God, Country, Family, and Others.