Guest Posting & Crazy Connections

~ Emily ~ 2 Comments

Turns out, I guest post for people who I have random connections with.  Last week it was Kayse Pratt {6 Things I Learned in 6 Months of Marriage}, who was my city-neighbor for a year, and today it’s Marie Osborne.

I connected with Marie on Twitter only to discover she is the daughter-in-law of my brother-in-law’s pastor (Pastor Larry Osborne at North Coast in Vista, CA). David, my brother-in-law, works at North Coast and knows all the Osbornes.

Crazy. Small. World.

So, I’m writing over on Marie’s blog as part of her new series called Living Out His Love:  

This world isn’t perfect. We are fallen creatures struggling to learn how to give and receive this love. How to live out His love.
 
It’s a lifelong goal for all of us. But we can stumble along together. This series, “Living out His Love,” will be a place where we can talk this out. Share about our struggles, what His word says, what we learn in prayer and practice, really trying to live out this love. How we’ve been encouraged and how we’ve been wounded by others attempting to live out His love in our lives. Our hopes, our aspirations, our past. What we thought love was and how we learned it was different. How we strive to apply this love, in loving Him, our family, friends, enemies, community, ourselves.

My take on Living Out His Love revolves around my love of based-on-a-true-story sports movies. Thank you, Rocky Balboa!

Beyond Gaps

Aside from a hefty dose of chick-flicks and Jane Austen films, my movie collection is dominated by inspirational sports dramas.  I’m a sucker for the underdog and can’t get enough of the comeback montages set to heart-moving music.

The likes of Remember The Titans, We Are Marshall, and Miracle make me cry without fail.  Maybe it was the boxing factor or the endless sequels, but my based-on-a-true-story, sports film fanaticism never touched the Rocky collection.

Little did I know that lurking beneath all the blood, sweat, and punching, there were real lessons to be learned about love from the unlikely boxer.  With a few short lines uttered in the company of his friend Paulie and a bunch of cold cows waiting to be butchered, Rocky perfectly illustrates the symbiotic nature of true love.

Read the rest over on… Marie’s Blog!

Do Not Pass Me By: Stay {FMF}

~ Emily ~ 9 Comments

A furry face strains his tether purposely unhearing the command of his owner. Stay.

A little one tucked in bed cries out as the light turns off.  Stay.

A wife pleads through tears as she watches the back of her husband fade into the distance. Stay.

Stay is for brokenness, fear, and disappointment.  The soul grasps at what won’t remain in place.  It lurches and lunges for something that is steady, that will last.

“Be still and know,” says the small voice.

Remain in Me.  Stay awhile.  Abide in Me. Stay with Me for keeps.

Take refuge and find sanctuary in Me. Linger in My love.  Don’t be cast about by external inconsistency.  Hang on to My eternal presence.

Stay is healing and safety and comfort.

Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry; while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.

Let me at thy throne of mercy find a sweet relief, kneeling there in deep contrition; help my unbelief.

Trusting only in thy merit, would I seek thy face; heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by thy grace.

Thou the spring of all my comfort, more than life to me, whom have I on earth beside thee? Whom in heaven but thee?

{Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior – Frances J. Crosby, 1868}

Five Minute Friday

Six Things I’ve Learned in Six Months of Marriage

~ Emily ~ 1 Comment

Tim and I celebrated our six month anniversary on Sunday!

In the process of adjusting to married life and consistent disorder, I’ve learned many new things about myself.  Six qualities stick out to me as I reflect over my first six months of marriage.

I’m sharing  the six things I learned in six months of marriage over on Kayse Pratt‘s blog: Live Authentically, Laugh Joyfully, Love Intentionally.

Even the blogosphere is a small world.  Turns out Kayse and I lived in neighboring cities for a year without knowing hide nor hair of each other! Now we live in different states, but I’m excited to be part of her internet home today.

Read all about what I learned in six months of marriage and then poke around Kayse’s delightful and encouraging blog!

Gingerbread Granola

~ Emily ~ 4 Comments

Granola gets amped up for the holidays with traditional gingerbread touches. Molasses gives the oats and toasty pecans a beautiful color and rich flavor. The addicting blend of spices mirrors the taste of a warm, thick slice of gingerbread.

 Hunger has virtually nothing to do with my uncontrolled consumption of this granola. I can’t keep my hand out of the jar or stop myself from pouring a bowl with almond milk for an “anytime” snack.

I keep imagining it on top of Pumpkin Greek Yogurt, mixed into waffle or pancake batter, or topped with a dollop of lemon curd.

This recipe is a simple way to infuse the flavors of a holiday staple into a pantry staple.  I may never go back to regular granola…

Adapted from a recipe by Alton Brown.  I love the dry, crispy texture of this granola and it still manages to clump together. So tasty on top of Pumpkin Greek Yogurt.

Gingerbread Granola
Author: Emily C. Gardner
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 1 hour 15 mins
Total time: 1 hour 25 mins
This recipe is a simple way to infuse the flavors of a holiday staple into a pantry staple. I may never go back to regular granola. Adapted from Alton Brown.
Ingredients
  • 4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cups chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together molasses, oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures. Work the liquid mixture into the oat mixture until everything is moistened.
  4. Pour onto sheet pan. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color. Remove from oven and let the granola come to room temperature in the pan.
  5. Add mix-ins* if desired and store in an airtight container.
  6. *Suggested mix-ins: golden raisins, yogurt chips, Craisins, white chocolate chips

Vows

~ Emily ~ 4 Comments

God never ceases to amaze me with His timing.  I feel like a broken record because I’m floored over and over again about how He orchestrates life in a way that is undeniably His doing.

Last week, Tim and I attended the Friday and Saturday sessions of A Weekend To Remember, a marriage conference put on by Family Life.  The nature of Tim’s work precluded us from going to the last day of sessions.  Providentially, Coeur d’Alene Resort was hosting the conference two weekends in a row. Tim was able to skip out of church a bit early yesterday so we could complete our Weekend To Remember.

What started out to be a morning of rushing, hurt feelings, and silence was transformed into a special day because of God’s perfect timing and heart nudging.

Unbeknownst to me, every WTR concludes with couples renewing their vows.  Unbeknownst to the organizers of WTR, Sunday was our 6 month anniversary.   Six months earlier, Tim and I were exchanging our very own vows under a wooden arbor in Twin Peaks, CA.

So much has changed in a matter of months.  The vows we made to each other before God, family, and friends six months ago offer security and confidence as we face the transitions, thrills, tension, and triumphs of married life.

In a sea of men and women standing hand in hand, our voices joining in the chorus of other couples, Tim and I re-pledged our love and commitment to one another.

I was reminded that Tim and I committed to a life-long journey that doesn’t preclude hurt and frustration.  We vowed to remain united and pursuing Christ in spite of present pressures and tomorrow’s uncertainties.

Revisiting your vows is a great reminder that love is a choice, a choice that transcends circumstances.