Temporary Home

I managed to get up at around 6:00 a.m. again today. I went to bed last night around 10 p.m. (probably fell asleep around 10:15—I was dog tired!) Despite my eight hours of rest, I have been dragging all day today. Either I’m still adjusting to this new schedule or else I need more than eight hours of sleep every night. Regardless, I’ll probably be going to bed early tonight…if I can make it that long. Must make it that long. Despite the fact that I am very tired, I’ve been loving the fact that I get to see the sunshine, I feel more “normal”, I’m able to help my mom out with school (and make a little money), and the day seems so much longer. That last one can be good or bad, but it’s generally good as I don’t feel as overwhelmed. OR I could just be less stressed because I have no classes this week due to spring break. Glorious break…it can’t be long enough. :)

I made vegan cornbread and a hearty chili for lunch. It was tasty, but I think I had too much; it feels like a brick in my stomach. :P 
The chili was just something I threw together—diced carrots, celery, and onion; kidney, black, and garbanzo beans; canned diced tomatoes and leftover tomato sauce (with water to thin); cumin, chili powder, garlic, pepper, fresh lemon juice, paprika…and I think that’s it. Pretty simple, but very filling and tasty. 
The cornbread recipe was from here (though I used a combination of spelt and oat flour instead of the all-purpose, and water instead of the soy milk …plus a few other modifications). I’ve had a hankering to make this ever since I saw it on Stef’s blog. I really liked the recipe, even with my modifications. I think I would tweak a few things, though, next time. As you can see, it is very crumbly, but it tasted good! My older brother even had some and he didn’t choke (I think he might have just been being polite, however. It’s so hard to tell.) I baked it in a cast iron skillet—something new for me. Did you know that cooking in cast iron is a good way to get iron because it “rubs off” a little on the food? I can’t remember where I read that, but it’s a good tip for vegans or vegetarians concerned about iron (though one really needn’t be; leafy greens, legumes, prunes, and some grains are just a few of the many excellent sources out there). I also learned the other day on Kris’s blog that eating an orange with some pumpkin seeds can help increase your body’s ability to absorb the iron. Cool, eh? Food science kind of fascinates me sometimes.

Still waiting on my little sprouties:

I can’t believe that it is 59° (F) out today. I just went out to get the mail and it was so deliciously warm! Still…we have a ways to go until spring. Where I live, we’ve been known to get snow in April!
The landscape is still rather post-apocalyptic looking…and there’s nary a sign of life to be found. (It looked worse in person.) But it’s WARM.
Winter seemed kind of short this year…at least to me. I know most of you probably don’t find that to be the case, though! In fact, I think every nearly other area of the world had an extremely harsh winter—except for where I live, which is notorious for its wild weather. Go figure. In any case, over here, the winter season this year was filled with sparkling snow and sunny days. I really can’t complain.

This is completely unrelated, but a couple weeks ago (February, 28, to be exact) the Second Reading at Mass really stuck out to me. It’s a really great verse, and one that I think we can all relate to on some level. This is the abbreviated version (it’s from Phil 3:17—4:1 or 3:20—4:1)…

“Brothers and sisters:
Our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified body
by the power that enables him also
to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,
in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.”

            {reading taken from here}

Is that not beautiful or is that not beautiful? It almost chokes me up thinking about it (I’m sappy, I know). “Our citizenship is in heaven.” No matter what we go through in this world, it is really only our temporary home (cue Carrie Underwood—see video below).

I also love the part about how Christ will change our “lowly body”…all our earthly imperfections—physical, mental, whatever they may be—shall be perfected and renewed. I remember reading in my religion book in grade school (I think it was 7th or 8th grade) about the beatific vision, and how someday all of our weaknesses and flaws will be cleansed and our bodies will radiate the love and beauty of God. (I should look for that book, as it said it a lot better than I can. I hope all my theology is on target.) For someone who struggles with body issues, this is so incredibly liberating to hear. Of course we all know about inner beauty, yahtee, yahtee, yah…but physical beauty as an expression of this inner goodness is something less frequently discussed. We can be dirt ugly in this world, but if we are truly holy people someday we will shine with a very real and physical beauty… a beauty that is a reflection of Christ, the source of all goodness and beauty. :D

Okay, I feel like I made zero sense in that last paragraph. I really explained all that poorly. It’s just kind of something to think about. Something really amazing, actually.

“In this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.” Just hold your ground, keep fighting, a greater life awaits. The “joy and crown” part is interesting, too. I’m not exactly sure what it means but it sounds poetic and reassuring. Seriously, there is so much in this passage! I love it.

Here’s that song I was talking about above. I kinda think it’s awesome. :) The video is kind of cheesy (what did you expect?) but the song is great.

You can read the lyrics here.

Have you heard any readings, quotes, or songs that really inspired you lately? I love it when music is deeper than just, you know, music. I really enjoy songs that in someway convey a facet of the human experience or a belief that I can connect with. What about you?

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“…eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him” –1 Cor. 2:9