Gate A77

Hello my long lost blog readers! So sorry I haven't posted in a while. As most of you know, Mike and I have been to the other side of the world and back in the past 2 weeks. I promise I will have a blog up about our trip soon. We have been catching up at work the past few days and then we will be gone to Oklahoma for Christmas so uploading pictures has taken a back seat. They are coming though!

I mainly just wanted to check in and share a few insights from my trip around the world. It was such a blessing to see my sister and her family. I might be biased, but those boys are the cutest 1 and 3 year olds I know. Their "Aunt T" loves them dearly. 

I think the thing I was most thankful for was to see my sister and her sweet family in their element. Watching them live in their city, speak the language and do ministry gave Mike and I a greater understanding of how to pray for them and support them. I am so proud of the work they are doing and humbled by the trials they face on a daily basis yet handle with God's grace. Their lives were a testimony to us while we were there. 

I am one of those people who really likes to have an overarching lesson/theme from a trip like this. A lesson that I can sink my teeth into and remember whenever I look at pictures or think back on the trip. A lesson that God can continually teach me for many years. Most of the time God reveals this lesson/theme to me early on in a trip so it can grow and I can view the rest of the trip through that lens. This time however, it was a long time coming. Sure, there were a lot of little lessons about how blessed we are to be Americans or how blessed we are to live in a culture that is truly saturated with the gospel unlike other nations or how we need to pray for missionaries more and give more and the list goes on....  But I was still looking for something else.  

The Lord finally gave it to me on the journey home. We had been awake for 36 hours and were stuck in Detroit due to bad weather. Our flight to Boston had been delayed and Mike and I were just plain exhausted. Those are the moments when the desire to be in your own home and in your own bed are the strongest. What was so strange to me though was this feeling that I knew I didn't belong in China where I had just come from but I also didn't feel like I belonged in America either. 

As I had this thought, I also thought that maybe I wasn't thinking clearly after being up so long and I should probably just stop thinking and pray our connecting flight would just hurry up and get there before I totally lose it. Then the Lord reminded me of the passage I have copied below and how this planet is not our heavenly home. As Christians, we should have the desire to be with our Lord more than we long to be on this planet. But while we are here we make it our aim to please Him. 

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (love this!) So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.  II Corinthians 5:1-10

This trip around the world gave me such a profound appreciation for this passage. As far away as my sister is, she is just an arms length away in the Kingdom of God. Our time here on this planet is just a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. Yes, I wish my sister and her family were living right here in Wake Forest with me, but how many people might not hear the gospel because of my selfish wish? How many people will I miss meeting in Heaven one day because I just want what I want? 

As I sat at Gate A77 in Detroit, I longed to be in my bed due to my physical exhaustion, but I can honestly say my spirit truly longed to be in Heaven with my Savior more. My earthly home is just a temporary stop. As I go forward from this trip and journey through the ministry God has for Michael and I, my goal is simple....to walk by faith and not by sight as I run the race towards my eternal home. There is much work to do on this planet we call Earth and to be quite honest...it doesn't have anything to do with Duck Dynasty, the latest celebrity break-up, who has the most Oscar buzz or even what you will buy for that family member who is so hard to buy for at Christmas. It has everything to do with advancing the Kingdom of God whether you do it in your own back yard or half way around the world. 

I close by asking each of you to prayerfully consider giving to Lottie Moon this Christmas. Mike and I are by no means rolling in the dough but we know just how important your support is....we saw it first hand. Any amount is a blessing and a true gift. Michael and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Know that we are praying for you and we are thankful for you! Much love from Wake Forest...and everywhere else we have been and will be this month :-)  

Turkey Day Fun

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching and I thought it would be fun to share some interesting Thanksgiving facts. Being the history nerd that I am it only makes sense :-)  I hope you enjoy these random facts. Some of them I just know for some strange reason and others came from various websites across the internet realm.

1. The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 and lasted for 3 days! By the time you factor in leftovers and travel I think we still experience that even today.

2. Here is a sample of the first Thanksgiving menu: turkey, deer, duck, corn, fish, shellfish, squash, beans and nuts....the one that grossed me out the most was eel!! I've got three of these covered on my menu...turkey, squash and corn. Trust me, there will be no eel!

3. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to proclaim Thanksgiving as a holiday in 1863. However, it wasn't made a national holiday until 1941 by Congress. It is nice to know Congress gets some things right :-)

4. Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday of the year. Of all the people that travel, 91% travel by car.  I have experienced this fact when driving to and from Atlanta...it is awful!

5. Benjamin Franklin wanted the Turkey to be the national bird of the US. 

6. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1920. I have watched this as long as I can remember. It brings back great memories

7. 280 million turkeys will be sold for Thanksgiving. That is a lot of Turkey!

8. Stuffing vs. Dressing - Southerners make dressing using cornbread while most everyone else in the country makes stuffing using white bread. All I can say is that it is great to be a Southerner :-)

9. 40 million green bean casseroles will be made in the US on Thanksgiving. My mom spoiled me by making some of the best green beans known to mankind. We never had green bean casserole growing up. I will be making mine like my moms this year so I wont be included in that number. For those of you that do, enjoy those crispy onions for me...they are the best part :-)

10. Last but not least, of the amount of cranberries consumed throughout the year by Americans, 20% of them are eaten at Thanksgiving. I don't know about you, but I can't have Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce. It is a must! This year I am making a Turkey breast in the crock pot and I love the recipe because it includes cranberries. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Hope you enjoyed the fun facts! In closing I wanted to share a Thanksgiving memory. After all, Thanksgiving doesn't mean a thing without the memories.  My grandpa...lovingly known as Peepaw..loved any holiday that included his family and some good food. I think my favorite part of Thanksgiving was late in the day after the meal had been eaten and the football games watched, Peepaw would declare that it was time for leftovers. He had a flare for some fun leftovers. His culinary creation was the Thanksgiving sandwich. This was long before the Food Network made it popular. This was a Peepaw original.

I can remember watching him take some bread and pile on turkey and dressing and gravy and cranberry sauce and every other leftover he could find. Then he would take a bite and get that grin that only my Peepaw could have. I can remember one Thanksgiving toward the end of his life on this earth when I got the privilege to make "the sandwich." Oddly enough it's pretty good. But more than anything I was just happy to make my Peepaw happy. My Peepaw has been rejoicing at Jesus' feet for the past 9 years. Not a holiday goes by that I don't miss him. Even now, a tear slides down my face just thinking about him. But, I know I will get to see that grin again when we gather around the throne of our Savior. Memories like these only make life here and the hope of eternity that much sweeter.

So, that is all for now. Thanks for coming along the fun fact train that took a detour down memory lane. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with much love and some good food too! Love to you all from our little corner of the world!

Sweet & Salty Wednesday

Hi friends!  Just wanted to share a quick recipe with you. I made these yummy cookies last night for an event at work today. They were super yummy and quite the hit....so much so that there are none left. I shall be making more in the near future. These cookies are called White Chocolate Cranberry Pretzel Cookies.  Yep, you saw the word pretzel. The pretzels make the cookies so delicious. It adds that bit of salt you look for after you have had something sweet. 

These cookies will be especially nice for Thanksgiving but I think they will be quite good at Christmas too. The cookie base lends itself well to adding any other kinds of fun ingredients you like. Some examples are Andes mints, crushed Oreo's, crushed candy canes (the soft version), any kind of nut, chocolate covered raisins and the list goes on and on. As long as the ingredient will hold up in the oven it is fair game. Just remember to use the pretzels....they are a must and make this cookie divine. 

I have posted the link where I got the recipe below. I made two modifications to the recipe. Instead of 2 cups of white chocolate chips I only used 1 and instead of 1 cup of pretzels I only used 3/4 a cup. Otherwise, it is all the same. So special thanks to the Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice blog for this recipe. Make them...you will thank me later :-) 

Have a great week! I must now go throw myself at the mound of dirty dishes in my sink and then try to finish the Christmas shopping online. Yes, there will be a Hallmark Christmas Movie involved during the shopping. I am nothing if not predictable where Hallmark is concerned. Love to you all from a very cold WF, NC!

White Chocolate Cranberry Pretzel Cookies

Holiday Preparation

Howdy friends...yep, I said howdy...just tapping into my southern roots today. Hope your weeks are going well! We Dickerson's are still busy but I have found that writing a blog post helps me chill a little and not feel so busy. Today's topic is Holiday Preparation :-)

Did any of you happen to blink and it is was November?!  I'm not really sure where September and October went but all of the sudden November is here and I find myself getting a little panicked at all that has to be done. Since Mike and I are headed to East Asia to visit my sister and family for the better part of December, Christmas preparation must be done before we leave on December 5th. However, I don't want to be like our materialistic crazed culture and skip all the wonderfulness that makes up Thanksgiving. So, what does my Type A "must have a plan" personality do?!  Make lists!!!

Since we are staying home just the 2 of us this Thanksgiving I am in charge of the whole meal. This makes me happy and scared all at the same time :-)  So my solution is to make lists. I have a list of the menu and all the ingredients involved and a list that shows the schedule for that week of when each item will be assembled and cooked. OCD you ask? I have no problem admitting it. With work and church and other commitments I gotta stay on a schedule people. I highly recommend making a list for the food prep the week of Thanksgiving. It will actually make your life easier and you will be able to enjoy Thanksgiving with your family instead of being stuck in the kitchen and wanting to pull your hair out because your turkey looks like the Griswold's from Christmas Vacation :-) 

Now on to the Christmas shopping....does anyone else love it and dread it all at the same time like I do?!  I love giving gifts to people but I also want it to be something useful, needed and fun. Trying to find that for each person you buy for can be difficult. And lets face it, nobody wants to fall into the worst gift giver category. You know, the person your family members talk about all year long and say "I can't believe she thought that was a good gift!" or "what was she thinking?!" or "just another gift to add to the garage sale pile." Oh the pressure.... 

Anyway, I digress. Online shopping has become my favorite holiday "weapon" of choice. It is so easy to sit at home and browse the "stores" while watching my Hallmark Christmas Movies (I am addicted to these cheesy movies my friends...is there a 12 step program for this?) So in honor of my online shopping love I have listed a few of my favorite fun websites below.  Hopefully you will enjoy browsing through.  They span the monetary spectrum so don't freak when you see something outlandishly priced. There are other items that are well within the poor seminary student category :-)  

On a personal note, tomorrow is mine and Mike's 4 year anniversary!  I am so thankful for our marriage and all the many blessings from God. It is hard to imagine loving Mike more than I did 4 years ago at this time, but I truly do. Marriage is a precious gift and I try not to take it for granted at any time. Many of you were a part of that special day and we love that you were there as we began this journey. To those who we met in the past 4 years we are so happy you are a part of our journey now. I love my man and I am blessed to call him mine!

Thanks for indulging the mushiness :-)  Have a great week my friends! Love to you from the Forest! 

MacKenzie Childs

Enchanted Leaves

Waxing Poetic

Williams Sonoma

You can't go wrong with Bed, Bath & Beyond for a whole plethora of gift options and there is always a 20% coupon around somewhere!! 

These links and photos are simply a recommendation of things I like. I am not paid to advertise for any of these fine retailers....although that would be nice :-) 

Random Tuesday

Happy Tuesday my friends! We Dickerson's are pretty busy right now so any deep and semi-intellectual posts I would like to write about are on hold at the moment. I know many of you are really heartbroken over that....sarcasm intended :-)  So, here are just some random things of interest. 

It is Fall!  That means it is soup season...yay!  It is basically soup season at our house all the time because we love it, but for some reason soup just seems better in the Fall...right??....right!!! Here is one you need to try. It is Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Just click on the name of the soup below the picture and it will take you to the recipe I use from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. It is super yum and gives Olive Garden a run for their money! Bon appetite!

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Pioneer Woman has come out with a new cookbook...be still my culinary loving heart :-)  I told my husband months ago that her new cookbook came out today and he actually remembered! He's a keeper for sure. Anyway, to say I love all things Pioneer Woman is a bit of an understatement. I have decided we are kindred spirits just like I am with Jane Austen. That might sound weird, but it makes perfect sense to me! All that to say, get the book. Can't wait to get mine!

I am a big Hunger Games Fan!  I read the books a couple times and will most likely give book two another run through before the movie comes out on November 22. Below is a link to the most recent trailer that came out. I won't be at the theater at midnight the day it comes out....those days are OVER :-)  But, I will be among the masses that see it around Thanksgiving. 

                                             

Catching Fire

Last week there was a conference on Southeastern's campus about Noah's Flood and the Age of the Earth. I got the opportunity to make the desserts for the dinner that was attended by the various speakers and other guests. I made these cute trifles you see below. One is Berry and the other is Brownie. They seemed to be big hit. They were fun to make too!

That is about it for this post. I wanted to leave you with a verse. We are studying Ephesians in our Home Fellowship this year and I was reminded of how great these verses were on Sunday night. It is familiar to many but such a great reminder. It has one of my favorite phrases "But God."  But for God we have nothing!  Have a great week lovely friends! Love from The Forest!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  ~Ephesians 2:4-7

The Family of God

Have you ever stopped and thought about what a blessing the church is?  I don't mean the building and all its programs, I mean the people. And let's face it, the people are the church anyway, not the building. Have you taken the time to thank God for this incredible blessing He gave to believers?

I've had the privilege of being a part of 4 congregations in my 30 years on this planet. But the beautiful thing about being a part of the family of God is that we are one church and I am thankful to have so many fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that I am still in contact with in some way from all 4 of these church families. 

I can honestly say that my appreciation for the church has been something that has grown over time. As we grow as believers and as we become adults we experience the trials and triumphs of life in very real ways. For those who have been an active member of the church for a long time, think about the people that were there for you during the trials and triumphs you have faced over the years. When that loved one died who was there ready to support you in any way you needed be it physical, emotional or spiritual?  When you finally got the job you have been praying for so long who prayed with you and celebrated with you?  What would your life look like if you didn't have the body of Christ to share in it?

I thought about this and the loneliness and bleakness of the answer saddened me for those people who don't have a church family to come alongside them through the good and the bad. What a blessing to have fellow believers that are willing to cry with you and pray with you and rejoice with you! Our salvation through Christ is the greatest gift and blessing the Lord has ever given us. But his goodness towards us didn't stop there (mind blowing!). He blessed us with a community in which we can enjoy it, share it and bless others with it! 

The church family Mike and I are currently members of is First Baptist Church Durham.  What a blessing this community of believers has been to our lives this past year. I know I have grown so much through the expository preaching of our pastor but also from my fellow believers who sit right next to me in the pew (yes, we have pews and it blesses my historical nerdy heart each week I sit in one :-)). What I love about how we "do" church is our Home Fellowships on Sunday evening. Through out the school year we meet in homes with 4-6 other families. We share a meal and then we dive into the Word and have a time for prayer. Now in order to be completely transparent, there are some Sunday afternoons where my fleshly thinking self would just prefer to stay home and take a nap and be lazy, but I am never ever sorry I went to home fellowship. It blesses me in some way each week. 

It is so neat to see who God brings into your life during certain periods to challenge you and encourage you in your walk. I am thankful for the families He has brought into our lives for this season. Already in the past two months we have seen several prayers answered and been able to encourage each other in many ways. When we have our home fellowships it takes me back to Acts 2 when the church was first formed. Our Home Fellowships give me a small glimpse of what the early church might have been like. What a model for us to strive towards!

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.   ~Acts 2:42-47

What is my point?  Well, my point is to encourage you! First, if you are a member of a church, I encourage you to be an active member. Don't just sit on the sidelines, get in there and get involved. Find that community to do life with. You will be blessed....I have no doubt! Second, if you are not a member of a church and/or not a regular attender, my prayer is that you will become one. I have listed many reasons why it is a blessing and I genuinely believe your life will be enriched by it. You will have people to help support you in times of sorrow/trials and your joys/triumphs will be that much sweeter as others rejoice with you in answered prayers.Give it a try...you won't regret it. Lastly, to those who are living this out on a regular basis, keep it up! You know the blessing it can be and you also know that Satan would love nothing better than to mess it up somehow and keep you from being a blessing and receiving one. It is easy to get discouraged but that is when a godly community can help keep you on track. 

I leave you with a picture of our Home Fellowship.  Special thanks to Katie for taking the picture. She is is the only one not pictured. We love these sweet families!  Until next time my lovely readers....love from The Forest!

   

   

"...there is no enjoyment like reading..."

Mike and I have a problem. What is this problem you may ask? Well, it is a book problem. We absolutely love books. We love coming home and seeing a package that contains a new book we ordered. We love going to Barnes & Noble and purchasing a new book while consuming overpriced coffee on date night. We even love purchasing books on our nook even if they are electronic. And of course there is that smell of a new book or especially the smell of an old book. Don't laugh...if you like books you know what I am talking about. Like I said, it is a problem.

Now this problem wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that we live in seminary housing where there are only so many bookshelves you can cram in an apartment. So, we have books boxed in storage that will hopefully one day make an appearance again and we have books spilling forth from our numerous book shelves. So, in honor of my love for books I am going to list my 10 favorite authors (at least at this point in my life) and some of their books I truly love (these are in no particular order...except the first one is truly first). Let's keep in mind that the Bible is forever and always the greatest book of all. So please don't be offended when you don't see it below. Just know that I think it is the best and this list is all the authors/books after that :-)

There is a quote from Pride and Prejudice that defines our problem so beautifully. While this quote is being said with sarcasm by the character in the book, it is quite true for the Dickerson household. I have listed it below as well. I hope you enjoy the list and find something to add to your reading list as well. And please remember. This list isn't comprehensive. It is just some of my favorites. Love from WF, NC!

“I declare, after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
       ~ Said by Caroline Bingley from Pride and Prejudice


1. Jane Austen - She is by far my favorite author, probably because she is the author of my favorite book which happens to be Pride and Prejudice. But also because she wrote with such hope in the human race. She didn't believe that those people who were pigeon holed into certain categories of society had to stay there and she had a sincere optimism despite her own trials. Jane (I call her that because I feel we would have been kindred spirits :-)) has many other books to her credit which I have read but will admit that I do not recall them as readily as I do Pride and Prejudice :-) I have read this book many times and I must admit I also have it in multiple copies and editions. My favorite being the 1895 Peacock edition my husband tracked down in England for me.(Love him!) It has the old book smell I love so much.   Please read this marvelous book. If you don't love it you will at least be glad you can say you read it. Then go and watch the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. You won't be sorry!  I could write a whole blog just about that...don't worry, I will refrain....maybe :-)


2. Francine Rivers - I absolutely love her! She is so methodical and thorough in her research and she writes from all different eras. But most importantly she writes through the lens of Christ. Each of her works are centered on the redemptive work of Christ in our lives. My favorite books from her are The Atonement Child, Redeeming Love and the Mark of Lion Series. Read them all!! No joke, start today. You will be blessed.

                                                    

3. Margaret Mitchell - 4 Words...Gone With the Wind. Everybody has heard of it and many people have seen the whole movie or at least parts of it.  This book is rather daunting as it stands at over 900 pages no matter what edition you purchase. I have actually read this book two times....yep, I said two. What possessed me? Well, the first time was in high school for an assignment. The second time was about 2 years ago because I was old enough to really understand what a fantastic book it was. By the way, if you have seen the movie you think that Scarlett had 1 child and she miscarried her second....read the book and you will find out that has two kids alive and well before little Bonnie Blue came along....maybe that will wet your appetite a little and get you to read it. It is a challenge, but a worthwhile one. Please note it took me 6 months to finish it. But I am so glad I did.

4. Harper Lee - I hope you have at least heard the names Atticus, Scout and Jem Finch and let's not forget Boo Radley. To Kill a Mockingbird is truly a classic and one of my favorites as well. You will find yourself identifying with one or more of these characters and you will want to come back to visit them time and again...I know I have!


5. Charlotte Bronte - The Bronte sisters are known as one of the most famous literary families there are. There was Charlotte who wrote Jane Eyre, Emily who wrote Wuthering Heights and Anne who wrote Agnes Grey. I have read 2 of the 3. Agnes Grey is on my long "to be read" list.  I will be honest and tell you I wasn't a huge fan of Wuthering Heights but I can appreciate the intriguing way Emily Bronte wrote. I do love Jane Eyre though! It is another long one....what can I say, I like a challenge :-)  I think it is such a haunting love story that makes the reader realize how different each of us define a "happy ending."

6. Elizabeth George Speare - I am going back to my childhood for this one. Elizabeth George Speare is one of the authors that helped create my love of reading. She is the winner of several Newberry Medals for her work. I highly recommend The Bronze Bow, The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Calico Captive. And I recommend them for any age. I recently re-read them and they are just as wonderful at age 30 as they were at age 12 & 13.

                              

7. Corrie ten Boom - I hope this woman doesn't need an introduction. Her book The Hiding Place is a must read for everyone. Her faith in the Lord through the years of the Holocaust makes any of the "problems" I face pale in comparison. Her optimism through adversity and her hope that Christ would fulfill his plan for her life be it life or death are a blessing and model for how Christians should live. Plainly put....read it!!


8. Eric Metaxas - Metaxas is a fairly well known author in our present day and age. Most would know his work from the movie Amazing Grace. He wrote the biography of William Wilberforce also entitled Amazing Grace which the movie was based on. I recommend the book and the movie :-)  I also recommend his other works which include 7 Men and Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. I am still working my way through Bonhoeffer as it is another long one, but what I have read is great!!

                                    

9. Laura Hillenbrand - I first read a book by Hillenbrand while I was studying abroad during college. We were headed out on travel break and I needed a book to read while we were gone. Our little library at the house we lived in London was quite small. I noticed a book entitled Seabiscuit: An American Legend. It was the most intriguing book to choose from so off it went on a tour of Europe with me. I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It was so well written and engaging. And of course it became a movie.  As always though, the book was much better! I highly recommend this book. So, I was quite happy when Unbroken came out. It is an equally great read and will be made into a movie in the next year. Hillenbrand is the kind of writer that makes a story in history come alive and make you feel as though you are there living it with the characters. Hope you enjoy these books!

                                                          
10. Suzanne Collins - If you haven't heard of the Hunger Games Trilogy you might have been living under a rock the past couple of years. There isn't much I can say about these books that hasn't already been said. They are well written, well thought out and have a most intriguing message. Movies have been and will be made of these but nothing surpasses the books themselves. If you haven't read them for any number of reasons I recommend you give the first one a try....bet ya can't read just one :-)

                                         

Honorable mentions go to J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling. I could have easily included them but I told myself I could only pick ten. And apparently I didn't want to pick anyone who wrote under a name using just their initials :-) Happy Reading!! 



*The information found on this blog is opinion only. I am not paid to advertise for any of these authors in any way. 

The Valley of Vision

I realized that my last two posts have been rather long so this one is going to be short and sweet! There are a couple of blogs I keep up with and I like both their short and long posts. It is nice to have variety right?....then again that could just be the American culture's need for new and exciting things on a daily basis influencing me. But I digress....on to the business at hand. 

Special thanks to several ladies in my Monday evening bible study who recommended a little book to me called The Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett. They mentioned it last Monday, I ordered it on Wednesday and got it on Friday. Gotta love amazon prime :-) This book has been a true blessing to me and I have only had it 4 days! I recommend this book as a companion to your daily time of devotion.  Notice I said companion....not in place of!  Nothing is better than the Word and your own personal prayer time with the Lord. 

This book is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. If you just read one a day it will take you through about half the year and then you will be glad to start over from the beginning again. These prayers are packed full of theology and praise to the Lord. They are so deep it made me realize how shallow my own prayer life is at times. They are beautifully written and challenging. If you like to think and go deep this is a great book for you. 

I will leave you with one of the prayers below to wet your appetite. You can find copies of the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. They come in paperback, hardback or leather bound. So, that is it for this post. It wasn't as short and sweet as I had planned, but I can own up to the fact that I am long winded by nature. Just ask my History professors from college....I am the reason they put a cap on how many pages you could write :-)  Have a blessed week my friends! Love to you from The Forest!

The Valley of Vision

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,

Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,

     where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights:

     hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox

     that the way down is the way up,

     that to be low is to be high,

     that the broken heart is the healed heart,

     that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

     that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

     that to have nothing is to possess all,

     that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

     that to give is to receive,

     that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

     and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine.

Let me find thy light in my darkness,

     thy life in my death,

     thy joy in my sorrow,

     thy grace in my sin,

     they riches in my poverty,

     thy glory in my valley.

A Few of My Favorite Things...Kitchen Things!

I love to cook!  I love to bake!  I love all things kitchen! There is one minor exception to these loves though and that is all the dirty dishes they create...I don't love those at all. But that aside, I truly love being in my kitchen and creating yummy things. I haven't ever heard a complaint from my husband about this either :-)  For me, cooking and baking are a stress reliever and thankfully there are always people willing to share in my culinary creations. If we ate everything I made 100% of the time we would have some serious issues! So, in honor of my love of the kitchen I decided to post about my 5 favorite/can't live without kitchen items. Yay!

Now, I will say that I really don't have just 5 favorites. I have like a million but these are probably the 5 that make my culinary adventures easier on a regular basis. I will also go ahead and make the disclaimer that the pictures and links on this page are simply examples and suggestions. Trust me, I am not getting paid to advertise any of these items :-) I also know that many of you may already have these things and use them on a regular basis and have even better tips than I do. This was just a fun blog for me to write and I hope you enjoy the info whether it is new or old to you! Here we go...

1. The Immersion Blender - My husband will tell you that every time I use this tool I get so excited. Why you ask? Have you ever looked at a recipe and decided not to make it because there is a step in there that requires you to ladle the mixture into a food processor or blender, mix it and then put the food back in the dish you got it from? More dishes to clean! That alone makes me cringe. Then there is the inevitable possibility that the food processor or blender lid isn't on right and the food goes everywhere. Now there are more dishes and counters to clean! I submit that the Immersion Blender is the solution to this problem. I love making smooth creamy soups and I love that all I need to do is cook it all in one pot and then use my trusty tool to blend it up in the same pot. It works beautifully and is a true time saver. Immersion blenders can cost as little as $30 and as much as $130. Usually the best ones range from $40 to $70. The link below will take you to several options. I know it is rather taboo to ask your husband to get you a blender for a special occasion, but go ahead and give him the green light on this one!  You will be glad you did!

Immersion Blenders

2. Ice Cream Scoops - Ice Cream Scoops are such a wonderful invention. Not just for scooping ice cream but basically for any type of food you want to turn into a ball shape. I have 3 different sizes of ice cream scoops. I use these on a regular basis when I make cookies, cupcakes, muffins, meatballs, sausage balls and especially the 100 red velvet truffles I made last Christmas!  These are a real time saver and easy to clean. Now the key to this is buying scoops that have a trigger button or spring hinge handle like the one pictured below. The food stays in the scoop better and releases the food in a more perfect ball shape. You can spend as much or as little on these as you want. It all depends on how much you think you will use them and how long you want them to last. Mine were a gift from Williams Sonoma and were the mini, small and medium sizes. I am thankful Santa made the investment for me :-) To give it a try purchase or use one you already have in the regular/medium size. Then use it for your next batch of muffins or cupcakes.Once you start, you will want to purchase the other sizes as well. 

Ice Cream Scoops 

   









3. Plastic Cutting Mats - I love a good sturdy wood cutting board. But, there are a few drawbacks to them. For me, the major drawback right now is space. If any of you have ever been to seminary housing or lived in it you know counter space is limited. So having a big cutting board out all the time is difficult and there really isn't anywhere to store it. Enter the marvelous multi-colored plastic cutting mats! What I love about these is that you can easily store them, they clean up beautifully and you can color code them based on what you are cutting on them. For example, you can cut meat on the red one, chicken on the yellow one and veggies and fruit on the blue and green ones. Or, because they clean up so perfectly and are non-porous you can just use whichever one you grab first. These are really flexible and make it easy to move prepped food anywhere in your kitchen. The best part....they are super cheap. I bought some for $10.00 and they hold up great. Even if you like the big wood cutting boards like I do, give these a try. They are a great addition to any kitchen. 

Plastic Cutting Mats

4. The Plastic Knife - There will be no link or picture for this one because let's face it...you know where you can buy plastic knives and what they look like. No rocket science for this one :-) But, did you know what a useful tool the plastic knife is? Whenever I make brownies or any type of a dessert bar, this is my go to tool. Regular knives make the brownies have messy edges when you cut them, but if you use the smooth side of a plastic knife you will have perfectly cut brownies every time. Plastic knives also work great for cutting sheet cakes, cornbread, pies and the all important dressing/stuffing at Thanksgiving. So next time you have some leftover plastic knives from a picnic and you are tempted to throw them away, save them for your next batch of brownies. (remember that plastic melts :-) Don't try to cut anything right out of the oven. Give it a little time to cool before you use the knife.)

5. The Crock Pot/Slow Cooker -  The crock pot is probably on everyone's list, but it is such a huge help that it had to be in my top 5. I personally equate the crock pot to that of a sous chef. I do most of my meal planning, shopping and cooking on Saturdays. It makes for a pretty busy day but it is a huge help during the busy week ahead. Thankfully I have a husband who eats leftovers so you can best believe leftover nights are factored into the weekly meal plan. I basically prepare one huge meal that consists of a meat and 2 sides then I usually have a soup on the stove and then I use my handy sous chef the crock pot. While cooking the big meal for the week I have another meal cooking away in the crock pot and there isn't a thing I have to do to it! These 3 meals will feed us for 6 days. The crock pot is a huge time saver and because it is one dish, clean up is a cinch. And if you have been reading closely through this post you know how important easy clean up is to me :-) Slow Cookers have a huge range in price. We are talking anywhere from $50 -$400. My personal favorite and the one I use at home is the All Clad 6 quart. It is pictured below. If you use a slow cooker a lot and want to save up for a really nice one this one is great! But you can also find some equally great ones for far less on the link I attached. It all depends on you and your family's personal needs. I do recommend a 6 quart though because you can make plenty for a large family for one meal or for a family of 4-6 to have leftovers. Recipes are easily doubled in the 6 quart size. Whatever size you get or have, just be sure to put that sous chef to use....it is a life saver and you can find a million crock pot recipes online as well as whole cookbooks devoted to them.

Crock Pots/Slow Cookers

That is all for this post. Thanks for reading the whole thing if you did. Hopefully something helped you or entertained you :-) I have listed two of my favorite websites below. I can always find a good recipe from either of these women. The first one many of you will know and the second one is becoming more and more popular. Happy Cooking from Wake Forest!

The Pioneer Woman

Mel's Kitchen Cafe

The Long Overdue Post

Last summer, I had this brilliant idea that I would create a blog.  And then I had the brilliant idea that I would post something on said blog at least once a week. And then life hit me with all its brilliant craziness and well, as you can see the poor blog has been neglected since last December. Yes, I said last December....don't judge!

The important thing to remember is that I am back with a very long overdue post and I will genuinely do my best to stay on top of this thing...for those who are actually interested.  And this time there will be no promises as to how often I post....learned my lesson on that one :-) 

So, for my return to the blogging world I figured an update on the Dickerson household might be in order. I don't presume that there are people sitting around their houses wondering what we Dickersons do with our lives on a daily basis (with the exception of moms and grandparents of course) but in the event that you are curious I will do my best to fill in the gaps. 

Mike is still hard at work at what I like to call the trifecta of life. This would include seminary classes, work at FBC Durham and teaching on a regular basis in BFL (aka Sunday school) and our Sunday night Home Fellowship. Needless to say, the man is busy. On a happy note, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for seminary. After this semester Mike will only have 6 classes left until he completes his MDiv....wahoo...yay....zippadeedooda....and any other words that can explain the sheer joy of that glorious graduation day!  But wait for it....you are gonna get a kick out of this part....we are currently praying about him staying to get his PhD.....cue the sinister ironic laugh :-)  Yep, I said it...PhD!  Let's just say I am not surprised and neither are most people who know Mike. We are truly thankful for many of the godly men in his life who are praying with him and walking with him through this decision. We will keep you posted of course!

As for me, I guess the biggest change is that God called me out of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) at the end of our 2012-2013 study back in May. I truly love BSF and enjoyed the study, my fellow leaders and the precious ladies in my group. As I began to pray about returning I felt as though God wanted me to take a step back from it for a while so that I could say yes to some other things at my church. It was hard to say goodbye but it has been great to say yes to several new things as well. God has given me the privilege of getting to teach BFL to second graders. There is a sweet couple that teaches with me which is great since we have anywhere from 16-22 to corral each Sunday :-) This year our theme is God always keeps His promises. I love getting to hear all these sweet kids answer questions and read scripture and the curriculum is a blessing to me as I am reminded of those promises too. I am still working at Southeastern in the Provost Office and love each and every day....even the super busy hard ones. I am thankful for the great people I get to work with and Christ centered spirit you can feel on campus. Our little pup Lincoln is still doing well and brings us much joy. And Mike thoroughly enjoys my cooking and baking hobby. I think my co-workers and fellow church members enjoy it as well. Hopefully more posts to come about that as well. 

Mike and I are so thankful to the Lord for where He has brought us. Seminary wasn't the easiest road to travel when we first moved here over 3 years ago but now we feel as though we have a true home thanks to our wonderful church family at FBC Durham and the great jobs God has provided us with. And of course our marriage which is a blessing I really can't describe in words...sorry for the sappy moment :-) 

Here is a quick snapshot of our year since I failed to post very much....

February - I turned 30...what?!?  Not sure where all the time went but 30 has been pretty great

March/April - Got so spend a little time in Atlanta and Lexington visiting our parents and friends. I also celebrated 1 year of being at Southeastern.

May - Celebrated Mike's birthday and we got to spend a week in Amelia Island, FL on vacation with my parents....the weather was perfect and it was a great treat to get to relax and eat some yummy food.

June/July - I worked and worked some more. Mike took a summer class and spent most of his time reading or working on papers. What can I say, we are super exciting people :-) 

August - Spent some more time in Atlanta and Lexington visiting with family and friends.

Upcoming fun and some posts that will go along with it...

September - Mike and I will be visiting the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Durham as guests of Rosaria and Kent Butterfield. I will definitely write a post about why this is super exciting and who these two great people are. Stay tuned :-) 

October - One of my most favorite months which includes my most favorite season of the year! It is also the month that 3 of my 4 nephews celebrate birthdays.

November - Mike and I will celebrate 4 years of marriage on the 7th. Time has flown! This will also be our first major holiday that we spend at home just the 2 of us.  Don't get me wrong, I love family but we are looking forward to a holiday in our own home with no travel in the car. Mike has already made sure I will have some of the key Thanksgiving staples since there will be a lack of family bringing yummy food. Good thing I learned how to make my grandmother's dressing!

December - This is the big one folks....we are headed to Asia to visit my sister!!!!!  I haven't seen my sister and her family in over 2 years and have yet to meet Grady in person. All that changes in December when we head over to visit. We are super excited...there really aren't words.  Then, after 5 days back in NC we will board our 7th plane of the month and head west for an Oklahoma Christmas. We haven't seen Mike's brother and family in a year so we are looking forward to having several days with them out in Oklahoma and see their new home and city. Maybe if I'm lucky I can see the Pioneer Woman?!?! I know it probably won't happen but a girl can dream :-)

So that is about it...for those interested, stay tuned! I should have some pretty interesting posts on here over the next several months. Love to you all from beautiful Wake Forest, NC!