Yummy and Fun Things

1. I have been wanting to experiment with a pattern for an infinity dress, but haven't been convinced that it would look good on me. So I made it for Victoria, my inheritance doll, who actually has a similar figure to mine. It was a quick afternoon project and it turned out nicely, but I decided that it was not a pattern I would try for myself.

2. I bought peaches. I shouldn't have. They aren't in season, so I should have known they wouldn't taste very good. But I did, and they didn't, so I made Peach Cobbler in a Cup. All measurements are approximate. I kinda "eyed it up."

Mix:
1/2 cup baking mix
1 tablespoon sugar
sprinkle of nutmeg.
Stir in:
1 peach
1/4-1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter 
Microwave for 5 minutes. Serve with milk.

3. I have had a tiered dress playing in my creative brain. I found a pattern and tried it out, but I measured the bodice wrong, so it ended up being about two inches shorter than I had planned. I am in the process of making it longer, but have not been satisfied with the results so far. However, I also altered it so it had buttons up the back instead of a zipper. I have been very satisfied with that change and can even do all the buttons by myself!

4. I got a new hat. And several new shirts to slowly replace the Susque shirts that I have been wearing for the last 15 years and are being to look a bit worn out. After several years of pregnancy and post-pregnancy clothes, I am beginning to build a wardrobe that I like again. I might not be my ideal size and shape, but I am becoming more comfortable in my own skin again.

5. Melt half of a caramel leftover from last fall that you find in the bottom of your candy bin in an Oreo (a few seconds in the microwave) and enjoy gooey, caramel, chocolatey goodness.

6. This morning both boys crawled into our bed. Although they weren't still, they weren't crazy (as usual). It was nice just to cuddle and wake up together, though Eamon would have preferred for us to wake up much faster than we did. It made me stop and meditate on our blessed, messy life.

Imprecatory Psalms

I'm not going to pretend I have great insights, but every now and again a thought strikes me.

A few weeks ago, the Psalm for Sunday was Psalm 68:1-10.

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered;
    let those who hate him flee before him!
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
    as wax melts before fire,
    let the wicked perish before God!

But let the righteous be joyful;
    let them exult before God;
    let them be jubilant with joy.

I have heard and read many explanations of the imprecatory Psalms, with interpretations varying from "They are written for a specific time and place," to "This is how much God hates sin," to "We should be praying this on God's enemies." I think that all those arguments have strengths and weaknesses, and I don't want to debate them now. But what has always made me uncomfortable was the arguments that seemed to take delight in the destruction of the wicked.

As I was reading Psalm 68:1-2, the song I learned in childhood floated through my mind, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his thoughts and let him turn unto the Lord." It is from Isaiah 55. Then there is the passage in 2 Peter that says that God doesn't want any to perish, but to come to repentance. 

A light went on in my head. Perhaps this is the heart of God! Perhaps the destruction of the wicked that pleases God the most is the wicked turning to God - thus destroying their wickedness through Christ's Salvation. Perhaps when we pray that God would get rid of those causing trouble in our lives, we shouldn't be surprised if they become fellow believers. Perhaps the melting of the God's enemies as wax before fire, is so that he can reshape them into his followers.

It gave me a new way to appreciate the imprecatory Psalms, one that is filled with compassion, delights in the strength of God's love, and invokes the power of his Salvation.

Week Review

Sunday was church. We are finishing up the Sunday School Program for the year and everyone is feeling it a bit. So we did a fun project of painting quilt squares. We also planted some corn seeds, which delighted Eamon by sprouting yesterday.

Monday was Memorial Day. We stayed at home most of the day. I cleaned the boys room and did a wee bit of rearranging. We talked about getting bunk beds for the boys. Thomas had a migraine, so just the boys and I went to a neighbors for a picnic.

Tuesday, I had plans to watch my friends kids until her husband got home from work. But he came home early, so I didn't have to/get to. I love her kids and so do the boys. Then in the evening a recent high school graduate came over for supper and theology discussion. I made Beef Carbonade (really good, even though I altered the recipe a little. I needed a leaner cut of meat for me to enjoy it more - there was too much chewy fat) and baked potatoes. Thomas picked up a baguette on his way home. It was a delicious meal and fun conversation. We tried not to "corrupt the youth" too much.

Wednesday was at home, but I had a lot of phone calls to make for Church and School. We also read a lot of books and played a bit together.

Thursday, I went to school for observations until a little after 11. Then I hung out with my friend who watched my boys until my sister came for our weekly shopping trip. Since the boys fell apart on the way to the store, we cut the shopping trip in half.

Friday, I made more phone calls and emails for church and school. Then went shopping right before lunch, which meant we had a special lunch out, which included playing at a play place. Then finally we made it to the store, made it out of the store, made it home... all without naps and breakdowns. That night, Thomas and I watched Dr. Strange.

Saturday, we did this and that, picked up some stuff at the grocery store, then watched the Champion's League Final. Real Madrid won! Then we had supper and baths and bed. Thomas got a migraine, so he is reading to me tonight.