Ten Ways to Love

1.Listen without interrupting. (Proverbs 18)
2.Speak without accusing. (James 1:19)
3.Give without sparing. (Proverbs 21:26)
4.Pray without ceasing. (Colossians 1:9)
5.Answer without arguing. (Proverbs 17:1)
6.Share without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15)
7.Enjoy without complaint. (Philippians 2:14)
8.Trust without wavering. (Corinthians 13:7)
9.Forgive without punishing. (Colossians 3:13)
10.Promise without forgetting. (Proverbs 13:12)

Spinach and Orzo Salad

Last night for dinner I was in the mood for something light and easy. I also wanted something I could make without going to the grocery store. This salad was PERFECT! I had all of the ingredients aaaaand it was light, easy, and delicious!!! It's a great salad for those Hot Southern (or Northern) Summer nights! Try it!

*Sorry I do not have a picture of this salad. My camera battery is dead and I can't find my charger....Sad!

Spinach and Orzo Salad

1 1/2 cups of uncooked orzo pasta
1 (10oz) package of baby spinach leaves, finely chopped ( I love spinach and this just wasn't enough for me so I added more)
1/2 pound crumbled feta cheese
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
3/4 c of pine nuts, - next time I make this I may try toasted pine nuts
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
A pinch of garlic powder
1/2 cup olive oil- (I actually did a TAD bit more than half cup)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar- (I actually did a TAD less than a half cup. I was worried 1/2 cup would overpower the other flavors!)
I really wanted to add chopped artichokes, but I didn't have any. So, next time I make it I will!

Directions
Cook orzo as directed. Then drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and add the spinach, feta, onion, pine nuts, basil, white pepper, and garlic powder. Toss with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Refrigerate and serve cold.

See?! Now isn't that easy....give it a try! Let me know what you think and if you made any changes.

Love,
Allison

Impatiently Patient

  

 I'm trying to learn how to "patiently" wait and it is TOUGH!!! I want things right when I want them or think I need them, but instant gratification is not always part of God's plan for me. Sooooo, I am working on being more patient and trusting in the Lord's timing!  Please remember me in your prayers as this is something I am really struggling with!! Thanks so much!!

Love,

Allison

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him... Psalms 37:7

                                                               Just Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried; quietly patiently, lovingly God replied. I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate, and the Master so gently said, "Child you must wait."

"Wait? you say 'wait'," my indignant reply, "Lord, I need answers. I need to know why! Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard? By faith I have asked and am claiming your Word. My future and all to which I can relate hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me Wait?"

"I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign, or even a 'no' to which I can resign. And, Lord, You promised that if we believe we need but to ask and we shall receive. And, Lord, I've been asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate. As my Master replied once again, "You must wait." So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut. And grumbled to God, "So I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed, then to kneel, and His eyes wept with mind, and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. I could raise the dead, cause the mountains to run."

"All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be. You would have what you want, but you wouldn't know ME. You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint; you'd not know the power that I give to the faint. You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there; you'd not know the joy of resting in ME, when darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love as the peace of my spirit descends like a dove; you'd know that I give and I save (for a start), but you'd not know the depth of the beat of my heart, the glow of my comfort late in the night, the faith that I give when you walk without sight, the depth that's beyond getting just what you asked, of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee, what it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee." Yes, your dreams for that loved one overnight would come true, but, oh, the loss...if I lost what I'm doing in you!

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see that the greatest of gifts is to get to know ME. And though my answers seem terribly late, my most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".

A Rainy Day Read

If you have a dog or have ever had a dog then you should read this book...it is great!!



Praise for The Art of Racing in the Rain

“The Art of Racing in The Rain has everything: love, tragedy, redemption, danger, and--most especially--the canine narrator Enzo. This old soul of a dog has much to teach us about being human.” (Sara Gruen, Author of Water for Elephants )

“I savored Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain for many reasons: a dog who speaks, the thrill of competitive racing, a heart-tugging storyline, and--best of all--the fact that it is a meditation on humility and hope in the face of despair.” (Wally Lamb, Author of She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True )

“The perfect book for anyone who knows that some of our best friends walk beside us on four legs; that compassion isn’t only for humans; and that the relationship between two souls...meant for each other never really comes to an end.” (Jodi Picoult )


All of this yucky weather has given me the perfect opportunity to snuggle up and read. I bought this book a year ago and lost it before I had the chance to read it, buuuuut what once was lost now is FOUND!! Wooo Hoo!! Anyways, have you ever wondered what your dog is thinking? I find myself constantly curious about what goes on in our sweet little Nash's head! Like, I wonder if he likes my baby talk/voices or if he thinks I'm just a mumbling moron, or does he ever even have thoughts!?! Well, this book is all about what goes on in the mind of a dog. In fact, the whole story is told from a dog's perspective! Read this book..it is great! It is such a sweet read that also gives an answer to that age old question of, "what is my dog thinking?"

A little bit about the book
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.
On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.


I mentioned in another post when I finish a book if I really liked it I always say, "I hope they make this into a movie!" I did not say that about this book-only because I already knew it was being made into a movie! :) I believe it is supposed to hit theaters in 2012 which means you have plenty of time to READ the book BEFORE you see the movie!!!


In honor of this book I am posting some pictures of our sweet fur baby Nash. Enjoy!
Love,
 Allison
(P.S. I choose to believe Nash likes my voices and thinks I'm a complete genius, but that's just me!)



Sweet Baby Boy!

Snoozing!

  

Nash retrieving his duck