Screwed up for life. An Introduction

After a recent trip to Uganda Africa...I am indeed screwed up for life - this guy told me I would be and now I would have to 100% agree that this is the case.  So now, I've seen poverty.... endless poverty, with my own eyes.  And I live in Canada...so now what?  Now what?!?!?!?  is my continuous feeling and question.  So welcomed to my odyssey of being SUFL...

Meet Katherina.  She is in her late 80's and lives in a home (small room made of bricks & mud) because of a good samaritan.  An old straw mat to sleep on, one outfit, 2 cans to carry water are pretty much all she has to her name.  What has happened to bring her to this place?   ....a husband who died too young of aids, no children, neighbors who watched as thieves molested and stole from her, those who bullied her and took the land she owned and survived on.  Now she says her whole body aches and her heart gives her pain.... yet she shows joy and clapped her frail hands together thanking God that muzungus (white people) were in her home before she died.    We gave only a  bucket full of rice, maze, salt and soap.  A mat, a mosquito net, a blanket and a prayer. Katherina gave me perspective of life, and a God who truly can sustain and bring joy and comfort with the help of nothing and nearly no one else. My life is blessed, in my Canadian eyes....hers is not. Yet  she is in God's arms of comfort, experiences His joy and leans only on Him - and Him alone.   And I need a new lipgloss.   

It is better to take refuge in the LORD - than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD - than to trust in princes.
Psalm 118:8&9

Hannah the Hero

Check out this website to be inspired by a 13 year old girl who at age 8 decide to make a change.  Instead of just feeling sick, uncomfortable and guilty when confronted with the homeless in her city after an experience of seeing a man eating out a garbage can.  Her wise mother told her that maybe if she did something to change the problem she wouldn't feel so helpless and upset.  And did something she did.  Meet Hannah....Hannah Taylor....Founder of The Ladybug Foundation.  Hannah cares about the homeless and has made more that 200 speeches about why she cares about people without a home, people who are hungry and what she believes we should all do about poverty.

Take 10 minutes and explore www.ladybugfoundation.ca - you won't be sorry you did.

The Blessing of "Shalom"

May you be whole in body, soul, and spirit as a result of being in harmony with God's will and purpose for your life. May His peace be your covering, your heart know His fullness, and by His mighty power may you know victory over every enemy. May He bring to pass the deepest desires of your heart. May you know the healing power of His presence, and the restoration of every broken relationship. Through His sufficiency, may every need that you face be met by His limitless resources. May His covenant promises be fulfilled in your life and in your family. May He bring you the greatest measure of contentment, and the deepest satisfaction tht your heart can possibly know.   -Roy Lessin

Love is in the AIR....

Happy Valentines Week!  Let the love begin :)

Isaiah 61 (New Living Translation)

Isaiah 61

Good News for the Oppressed

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
      for the Lord has anointed me
      to bring good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
      and to proclaim that captives will be released
      and prisoners will be freed.^[a]
 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
      that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,^[b]
      and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
 ³ To all who mourn in Israel,^[c]
      he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
   a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
      festive praise instead of despair.
   In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
      that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
      repairing cities destroyed long ago.
   They will revive them,
      though they have been deserted for many generations.
 ⁵ Foreigners will be your servants.
      They will feed your flocks
   and plow your fields
      and tend your vineyards.
 ⁶ You will be called priests of the Lord,
      ministers of our God.
   You will feed on the treasures of the nations
      and boast in their riches.
 ⁷ Instead of shame and dishonor,
      you will enjoy a double share of honor.
   You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
      and everlasting joy will be yours.
 ⁸ “For I, the Lord, love justice.
      I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
   I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering
      and make an everlasting covenant with them.
 ⁹ Their descendants will be recognized
      and honored among the nations.
   Everyone will realize that they are a people
      the Lord has blessed.”
 ¹⁰ I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
      For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
      and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
   I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit
      or a bride with her jewels.
 ¹¹ The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.
      Everyone will praise him!
   His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,
      with plants springing up everywhere.

baked.

This morning I baked my recipe post from yesterday - made a small mistake trying to make them into muffin tops....they would have looked more like muffins and less like scones if I had just made them regular sized muffins....but actually mini muffins would be lovely experiment with this recipe.  I took out the banana and used coconut oil and spelt flour and extra coconut....they're really yummy.  I'm packing them up and taking them down town to Vancouver to see my new Olympic friends :)  Gonna be a good day....hope you're having a good day too!

p.s. I also made the Babycakes Spelt Raspberry Scones Recipe again - I'm kinda in a rut with this cookbook....these scones are just so delicious....plus I had all the ingredients out already.

Have a nice SUNNY day!

Berry Banana Coconut Muffins

I found this recipe on postpunkkitchen.com.... it's a very funky website that promotes the vegan lifestyle.  I haven't tried these muffins as of yet, although I'm sure they'll be in the oven within the next 24 hours - the comments under the post (click here to check 'em out) sold me on the already delicious looking recipe.  Because of the wheat free thing I'm doing - I plan on using a wheat free/gluten free flour and some xanthan gum....or spelt flour...we'll see.  Because they are vegan - I don't have to worry about changing up anything milk ingredients.  Let me know if you try them, we can compare notes :) love Hoola... Berry Banana Coconut Muffins

prep time: 5-10 minutes | cooking time: 15-20 | makes 6-8 muffins

I love to cook vegetarian & vegan food, and am always looking for new recipes. I made this recipe because I wanted something more exciting for breakfast than the usual bowl of cereal. I store them in the freezer- great when you're on the go! (http://www.majlandonline.com)

Equipment: Large Mixing Bowl Small dish (to soak berries) Muffin Pan Muffin baking papers Ingredients 1/4 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup unbleached white flour 1/2 cup rolled oats 1/4 c. brown sugar 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 3/8 c. soymilk 1/8-1/4 c. finely shredded coconut (as much as you like- preferably unsweetened) 1/8 cup + 1 tbsp oil (or applesauce if you want this low-fat) 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/8 c. dried blueberries or 1/8 c. dried cranberries 1 large (preferably ripe) banana mashed Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees Boil 1 cup of water and soak the dried berries... Mix all the dry ingredients together Add the soymilk, oil & banana & mix well Strain the berries and add to the mix Batter will be thick

Try this on for size....

Almighty God,

In this quiet hour I seek communion with Thee.  From the fret and fever of the day's business, from the world's discordant noises, from the praise and blame of men, from the confused thoughts and vain imaginations of my own heart, I would now turn aside and seek the quietness of Thy presence.  All day long I have toiled and striven: But now, in the stillness of heart and the clear light of Thine eternity, I would ponder the pattern my life is weaving.

A Diary of Private Prayer
John Baillie 

The sun is shinning here in Vancouver today - it's beautiful, but not so great for the much needed olympic mountains.... Hope the sun is shinning in your neck of the woods too.

I dream of Africa....

 Here are a couple shots I snapped while in Uganda in January.  Absolutely beautiful children and a incredibly beautiful setting.  God is at work in creation and lives.  

Hope you are all well today and feeling peace that passes all understanding. 

A truth laugh :)

God loves you. And I'm seriously working on it.

Hoola On ~ BAKES

I like to bake, don't even get me started about how a cupcake can make me happy. Years ago I discovered that I could only keep the ingredients I needed for a particular recipe in my baking cupboard - or I would bake and taste test away.... I would give it away as well, one batch a least. Recently I found out that I had some major sensitivities to both dairy & wheat....never mind that a sugar rush has never been worth the headache afterwards. So I cut out dairy and with that went the yummy treats, wheat wasn't too far behind....and now I'm all the better for it. But all around me the cupcakes remain - overflowing with sugar, flour and butter. Knowing very well that I was not the only one feeling jilted, I've decided to experiment baking alternatives which are free from the common allergens and delicious. . I'm still figuring out things along the way - but am happy to be in the kitchen....experimenting. That's what it is for now anyways, it may always be an experiment of sorts - but it sure will be a yummy and healthy one, if I might add.

Have a nice SUNNY day!

Hoola ON baby!

Here's to ideas....

You have them, I do too...

I enjoy hearing about others thoughts, wonderings, finds and discoveries....

And I think I'll enjoy sharing some of my own....

Hope you will too...

Welcome to Hoola On!  

Have a Nice Sunny Day!