Owner: God's Work In Progress URL:www.amylbrooke.blogspot.com Join Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:58:04 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: God is at work in everyday lives. Sometimes we just have to pause long enough to take notice of it. When we do, we realize that all of us are God's work in progress and that God is active in even the simple things in life. Site statistics:Click here
Something Yummy and Healthy and Something Just Plain Yummy 2008-03-07 00:01:00 Hello to all who have linked over from Lysa's Thanks for visiting. I can't wait to visit your sites and see your recipes. First, let me tell you that both of these recipes get A+ in great taste and A+ in simple which is a necessity since I'm relatively new to the whole cooking thing.In January I decided I needed to work on saving money and losing some weight. To do this, I've been cooking and have cut out eating out by about 85%. I've lost 16lbs! The first recipe is a healthy soup that you can make in a slow cooker. The second is a recipe I found on line at Hershey's and made and gave away. (Definitely not diet friendly but apparently extremely tasteful. I believe I had the person I made if for say it was "sinfully good.")OH, yeah, and I'm hosting a contest this weekend. Click here or the Read more:Plain
, Yummy
You Just Gotta Know The Language 2008-03-06 18:26:00 I have vertical blinds over the windows. Unfortunately, when the blinds are down, Katy (one of my cats) likes to pry her body through the blinds so she can see out the window. I try to leave them up during the day, but at night I like them down so people can't see in! Katy was just pawing at the blinds and starting to wiggle her way between them. (She has broken a couple of them doing this and I don't have the finances for new ones at this time.) I yelled and was ignored. I then tried calling to her and patting the bed to get her to come over. No luck. I dug in my purse for scratch paper and threw a wad of paper -- anything but get up.I don't know what possessed me. I had enough (but still not enough to want to get up), so I whole heatedly HISSED in my best imitation of an angry cat. I've Read more:Gotta
Ifspeak 2008-03-05 21:46:00 One of my favorite books is called My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Actually, I like many of the books that she writes. But the last one, 19 Seconds, was disturbing. It was about a fictionalized school shooting. The week after I read it the Virginia Tech shootings happened. I like her writing because of her ability to put me inside a character's head and heart.My Sister's Keeper is about a 13-year-old girl, Anna, who sues her parents for the rights to her own body. She wants medical emancipation and to be the person who decides if she will donate a kidney to her dying sister, Kate. Anna was conceived specifically to be a matched donor for her sister. Her entire life has been lived in the shadow of her sister's illness. In the book you hear from Anna, her parents, the lawyers, and her br
Hope CONTEST 2008-03-04 19:41:00 It's March 4th and it snowed in Central Illinois. It's March. Doesn't that mean spring?I suppose, technically, spring doesn't officially start until the middle of March. But, I am so looking forward to it.To usher spring in, I've decided host a contest. (I've never done a contest before.) But I want the contest to reflect this hope journey that I'm on. So, here is how you enter. Leave a comment with your favorite quote or verse having to do with hope on it. Though it isn't required, you may also tell me why it is your favorite! (And tell me where it comes from -- passage, book, speaker.)This will help me out as I continue to think about hope and help me as I put together the Hope Chronicles.I will put all the names in a hat and pull a name on Tuesday, March 11th to select the winner. The p
The Picture -- Hope Chronicles 22 2008-03-03 16:16:00 I don't know how long it had hung there. But it was there during my student days with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and then my 11 year tenure on staff. My guess is, though I haven't been back in years to check, is that it still rests on the wall in the stairwell at InterVarsity's Cedar Campus. Even though it was a simple charcoal sketch, it never failed to catch my eye and my heart.It was sketched in black on white paper -- a picture of the sea. You could see above the water and below the water. The artist had drawn the bottom of the sea littered with an inner tube and bit of trash and debris. But the heart clincher for me was a simple sign, slightly askew, in the bottom right hand corner. It simply read, "No Fishing."In that simple picture, the artist caught the condition of the huma Read more:Picture
Running Circles -- Hope Chronicles 21 2008-03-01 11:05:00 It was one of those gorgeous warm spring days. I was thrilled that it was warm enough and light enough in the evening that I could take my riding lesson on Eddie in the outdoor arena. As I brushed him and tacked him up, I noticed that he seemed spunkier than he had in awhile. He was an old horse, and the cold slowed him down.We were having a great lesson. Eddie moved easily and was responsive to my commands. It seemed to me that we cantered effortlessly. There was no balking at jumps. Eddie seemed to be enjoying the ride as much as I was.We were only using the outside edge of the arena. Several jumps were clustered at one end waiting to be moved into place for an upcoming show. We took our jump and turned to the left and Eddie inexplicably picked up speed. I tightened and loosened my grip
Giving Gifts 2008-02-26 21:19:00 I love giving gifts. Getting them is good too, but I think I enjoy giving them more. (That's probably not nearly as self-sacrificing or whatever as it might sound.) I don't necessarily enjoy shopping. Rather, I enjoy seeing someone else's pleasure in something I've given or something I've done for them.This is particularly relevant in that I am in birthday mode at the moment. Kolya turned 14 a few days ago. Though I don't typically like just giving money, for a 14-year-old, it is often the right color and size! (And Kolya is already saving for a car when he turns 16. His mom shared with me that he has already save $500! How amazing is that?)Julie has a birthday March 6th. I'm set to see her tomorrow but then won't see her again for two weeks. So, I decided to do the birthday thing tomorrow Read more:Gifts
, Giving
Taking Hold -- Hope Chronicles 20 2008-02-25 20:29:00 Sometimes hope is so close we might reach out and touch it if we dare and be changed forever in taking that action.The story always fascinates me. The woman was bleeding for 12 years, so for 12 years she was considered unclean. Scripture relates that she had suffered under many doctors but none had been able to heal her. But she was there in the crowd that surrounded Jesus. She had heard about him. She had it in her mind that if she could just get close enough, if she could just touch the hem of his garment, she would be well.I imagine that she had to jostle her way through the crowd. She probably had to push her way through and endure angry glares and words as she did. I imagine she saw Jesus turn and start to walk away. With one last valiant effort, she reached out and grabbed his hem - Read more:Taking
Update and A Bit on the Ligher Side 2008-02-24 21:10:00 Since I've asked many of you to pray over the last week about my going to NIU as a volunteer, I feel the need to update you. I'm not going. It's not for a lack of willingness, but it seems that it wasn't in God's plan at this moment. So, I have been praying today and will continue to do so. I just never heard from anyone other than the last email I posted about on Thursday. We were specifically told not to call because NIU was already inundated with phone calls about various things.On a different note, I had a fun and encouraging day. At church this moring, we had a birthday party for EVERYONE. We were celebrating a year of doing KidStuf. I snapped lots of really cute pictures like this one of Lydia, Elena, and Grace. The thing that impresses me about many of the kids at my church is that Read more:Update
Princess or Stray? (Part 3) -- Hope Chronicles 19 cont. 2008-02-23 17:25:00 This idea of the princess and stray has been wiggling about in my brain for a couple of months. It came to fruition with yet another food incident with Mali. (Click here for part 1 and here for part 2 if you don’t know what I am referring to. It'll all make more sense if you do!) I feel like God gave me the image of the princess and the stray and I’ve enjoyed writing about it.Here is my confession and my disclaimer; I have not yet arrived in this area. So, I can give you a glimpse of where I have been and the path I am on, but I don’t know yet all the twists and turns it will take. Having said that, here it goes – from one stray to another!Over the years, I have come to believe that there is a container in each of our hearts. The conatiners get filled up when we are loved on and ar Read more:Princess
, Stray
Another NIU Update 2008-02-21 18:48:00 Thanks to so many of you who have told me that you are praying about if I am to go or not. I really appreciate it! But I don't know much more than I knew a few days ago.Most of today I have been thinking that since I haven't heard anything yet that God was closing that door. But apparently He is just saying "Wait a little longer to know." I am not organized, and one of my best vacations was done with very little planning aside from arriving and leaving! However, I do like to know those big picture things. And this is very different from a vacation!Tonight, I got this email from the Illinois Counseling Association:First, I would like to thank every one of you who so selflessly offered your time and expertise to assist NIU during theis crucial period.I know many of you are anxiously waiting Read more:Update
Sign Post 2008-02-21 15:14:00 I truly enjoy blogging and reading everyone's thoughts. Last night I read a post from Renee Swope. It was really excellent! So I thought I'd post this little sign post and encourage you to hop to Renee's and read it. It puts a whole different spin on spending time with God.
Princess or Stray (Part 2) -- Hope Chronicles 19 cont. 2008-02-21 06:00:00 During World War II, many children in England had to evacuate due to the fighting. (If you are a Narnia fan, you’ll recall that this is why Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy end up at the Professor’s house.) Some ended up in kind situations. Others pretty much had to fend for themselves. Because of the fear of losing their lives, the fear of what would come to tomorrow, the fear of not having enough, some of the children had trouble falling asleep at night. It must have been God inspired, but someone had the idea of giving children bread to sleep with each night. With the bread in their hands, they knew they had something to eat and would have something to eat for the next day too. With the comfort of the bread, the children were able to sleep.I believe that there is such a think as a na Read more:Princess
, Stray
Princess or Stray? (Part 1) -- Hope Chronicles 19 2008-02-20 15:09:00 I remember getting up very early one morning in 1981. After all, England is several hours ahead. My sisters and I didn’t want to miss a bit of the royal wedding of Prince Charles to Princess
Diana.Princesses fascinate little girls. We learn about them very early on from stories like Cinderella and Snow White. And in our hearts, I think there is often a yearning to be a princess – to be someone very special.Even though I’ve always considered myself more of a dog person, I adore both of my cats. They each came from the local humane society. Katy is three and I’ve had her for a little over two years. I got Mali in November. The best guess is that she is about nine months old.As I’ve interacted with them, I’ve learned that they have very divergent positions on life. Katy is the pr Read more:Stray
NIU -- Update 2008-02-19 22:01:00 A couple of days ago, I mentioned the possibility of going to NIU for when classes resume as a volunteer counselor. I have more information, but it is still up in the air. I've submitted my name as willing to go and I'm just waiting to hear back. I will keep you updated if I go or not -- whatever is in God's plan.Either way, please keep praying for the entire campus and all the volunteers that will go. All sense of safety has to have shattered. Imagine being in class one day . . . . a place you felt safe . . . . I imagine there is fear and anxiety on the parts of many students and parents as they anticipate school resuming next Monday.Pray for God's peace. Read more:Update
First To Say "Hello" 2008-02-18 21:23:00 I went to the mall today. Apparently, there is something wrong with my X chromosomes because I avoid the mall at all costs. I'm devoid of the "female shopping" gene. In fact, I don't remember the last time I went to the mall. No -- it wasn't at Christmas. It had to be way before that! (To pay for Christmas this year, I got a part time, seasonal job at Barnes and Noble. So, practically everyone, with very few exceptions, got something I could pick up there. The pay could be better, but the discount was really nice!)But, a friend is having a birthday soon and I hadn't run across anything yet to get her. (No luck at the mall either! Which means I may have to go back and look some more or think of something creative.) Shopping for me is a sprinting event. First
, you need to know exactly where Read more:Hello
God's Response to Tragedy -- Hope Chronicles 18 2008-02-17 14:46:00 There are tragedies all around. If you look at the paper or watch the news, it's right there. When I was in high school there was a song out called, "A Little Good News" by Anne Murray. It pursued the idea that one day there could be a newspaper come out that only had good news in it. Wow. What would that be like?It's a nice thought, but it's not reality. On Thursday, there was a school shooting at Northern Illinois University. The gunman, a student at the University of Illinois, drove to Dekalb and opened fire on a geology class. He killed 4 before killing himself. MSN's home page daily announces to me various tragedies. In August it was the end to the search for the miners and a hot air balloon tragedy that killed two. Then there is also the war in Iraq. Forty-nine died in wildfires in G Read more:Response
, Tragedy
Crosswinds Community Church -- KidStuf 2008-02-17 13:30:00 Each week there is dancing, singing, stamping, laughing, and glorifying God at KidStuf. (Don't start me on what spelling it that way will do to the kid's spelling abilities!) Anyway, it's generally a good time. Lots of the youth help with skits or power point or lights. I've added a slide show of it at the bottom. (Couldn't get it to work here.) Enjoy! The kids love it! Read more:Church
First Contact 2008-02-15 00:01:00 "I should move to the middle of nowhere and just become a hermit." I've had this thought at times. It's not very practical given that I have absolutely zero survival skills in the wilderness. I'ld starve to death in no time flat.Typically, this thought is born out of a sense of isolation. If I were in the middle of nowhere, I wouldn't be disappointed by people and things. I would know that I had no cell phone reception, so no one would be calling or writing or whatever. I wouldn't be disappointed. But I also don't think I would be happy.C.S. Lewis wrote, "We are born helpless. As soon as we are fully conscious, we discover loneliness. We need other physically, emotionally, intellectually; we need them if we are to know anything, even ourselves." I found this quote in a magazine 20 odd year Read more:First
Say It All Out Loud 2008-02-14 00:01:00 Last year it snowed right before Valentine's Day and it snowed the day of. It snowed so much the night before, I thought we would have to change our Valentine's plans. While it was still dreadfully cold, the snow relented and Bill and I and Mark and Jill made it to the dinner theater/show. (Jill lost her gloves somewhere there. We never did find them, but it made picking out a birthday present easy for her for later in the month. )I remember being in a bit of a tizzy about what to get Bill for Valentine's Day. Having never dated much, I didn't have a clue. What would say to much? What wouldn't say enough? We had only been dating since November and had navigated Christmas and then his birthday January 14th. For Christmas I got him a Bible that helps you read it through in a year and the boo
Dead Man's Crawl -- Hope Chronicles 17 2008-02-13 06:00:00 I am not a football fan. I’ve watched exactly one Super Bowl in my life. I don’t understand the rules. I can’t imagine who would come up with a game where the object seems to be to clobber the guy with the ball. (If the guy is already down, it seems that everyone dog piles on him for good measure.) If I played, I think I’d treat that ball like a hot potato and pass if off as quickly as I got it. (Of course, that is assuming that I had enough skill to catch the thing!)I made it to one game when I was in high school. I can’t recall what possessed me to go. But, I’ll admit, I got caught up in the school euphoria when we beat the reigning champs and in a show of solidarity, I bought a “We beat Moeller” T-shirt. (I think I passed on the “We beat Moeller again!” shirts the fo Read more:Dead Man
Hope in the Darkness -- Hope Chronicles 16 2008-02-10 21:05:00 Have you ever noticed that a candle in the light doesn't mean much? That is to say, its impact isn't felt. A candle in the dark -- now that is another story. Its light draw's our attention as it pushes back the darkness that surrounds it. Hope is always useful. But it is when the darkness is pressing in, that it is most useful.But then, maybe those who have not learned to hope in the day cannot fathom it in the darkness? Perhaps, it is all the hopes that we see come to fruition in the light of day that make hope in the night possible.I have always been fascinated by World War II history. I have wondered if I would have had the courage to hide my neighbors . . .. Would I risk my life for another?Corrie ten Boom is the author of The Hiding Place. It is the story of her family during WWII and Read more:Darkness
Warming the Heart 2008-02-10 14:38:00 It is cold in central Illinois today. I don't just mean a little cold. I mean down right bitter. I think it was suppose to be -3 last night and that probably wasn't taking into account the wind chill. With the wind, the cold bites right into the bone!So, I think my dear Katy has the right idea. Curl up in a patch of sun and try to stay warm.Today in church God brought to mind my first year at Crosswinds. I had abandonned church for a time and I think that when I acutally started going again, I was afraid of getting zapped for stepping in the door. I'm glad to say that didn't happen!From what I understand, Crosswinds has always been a praying church. When I started going they had several weeks where they did a lot of prayer ministry at the end of the service. For someone who was afraid of Read more:Heart
Things to Smile About . . . . 2008-02-08 21:40:00 The last couple of days I have been fighting feeling very melancholy. Actually, I'm kind of proud of how I've done. While there have been a few tears, I've managed to keep moving and have a reasonably good attitude. But, it has been sheer will power. The melancholiness isn't totally without reason. I've made a few hard decisions over the last few days and they are sinking in. But to combat that, I am going to make a list of things that make me smile and maybe leave a few pictures too. I don't know yet. I'm making this up as I go.However, I want you to participate too in "make Amy smile." Leave me a comment about something that makes you smile. If it is a silly picture or something, tell me that and I'll visit your site to see the picture.So, here we go, in no specific order: Mali and Katy Read more:Smile
Children with Questions -- Hope Chronicles 15 2008-02-06 22:48:00 A little elf of a five-year-old came up to the counter tonight as I was cashiering at the bookstore. I love kids. I love talking to them and can often readily converse on some of their favorite things. Since it is Feb., things have slowed down. There is more of a chance to have a brief conversation than there was with the franticness of serving customers during the Christmas season.I appropriately "ahhed" over the Dora the Explorer book and the princess book she came up with and asked how old she was . . . .I must have put her at ease because she decided that she could ask me questions as well. "Where's your mommy?""Well, I don't have a mommy anymore." I could see the wheels in her head turning."Where are your kids?"A bit of a gulp on my part. "I don't have any kids -- yet.""Where's the ot Read more:Children
Random Posts 2008-03-12 20:09:00 My apologies to everyone who has subscribed and may be getting some seemingly random and outdated posts -- some blank. Anne McClane is helping me revamp my site and I needed to created the links to get it set up. The content will be coming.I can't wait until I can show you what she has done. It is so cool!Hooray Anne! Read more:Random
Change of Heart -- Hope Chronicles 24 2008-03-11 23:02:00 I don't know if most bookstores do this or not, but the one I work in lets you borrow hard-cover books for 2 weeks! The management keeps the dust jacket. I've never done it before, but Change
of Heart
by Jodi Picoult recently came out. I'm on a budget, and since this a hardcover, it isn't in the budget. Since I'm only part-time "seasonal" (they call me in as a sub), I didn't know if the borrowing policy would extend to me. Happiness -- it does!So, I've borrowed Change of Heart. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite fiction writers. (Before you go out and buy her stuff on my say so, I don't know that she is a Christian. So she doesn't necessarily write from a Christian perspective. Some of her stuff is rather "edgy," and I'm not sure I would recommend a few of her books. Other books, I just ab
Hope Contest Winners! 2008-03-11 16:18:00 First, let me tell you how much I appreciate all of you participating! That was such an encouragement to me. I wish I had a little something for everyone! But I'm trying to live on a budget. Still, I got caught up in the moment and when I ordered the prizes I decided on 3. (Luckily, I get a discount at the bookstore I ordered from.)The winners are (by the casting of lots) -- drum roll --Ann at at at I couldn't decide between two books. So, Ann and Melissa are getting (by luck of the draw) Exquisite Hope by Ann Barnhill. A friend gave me a copy for Christmas and I've enjoyed it. Becky will be getting Hope Has It's Reasons by Becky Pippert. I read this book a number of years ago and recently discovered that a couple of years ago it was revised and updated. Some of the ideas in it have alw Read more:Contest
, Winners
A Child's Faith, A Mother's Heart, and Daring to Hope -- Hope Chronicles 23 2008-03-09 11:01:00 Several years ago Julie was driving back to visit her family with her children. The oldest was in the third grade. She pulled out a yellow legal pad and announced that they were going to make a list. This got Julie's attention. After all, it was spring and Christmas was many months away. Julie inquired as to what the list was for. Her daughter announced that it was a list of things they wanted in a husband for their mom. (Sorry, Oprah, this little one was way ahead of you on love lists!)Her younger daughter started off with things like money and a nice car. With all the wisdom of a third grader, her older daughter said, "No, he first has to be a Christian." And then, after getting the younger girl more focused, they moved on from there.Recently, Julie's girls (now both teenagers and the ol Read more:Daring
, Faith
, Heart
Don't Forget! 2008-03-08 09:29:00 Hey, just a "Hello" to everyone stopping over from Lysa's! Thanks for visiting. My recipes are one blog down.But while I have your attention --Please enter the hope contest while you are here. Click the candle at the right and it will take you to that post. All you have to do is leave a quote or scripture or a thought about hope. You'll win a book about hope. I've narrowed it down to two, but I'm still deciding which to send.I hope you'll come back tonight or tomorrow for some of my Hope Chronicle posts. I meant to get one up this morning, but I've been called into work from 10-6! Yes, this a good thing since it will help me pay for the flight to She Speaks. If you don't know what that is let me tell you that you need to go! It is awesome.More later!
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