The past two days have been great! I'm really thankful for the snow. It reminds me of when we lived in Minot, ND.
Here are some memories from North Dakota and Germany:
1. We had to buy a snow blower.
2. We never got to stay home from school for a snow day. I would watch the TV in the morning hoping for at least a 2 hour delay but that never happened. Man, they were efficient there...
3. My first car (1998 Dodge Neon) had a block heater instead of AC, which proved to not be useful at all when I moved to North Carolina!
4. At the Frankfurt International Airport in Germany you didn't shut down the airport when it showed... they de-iced the plane and you were maybe 30 minutes late for take off, and it was snowing outside while you were taxing out on the runway.
5. I took my driver's test while it was snowing and they had a warning for a blizzard in effect.
6. I have seen the Northern Lights... they were beautiful. I was traveling home very late one night from Minot to our home on the base and it was so black outside but not snowing. I was the only one on the road. They were not as colorful as you might see in Alaska but if you're away from enough light, they look more silver and gray in the night sky.
At first I found it odd and irritating when I moved here and the world seemed to shut down for snow... but now I understand. People here are just not used to it here. RDU probably does not have the equipment to de-ice planes and most people do not have winter tires. But I still think it's funny how CRAZY the grocery stores get. Trader Joe's was PACKED when I went on Friday afternoon after work.
But while it's here I'm going to enjoy it :-)
dmj
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Thoughts while studying anatomy
I don't know if it is legit to post twice to your blog in one day, but I am studying anatomy and I was overwhelmed with how great God is. In my Anatomy and Physiology class we're studying the blood. It is amazing to me how God created our bodies to work just so; each part has to do it's job so we can function. Blood itself is so intricate and detailed, more complex than I ever realized till now. Each part has a specific function, our red blood cells carry oxygen, our white blood cells help with our bodies immune system by creating antibodies and our blood plasma carries hormones, proteins and other nutrients throughout the body. This way when you eat and your blood glucose levels rise, the hormone insulin travels into the blood via the plasma and takes the glucose up into your cells to be used. It really is phenomenal.
As I'm sitting here with my books and papers neatly spread out on my lap, and Merlin keeping my feet warm, I'm reminded of these verses in the Psalms.
dmj
As I'm sitting here with my books and papers neatly spread out on my lap, and Merlin keeping my feet warm, I'm reminded of these verses in the Psalms.
For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when i was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139: 13-19God created us to give Him glory and every time I learn more about our bodies the more I see how glorious and amazing God is. Everything works just right, each part has a purpose, everything works together. Our bodies speak of God's greatness. He also created our minds to know there is something greater, to desire something greater. We were created for a purpose. That gives me hope, and a thankful, humble heart. Anyway just some thoughts.
dmj
Maple-Mustard Pork Loin
I made this pork roast for Jerod a week ago and it was a hit! Secretly I was not excited about the bacon portion, BUT it was an excuse to use my new roasting pan (thanx Sandy and Barbara!). It is super easy to make. It also made me feel like a real cook because I used kitchen twine for the first time! Please excuse how horrible the pictures are... I'm not a photographer in any way!
I tweaked the original recipe so I could use up the carrots I always seem to have in the fridge. And Jerod and I really like garlic so I added more on top of the roast before I put the bacon on top. It came from the February 2009 Everyday with Rachel Ray. Normally she is not my favorite chef because everything she does seems so complicated, but the more I'm cooking the easier things are getting so I picked this magazine up again and found this to try.
You need:
1/4 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tbsp Maple Syrup
1/4 C Dijon Mustard
2 tbsp chopped Fresh rosemary plus 4 whole sprigs
Garlic, smashed and peeled
2 lb boneless pork loin (I think I paid like $6.80 for this at Trader Joe's)
5 pieces of bacon cut in half
1 package fingerling potatoes (from Trader Joe's, their so buttery!), cut in half
1/2 lb carrots (1 lb is like 89 cents at Trader Joe's), cut about same size as potatoes
Salt and Pepper
Combine the pork loin, 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, dijon mustard, 2 tbsp chopped rosemary, some salt and pepper. Seal the bag and kind of rub the mixture all over the pork. I usually put the bag in a 13x9 pyrex dish so if the bag breaks I don't have mess in my fridge. You can leave the pork in for a about an hour to marinate.
Preheat the oven to 375F. I put tinfoil on the bottom of my pan and then place the 4 sprigs of rosemary at the center of a roasting pan. Spread them out so you can have them spread out evenly under the pork loin. Then take kitchen twine and place it over the rosemary. Place the pork loin as evenly as possible over the twine and rosemary. Place the bacon pieces over the pork loin and try and cover the whole top. Use more bacon if you need to. Then tie the strings to secure everything and trim the ends. Then toss the potatoes and carrots around the pork loin and drizzle them with remaining olive oil. Season everything with salt and pepper and throw it all in the oven! Check the internal temperature, should be at 150. Let rest about 10 minutes before slicing.
Can you tell I like Trader Joe's? I love that grocery store. I love grocery stores in general but Trader Joe's is my favorite in the US.
Well enjoy! Here is the finished product; its not the best picture but you see the bacon is all crispy and the meat is really juicy :-)
dmj
I tweaked the original recipe so I could use up the carrots I always seem to have in the fridge. And Jerod and I really like garlic so I added more on top of the roast before I put the bacon on top. It came from the February 2009 Everyday with Rachel Ray. Normally she is not my favorite chef because everything she does seems so complicated, but the more I'm cooking the easier things are getting so I picked this magazine up again and found this to try.
You need:
1/4 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tbsp Maple Syrup
1/4 C Dijon Mustard
2 tbsp chopped Fresh rosemary plus 4 whole sprigs
Garlic, smashed and peeled
2 lb boneless pork loin (I think I paid like $6.80 for this at Trader Joe's)
5 pieces of bacon cut in half
1 package fingerling potatoes (from Trader Joe's, their so buttery!), cut in half
1/2 lb carrots (1 lb is like 89 cents at Trader Joe's), cut about same size as potatoes
Salt and Pepper
Combine the pork loin, 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, dijon mustard, 2 tbsp chopped rosemary, some salt and pepper. Seal the bag and kind of rub the mixture all over the pork. I usually put the bag in a 13x9 pyrex dish so if the bag breaks I don't have mess in my fridge. You can leave the pork in for a about an hour to marinate.
Preheat the oven to 375F. I put tinfoil on the bottom of my pan and then place the 4 sprigs of rosemary at the center of a roasting pan. Spread them out so you can have them spread out evenly under the pork loin. Then take kitchen twine and place it over the rosemary. Place the pork loin as evenly as possible over the twine and rosemary. Place the bacon pieces over the pork loin and try and cover the whole top. Use more bacon if you need to. Then tie the strings to secure everything and trim the ends. Then toss the potatoes and carrots around the pork loin and drizzle them with remaining olive oil. Season everything with salt and pepper and throw it all in the oven! Check the internal temperature, should be at 150. Let rest about 10 minutes before slicing.
Can you tell I like Trader Joe's? I love that grocery store. I love grocery stores in general but Trader Joe's is my favorite in the US.
Well enjoy! Here is the finished product; its not the best picture but you see the bacon is all crispy and the meat is really juicy :-)
dmj
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Merlin the dog (and yes, he is a wizard)
About a month a go Jerod and I got a dog from the Wake County Animal Control. And we have fallen in love with this dog. Jerod one day randomly asked me if I wanted a dog for Christmas and I was so excited! The Wake County Animal Control was have a sale on dog so adopting him was only $25.When you walk into the WCAC I noticed it smelled of wet dog. Then we were buzzed into the back where they have two rooms of dogs and a smaller room with cats. When Jerod and I began to walk around and look at dog I started to cry. I wanted to take ALL of them home with us, to love and care for. A man who worked there asked us what we were looking for and he told him maybe an older dog. He pointed us to two lab mixes and one of them was our future dog! At the time he was named Salsa, but they man who worked there told us he did not respond to it. Once we decided on him and payed the deposit, Jerod and I thought of names on the way home. His mom and my brother both suggested Optimus Prime knowing Jerod loves Optimus more than me, his own wife. But when we went back the next day the dog didn't respond! But when Jerod called him Merlin he did! So... that was his name!
Finally, 4 days later we brought him home! And I love him. As odd as it sounds, if loving an animal is a small glimpse of what it might be like one day to love a baby of our own... then I can't wait! I think having Merlin has really brought us great joy. He is always happy to see us and its funny how he will just follow me around the house when we are home together.
dmj
Friday, January 22, 2010
Suffering for the sake of the Gospel.
Does God really grant followers hardship for the sake of the Gospel?
As I spent time in Philippians 1 this morning, I was struck by the implications of verses 29 & 30.
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
It appears that not only did God grant the Philippians salvation, but also suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Was this suffering something that God granted directly or did he "grant" it by allowing it to happen (for example Job or more importantly, the death of his only perfect Son).
If God is willing to allow his only Son, the only man to ever live without sinning, to suffer horribly, what does that mean for my life? Am I willing to make everything about my life (my job, my health, my marriage) forfeit for the sake of the Gospel? I'm forced to ask myself what I wouldn't give up if it meant God were glorified. Why not? How long will it take for me to understand that everything, and I mean everything, I have is a gift from God, to be used to give him glory and as He sees fit?
What are you clinging to? What's keeping you from giving it up?
jhj
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sick day...
Yesterday I sat at home with a fever. So, considering I work with a client who is older, it was best I not go.
I was watched The Doctors show and they discussed how people can prevent heart disease, heart attacks, breast cancer, and diabetes.
Since my dad had his heart attack over a week ago, I feel like I've seen more Lipitor and Plavix commercials. And show's like The Doctors are talking about it more... But it is convicting. Shouldn't we be taking care of the bodies God gave us? 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. I also know that before this in verse 18 that is speaks of sexual immorality. In my limited knowledge on Scripture I often do not know if what I'm getting out of it is what I should. I also do not want to pull anything out of context. Can this verse be applied to taking care of our bodies so we can serve the Lord well? If we become overweight because we've treated our body poorly by not exercising and over eating, can we serve the Lord well?
The more I think about it, I don't think it is being a good example. We should not be slaves to anything, and that includes our bodies. We are to be mastered by nothing, but submit to Jesus; we are to serve and honor Him. Again I know these verses are speaking of sexual immorality, BUT I think they can be applied to many things in life...
1 Corinthians 6: 12-17
Everything is permissible for me-- but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me-- but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food-- but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become on flesh". But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
I lean on the side of being obsessive about things, situation, and at some points in my life even people. When I desire to do the right thing I can rely on said thing instead of God. I so do this with my health. I have been keeping track of what I eat every day for I don't know how long and I can be obsessive about what I put in my mouth. But God has been convicting my heart... I will not be mastered by anything, words spoken by Paul but they speak to my heart today in 2010. I desire for Jerod and I to be healthy and honor the Lord by treating our bodies well. I want to honor the Lord and keep myself beautiful for my husband.
So! Here are some tips to living a healthier life from The Doctors. I've adapted it from a segment about the top 5 ways to prevent breast cancer but I believe it can be applied to more than that! SO these are my 6 ways to living a healthier life...
1. Go organic as much as your budget allows. (more important: milk, cheese, bread, yogurt, soft skinned fruit)
2. Limit your alcohol... women especially should be drinking little to almost none.
3. Eat your veggies! Vibrant colored vegetables have more beneficial nutrients.
4. Get plenty of exercise! Even if it is only walking and some strength training.
5. Swap your oils. Try canola oil and olive oils which are monounsaturated.
6. I know men might hate this but... eat less meat! Try to eat more vegetarian meals. Red meat especially is higher in saturated fat and cholesterol.
dmj :-)
I was watched The Doctors show and they discussed how people can prevent heart disease, heart attacks, breast cancer, and diabetes.
Since my dad had his heart attack over a week ago, I feel like I've seen more Lipitor and Plavix commercials. And show's like The Doctors are talking about it more... But it is convicting. Shouldn't we be taking care of the bodies God gave us? 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. I also know that before this in verse 18 that is speaks of sexual immorality. In my limited knowledge on Scripture I often do not know if what I'm getting out of it is what I should. I also do not want to pull anything out of context. Can this verse be applied to taking care of our bodies so we can serve the Lord well? If we become overweight because we've treated our body poorly by not exercising and over eating, can we serve the Lord well?
The more I think about it, I don't think it is being a good example. We should not be slaves to anything, and that includes our bodies. We are to be mastered by nothing, but submit to Jesus; we are to serve and honor Him. Again I know these verses are speaking of sexual immorality, BUT I think they can be applied to many things in life...
1 Corinthians 6: 12-17
Everything is permissible for me-- but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me-- but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food-- but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become on flesh". But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
I lean on the side of being obsessive about things, situation, and at some points in my life even people. When I desire to do the right thing I can rely on said thing instead of God. I so do this with my health. I have been keeping track of what I eat every day for I don't know how long and I can be obsessive about what I put in my mouth. But God has been convicting my heart... I will not be mastered by anything, words spoken by Paul but they speak to my heart today in 2010. I desire for Jerod and I to be healthy and honor the Lord by treating our bodies well. I want to honor the Lord and keep myself beautiful for my husband.
So! Here are some tips to living a healthier life from The Doctors. I've adapted it from a segment about the top 5 ways to prevent breast cancer but I believe it can be applied to more than that! SO these are my 6 ways to living a healthier life...
1. Go organic as much as your budget allows. (more important: milk, cheese, bread, yogurt, soft skinned fruit)
2. Limit your alcohol... women especially should be drinking little to almost none.
3. Eat your veggies! Vibrant colored vegetables have more beneficial nutrients.
4. Get plenty of exercise! Even if it is only walking and some strength training.
5. Swap your oils. Try canola oil and olive oils which are monounsaturated.
6. I know men might hate this but... eat less meat! Try to eat more vegetarian meals. Red meat especially is higher in saturated fat and cholesterol.
dmj :-)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Yes we're starting a blog too.
Like Kirk Cameron, Jerod and I felt... Left Behind... when it came to blogging (Jerod thanks Lyle Sacco for that line).
Jerod and I are finally joining the millions of people who blog! I'm really excited though. Hopefully this blog will bring us joy when we look back on our life years from now.
SO ENJOY!
d
Jerod and I are finally joining the millions of people who blog! I'm really excited though. Hopefully this blog will bring us joy when we look back on our life years from now.
SO ENJOY!
d
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