Lilley of the field

So this is my first food post. I decided it was too good not to share. And very summery. (If only I'd taken pictures... you just have to trust now that it tastes good without any visuals). Also, if you don't have these herbs and live near us... come get them in our garden!!! I looked up a lot of recipes online and then made these up myself so they are Kim-riginal. Lime and Cilantro Greek Yogurt Dip 1 c. greek yogurt plain 1 lime, juiced 1 handful of cilantro, chopped a few mint leaves, chopped a drizzle of honey salt and pepper Mix it all together. Zest about a quarter of the lime into the mixture. We ate it for my birthday with sweet potato fries sprinkled with chili powder and cinnamon. I think it would also go well on top of chicken or pork. Maybe with raw veggies like carrots and celery? Also good with regular tortilla chips. We also put it in our "neo-southwestern" (according to Aaron) fajitas with sauteed chicken, onion, and bell peppers. Delicious...

So I have an addition to my last post. I ended with the comment that Christ died and took our place because God loves me. While this is true, the chapter I read this week in Radical by David Platt shed light on the truth that Christianity is not centered on us, but on God's glory. So I am not revoking my statement that God loves you or me, but rather adding to it. I will use some of David Platt's word to better explain: "As wonderful as this sentiment sounds, is it biblical? Isn't it incomplete based on what we've seen in the Bible? "God loves me," is not the essence of biblical Christianity. Because if "God loves me" is the message of Christianity, then who is the object of Christianity?       God loves me .       Me.      Christianity's object is me ..... I will choose what is best for me.       The message of biblical Christianity is not "God loves me, period," as if we were the object of our own faith. The mess...

The other night I finished my first book of the summer: A Thousand Splendid Suns , by the same author as The Kite Runner, which I just checked out from the library today. When I finished the book, I felt incredibly heavy. Although it is a fictitious book, the circumstances are very real. What the characters experience are everyday events in Afghanistan and have been for generations. The threat of warfare in Afghanistan is real. Americans are part of that threat. I was struck by how much I have- clothes, food, shelter, friends, freedom, church, running water, stores, medicine, and the list goes on. In America we often ask the question, "Why me?" I have asked it many times about both trivial and real problems. Often it is asked about very legitimate and heartbreaking trials. Why do I have this illness? Why did my loved one have to pass away? Why did I have to lose my job? Why do I have to suffer? Why do I have to be in pain? Why me? But as I read the book, I asked "Why...

It's summer finally! I am so thankful for the unexpected closure today that I got on my year. The end of the school year here is strange. There is no big finale and no final goodbyes. The kids can come on Monday and Tuesday for half days. I say, "can" because most don't. I didn't get to say goodbye to a couple kids. Then since Monday and Tuesday were half days, there wasn't anything productive or sentimental that went on. My last day of school I only had 3 out of 8 students show up. I didn't have any tearful goodbye, no end of year gifts from the students, no closure. So I wake up today and go to school for our teacher work day. We can get out of there by 3 and I am eyeing that clock eager to get out by 3 when finally I give up because I know it will be a little after 3. God knew that too because I actually get done at literally 3. So I turn off the lights, close the doors, move a few last things and look around. And then it hits me. My first year is fin...

I am so blessed to be working where I am. I don't think I realize how good it is. As a first year teacher, to find such unity, laughter, passion, and drive at a Title 1 school in a small, Southern town in practically unheard of I am sure. Today we had our end of year staff luncheon. I was amazed by the love and unity at our school. I have heard stories or how far we have come and so I can only share in part of the understanding, but it was nonetheless beautiful to experience. We are sending off our principal of 2 years who apparently has moved mountains at our school. We also sent off 2 retirees. There are also 4 other teachers currently moving to other districts. Several things charcterized the celebration and one was laughter. There were stories told as people "roasted" the retirees. There was laughter as our principal gave parting words to each department/ grade level. The way in which people know each other and encourage one another is inspiring. People shared stori...