In His Grip

An Easy Pesto Recipe

I love the flavor and the smell of fresh basil.  I have planted sweet basil in my garden for the last several years and have enjoyed finding new ways to use it. I have put it on pizza, pasta dishes, salads, etc. The wet, hot summer has been perfect this season for my basil and it is going crazy.  I have eought basill to supply my neighbors. Tonight I decided to use a bunch of it by making this great, easy Pesto recipe that I got from my friend Debra.  To be really honest with you I did not even know what Pesto was until I attended one of Debra's cooking classes last summer.  Pesto has eaisly become one of my favorite things.  The flavor is awesome not only to mention the amount of garlic it requires.  I love garlic!  Jeff is not as big a fan of garlic as me and has to remind me often to go easy on the garlic.

 Pesto

4 cups bail leaves (not tightly packed, but "somewhat" packed)

1/2 to 3/4 cup olive oil

1 cup parmesan cheesse

4 - 5 cloves garlic (I alwasy use 5 cloves! Yes!)

1/4 cup walunts (or pine nuts)

Place all of the ingredients in a food processor fitted with a metal blade and process until you reach the desired texture you like. 

See very easy and so tasty.  Try Pesto on a pizza crust topped with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella.  It is soooooo good.

Christmas in Gardner

Earlier this week the Indian Creek Community Church, Gardner campus passed out hot chocolate at the community Christmas lighting at Cornerstone Park, in Gardner.  Now being a small town, I thought how big of a deal can this be?  Well, was I taken by surprise, this little town goes all out for Christmas.  We arrived in the park around 5:45pm to set up our tent and it was completely dark, the kind of dark that you have to use a flash light to see anything.  As the crowds gathered, we were ready with hot chocolate, whipped cream, and candy canes for all.  The mayor said the word and the park lit up with all of its light as well as a firework display.  About that time, Santa arrived on a fire truck with its lights and sirens on and all was well with the world.  The children from the Gardner schools sang Christmas songs and then all got in line to go through Santa's workshop.  Now, we are not talking just Santa sitting in a chair passing out candy canes, he has a full workshop with elves and everything. He doesn't only give you a candy cane but you get a Gardner Christmas ornament.   I should have known this little town would be the real deal, after all I have been to one of their football games and that should have given me a clue.  Gardner is kind of a big deal when it comes to community fun!

Here is the ornament that Santa was passing out.  No I did not tackle a kid in the parking lot to get one.  I did what any other gal would do who wants something for Christmas.

I sat next to Santa, no not on his lap, and let him know what I wanted.  Yeah!  I am not  too proud.  Besides, I wanted a Gardner ornament and you do what you need to do.   

 

Our Small Group Can Cook, What Can Your Small Group Do?

Tonight our ladies small group from  Indian Creek, Gardner had a super time of  cooking fun.  Instead of doing our normal Bible study, we got together and had a cooking demonstration.  My friend Debra came and showed us how to make some delicious hors doeuvres just in time for our holiday party planning. We made a  Chili-Lime Pecans (these are the best!!!!), Savory Cheese Cake, and Spanikopita. I will definitely be making these for the holidays.  Its amazing how well our small group has gotten to know each other in such a short time and how much each of our lives have been changed by being a part of this group.  Just last Spring we did not even know one another's names.  I love these gals and look forward to continuing on our journeys together in the future.

Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies

Funfetti Cookies are just the best.  We made these this past weekend not only are they easy peasy, they are absolutely delicious.  Lindsey made these for a meeting that she was having, where nobody showed up, but that is another story.   So being my daughter, she "had" to eat the cookies herself.  But because they were soooo good she was willing to make the sacrifice.  Funfetti Cake mixes are out all year long and there are different ones for each holiday.  Here is the recipe:

1	(18.9-oz.) pkg. Pillsbury® Moist Supreme® Funfetti® Cake Mix
1/3	cup oil
2	eggs
1/2	(15.6-oz.) can Pillsbury® Creamy Supreme® Funfetti® Vanilla Frosting

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, combine cake mix, oil and eggs; stir with spoon until thoroughly moistened. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. With bottom of glass dipped in flour, flatten to 1/4-inch thickness. Bake at 375°F. for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Spread frosting over warm cookies. Immediately sprinkle each with candy bits from frosting. Let frosting set before storing. Store in tightly covered container.

Trunk-Or-Treat Success!!!!

The first Indian Creek Gardner Trunk-or-Treat was more than I could have ever imagined.  Jesi, our Kid Alive director, and I had been planning this but quite frankly had no idea how this event would turn out.  We thought we had all of our "i"s dotted and "t"s crossed but when it is a first time event, you just never know.  As the trunkers started showing up with their trunks all decorated  with lights and in costume I knew that something was up.  Now I don't want to over spiritualize it but I had been praying for the success of this event all week and it turns out God does care about reaching out to a community through something like a Trunk-or-Treat event.  Because we served over 500 children and there had to have been double that in adults.  The newspaper even showed up to take pictures.  Thank you to all of the people that helped out and especially to those "trunker missionaries" from the Olathe campus that came and trunked with us.  And most of all, thank you Jesus for caring about our small Live Out event and making it more than we could have ever hoped for!  I know, it's just the kind of God that you are and help me remember that.

Holiday Mart Fun!

Last night the girls and I along with our friend Sheri went to the Junior League Holiday Mart.  If you take all of the small boutiques for women, children and home decor and put them all in one place this is the Holiday Mart.  I had not been in several years and this event has moved from a "craft" show to a shopping extravaganza.  We had so much fun and as we were shopping, we kept seeing this one mannequin in all of the different booths to display jewelry, scarves, hats, etc.  Every time we saw it Lindsey and Anna would turn around an make the same face as the mannequin.  I think they got it down pretty good by the end of the night..

Pumkin Run with Friends

So it was freezing cold this morning but we had all made a commitment to our friend Haley to run in the 11th Annual Pumpkin Run.   We were at the very first pumpkin run eleven years ago and I cannot believe how big it has gotten.  What is really fun about it, is that a good number of the elementary schools in town have running clubs just to train for this event.  There were over 3,000 runners out on this cold morning. 

 
Today was not about what time we got but just to have fun with Hayley and make her first 5K an experience to remember.

We were all about taking time to take pictures along the way.

Hayley set our pace and decided to how fast we would run, when we would walk, and if we would run again.  

Had to stop and get a picture of this fan because Hayley was sure he was rooting her on.

 
Hayley heading for the finish line.

 
The joy of being able to say, "I ran 3.1 miles today, what did you do?"

So Sheri is a sucker for a cute cow any day.

If You Knew Her You Loved Her

This is a sad day for all of us that knew Miss Valera, but I know in my head that it should be a day of celebration, however my heart is heavy.  This is the day that she is in the arms of the one who she has loved and worshiped for so long, Jesus.  She was able to be reunited with her friends and loved ones that have been cheering her on as she encouraged, taught, and loved all those around her.   If you knew Miss Valera at all, you knew that she was a prayer warrior, you gave her something or someone to pray for and she was on it and would always ask for updates as to how the situation was changing.   Her encouragement and prayer have gotten me personally through several tough times and she was always there to celebrate the victory as well.   She will be missed by us all.  My friend Sheri said to me as we learned of the news, "I am so happy for her."  What a difference we as followers Christ have on the perspective of leaving this life on earth behind.  Heaven is our real home, and perfection won't be ours until we get there.  God made us to spend eternity with Him and although we get a little peek here of His presence, someday we will see Him face to face.  Now, that will be life at its best.  Congratulations, Miss Valera, you are perfection and you now know the BEST of life!!!!

Indian Creek Gradner Campus Picnic

Last Sunday was the first ever Indian Creek Community Church, Gardner campus picnic.  After church, we all headed out to Celebration Park were we had great food and fun.  The weather before church looked very questionable, but by the time church let out we had a great sunny day.  There were over 100 people in attendance. There was a water balloon fight, boccie ball,  and we passed out pop ice to everyone at the park whether they were with Indian Creek or not.  The kids as well as the adults had a great time on the play ground while we all enjoyed the pop ice.  It was so much fun and I look forward to more picnics in the future.  You just can't beat hanging out with great people.

Best Friends

Do you have a best friend?  During our lifetime we have many best friends.  Some share our lives during times when we are in the same life station and are sharing similar experiences, some share our good times and our bad.  But what about those friends that seem to be in a totally different part of life than you?  Can they really be your "best" friend?  My girls have two "best" friends one that is many years behind them in life experience that they are sharing life with and hope to be a part of her growing and developing for many years to come.  They intentionally spend time with her and look forward to seeing her whenever they can.  They also have a "best" friend that is years ahead of them in life experience that they also love to spend time with and look up to.  She is sharing life with them and giving them an example of what it looks like to pursue God with a passion that is out there for all to see.  Who is your best friend that you are sharing life with and giving in a way that will never be prepaid?  I thank God for those best friends that are willing to not only share life with me but pour into my girls as well.  Words can never be enough for the gratitude that I feel for the best friends in my life.

A Full Saturday

Saturday was full of one activity after another.  We started our day at 6:30 am at the Olathe Marathon cheering on Lindsey as she ran in her first 1/2 marathon and our good friend Sheri as she ran in another 1/2 marathon.  Anna, Jeff, and I had fun driving from place to place along the route to cheer them on with their very own signs.  There were also our friends, Nancy O'Connel, Brooke, and Josh Jackaway from Restore, and Paige Wilson from Inidan Creek, Olathe that we cheered on as well. We left directly from the 1/2 marathon to Gardner to put door hangers for the Indian Creek Community Church, Gardner campus egg hunt that happened on Sunday.  Jeff, the girls and I along with 23 others hung 1000 door hangers.  From there, we went back to Olathe to help unpack and then repack the new trailer that was delivered with all of you church supplies for the Gardner campus.  We left there about 3:00 pm only to go home and shower and then have a great dinner with some great friends.  Wow, what a day!

      

Beginning a New Chapter

Yesterday was the close of one chapter and the beginning of a new chapter for our church.  We had our last service at Indian Creek Community Church as one church, one location.  Next Sunday will be the first Sunday we begin the new chapter of one church, multiple locations.  Our family is part of a group of Indian Creekers that will be launching a new Indian Creek Community Church campus in Gardner.  The service yesterday was a huge celebration of how God has blessed our church and how people are stepping up to new levels of service not only by going to Gardner, but also filling in at Olathe where help is needed.  We love the way Indian Creek has always challenged our family in new ways and this will be one great adventure.  I cannot wait to meet all of the new families that will call Indian Creek, Gardner their church home and watch the brand new church grow into a place where people will find community, purpose, and belonging.

Is the Proof In The Picture?

This is a very fun website that I found and maybe it can prove that he really does exist.

Our Vacation Home

We can now say we own a vacation home!  Although you might call it a redneck version of a vacation home, afterall it is on wheels,  we are looking forward to our first big adventure.   My Hubby and two other guys that he works with have gone in together to purchase this great pop up tent trailer.  They have been talking about this for years.  Each guy realizing that they would not get enough use out of it to justify purchasing one on their own so they came up with the "Pop-up Co-op".  Saturday was the inaugural raising of the pop up, which actually went pretty well.  When you get three engineer types together they think they can figure anything out. Who needs the owner's manual? 

Chicago Weekend Adventure

Over the weekend the girls had their first travel adventure alone.  They left the Kansas City airport at 7:00 am on Friday, maneuvered their way through OHare airport, hopped on the El, only to transfer from the purple line to the red line, and went to Northwestern University were they met up with one of their best friends who is a student there.  They spent the rest of the day shopping the Miracle Mile and having fun in Chicago.  Saturday evening they met up with some good friends, Sheri and her husband, (Sheri was running in the Chicago Marathon) spent the night downtown, and went Sunday morning to support Sheri in the marathon.  Sheri finished, yeah!!!!  What an accomplishment.  We are all so proud.  I talked to them several time during the weekend to make sure all was safe and good.  But Sunday morning when they called and said they were on the marathon route with millions of people, I became alarmed, like any good mother would, until they told me that they had met up with Sheri's husband who is well over 6 foot tall.  There are times you just have to thank God for good friends.  They were able to cheer Sheri on, and then made their way back home all safe and sound.  And I thought that being an empty nester meant no worries.  WRONG!

Hangin' With The BFF

Lindsey and Anna are hanging out with all of their BFF's before heading off to school.  They are not only going to miss the friends they have grown up with but these new little people that they consider friends too.  Boy, are they going to miss these little ones.  They arranged to spend the day with one of their best friends today.  What would the world look like without friends?  I am not sure I would want to be here.

Relaxing this Weekend

We are just relaxing this weekend with friends.  You just cannot have a better time then hanging with friends for a weekend.

Themed Teaching

Does God teach anyone else in the themes?  Last year, I had a good run on learning about judgment and how not to judge but to give grace.  It looks like my new theme is relationship.  Everywhere I go it is a new teaching and learning on how important relationships are in helping people in their journey towards God.  I think I was given a preview of my new learning theme in the Fall of last year when I posted about the Meeting People Challenge and then again in Meeting People Challenge, Part 2.  That teaching has continued on then last week when I was at the Exponential Conference I think I finally caught the true teaching that God has been trying to get across to me.  It is all about relationship.  God wants a relationship with me and wants me to make relationships with others, not just people I know and like but everyone matters to God. Relationships help me and others on our journey towards Him.    

Crazy or Christians?

There was a good turn out at the Olathe Serve Day.  I am not sure what the final numbers were but with the weather as bad as it was, we either had to be crazy for being outside, Christians doing a service project, or maybe just call us crazy Christians.  With the temperature in the low 30's, the wind blowing, and then the snow/ice pellets only crazies would have been out in this.  We had a great time in our group.  We worked on the Welcome Home project helping build the walls for five houses, two of which will be kept here in our area.  Although we were cold, all of us felt blessed we all had a warm house to go home to as well as helped five families have a warm home of their own.   

A Sunday With Prati

Now my family and friends know why Prati is such a special person and why I love her so much.  We have had several chances to spend time with her since she arrived on Thursday and they all have said that now they understand why I go on and on about how much I love this women.  Her words today at the luncheon were powerful and effective.  She does not apologize for the challenges she calls us to do because she knows that all of us have been handpicked by God for such a time as this.  The lives of people that God loves depends on our obedience to His call.