Dark Chocolate & Blueberries

Where have these been all my life???!

'uh-SIGH-ee'

or so I'm told

And there's also pomegranate ...and gogi berries (whatever those are) with raspberries

I think we first discovered these at Festival Foods in Eau Claire. Or maybe it was Walmart in Rice Lake. But the last time we were at Sam's Club, we saw that they have much larger bags. We didn't purchase them. But after we had lunch across town, I am not kidding you, KEVIN, who passes up most sweets, turned toward Sam's Club like a homing pigeon, and drove out of our way to return to Sams and get the large bag of Brookside blueberries and dark chocolate.

I have no idea why anyone would make such a foolish decision, for I can eat an entire large bag of those delicious treats just as easily as a small bag. There is no switch in my brain that says, 'Whoa! You've already eaten an entire handful of those chocolates. Enough Already!'  It's like mountain climing...you eat it because it's THERE.  

So take pity on me. I'm trying to avoid those and stick with my one orange mid-evening while Kevin indulges in his 'health food.'

It's not easy.

***

'Cranberry Morning'

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Chicken Bok Choy Recipe, Gluten Free

Chicken Bok Choy

(I wonder why my fingers want to type 'Chow' instead)

Many of the dinners at our house are simple variations on a theme. So they start with beef or pork or chicken, then vegetables, then a sauce, then they're topped with nuts of one kind or another. Simple. Of course. But, there's nothing to apologize for here, because they taste good and are healthful dinners. Besides, there's always dark chocolate for dessert, so what's not to like?

Well, actually, I'm not sure that I like bok choy, but I like the exotic sound of the name, so that counts for something. I just looked it up. The name means, literally, 'white vegetable.' How boring. I'll stick with Bok Choy which, I discovered, is of the same species as turnips! (and I've never liked turnips, so it's understandable that this wasn't my favorite dish).

Chicken Bok Choy, Recipe: (and as soon as I can learn to pronounce 'qin cai', I'm switching to celery)

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced (Do this while they're partially frozen or you'll probably never do it again. No one likes to try chase a squishy, slimy chicken breast around the cutting board.)

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 

Olive oil or Coconut Oil (Appx. 2 T.)

1/2 stalk bok choy, (that means like half of the whole thing, not just a 'rib') washed and sliced on the diagonal

2 c. snow peas

1-2 c. sliced fresh mushrooms

Sauce:

2 T. white wine

1/4 c. Pacific Organic Free Range Chicken Broth (You can turn the remaining broth into chicken broth ice cubes for later use)

1/2 - 1 T. corn starch

1 t. honey

Salt & Cayenne

Nuts:

Roasted, salted cashews

Directions:

In a large skillet, stirfry chicken and garlic in oil. When chicken is browned, remove from skillet and place on a plate. 

Steam the bok choy and snow peas for about a minute, then place them in the skillet and stirfry for a couple minutes. OR you can just skip the steaming part and simply stirfry them. When the bok choy stems are translucent and the peas are tender but still a good green color, add the chicken and garlic back into the skillet, along with the sliced mushrooms.

In a small bowl, stir together the ingredients of the sauce. Now pour that over the chicken mixture that's in the skillet. Stir and bring to temperature. (I like to use two pancake turners to stir/flip/fry). Keep skillet over heat, stirring, until the sauce has made a nice glaze.

Serve with cashews.

This can also be served with rice, but when it's a choice between rice now and dark chocolate later, you know which I choose (which might explain why I have a hard time sleeping some nights).

 

*** 

 

'Tranquility'

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This post may be linked to some of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and  Cure for the Common Monday and Mealtime Monday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop and Mosaic Monday  and Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and On the Menu Monday and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and   What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and Love Bakes Good Cakes and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Overflowing With Creativity and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and  Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and  A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and  Saturday Nite Special

Neighborhood Amish Schoolhouse

It's about 34 degrees F. as I write this post. The sunshine feels warm, so now if only that big white blanket of snow would go away! I'm looking forward to spring, and in a few weeks I'll start planting seeds indoors.

The day I took these photos, it was probably ten degrees colder. I don't usually see as many buggies at the Amish school as I did that day. I don't know what the occasion was, but I suspect there must have been something special going on.

I actually love the muted colors of these buildings on the farm across the street from the school. I don't know if the lack of paint has more to do with absence of funds or the fact that the tax assessment goes up when you take care of your property.

The sign warns passers-by of the bull that's often staked in the ditch.

Corn Crib

When I zoomed in on this photo, I made sure to gray out the faces of the children. Also, I thought it was hilarious that the kid on the right looks like he's pushing the buggy with his forehead. I'm not sure what he's actually doing, unless they have a little spot of ice out there where they're playing.

Essential Playground Equipment

Same Building, Photo from October 2012

Since I'm writing this on a Sunday afternoon, I'm thinking about watching an old Campion movie on Netflix. If I fall asleep on the couch, it doesn't matter, because I've seen all the Campion movies multiple times - and still enjoy them. But I've also found that they're great to fall asleep by, as long as I keep the volume up high enough.  It's not quite as effective as riding (not driving) in the car, but almost. From what I understand, my parents started this when I was a colicky infant.

I'm hoping that Bridger recovers from whatever it is he did to his front leg. He already has so many issues with his back legs (degenerative disc disease), that I won't put this 12 year old shepherd through the grief of loading into a car to go visit the vet. I'm going to try to keep him quiet, give him the pain meds prescribed, and see how it goes.

Even so, nothing keeps that dog from wanting to go out onto the deck and lie in the snow.

***

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Punting in the Rain - Cambridge - Anglophile Friday

I wonder if that title triggered a little tune in your head, yet another 'ear worm' for you to enjoy this weekend.

Followers of Anglophile Friday:
This is a re-run of a post from May, 2010 

When we visited Cambridge, England with our son and granddaughter, we were determined to go punting, so even the persistent rain couldn't deter us! 

You can see by the punts at dock how many people weren't punting that day! Someone had sense enough to come in out of the rain, but ...

Yes, it was cold and rainy, but still so much fun to be on a punt with an expert punter! He just happened to be from Michigan. Michigan?? I knew something was up when he spoke and sounded just like us! He didn't even attempt to fake a British accent as he punted us along 'the backs,' past the buildings that make up Cambridge University. 

The Bridge of Sighs, built as a replica of the Venetian Bridge of Sighs. Our punter said that the students crossing this bridge to take their final exams was reminiscent of the Venetian convicts whose sighs could be heard as they crossed the bridge and got their last view of the outside world before imprisonment.

The Anchor, a fun pub at the other end of our punt. The Anchor serves the best fish and chips ever!

King's College Chapel with accompanying swan. This is not cut and paste. That cute little swan posed in the grasses long enough for me to get his photo!

This is fuzzy, but the best I could get -in the driving rain- of the little choir boys who sang for the very moving Maundy Thursday service at King's when we were there. It was one of the best rainy days ever.

February 22, 2013: No rainy day here today, but still snowing, a darkish kind of day. I think I'll make a new batch of soap. What are your plans for today?

***

'Citrus Ice'

Grapefruit & Lime

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Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

This post may be linked to some of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and  Cure for the Common Monday and Mealtime Monday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop and Mosaic Monday  and Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and On the Menu Monday and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and   What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and Love Bakes Good Cakes and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Overflowing With Creativity and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and  Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and  A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and  Saturday Nite Special

Woolly Mammoth Au Jus

You never know until you try...

So I was digging through the freezer the other evening, trying to find something to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, to make for dinner the next day. After a few minutes of dredging up one package of Carmen peppers after another and several containers of basil pesto, I found a package of sirloin steaks. Yea!! Except the date on them was December 2006.

Okay, Readers, I know I probably lost a lot of you right here - as I know I've lost my daughters. They don't keep anything a minute past its best-by date. BUT, this woolly mammoth had been hidden in the ice all those years. What could possibly have gone wrong? Now I know enough not to expect great taste from it, but at least it wouldn't be spoiled or anything. I thought I'd give it a try.

So, just in case you run across a woolly mammoth in the bottom of your own freezer, here's one way you can cook it. And actually, it was delicious!

Woolly Mammoth Au Jus - CrockPot Recipe: 

Beef Sirloin Steaks, thawed - place in the CrockPot.

On top of the steaks, pour the following ingredients:

1 quart home-canned (or not) tomatoes, drained slightly

1 large peeled and sliced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can sliced mushrooms, drained

1 can black-eyed peas, drained, rinsed, and drained again
(I wanted to experiment. I was hoping to effect a symbiotic relationship between the woolly mammoth and the black-eyed peas. Much to my relief, it was a success.)

1/4 c. red wine

2 t. Worcestershire sauce

Black pepper

Turn CrockPot on LOW and let this beast cook for about 9 hours.

It was fabulous!

***

 'Morning Brew'

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This post may be linked to some of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and  Cure for the Common Monday and Mealtime Monday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop and Mosaic Monday  and Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and On the Menu Monday and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and   What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and Love Bakes Good Cakes and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Overflowing With Creativity and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and  Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and  A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and  Saturday Nite Special

Denton Abbey Inn and Downton Abbey Out

We spent the past week with our daughter and son-in-law in Texas. It was good to see them and also to spend a little time in a land with no snow. On the flight from Mpls, Kevin looked out the window and said the snow line was at Faribault, MN. Hardly seems fair. So close, and yet we've got so much snow and temps well below zero degrees F.

BUT, as the Dowager Countess says, 'Stop whining and find something to do,' I'll proceed with the explanation of the above mosaic:

Top Row, L-R:
Our son-in-law's feet. It's what happens when you work at Reaper too long.
Our daughter and our son-in-law, the 'public consumption' photo (he doesn't let just anyone see his feet) at her office at UNT
At the Atomic Candy Store on the Denton square.
Lots of old time candy, everything from Necco wafers (my favorite!) to Slo Poke suckers (used to remove dental fillings).

Middle Row, L-R:
Paul
Berries on a tree in their yard - I've no idea what they are, but they're not grapes.
Denton County Court House
Kevin & Judy (proof that Scandinavians don't die; they just fade away) at Abbey Inn (not quite Brit's Pub in Minneapolis, but nice. And they're new, so we'll have to give them a little time to catch up.)

Bottom Row, L-R:
Angela's SmartCar, which Kevin and I got to borrow one day - parked at Recycled Books.
Holly & Berries hedge
Hector & Boots
Reading enjoyment (Dorothy L. Sayers and Rick Steves)

Downton Abbey Recap:

Okay, this is it. When I watched that episode, relieved to see Mary and Matthew happy at last and everything going right with the birth of their son, I was so disgusted at the extremely unhappy ending. Julian Fellowes, how could you! I washed my hands of the whole thing. I swore I'd never watch another episode!  

(at least until another episode is available).

Then again, when someone wants to leave the show, I suppose there's no choice but to write them out of the script somehow.

I did love the Highlands scenes, but I wonder where Fellowes thinks he's going with this new rabbit trail involving Rose. Any thoughts on that?

What about Edith? Does this new relationship remind anyone else of Jane Eyre or Rebecca?

So please, share all your thoughts on this Season Three wrap-up. We'd love to hear them!

I think there's a Season Four in the works. Think there will be a Season Five? What are you expecting to happen?

While I'm waiting for Season Four to arrive, I think I'll watch Bleak House. It's time for a nice, dark Dickens' story with that great character, Mr. Tulkinghorn. And how did he pop into my mind?? Remember Rebecca? There is a connection, I promise.

And my favorite, Mr. Smallweed.

bbc.co.uk

'Shake me up, Judy!'

***

'Oh, Matthew!'

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IBM Selectric Typewriter - A Distant Memory

Guarding the font ball

After having learned to type on an old manual typewriter (I think it was a Royal), it was a real treat to get an IBM Selectric (electric typewriter) with that cool little font ball. From time to time we'd still have to take a mushy eraser and clean the gunk from the letters on it, but it was quite an advancement from the manual typewriter with its keys that rushed to form a big, tangled clump when I was trying desperately to get a profound thought that was rapidly evaporating down on paper, like those thoughts you have when you're just waking in the morning. They seem so extraordinary, perhaps brilliant, and you're trying to hang onto them, yet when you're fully awake, you realize they're nothing special, and often make no sense at all. Untangling the keys of the manual typewriter was a lot like slowly waking...and by the time the keys were painstakingly separated and ready to use again, the profound thought had escaped.

I loved the IBM Selectric, and had my own at home for several years before it finally died. When I wanted to replace it, I found they were no longer making parts for it, so it seemed pointless to try to find another one. I still think it was a great typewriter, and I'm still rather fond of it.

The knight is another favorite thing, given to me by a young man who cast it from pewter, I think it is. So now the little knight has the perfect responsibility: Standing guard atop the cookstove, in front of the little cast iron train, keeping vigil over the font ball - lest anyone should try to abscond with that rare little artifact from the pre-computer era.

***

Did you learn to type on a manual typewriter?
Did you use one of the first word processors?
Have you known nothing but computers all your life?
Do you know what a manual typewriter is? ;-)
Have you seen an IBM Selectric with its interchangeable font ball?

***

P.S. By the time you read this, we will be on our way to the airport to fly to Texas to visit our daughter and son-in-law for a week. Cranberry Morning will most likely be on hold until we get back. We'll see. I'm not making any guarantees. I am taking my laptop along, just in case the separation anxiety is too great to bear. :-)

***

'Andalusia' 

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Our stores will be closed February 8 - 14.


 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

  

This post may be linked to some of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and  Cure for the Common Monday and Mealtime Monday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop and Mosaic Monday  and Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and On the Menu Monday and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and   What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and Love Bakes Good Cakes and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Overflowing With Creativity and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and  Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and  A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and  Saturday Nite Special

Gypsy Caravans and Shepherd's Huts - Anglophile Friday

 Gypsy Caravan

parked behind The Punch Bowl Inn, Low Row

North Yorkshire

Gypsy Caravan

Waiting for new wheels

Behind The Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw, North Yorkshire

Gypsy Caravan, Somerset

 Gypsy Caravan Breaks, Langport, Somerset

"Perfect for a romantic weekend break with a cosy twist, this picture-perfect bow-topped caravan awaits you in beautiful Somerset. There are hardly any of these caravans available for hire in England, but you'll find this one tucked away in an apple orchard on the edge of a smallholding, so it will be surrounded by apples or blossom depending when you visit. Inside you'll find a ready-made wooden bed to clamber into, and there's not much space for anything else. But don't fret, you'll also find that there's a separate shepherd's hut housing your solar-powered power shower and washbasin, and a 1970s Marshall caravan to cook in.

• Open April-October. From £75 a night, two nights £130, three nights £180, four nights £220, extra nights £55 (sleeps 2); the nightly price gets cheaper the more nights you book; 01458 270044, gypsycaravanbreaks.co.uk"

***

That was from May of 2011, so I would imagine that prices have changed. 

***

At first, it appeared to me that there wasn't a lot of difference between the Gypsy Caravan (Vardo) and the Shepherd's Hut. But after reading the articles I found, it seems that the main differences were permanence and use.

The Gypsy caravan was built for travel, and pulled by a single horse, usually no more than 15 miles a day. Often it was the means of going from one circus or fair to the next, and housed a family. The Gypsy caravan typically had larger wheels than did the shepherd's huts, for they needed to be able to ford streams. And although I'm not entirely certain that the first two photos of this post (which I took in North Yorkshire) are actually Gypsy caravans, I think it's the most likely explanation, although many of the Gypsy caravans, for which I found photos online, were much more ornate. If any UK readers can identify the 'wagons' in the first two photos, I would appreciate a comment with that information.

gypsywaggons.com

 ***

The shepherd's hut (see photos below), on the other hand, was a structure built for the sole purpose of housing the shepherd during lambing season, so he could be out in the pasture with the ewes and assist and care for them as they were ready to lamb. (Evidently, the farmers didn't all just phone James Herriot, which is what I certainly would have done). The shepherd's hut, on smaller iron wheels, was moved from one part of the pasture to the next, but stayed on the farm. Another later use, during the war, was to house a prisoner of war.

Shepherdhuts.co.uk

Ian McDonald and his restored shepherd's hut

from BBC.co.uk

'...It was built more than a century ago to provide shelter and a home-from-home for shepherds tending their flocks in the fields, and a place to nurse sickly or orphan lambs back to health.

'His research into his hut also brought him to the story of Hans Lenzen, the reason the hut had come to School Farm in Barford in 1945. He was one of two Austrian prisoners-of-war who were allocated to the farm to work from the nearby Kimberley POW camp. The hut was bought for £7 from Hall Farm at Rackheath, near Norwich, to house Mr Lenzen and he lived in it for two years...' Read Article Here.

And in case you're looking for a shepherd's hut to rent, here's a whole list, with photos, from Holiday Lettings.

 Shepherd's Hut in Wisconsin

And then there's this shepherd's hut in Wisconsin that's never been occupied. The shepherd would have nothing do do with it, although it has the finest accommodations, is well-built, fully insulated, consists of two spacious rooms, and even has room service.

The shepherd prefers to stay in the big house, where he can keep a closer eye on his flock.

I couldn't resist.

***

'Pears & Berries'

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This post may be linked to some of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and  Cure for the Common Monday and Mealtime Monday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop and Mosaic Monday  and Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and On the Menu Monday and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and   What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and Love Bakes Good Cakes and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Overflowing With Creativity and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and  Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and  A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and  Saturday Nite Special

There's got to be something better...

cbsnews.com

What's the deal with this rash of violence we've seen in recent months? Is it really all about guns? Is it about mental health? Is it about violent movies and violent video games? Are people just worse than they used to be? Or maybe all of the above?

Do you ever wonder how different things might be if we hadn't made a concerted effort over the past decades to rid ourselves of any sense of responsibility and accountability to the God of the Universe who made us to glorify and enjoy Him forever? When we tell people there is no God, then naturally, they do what is right in their own eyes. 'What's right' is going to differ from person to person, and what 'right' does anyone have to tell anyone else that anything is wrong? or that anything is right?  Maybe kidnapping children is their thing. Maybe killing a classroom of kids is their thing. What does it matter? Who's to say it is wrong to do it?

We can hardly turn to society to be our standard. We saw what happened with the goodness of society in the Soviet Union under Stalin, in Germany under Hitler, etc.. Society cannot be counted on to do the right thing. And besides, what IS the right thing??

How did we get to the point that we cringe at a TV commercial which shows a homeless, abused dog, but go through our day with little or no thought of the million unborn babies murdered in this country each year.

We want to think that we are moral, but outside God, there is no morality.  He is the standard. He has given it to us to obey - for our own GOOD, so that we can love Him and enjoy life and prosper and be happy and help our neighbor. It is all good. But when we turn away from Him to the dark side, there is no longer any standard. When we get rid of God and make up our own rules, then the guy who held that little boy hostage in the bunker has every bit as much right as anyone else does to do what he wants.

We all know, whether or not we'll admit it, that things in our society are dreadfully wrong. We know there must be something better.

Ephesians 2:1-10

<sup>"It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. 

You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. 

It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.

Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing."  - The Message</sup>

"To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Jesus: the only One who gives us hope and a future.