Morning Prayer Run....

Praying on my run today for Marci and John Ferguson and those going on the mission trip to Africa. Heard this song while I was running and God brought them to mind. One of the verses talked about the sinners and saints colliding and how God's glory would be shown in it! I can't help but think of you guys and how you are colliding with those you are going to serve and bringing Jesus into their world!



Also God pointed out to me today a single mom leaving for work this morning with her three kids. I prayed for her and those that struggle with this life. I can't imagine having to do this on my own and I pray for God to mightily intervene and be their comfort, their resource, their plenty when times get tough.

How to Store Produce

How To Store Produce By trevorjustice Citrus is best kept at room temperature of 60-70 degrees and used within two weeks. Do not store in plastic bags. Berries and Cherries are best covered in the fridge. Don’t wash until you use them-too much moisture in the package speeds spoilage. Avocados & Bananas are best stored and eaten at room temperature. Both will ripen with time. To speed ripening of green bananas store them in a paper bag with an apple in a warmish place. If they still don’t ripen after 1 week, they have been transported at a low temperature, and you might as well make chutney of them. If you don’t use the whole avocado in one sitting, store the remainder with the pit intact in a bag in the fridge- the pit will keep the fruit from discoloring. Apples are best kept in the fridge, stored loose-they need to breathe to stay crisp. Use within a month. Eggplants, Potatoes, Onions, Winter Squash, Rutabagas, & Sweet Potatoes are best kept moderately cool, no lower than 50 degrees. A cool, dry dark place is best- on the counter, in a cupboard or basket. Apricots, Peaches, Pears, Nectarines, Mangoes, Kiwis, Plums and Melons should be ripened before refrigeration, stored in plastic bags when ripe. Melons should be used as soon as possible after ripening. Tomatoes should be kept uncovered at room temp, but can be refrigerated if very ripe. All other fresh vegetables belong in the refrigerator Green Beans and Peas should be kept in plastic bags or containers. They’ll last 3-5 days in the fridge. Corn keep in its husk in the fridge. Eat as soon as possible because it’s sugar quickly turns to starch, causing it to lose it’s flavor. Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Beets, and Parsnips should be stored in plastic bags. They’ll last two weeks in the fridge. Take tops off carrots before storing, leave greens on radishes, turnips and beets, with both roots and tops in the bag. Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Scallions, and Summer Squash will last 4-7 days in plastic bags in the crisper. Spinach, Kale, Chard, Lettuce, Salad Greens, and Cooking Greens have the same crisper life and should be kept in plastic bags. Any bunch greens can be freshened by cutting an inch of the bottom stalks and soaking the entire bunch in cold water for 10 minutes. Place in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few hours to revive. Peppers, & Cucumbers should be stored in the crisper, and washed before use. Cauliflower, Fennel, Jerusalem Artichokes and Leeks wrap in plastic and use within a week. Cabbage and Celery has a fridge life of up to two weeks. Wrap celery in plastic. HERBS: Parsley and Cilantro are best with bottoms of stems trimmed, placed upright in a jar of water in the fridge. Basil can be stored upright in a jar of water at room temperature, or in an open bag on the counter. These three all do well frozen also (they will lose texture but not taste). Thyme and Rosemary should be stored in the fridge in bags for up to a week, after that they can be brought out onto the counter to dry. Dry herds should be stored tightly in a jar Asparagus is delicate and should be used within 2-3 days, wrap in a damp towel and store in plastic bags or bins. Mushrooms do well kept in a cool, dark place in a bag. Do not wash until ready to use. Ginger will keep in the fridge for a week or two, but for longer term should be frozen in a bag or jar. You can easily grate the root direct from the freezer. Do you have other tips? If so, please post them below. http://thrivingvegetarians.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/how-to-store-produce/

Running...today...

So...I got up this morning...not wanting to run...but knowing I should. I've been frustrated lately because I've been working hard exercising, and eating relatively well with no change on the scale. I don't know when it became a numbers game on the scale but getting healthy is sometimes easy to measure on a scale...when you can't see what's happening in your body, the scale gives you some indication that things are changing and moving in the right direction. Well, for the last month or month and half I've been stuck between 156-157 pounds. I am so close to my 50 pounds lost goal. I know that I should be so proud of that and I really am...but I am not satisfied. I want to be really healthy...and I still have somethings I need to purge in my life to be where I want to be.



So...I went ahead on my run and was so glad. God has been speaking loud and clear to me. It began last night and in the front of Chad and I is a mountain of what seems impossible...the ability to sell our house. Our desire is to move out to more land and live a simpler (however, we know not easier) lifestyle. Getting back to basics is what we are thinking about. We had our house on the market last year to try to move to the Reservoir when Chad was working in Canton. Since then God has moved us in a different direction so I know that is why the house didn't sell last summer.



This time we are going to list it ourselves with God as our realtor. He has inspired this dream in us so I am fully leaving it in His hands because I don't have the energy to stress about it nor do I think He really wants that. I have seen Him sell our house before under worse circumstances...twice...so I have NO doubt He can do it again if its what He wants for us. Whew....that's a relief....burden gone.



Then I started to get excited because for the first time in a long time or maybe ever I can't wait to see how God is going to move in our lives. I have no idea what the future holds but I am so excited because I know God is in control and He has great plans. I am in anticipation and not anxious for once and that is a great place to be....



We are desiring to GREATLY decrease our material things and increase what God wants in our lives...I wonder why that is so exciting...but it is...



Today, as I was running....I had a choice whether to turn back and run a flat road or go in a forward direction towards my final destination and run up a hill. I knew the road behind me and that it was flat...I knew the hill before me and knew it would be hard. I went back and forth...back and forth...back and forth...was I feeling it this morning...then I finally decided God was telling me something...its okay to know the hill in front is going to be hard...don't go back to the easy way...go to the hill in front and I'll get you up there and over it...so I did. Was I fast? No. Was it easy? No. Did I make it over...YES....Life Lesson learned!



Then as I was running I would notice different smells in front of houses...its funny when someone is drying their clothes how you can smell their fabric softner. Some houses I passed it smelled a bit like well, dirty diapers....Sorry guys, I know...many of us have been there...then I started to wonder...I think we must be a little like that to God when our attitudes reflect Him or don't reflect Him...or when our lives are lived in His will or not in His will. I wonder do we smell like lavender to him when we are in His will for our lives or do we smell like dirty diapers when we are doing our own thing. What a real life lesson for me today...I'd much rather smell like the good stuff. I know there is a verse in the Bible that says something about this but I can't recall it right now.



Anyhow...on to school for today...It's going to be a good day!!!