Skillet Green Bean Casserole (Vegan, Daniel Fast friendly)

Krista wanted Green Bean Casserole at Thanksgiving. Nolan and I loved the left overs.  Recipe  from Happy Herbivore Holidays and Gatherings.




Via Google photos

Ingredients:
1 C vegetable broth, divided
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/2 lb green beans, trimmed
1 T poultry seasoning
1 T Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp rubbed sage (not powdered)
dash nutmeg
1/2 C nondairy milk
2 T nutritional yeast
1 T cornstarch
toasted bread crumbs (optional)
fried onions (optional)

Directions:
Line a large skillet with a thin layer of broth and sauté the onion and garlic over high  heat until onion is translucent, about a min.

Reduce heat to med and add the remaining broth, mushrooms, green beans, poultry seasoning, mustard,thyme, sage and a dash of nutmeg.

Stir to coat the mushrooms with seasonings.

Cook until mushrooms are soft and green beans are cooked but still crisp, about 7 min.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk nondairy milk with nutritional yeast and cornstarch.

Once green beans and mushrooms are cooked, pour in the nondairy milk mixture.

Once it thickens slightly, turn off heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with dried onions, bread crumbs whatever.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Protestant Parish - and other - CHRISTmas cards

There were a few skeptical glances (and I'm sure words which I didn't hear), when Michael suggested we create a Christmas card to display at the bases "Holiday Card" line up...... we have done this at several other bases and knew it could be done.  In recent years there had been no "religious" Christmas cards and many Holiday card.

This was truly a joint effort. I love the fact that so many played a part in pulling this together.

The PAC approved it.

Cynthia dogged down base approval. It seems at this locale only "squadrons" are allowed to display cards. She finally reached the right people to give approval for us to have a card as we ARE a Wing Agency - though not a squadron per se.

Michael began sharing designs. I contacted Erika, the artist behind our Christmas Card in Misawa. She sent a power point we could project for our wood workers and painters.

Cynthia and I picked up the needed supplies from C.E.

I delivered the wood to Ch. Tangen. He adapted the design a bit and cut it out for us.

Michael went shopping for colors of paint the base didn't supply, a backing and light supply.

When the Parish had our monthly fellowship and Christmas Decorating extravaganza (a very good idea too), Daniel and Zay gave the card a black coat. 

Michael gave it several shadowy blue coats.....next he and Nolan projected and traced the wording on to the card....

Cynthia and Cyndi painted the lettering  - a couple of times 

Michael and I made another trip for a different backing. He also discovered this base doesn't light up their cards. Every base we've been at has provided little spot lights and electricity  to light up the cards. He bought some solar lights.

We went in last Sunday night to put the back on the card......

.....and there you have it. 

Michael took the card over the C.E. and C.E. put it in place.....we have a Christmas card.....and the best thing is the Catholic Parish has a Christmas card and one other organization also went with Christmas this year. We've covered all our bases...secular, politically correct...and together, we all brought Christ to the Holiday Celebration. 

Last night was the Base Tree Lighting and I took photos of all the Christmas cards. Turns out the CHRISTmas cards are the only lit cards..... I'll get photos of the others another day.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

How I Almost Lost my Grandma Card in CA

On every base we've been at there is one holiday tradition which is pretty much the same.....the base Christmas Tree Lighting!  Though in recent years it is often just the "Tree Lighting" or the "Holiday Tree Lighting" come to think of it. Anyway - there is always a big to do as the Wing Commander pushes the plunger and the season kicks off.

Here at Beale, the Quarterly Hearts Apart dinner was held first. This is a special time for the spouses and families of those who have loved ones deployed or on an extended temporary duty. They are served a nice meal, the Wing Commander visits with them, Santa visits the kids, there are door prizes from the BX and gifts for the kids. Then.......

They met the rest of the base community to light the tree.

Testing the mic

The Tree

Local Bell Choir

 

I love Ros.....

And THIS is how I almost lost my Grandma card.  Young military kids are often raised in chapels without a lot of "age diversity." It would seem I've become a surrogate grandma. I first noted this in Misawa.....and there's no denying it here.

Kelsey's a young mom at our chapel whose husband will be gone a year. Her girls were very shy of strangers - but NOW they run to me....and the kids....Arielle and Stacia below....

I was happy when Arielle and Melody ran to join me. I love cuddling with them.....it was very exciting when Col Lee began the count down and Mel got to go right up on the stand and help "push the plunger." I needed to capture the moment. 

Stacia was right next to us. I set Arielle down to take a photo....see Mel has the backpack and Arielle is the little cutie in the right corner looking up at her.  I snapped this photo....

 

...and one of the tree lighting up.

 Then I turned to pick Arielle up again and she was GONE.  The crowd was dispersing, I was calling for her...she wasn't turning up. My heart sunk. I imagined trying to help Kelsey and now I'd LOST HER BABY! I asked Chaplain C to announce we'd lost Arielle - blond, 2 yo, teal jacket with owls..... but he knows our family and must have only heard "Arielle." ::snort::

He announced, "Arielle will you please come to the microphone."

Then he realized we were looking for 2 yo Arielle. It's amazing how crowds jump to and help when they understand a 2 yo is missing...and where was she? She'd gone to Nolan and he was holding her....while I thought for sure I'd have to forfeit my grandma card. 

Random woman, Arielle, Melody and Stacia

 

Stacia, Zander, Nolan and Arielle

I couldn't help but think this is our last Base Tree Lighting - at least as Active Duty members.  We walked over and looked at the cards.


Mel, Cynthia, Daniel



Mel, Arielle, Zander, Nolan, Arielle, Stacia and Kelsey

 I took the kids inside for hot chocolate and dessert. Michael went to find a TV where we could watch the PAC 12 DUCK game......we ended up in the pub at the club.....had dinner, enjoyed  a front row seat, got tired of really loud music...but HEY - we could see the game. LOL AND WE WON.....gotta love redemption in all it's forms.

Stacia was happy to get through 4 chapters of Little House. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Tis the Season

Tuesday

Tree full of memories

• Enjoyed MTOC. I spoke on "Keeping Christ Central" at Christmas. 
• This was followed by a MTOC board meeting - I'm the PWOC liaison on the board.
• School - done. We're focusing on Table school and Christmas School until Jan.
• Tuesday night we began a study of Daniel
• Discovered a friend is in for a rough patch - I ask your prayers for a pregnant friend diagnosed with breast cancer. She will have a double mastectomy next week.

Wednesday

• The first week in our Winter Session of studies at PWOC.....I've been all over the board in this session...I was going to teach Ephesians, then was going to attend Attributes of God, but now I'm going to lead Daniel both Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.  My head is full of various "strings" from prepping for all three....now my focus will narrow. LOL
• Lunch with three lovely friends and four adorable Gherkins
• I spent time organizing the PWOC "closet" - room and doing odd behind the scene jobs (filling tumblers, hanging signs, updating the bulletin board....)
• Kids finished school while I worked.
• Took a friend and her new puppy to the vet
• Attended Family Bible study - Ephesians

Thursday

• Hosted a three young friends at our house as their house is being packed up.
• Table school done
• Attended Ladies Night Out at the Base Theater. PWOC rented out the theater and showed Moms Night Out. I needed to sit and laugh with ladies. I trust others enjoyed it as well.

Love this photo....

Today

• I've got to pull things together for our Christmas Tea and get ahead in Daniel, and think about next week's PWOC board meeting.
• I need to go shopping at some point for next week's Cookie Decorating party here at our home.
• School  is done and I may soak in the hot tub this afternoon. I fell on the concrete on Tuesday and am still sore.
• Tonight is the base's tree lighting.....yay.....a lazy day followed by a family Christmas outing.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Making Sense of the Senseless

There are some things you simply never want to write. This blog post is one of them.

If you live in San Angelo you may have seen this months ago: B140596F — S N G and Josiah M G, filed Sept. 15

Today, the ugly reality of divorce entered our immediate family. Our son's sweet bride decided in late July she was done with marriage.  After months of praying for a change of heart, trying to reconcile, digging for some other reason and believing God would work a miracle - Josiah heard a judge end his marriage this morning.  He reports God's grace is overwhelming.

When we hear so and so's wife left him, we are quick to judge. This man must have "done something," "he must be a bad man,"  "I bet he leads a secret life," will run unbidden through our minds. This isn't always the case.  If something had been done, it would have been repented of and changed.  Over the months the consistent story has been she simply decided she is not the marrying kind. We ought not to judge what we can't possibly know.

We have watched. We have learned much. We watched our son receive counseling when his bride refused to talk to him or a counselor. We watched him lay his life down for a bride who didn't value the gift of his love and life. We saw him sacrifice to make her happy, and watched his pain when he was told all he had to offer wasn't enough.  We watched him faithfully love, when that love was no longer returned. We watched him lose all he had and not really care, if it might win his bride back.

And - I saw myself. How often have I rejected God's call to come and reason with Him? How often have I under-valued the gift of God's love and life?  How often have I caused God pain when His sacrifice isn't enough to please me? How often has God faithfully loved me even while I reject Him? He gave His all  - gladly - to win back His bride.

We're all broken. Some of us realize we're broken and fall on the grace of Jesus. I have no doubt Josiah's life is not over. God is not done with him. God hates divorce. We hate divorce. Josiah hates divorce. Life doesn't end because a bride chooses to file for divorce.  God  has a plan for Josiah and He will bring that plan to pass. Only God knows how to prosper him through this time of suffering - but God does have a good plan. God is faithful. God loves Josiah.

Son, you are not a bad man. God, Himself, understands faithfully loving a bride who doesn't return that love. We are proud of the man of God you are becoming. I believe you will one day be the family man and father you dream of being. We can see nothing else you could have done. You have followed the heart of God in the way you loved S. There really was nothing more you could do once she filed for divorce.

This is not a chapter Josiah would have written. It is a chapter we've prayed none of our kids would live through. It's where we are.  We had to explain to our 9 year old that, "Yes, you can decide not to be married. Just like that."  We had to tell her to quit wasting her texting minutes as the texts would never be answered.

We love you, S.  We accepted you  into our family. You chose to leave.  I choose to continue to love and pray for you daily. I realize I will probably never know how life turns out for you - but I simply choose not to turn love off and on.

I choose to love courageously.

A few months ago God began dealing with me about my anger at the way He seemed to be choosing to answer our prayers for BreZaak and JoBy.  The bottom line is this - I've grown most as a person, developed a deeper and more authentic relationship with  God, during the hard times. Much  more than during the good times. The same will be true of my children. This testing - surrendered to God - will lead to their refining and shining as pure gold.  He is answering the desire of my heart.

If you've read this far - we affirm marriage is precious. Marriage is meant to be for life.  Treat your covenant vows as a treasure - as something to be valued and cherished. You do not want to walk through this pain.

I'm sorry this isn't the typical Christmas post. It's real. It's authentic.

Note: I deliberately have chosen not to publish S's name to protect her privacy. She has removed herself from Facebook and other online forums. I have to assume she'd rather not be found by us or our friends. 

Josiah agreed I could write "something" so those who know and love us aren't left wondering....he has posted  on his Facebook page.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Productive PJ Day

This was a pj day. It had to be. I had SO much to do that none of it would get done if I left the house.

We got school done.

The older kids had Japanese lessons.

Last night the kids tore into the tree and set it up. I was reminded, once again, I'm woefully behind on Stacia's ornaments. Each year, each child was to receive a photo ornament. At this point the only ornaments on our tree are THESE and special ones reminding us of special places. But evidently, we've only celebrated two Christmas' since Stacia's birth. Hmmmm.....


Stacia and Michael examine her lonely ornaments

 

 

It's a cute solo ornament!

Yes, the tree was done...but the living room looked like someone had dumped boxes and boxes of Christmas clutter in it.

The younger two finally found the traveling wise men. The oriental wise man whispered in my ear that he adores Jesus because Jesus always keeps His promises to us.

 

Stacia LOVES this nativity - and I'm glad she's still young enough to enjoy it.

The younger two and I spent a lot of time making order out of the Christmas Chaos in the living room. We put a few nativities out - will take a few to the chapel and - and packed away normal things to make room for Christmas things.

I also did some PWOC stuff and thought through what I'd like to share tomorrow at MTOC.

Stacia was excited and surprised to receive a package today! Thanks, Mandy. You made her day.

 Michael got home at almost the same time dinner was done.  We ate. We sang another hymn and read and discussed another passage. We found it ironic to be discussing Gen 2:21-25 this evening.

So thankful to be loved by a God who loves me when I'm unlovable. I adore a God who always keeps his covenant promises. He is faithful.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Traveling Wise Men

Years before a naughty elf on a shelf was marketed, I heard of families with traveling wise men at their home during Advent. There has even been a book written which may be fun to use.  The basic idea is to be sure your children understand the role the wise men played in the Christmas story...then....

Plant the wise men and a note early in the Advent season and let them journey through until they find the newborn King - either on Christmas a.m. or on Epiphany (January 6th).

Like the elf, this tradition builds daily fun into your season. However, these travelers turn our focus to adoring Jesus each and every day.

After being reminded of this tradition on Facebook, I decided to use it this year. We missed all the elf fun as our children were older when he began making his big splash.....but I like how these wise men can help us start each day with a focus on adoring Jesus.

I wrote up a quick blurb.

I went to find our wise men....ours are going to be a bit harder for the kids to find this morning...they aren't nicely waiting at the Advent Wreath. They were still in boxes around the living room but I found a few! Yes, I do have a lot of nativities. I plan to display a couple and put the rest in the library at Far West. I also am planning to tell kids to take what they want as most of these will be given away rather than go to storage or Japan.

 

The kids buy me these pieces...but they're a bit big to be hiding....

 

These are a better size - from our very first nativity 30 years ago - but they're breakable

 

Here they ARE - the Fisher Price guys. Perfect....

We hide the little guys.

The kids find them.

One of the men whispers a reason to adore Jesus in my ear each morning (I tend to tie in with our Advent devotional from the night before).

I share that with the kids and we move on with the day.

For more Advent/Christmas fun check out our Advent Index.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...