The house that Jack built

I’ve wanted a corner-store before, still would have one if it came along – selling cute kitchen things, good food and cafenated beveragesr!
When we moved to our new town, I refered to the house that we owned and had left, the ‘house of pain’. I usually said it in jest but it was the truth.
I had been thrown off a table there, attacked infront of my children, I’d been lied too for over two years and other saddy kind of things. It was painful. But it was also a house that I had dreamt about. It was unusual to own a big house (5 bedrooms) on some land, amidst loads of houses newly built but with no land. I had dreamt of having somewhere with a bit of grass for the kids to play ‘bat-down-cricket’ and hide’n’seek. It was that kind of house. Yes it definitely needed a lot of work, but there was hope for the home that we were building together.
Our house, the house on pooh corner, is up for sale now. We are selling that dream. Well part of the dream and part of it hurts. I’m glad, real glad that we will be rid of it, one less thing to worry about. But it feels a bit sore too. Thinking about what it represented and what it could represent. Saying goodbye to the house of pain and the dreamy house makes me feel a little tender.
Again, again and again I can see the hand of God and I can feel that call to follow Him through this rough stuff. I am called to trust what I don’t see and to trust Him with my fears. I am finding it’s like taking a breath when you haven’t stopped for a few hours for whatever ‘busy’ reason. Oh yeah, I need to just stop and take a moment or a breath. I start to fret a little or to worry and then I’m reminded to take a breath, to trust and move on. That verse in the Bible about not worrying about tomorrow as it will take care of itself, is such a simple and clever one!

Ps 131
1 God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the
mountain.
I haven't meddled where I have no business
or fantasized grandiose plans.

2 I've kept my feet on the ground,
I've cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother's arms,
my soul is a baby content.

3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
Hope now; hope always!

Arriving and moving on by Ernesto Cardenal

God's call, vocation, is twofold. God calls us saying, 'Come and follow me.' We arrive and then we must follow. We find but must go on seeking. God's call is a never-ending call, to the unknown, to adventure, to follow him in the night, in solitude. It is a call incessantly to go further, and further. For it is not static but dynamic (as creation is also dynamic) and reaching him means going on and on. God's call is like the call to become an explorer; it is an invitation to adventure.



On a lighter note, I’m wearing skinny jeans – I’ve arrived with the fashion! It cracks me up – I’m doing something I swore I’d never do. I kind of think that fashion nowadays is usually typical for only the skinny ones of us, so I’ve kept away from certain fashion items. But I gave it a go, after good consideration, and I don’t look too bad. At least in the dark!




Here is something really really nice to enjoy. As well as not wearing skinny jeans, I’ve never made sticky date, or any kind of date pudding thing. Dates – ewwww yuck. When a friend and I were making dessert recently for a special ocassion, she suggested this recipe with some poached pears. Amazing. Divine. A taste sensation.

Sticky Date pudding
1 ½ C chopped pitted dates
1 C boiling water
1 t baking soda
100g butter, chopped
¾ C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 C self-raising flour
cream to serve

toffee sauce
150g butter, chopped
1 C cream pouring cream
1 ½ C brown sugar

Preheat oven to 180. Place dates, water and soda in a bowl and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Place the mixture in the bowl of a food processor with the butter and sugar and process until well combined. Add the eggs and flour and process until just combined. Pour into a lightly greased tin lined with non-stick baking paper.
Bake for 35 min or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in the tin for ten min. Cut into squares.
To make the sauce, place ingred in saucepan over medium heat and stir until butter is melted. Bring to the boil and cook for 5 minutes or until thickened slightly.