living the dream

Recently, I went to the beach with friends and a few boys who live on the streets of Maputo. Street boys are a big problem in our city. They are on the streets for various reasons, but usually due to some unpleasant event at home that made them think it would be better to run away to the big city even if it meant begging for survival.

My friend Sarah works with these boys everyday - providing food, play and an opportunity to learn to read. The goal of this project is to keep them safe and hopefully reintegrate them in to a family rather than have them living on the streets. The money from my young cousins went to support this work.

During our beach trip, at each meal we would sit at the table and ask a question that each of us would answer. One of the boys is named Fred. His answers always challenged me.

What do you want to be when you grow up or what did you think you would do as a kid? Fred said (in Portuguese) that he dreams of being an Engineer. It is unusual for a kid in his circumstance to have a big dream like that as they are usually too focused on survival day-to-day. For example, the other boy with us could not answer the question. This is what I typically see from those living in difficult circumstances. But, not Fred. Fred has a big dream. I pray he keeps dreaming about a brighter future.

If money were no object, what is your eccentric dream? Me. I'd like to take flying lessons and own my own plane. Fred had a very specific dream about living in a house, with a door, and a bed, and plates with a dining table like the one we were eating at, and he would have a refrigerator with food and a car to drive. Fred's eccentric dream probably looks a lot like your daily life. It looks like mine. I pray Fred realizes that dream. I pray I never lose an appreciation for the opportunity I was given to live that dream.

How about you? What did you want to be when you were a kid? If money were no object, what is your eccentric dream?

Sheri

I am Pioneer Woman

Once upon a time, there was a young woman who fancied herself a "city girl." City girl's have a busy social life and a demanding career. City girl's eat for convenience. City girl's wonder why anyone would consider making yogurt, cheese or granola from scratch. When hosting dinner parties, City girl's order take-out and put it on nice serving dishes, but never dirty a pot or pan. Yup, once upon a time that was me. I don't know that girl anymore. That girl has transformed in to Pioneer Woman.

Pioneer Woman makes everything from scratch. Pioneer Woman dreams of owning a self-sustaining home in the country and growing her own vegetables. I am Pioneer Woman.

I wanted to share with you a few of the things I have been making lately.

Navajo Tacos

This is something I grew up eating at special events in my hometown. When I told my family that I made Navajo Tacos. They asked, "you made Indian bread? How did you do that?"

Indian bread is a key ingredient in Navajo Tacos. In New Mexico, it was always something we would buy from a local vendor. Making it wasn't as difficult as one might think. Though on the first attempt I didn't get the consistency right, but by the second attempt I had it down.

In addition to the Indian bread, I also made the salsa from scratch. I had never done this before living overseas, but what makes it particularly difficult is that it must be done without any small kitchen appliances - no food processor, no standing or hand blender. Just the power of my arm, a knife, and kitchen shears. Yes, I used scissors to refine the texture of the salsa.

Other items that I made recently:

• 
  
  Black bean burgers (not from a box and warmed up; but mashed, seasoned and made in to patties then baked)
• 
  
  apple-cinamon muffins (not from a box with liquid added; but from raw ingredients blended and baked)
• 
  
  maple syrup (when making your own maple syrup, one quickly learns how much sugar is in syrup - thankfully I can control the sugar content when making it from scratch)

I am Pioneer Woman. Hear me roar.

What have you been making in your kitchen lately?
 
Sheri

Quotable Quotes: Mark Twain

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."
- Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain

this is ladies night...ohh, ladies night

I recently met a new friend, Beth. I am so glad I met Beth. She welcomes us weekly in to her home for a women's Bible study. She generously gave us food during the riots. Just before that terrible event, she invited us over for a night of food and fun. I learned to play Bunko that night. I've often heard of this Bunko thing, but hadn't remembered playing before. I really enjoyed it.

This weekend, Beth had a group of ladies over to her place. We made sushi (also a new experience for me and much easier than expected). The highlight of the evening though wasn't the food. Beth had invited a few Indian women over to do henna. This is Beth getting her henna tatoo.

This was my favorite henna tattoo of the evening. One of the ladies has short hair and came up with a unique idea to have the back of her neck decorated. The end result was stunning. All I can say is "Wow!"

Sushi. Henna. Good company. What more could a girl ask for? Oh, yes. Though we were all from different places, we all spoke English. That was an added bonus and made for a wonderful night.

Did you do anything fun or interesting this weekend?

Sheri

Quotable Quotes: full on

"God is looking for women and men who are full on for Him - people who have abandoned their own program and are just looking for how they can use their unique talents and abilities to further God's activities and programs in this world. These are the people God will tap on the sholder and say 'Come with me and we're going to do something great in your lifetime. Come we're going to do this together.'" ~ Bill Hybels