Day 135 | Saturday, 1 August 2020

Day 135  |  Saturday, 1 August 2020
 From the Church Mouse
​
 “God has given each of you special abilities to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.  1 Peter 4:10”

 One of my favorite activities, since I was a little girl, was to watch birds.  This was not the disciplined, record-keeping work of bird watchers of today.  I was usually bare-footed and as high up in a tree as I could climb.  I loved watching the birds, not caring about their variety or prevalence.  I just was fascinated by what they did each day, especially their nests.

 I remember trying to make a nest once.  I took a lump of clay form the creek bank on our 20 acres and tried to mold it with some straw into a nest.  I think I had given myself permission to make a mess, because that is pretty much what it looked like.  What I learned from this exercise was that I could not come close to making a nest as well as a bird.

 God gives each one of us (even birds) unique talents and abilities, and we are to use these skills for each other and to His pleasure.  We often find new joys and skills if we are open to them.  Sometimes God pushes us out of our safe nests.  This truly challenging time is surely one where we must venture forth, adapt, and overcome.  Consider what we are doing here in the Woodlands.  None of us can do everything, but each of us can do something, even if it is one small thing.  So, this tree-climbing, bird watching child of God will no longer be caught in the crown of a tree, as much as I would dearly love to be there.  So, . . . I have adapted.  I am to be found on a swing in the Woodlands chapel, watching the birds – and I have overcome. 

 Now for one of my favorite foodies:  Japanese clear onion soup

Ingredients:

• Chicken or beef broth or half and half – 6 cups
• 2 onions, diced
• One Carrot, 4 celery sticks or 1 stalk, 1 tbsp garlic and 1 tbsp ginger
• 1 cup mushrooms and ½ cup scallions
• 1 tsp sesame oil

Instructions: - use a soup pot

1. Roughly chop the onions, carrots, and celery.  No need to peel the carrots.
2. Slice the ginger and garlic into rounds in order to expose more surface area and unleash the most of its flavor.
3. Slightly caramelize the onion in a bit of regular oil – about 10 minutes
4. Add the carrots, celery, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil
5. Pour in the broth/broths.  Check for saltiness.  Add a little salt, if necessary.
6. Bring to a boil and then lower the temperature and allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes.
7. Strain all the solid particles out of the soup.
8. Garnish with fresh sliced scallions and very thin button mushrooms.

 Today: Thank God for the birds.
 
COVID-19 update as of 7-31-20 3PM 231 cases in the county with 103 in Battalion 3