The Love of Friends

This week has been very rough.  But survivable thanks to the love of friends.

I've received so much love and support over the past few weeks and it has been a blessing to continue to have friends rally around me.  Last night I met two friends at Pied Cow (a very Portland-y dessert and coffeehouse).  One commented how the majority of people allow others (often including themselves) one month of mourning before its time to get back on your feet.  But it often takes longer than that.  She then encouraged me to take my time.

The imagery she gave me was beautiful... A friend of hers had an engagement called off a few years before.  At one point, she saw the friend heaped on the floor crying.  Well-intentioned friends would come by, grab an arm and try to pull her back up.  Walking away, another friend would come by and do the same thing.

But what none of them saw was that Jesus was on the floor with her.  He was holding her, sobbing with her, stroking the hair back from her face, and drying both their tears.

Wow.  I had begun to think that God was silent.  But He is on the floor with me, crying with me.

As another friend commented earlier in the week, I do not just have a wound... I have a scar re-opened.  Its going to take time to heal.  But I am thankful for the love of friends who are giving me time (at least for now) to go through the healing process and to mourn.

Summertime Recipe #4 - GUAC!

Another great side-dish recipe for BBQ's this Summer is the infamous guacamole.  I feel I have finally found a great blend of seasonings and have mixed up this guacamole more than once (and in more than one state) so far this Summer!  The flavors are simple so as to not crowd out the marvelous avocado.  It goes great with other simple recipes, like the Berry Salad posted earlier!

GUACAMOLE
- 1 avocado
- 1t garlic salt
- 1/2t crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2t chili powder

Cut open and peel the avocado, setting the pit aside.
Using a fork or food processor, begin mashing the avocado until soft
Add seasonings and continue mashing, blending seasonings throughout the guacamole.
Add additional seasonings to taste; feel free to leave chunks of avocado, according to your liking.
Add the pit back in.

While many people add lemon juice to keep their guacamole from browning, adding the pit back in works even better without needing to worry about a sour taste.  Mmmm.... so delicious!  Check back for some fun recipes to use your guacamole in soon!

Rejection isn't rejection when...

Rejection isn't always rejection.  It may feel like rejection when someone turns their back on you... someone you thought was a friend or wanted as a friend... But sometimes friendships (or relationships) don't work out for other reasons.  So here are the rules for rejection...

Rejection isn't rejection when...

...they never knew you.  Its true: sometimes, people don't give us a chance.  A friendship or a relationship never gets off the ground.  So, if they walk away... they're not rejecting you.  They can't reject you if they never knew you to begin with.

...its more about them than it is about you.  This means they leave the friendship or relationship because of their own issues - fear or their own psychological disorder or whatever.  In this case, they're not rejecting you.  They might be rejecting everyone.  It might look like you're the only one they're rejecting, but if its because of their own issues... they would have rejected anyone who held the role you had in their life.

...the person doing the rejecting is an asshole.  The definition of asshole?  "a stupid, mean or contemptible person... a worthless and annoying person."  Face it: you're better off without them.

I'm there for you...

I'm nearing the end of a very difficult week.  Despite being close to engagement with my boyfriend, things came to a screeching halt.  Last weekend I kissed him goodbye for the very last time.

One of the disappointments of this week has been hearing (time and again) "I'm here for you if you need anything" and finding my friends missing when I call.  My best friend lives more than 3000 miles away.  We've talked on the phone several times throughout the week.  Another close friend was on a family vacation.  Other friends that I would consider close have seemed to go running.

This leaves me reflecting on friendships... Six months ago I posted a blog expressing my thankfulness for these two close friends.  But even the closest of friends cannot always be there for you.  Its bittersweet.

Summertime Recipe #3

I was turned onto quinoa recently.  After having it for the first time, I decided to check out its nutrition information... Although it is a grain, it is also a decent source of protein and minerals; and being a grain, it is also filling and has a nice nutty flavor without being too powerful.  Although it is just beginning to pick up again, it is commonly referred to as "the gold of the incas."  Some people may see quinoa as a "fatty" grain, but like avocados, the fat of quinoa is "good fat" and excellent for anti-aging and antioxidants.

So, with that introduction to quinoa, let me introduce my new "salad!"

QUINOA SALAD

- 1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa
- 3 cups chicken broth 

• - 1 lb meat (beef, chicken or lamb), cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• - 3 tablespoons coconut oil, divided
• - 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• - 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• - 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• - 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
• - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• - 3 garlic cloves, minced
• optional add-ins:
• - 1 medium chopped tomato 
• - 1 large chopped avocado
• - 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• - 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• - 4 oz feta cheese

Preparation

• Combine quinoa and chicken broth in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until broth is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 T of the coconut oil and saute meat.  Once meat is cooked, add remaining 2 T coconut oil to melt the remaining oil.  

• Add basil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, lemon rind, pepper and garlic into meet, mixing thoroughly. Stir in quinoa.
• Refrigerate and chill completely.
• Just before serving, add any combination of the optional ingredients to create your own unique flavorful spin and dish up!

A poem

Tears spill unbeckoned
Eyes swollen and red
Please, please stop

Despair tightens my chest
Sorrow and grief hold tight
A challenge to breathe

Swallow, swallow, must swallow
Desire and hunger vanish
Food forced down

Goodbye

22 days to forever, but forever never comes...