The Charlotte Chronicles: II

A few lessons from living in a new city for 2.5 months:

1.  Traffic

It's everywhere.  It's constant.  It takes at least 20 minutes to get anywhere before 9:00 PM.

People like to stop.  Just stop.  There's more risk of rear-ending other drivers here than on Amish country roads with horse-drawn buggies beyond every curve.

Drivers don't use turn signals here.  Ever.

2.  Food

It took some time to get used to the grocery scene here.  Fortunately, we have both Aldi AND Trader Joe's within driving distance!  I can find most basic items (beans, dairy, great produce) between those two stores.  However, I have to go to a more "mainstream" grocer (Bi-Lo) to get basic baking items like flour and yeast.

Harris Teeter is akin to Weis, in that it's a local, family-owned chain whose selection is okay and whose prices are unnecessarily expensive.

I really miss the Mennonite health food stores and farm stands of Berks County.

3.  Church

We've visited a few PCA churches (where fellow seminarians are involved), and have figured out that we're truly more in the reformed baptist tribe.  We have been attending a small, young, diverse church that we LOVE (truly a pillar of God's truth in the community, serving in many ways), but we may yet visit a few more.  One congregation that Greg wants to visit is offering a *paid* (!!!!) internship to a seminarian, which is really enticing for us.  I looked at their website, and photos of the staff, choir, and preschool make it appear to be an all-white church. :/. How does that happen in a large, diverse city?

4.  Climate

Spring is beautiful, but pollen is pervasive.  I simultaneously want to play outside and hide under a blanket all day.  *sniff*

Hopeful

Sunday Seven 9-2-2014

Ahoy!  Currently posting from my new home in Charlotte; here are a quick seven things to try:

1.  This book:  Elyse Fitzpatrick's Because He Loves Me.  Elyse is an exceptional speaker (!) and a gifted writer.  Here, she beautifully brings to light gospel truths about how Christ truly transforms us, even in our everyday lives, as we walk with Him.  A very refreshingly truthful book.

2.  This movie:  Wes Anderson's film adaptation of The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl is AMAZING.  It's basically an adult action movie gift-wrapped as a stop-motion animation children's film.  The hilarious dialogue will dazzle you.  "APPLE JUICE FLOOD."  Treat yourself and rent this movie!

3.  This game:  The Game of Things provided a group of friends with two and a half hours of straight laughter last night.  It plays similiarly to Apples to Apples.  (My cheeks hurt from laughing so hard)

4.  This TV program:  Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

5.  This dip:  guacamole.  I could eat a liter in one sitting.

6.  This cheese:  Brie!  A French classic - try it on those Snaps pretels.  Mmmm!

7.  This organization:  The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Animal Care and Control Division helped us adopt our first baby this weekend!  Meet Phoebe:

Stories of this crazy kitty to follow!

Cheers!
Katy

Why I Never Follow Recipes

Tonight was curry night in the McI household!  I love curry - it's delicious in its rich spiciness; and you can pretty much make it with whatever veggies you like.  Here's the recipe I started with:

Red Lentil Coconut Curry

1 large onion, minced - Saute in 1 tbsp coconut oil until transparent.

1 tbsp garlic (minced)
1 tbsp ginger root (peeled & minced)
2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp each turmeric, cumin, pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2-3 bay leaves - Add spices & reduce heat.

400 ml can coconut milk
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup tomato sauce - Add & simmer 20 minutes.

2 cups dried red lentils
5 cups water - Cook for 15 minutes.

1 medium head cauliflower (chopped)
1 large sweet potato (diced)
1/4 head cabbage (sliced)
1-2 cups peas - Cook over medium heat until tender; serve over brown rice.

(from one of my favorite cookbooks, Simply in Season)

"That recipe sounds very tasty!" you may say.  "Why wouldn't you follow it?" you may ask...

Well, the main ingredient - lentils - is something I never buy.  I never buy lentils because my husband thinks they're gross.  "Too pasty!"  But he likes beans; so in this dish, I replaced the lentils with some good ol' organic white beans.

What else did I alter?  I didn't use the whole onion.  I have a very low tolerance for violence against onions.  It makes me quite sad.  I got through chopping about 1/3 of a large onion before I couldn't take it  anymore.  I figured that was enough.

I did follow the complete spice palate listed in this recipe - even the stuff I thought might taste weird. That cinnamon really makes the flavors POP - don't skimp on it!

In addition to the coconut milk, I added a few scoops of coconut cream (which is like BUTTER) for a little extra coconut flavor and richness.  Mmm!

I did include the sweet potato and cauliflower (from frozen); but skipped the cabbage and peas, because I didn't have any.  I also skipped on the tomato juice, because I thought that a tomato-coconut mix would taste nasty (if you're feeling bold, try it and let me know how it goes!).

What's the moral of the story here??  Why alter so many parts of a proven, published recipe?

Because I can!  I know that a lot of folks successfully do their grocery shopping according to the recipes in their weekly meal plans; but I've always preferred shopping according to our tastes, what's in season (local!), and what's on sale.

We usually get frozen cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and rice; so those aspects of the recipe were easy to follow.  Cabbage?  Not in season now - though we sure ate plenty of cabbage from our garden this fall!

My whole point is that I encourage boldness in the kitchen.  Even if you don't have all the ingredients, go for it!  Try substituting spices and ingredients here and there.  The results can be surprisingly delicious!

The Charlotte Chronicles: I

The Charlotte Chronicles:  a moving story.

Once upon a time, a boy and a girl decided that they were tired of living in the land of the ice and snow.  They wanted an adventure!  And they wanted it to take place somewhere subtropical.

In the bleakest of winters - you know, that one with all the polar vortexes - they packed a truck with furniture and boxes of belongings.

  

At 7:00 am, they departed from Pennsylvania.  It was 2 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

They drove and drove... and drove.  The truck roared and roared.

It was a boring journey.

But the destination was worth it!  In North Carolina, they stayed with gracious friends; and the next day received moving help from several hospitable strangers.

It was 65 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

That's more like it.

We made it!

They gave us a brand new stove!

Same ol' boxes; different place.

Celebration

The story continues...

Sunday Seven 27-1-2014

 Today begins a new series - a way for me to share things I love/enjoy/recommend.  Introducing...  the Sunday Seven!  Read on for inspirations and recommendations...

1.  A book:  Rachel Carson's The Sea Around Us beautifully combines biology, poetry, and history (geologic history, the histories of sailing and oceanography).  I read it while in Maine this summer, and it inspired me to closely examine and enjoy tiny organisms (whelks and seaweed-dwelling bugs) in addition to the vastness of the sea.  Ms. Carson's writings motivate me to spend hours scouring seaside boulders, trees, and lichens.

2.  A movie:  The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a witty, British drama about a group of 60+ Britons settling in India for their retirement, and discovering that life's biggest adventures can whisk you away in your golden years.  The cast - Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy - initially attracted my attention, and carried the film beautifully.  Seeing Bill N. and Penelope Wilton play a married couple made me wonder if I had discovered an alternate ending to Shaun of the Dead.

3.  A game:  The Sims - using fancy, modern technology to play...  with dolls.

4.  A TV program:  Modern Family is hilarious!  Recently, I enjoyed a scene that overlaid Cam tenderly singing "Ave Maria" whilst Mitch destroyed their living room with a tennis racquet, trying to kill a rogue pigeon.  I haven't laughed that hard since the first four times I watched Arrested Development (no, not the first four episodes...)

5.  This organization:  Defy Ventures, Inc. trains and equips criminal offenders to become entrepreneurs after their release from prison.  Founder Catherine Hoke spoke at church this morning, and told us how the program releases her clients from the cycle of poverty, welfare, and crime; and suits them up as successful business owners, creating new jobs and pumping tax money into the economy.  Did you know that in New York, it costs $167,000 a year to incarcerate one person?  Check out Defy Ventures - the stories of redemption are beautiful!

6.  This news article:  "South Sudan ceasefire takes effect" - hopeful!

7.  These cookies:  SAMOAS and THIN MINTS.  Thank God for Girl Scout cookie season.

Bloglovin' ...here we go!

Boy, has it been a busy past few weeks!  Looking forward to a real update soon, but for now... just a quick post to announce my entry into the world that is Bloglovin'.  It seems to be a fun and simple way to find and follow writers of interest on the interwebs.  (I am loving the app!)  Check it out, if you will!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

One Day

Sometimes I lay under the moon and thank God I'm breathing;

Then I pray, "Don't take me soon, 'cause I am here for a reason."

Sometimes, in my tears I drown, but I never let it get me down.

So when negativity surrounds, I know some day it'll all turn around, because...

All my life I've been waiting for, I've been praying for, for the people to say

That we don't wanna fight no more; there'll be no more wars and our children will play.

One day, one day, one day...

It's not about win or lose, because we all lose when they feed on the souls of the innocent,

Blood-drenched pavement; keep on moving through, the waters stay raging...

In this maze you can lose your way; it might drive you crazy, but don't let it faze you, no way...

Sometimes, in my tears I drown, but I never let it get me down.

So when negativity surrounds, I know some day it'll all turn around, because...

All my life I've been waiting for, I've been praying for, for the people to say

That we don't wanna fight no more; there'll be no more wars and our children will play.

One day, one day, one day...

One day this all will change; treat people the same, stop with the violence, down with the hate.

One day we'll all be free and proud to be under the same sun,

Singing songs of freedom like...

All my life I've been waiting for, I've been praying for, for the people to say

That we don't wanna fight no more; there'll be no more wars and our children will play.

One day, one day, one day...

Pursuing Peace

I love reading TIME magazine.  They cover news from all around the globe, illustrate figures with infographics (oh, how I love looking at them!), and provide a bit of humor, too (thanks, Joel Stein).

This week, TIME's article, "2014 User's Guide" has some exciting predictions for this year:

• The U.S. Capitol building will begin a two-year restoration process.
• Google Glass will reach national levels of distribution.
• El Nino (Spanish for... "the Nino") will warm the Pacific to record temperatures.
• Kohlrabi will replace kale as the trendy, hipster vegetable of the year.
• More states will legalize recreational marijuana (OR, CA, AZ, and RI, in particular).
• Private space exploration companies will continue to probe the cosmos.
• Girls born in 2014 will have names ending in "-lyn, as in Marilyn or Madilyn."  Children born this year may, for the first time in history, have a shorter life expectancy than their parents... due to obesity.
• Skype will replace non-emergency doctor visits.  Doctors can asses symptoms and diagnose illnesses through "telemedicine" - a technology that's actually been used for years to serve remote fishermen along the Gulf of Maine, by the nurses of the Maine Seacoast Mission.

Besides all these global happenings...  What will you do this year?

It's a question I have been asking myself.

I've been pondering a statement that TIME quoted, from Pope Francis:  "True peace is not... a lovely 'facade' which conceals conflicts and divisions.  Peace calls for daily commitment."

Pope Francis echoes the words of Psalm 34:14:  "Seek peace and pursue it."  As I consider my goals for 2014, a life of peace seems a worthy endeavor.  More than that, a daily commitment to prayer and seeking Christ's peace will be my goal for the year.

Scripture calls us to live peaceably with our neighbor.  Again, peace isn't merely the absence of conflict, but a daily commitment to support and love one another.

Romans 12:17-18 - "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
II Corinthians 13:11 - "Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."

God reconciles His people to Himself; and He also wants His people to be reconciled to one another.  This can take place at the family level... and at a global level.  A huge part of living a wise, peaceful life is praying for our neighbors and our leaders.

"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."  (I Timothy 2:1-2)  This year, I will pray for those in need of reconciliation, and will work toward restoration with those in my own life.  Won't you join me?

Pray for peace in places like Sudan (where civil war rages) and Uganda (whose government has enacted violent land grabs from its agrarian citizens - see SolidarityUganda.com for more info).  Pray for the U.S. government to end its reckless policing of countries around the globe.  Pray for local communities to join in unity, strangers joining as friends supporting one another. Pray for the end of oppression and exploitation.  Pray for missionaries and churches to reach out, love those around them, and bring the peace of Christ to many.

My prayer is that God will change me, giving me more compassion for His people and endurance in prayer. Not only is prayer necessary for peacemaking, but prayer can indeed lead to a deep, godly inner peace. Philippians 4 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I pray that God gives me the wisdom to work toward peace. As I enter a new season in a new place, it will be essential to lean upon the Lord and His wisdom as I seek peaceable relationships with new friends, co-workers, and neighbors. In the fall, I'll begin grad school - academically studying the Word of God. I pray that this new wisdom will bring me a softened heart and hands prepared to work toward reconciliation.

James 3:17-18 - "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

May 2014 be filled with the pursuit of knowledge, compassion, and humility... with much prayer... to better love and serve those around us in peace.

[Be sure to check out other bloggers' aspirations for the coming year at I Don't Have a Clue, but I'm Finding Out!]

Carolina in My Mind

...also, in reality.

Husband (Hubby?  Hubskin?  Hub?) and I spent a week adventuring around Charlotte.  Our intent was to learn more about our grad school and to find somewhere to live.  We thought we'd spend long days perusing dozens of apartments...

...but we fell in love with the first one we saw.

Four things we experienced for the first time:

1. Burning a Christmas tree - MUCH more exciting than composting it.

2. A January thunderstorm - I did NOT know this was possible.

3. Someone calling the Civil War "the war of Northern aggression."  (What does that even mean?). Apparently, Southerners continue - to this day - to justify a war that took place 150 years ago by it being about states' freedom to choose... to enslave people.  This makes NO sense to me.

4. Shrimp & grits.  This was the best thing I have EVER eaten.

All in all, I am pumped to move to the South.  There is such a deep culture of both music and food (when asked what some of my favorite PA foods were, I replied, "...cheeseteak?  Hershey's?  Scrapple?"  Penna Dutch cooking has NOTHING on that of the South) and many, many lovely people.  Getting into seminary to truly learn the Bible and how to study it is fueling my sense of adventure and anticipation for ministry.  "For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."  (Proverbs 2:6)

Feeling a sense of solidarity with Mr. Taylor...

Can't you feel the sunshine?

Can't you just feel the moonshine?