Kickin' Split Pea Soup

Here is the recipe for today's experiment in Split Pea Soup (which was my attempt to copy the seasoning package that comes with Healthy Sisters "June's Split Pea Soup". (Healthy Sisters is a great local organization that helps women in recovery. Their soups are wonderful and you can read about them here.)

1 package split peas
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1.5 cups roughly chopped celery
1.5 cups roughly diced carrots
1 small onion chopped
1 tsp. thyme
2 bay leaves
1-2 tblsps. southwest sizzle seasoning
1-2 drops hot sauce ( I used Kick Yo Ass' "Ass-Kickin' Roasted Garlic Hot Sauce")
1 tsp. kosher salt
6 grinds black pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp. celery seed
10 oz. Hickory Farms summer sausage - diced

Rinse the split peas with cold water. Warm the chicken stock and water in the microwave. Place all the ingredients except the sausage into a dutch oven and cover. Place into a 350 degree oven for 2 hours.

After 2 hours, add the sausage and cook for another 30 minutes.

Little Man's Father asked for seconds, so I guess it was a success!

Clovis Loves Bags

This tote bag was hanging on the back of the kitchen chair and Clovis managed to get himself into it without it falling off the chair or tipping the chair over.

What Perseverance Looks Like - 2011

O Jesus, Friend Unfailing

O JESUS, Friend unfailing,
How dear art Thou to me!
Are cares or fears assailing?
I find my strength in Thee!
Why should my feet grow weary
Of this my pilgrim way?
Rough though the path and dreary,
It ends in perfect day!

What fills my soul with gladness?
'Tis Thine abounding grace!
Where can I look in sadness,
But, Jesus, on Thy face?
My all is Thy providing ---
Thy love can ne'er grow cold;
In Thee, my Refuge, hiding ---
No good wilt Thou withhold.

Why should I droop in sorrow?
Thou'rt ever by my side!
Why, trembling, dread the morrow?
What ill can e'er betide?
If I my cross have taken,
'Tis but to follow Thee;
If scorned, despised, forsaken,
Nought severs Thee from me.

For every tribulation,
For every sore distress,
In Christ I've full salvation,
Sure help and quiet rest.
No fear of foes prevailing,
I triumph, Lord, in Thee!
O Jesus, Friend unfailing,
How dear art Thou to me!

Written originally in German by Samuel Christian Gottfried Kuster (1762 to 1838), translated by Miss Hannah K. Burlingham (1842-1901) on June 13th, 1865, when she was only 23 years old! Moya Brennan has a version of this that is on a CD called Focusfest 2001 - The Sound of Grace. The tune she uses is a traditional Irish tune called "The Dawning of the Day". (This tune was popularized by a group called The Dubliners on a song called "Raglan Road".

You can have a listen here. Check the tabs at the top of the site to find the page.

Happy New Year!!! Welcome 2012

Here are the darlings - ready for a new year!

Christmas Day 2011

Emmanuel - God with us!

GOD with us.

God WITH us.

God with US!

No matter how you look at it, Emmanuel is mind-boggling but soul-blessing truth.

Merry Christmas!

There's a Promise Coming Down That Dusty Road

Here's a song based on the story of Jairus' daughter.

A hand of fear gripped the crowd
That day at Jairus' home
When the doctor shook his head
and said she's gone
You could feel that mother's heart break
You could hear them cry and mourn
Their little girl was only twelve years old

Somewhere in the distance
Outlined against the sun
There came a Man on a mission
From the throne
They said "look somebody's coming"
But what they did not know
It was their Promise coming down
that dusty road

Chorus:
There's a Promise coming down that dusty road
From His holy hand healing virtue flows
He's got the keys to what you need
Death and hell He will defeat
There's a Promise coming down that dusty road

The wonder turned to mocking
When Jesus did speak
'Cause He said your daughter's not dead
She's just asleep
Then He turned to the unbelievers
And He told them all "go home"
They heard Him say
"Leave Me and death alone."

And then He laid His hand upon the child
And He looked death right in the eye
He said, "All power in Heaven
and earth it belongs to me"
And with a voice that sounds like thunder
He hurled death and hell He will defeat
Oh there's a promise coming down your dusty road