Breath Holding Moments

By now, I'm sure you've watched or heard about Aly Raisman's parents reactions during her Olympic gymnastics performance on the uneven bars. In case you missed it, watch and enjoy.

(I just discovered this video is no longer available. The International Olympic Committee has blocked the video on youtube due to copyrights. I guess this video may be some sort of breech of security, huh?! ;-P Sorry if you didn't get to see it. The parents are so into their child's performance they do not even know they are holding their breath and moving like they are on a roller coaster ride without being seat belted in!)



Yes, it is quite humorous. Yet, it got me thinking.

How many times have we, as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, held our breath while our child has performed? We squirm, inwardly groan or nervously tap our foot. We want our child to succeed in life in general.

Is it the same way with God? Is He holding his 'breath' as we go out into the world? Does He cheer when we accomplish something we only dreamed of doing?

And, dare I say, I bet He is shoutin' so loud He scares a few angels?! :)

God is our greatest and best cheerleader. Smiling down on each one of us. Throwing us a good measure of grace when needed. Picking us up when we fall. And, perhaps even crying all the while He is wiping our tears.

Smile and let your heart be filled with joy. God is smiling down on you!

The Bride Wore Blue Review

The Bride Wore Blue by Mona Hodgson is the third of four books in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek series. (4th book due out in October)

The baby of the family, Vivian, makes her way from Maine to Cripple Creek to join her sisters. Adventures happen one after the other starting with a train robbery. Enter the sheriff, Carter. Carter clearly is smitten with Vivian but something in Vivian's past effects every relationship including her relationship with God.

It is a story of feeling unforgivable and how that not only affects Vivian, but, those around her. It is about forgiving herself as well as letting others forgive and love her.

The story is very predictable. I found myself guessing what was going to happen and it did. There weren't any surprises along the way for me. Just my humble opinion. However, it is a good, easy read and is well written.

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing for review purposes. I am not required to give a positive review, only an honest review.

Those Pesky Silks

It is that time of year when fresh sweet corn is just a slurp away. Well, normally. We've been hit hard by the drought that seems to be going around like the common cold.

A relative bought some at the grocery store since he can never pass up a good deal. If you cannot read between the lines, he overbought. So, we became recipients of eight ears of sweet corn two days before we were to leave on vacation. Great timing. Did you note the sarcasm in that last sentence? I didn't want to mess with corn even if it was for a meal in the midst of packing. My self-diagnoised, unmedicated ADD is funny that way.

I remembered seeing someone's pin on Pinterest on how to cook corn on the cob in the microwave. With the husk on. And, the silk still intact. Skreeech...back the truck up! I know, right?! This might be the answer to my laziness small dilema. I hate those pesky little silk strings. And, I've come to the conclusion the feeling is mutual.

After googling it since the person who originally pinned it didn't link to the post, but, only the blog site which is really quite annoying to me, I found a recipe. Sorry, no pictures since I was already lazy overwhelmed. But, it worked. Shockingly good when then corn isn't tough from being too old. I think we had maybe 2 ears that were tiny and tender...yum. Hmmm, sweet corn on sale and most of the corn is old...hmmmm.

The recipe I used was a combination of two recipes I read. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.

Fresh Corn on the Cob
(the microwave edition)
source: Cooks.com

Corn on the cob still in the husk and silk intact

Run each ear under water just to get the dirt/dust off the outside husks.

Place three to four ears (depends on size of microwave and your ears...the corn's ears, not yours...ewww...that would just be wrong in so many ways) on dampened paper towel(s). Turn ears (again, the corn's) over after 1/2 the cooking time.

1 ear: 1 1/2 min
2 ears: 3-4 min
3 ears: 5-6 min
4 ears: 7-8 min
(if you can fit more than four in your microwave, you're on your own with a cooking time!)

Using a hot pad/mitt, remove from microwave after the annoying beeping sound chimes. Either wrap the cooked ears in foil or put them in a pan and cover (that is what I did). Let stand for 5-ish (or less) min. With a knife, cut the a tiny portion of the bottom of the cob off. (makes husk removal so easy!)Remove husks and silk (it will slide off...seriously!) and serve with butter, salt and pepper.

Try it. Let me know if you like this method or the "watch-pot" boiling method.