I eat okra!

This is sort of like breaking news: I'm starting to actually like okra. Well, at least a little. Or perhaps it would be better if I said I don't dislike it as much as I used to. Maybe it would be even more accurate to say that the way I'm cooking it now, I will even come back and get a bit more after eating my token spoonful and I don't feel like gagging. (BTW,I HATE fried okra!)

I started out cooking it just for my husband, who loves it, and I would force myself to eat it, but now I can truthfully say that I am not forcing it down. If you're wondering why I would bother to eat it when I haven't liked it, it's because it's one of the most nutritional food items you can find. Just look it up and you'll see. So what about you? Are you one of those who are in the minority like my husband and love okra, or are you a part of the vast majority who hate it? Do you cook it? If so, how?

Here's my recipe and it's the only way I do it now. It helps to have some of these other veggies with it, so that it gets lost in the shuffle a bit. But hubby likes it this way too.

Skillet Okra

1 Tablespoon olive oil
16 oz. bag frozen cut okra
1 onion, sliced
1/2 green pepper, sliced and pieced
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
1 cup frozen or canned corn
About 1/2 teaspoon salt
pepper
Mrs. Dash's table blend - sprinkle on
Basil - sprinkle on

Heat up the oil in a large skillet and then add the other ingredients. Sprinkle with the basil and Mrs. Dash (or some other spice you like), cover and heat until okra is tender. I think it takes about 15 minutes. It's not too bad this way!

Actually, I probably should fix him some later today. He's having a hard time these days. He found out he has a herniated disk and is going to a doctor for therapy at the present. We're praying that helps. Maybe some okra would help him feel better?

Oh, and my toe is better. Good thing, I have a lot more duties these days with his condition being what it is.

Hope all is well at your place!

A Needed Light Moment

A doctor's receptionist answered the phone and was screamed at by an excited man at the other end of the line.

"My wife's in labor!" he yelled. "I think she's going to deliver any minute now."

"Please calm down," the receptionist said. "Is this her first child?"

"No, no! I'm her husband!"

Hobbling Along

"He who limps is still walking." ~ Stanislaw J. Lec

I ran across this quote a few weeks ago and took note of it then. I don't know who this fellow is that said it, but I said to myself "Now that's the right attitude to have." Then, a couple of days ago, I saw it again and it had an even greater impact. You see, when I got up on Monday morning, I realized that my right big toe was hurting when I walk. I have no idea why; it's almost as if it was injured, but when and how who knows? Well, it still hurts to walk on it, but thankfully I am walking, even if it's not a very pretty walk.

Even worse than that is my husband. He went for an MRI on his hip Monday (it gives him trouble off and on) and since then, he's been in a lot of pain, probably because of lying in an uncomfortable position for that long. At least I only hurt when I walk, he hurts all the time right now, and getting into a comfortable position lying down is quite a challenge!

I talked to our daughter Bev earlier and she has this sciatic type pain from time to time and is having it pretty big time today! So we're quite a crew, aren't we?

Neesie has to work extra days this week so Chuck and I are needing to take her back and forth to work more days than usual, so that has added to the fun. At least, driving isn't painful for me, and for him I guess it's no worse than lying down.

So that's where we are with things right now. Thought I better check in. The taxes are done; third quarter grades were mailed in on Tuesday; and we've started putting our new products online. Go check them out when you get a chance! And please pray for us!

My Duty

For more Word-Filled Wednesday posts, visit Lori at All You Have to Give.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Romans 13:7

Well, I finished them today. Finally. As I have said before, I usually have very bad attitude about doing them, and it never fails that there is some sort of "hitch" that comes up as I work on them. This time was no exception, but the problem had to do with the H & R Block program as there was something I didn't understand. Well, a phone call to a customer service rep made it all okay and now it's done. I posted this verse for Word filled Wednesday to remind myself (and perhaps others) that this is part of my duty as a citizen of our country and I should not be sour about fulfilling that duty. But I am also reminding myself that I am obeying God in the meantime and certainly that makes it feel better. Do you agree?

Polish Tragedy

Oh how our hearts go out to the people of Poland. Praying for them; may the Lord help them.

Faces of Haiti

Lest we forget. . .I thought I'd bring the people of Haiti to our attention once again. Did you know that tomorrow is the three month anniversary of the earthquake? Unbelievable. This morning in Sunday school we had an emotional presentation by a man who has gone down there to assist with some of the Christian efforts. Some of the photos we saw and his first hand account left many folks in tears. You may not hear much about Haiti in the news anymore, but there is much going on down there and so many precious Christian people are doing ministry in the name of Jesus. I hope we all remember to keep this needy country in our prayers.

Belated Wishes

I hope your Resurrection Day was as blessed as mine. We had a precious Easter sermon preached yesterday by a sweet man who has become a dear friend to our congregation. He is eighty-one years young and still going. After the service, I asked Dr. K. how long he had been walking with the Lord. "Since I was 11," he said. "So it's been seventy years." So I said, "So, you're 81." "That's what they tell me," he said. Isn't that just wonderful? To have walked with the Lord for seventy years.
And what makes it even better is the fact that he shows no signs of slowing down!


Then, the rest of the day was made so very enjoyable by a DELICIOUS ham dinner with the people I love most of all, humanly speaking. Want to see some pictures from our day, you say? Sure, here are a few for you:








Am I blessed or what?

Alas! and Did my Saviour Bleed

Alas! and did my Saviour bleed,
And did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I!

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree!
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While his dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes in tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do.

~ Isaac Watts

Tomorrow, once again, we come to another Good Friday when we remember His sacrifice. Yes, it is a "good" Friday, because if it had not been for that sacrifice, where would we be? Meditate on it, dear friends, and may the words of Mr. Watts, written so long ago, minister to your hearts.