Wonderful Wednesday~a dinner fit for a king!!

At least this 'king' thinks so!! This is one of his favorite meals in warm weather. You would have thought I filled the table with the most expensive, fanciest meal ever but it was a simple dinner of fruit, cheese, blueberry cornbread, (recipe below) and cold bottles of Kombucha. Nourishing and filling!!!

Corn Bread

2 C. fresh ground corn meal

1/2 C. spelt

1/2 C. unbleached white flour

1 C. buttermilk, kefir, or yogurt

3 eggs

1/4 C. maple syrup

1 teas. salt

2 teas. baking soda

1/4 C. melted butter

Blueberries or other fruit

Soak cornmeal, buttermilk and butter for 24 hours. Add in remaining ingredients and mix well. Stir in blueberries if desired and bake at 325 for 45 minutes or so.

A generational vision

Grandpa Vance & Elaine

May ever soul that touches mine---

Be it the slightest contact---Get there from some good,

Some little grace, some kindly thought,

One inspiration yet unfelt, one bit of courage

For the darkening sky, the gleam of faith

To brave the thickening ills of life,

One glimpse of brighter skies beyond the gathering mists

To make this life worth while and heaven a surer heritage.

This does not mean that we should be officious and obtrusive in pressing our help upon those we meet. There is a story of one whose prayer was that he might be permitted to do a great deal of good without even knowing it. That is the best helpfulness which flows out of the heart and life as light from a star, as fragrance from a flower. Love works most effectively when it works unconsciously, almost instinctively, inspired from within. Then it bestows its blessing or does its good obtrusively."

J. R. Miller

On this Father's Day I honor those around me whom I see blessing the lives of others as stated above. My own father who left this life several years ago quietly, gently, and unobtrusively blessed my life. (pictured on left) My son in law and my son are doing the same for their little families. But I think I haven't come to appreciate the fruits of their labors until recent years when maturity sets in my spirit and I can see with my eyes and hearts the blessings passed down from one

generation to another. My own husband is a piece of work from what I call a 'generational vision.' I am reaping the blessings of generations of Godly husbands and fathers. While I didn't know my husband's grandfathers I do know his father. (pictured right with his family) The words spoken above from J. R. Miller quite explains my thoughts when it comes to the influence my husband has been under all his life. I thank my father-in-law (and of course his lovely wife) for bringing up such a fine man as my husband. It is my prayer that this vision will continue to be passed down from generation to generation in the future. Happy Father's Day to the father's I love and to all fathers!

Daddy Vance, Vance Jr. and son-in-law Kelly

Honoring My Father (and missing him)

This is my father. He passed away 10 years ago Father's Day week. I have been thinking about him a lot lately and would like to honor him this Father's Day. He was a wonderful father and husband. He worked hard, loved lots, and said little. But the few words that came from him were filled with wisdom and I learned so much from him. Amazing what one can learn from just watching someone who did much and spoke little. He was an electrical engineer and designed, maintained the radar bases for our country based in Greenland and Island. Working in connection with Norad in Colorado Springs. He loved motorcycles, camping, kids, shooting, hunting, anything outdoors. I see how I am his daughter!!

From him I learned:

To walk the road less traveled giving no mind or thought to the negative words of passers by.

Do the right thing and the needful thing without question.

If a job is worth doing, do it right and with might.

To laugh when I fall down.

To pick myself up and start over again.

Speak less, listen more. (I'm still working on this one)

"Make up and paint make a girl what she ain't" was his famous words. And it was fitting especially since he had 5 daughters.

That family is the most important institution on the face of the whole earth.

I think above all, he taught self reliance. In spirit, mind, and body. With him discipline was key. In all things. (He taught me this the hard way. He had a cut in the palm of his hand that gave him blood poisoning. Rather than take antibiotics or any meds he got rid of it the old fashioned way. For a full 5 minutes every day he stood at the bathroom sink running the hottest water over the cut without batting an eye. This draws out the infection. He actually invited us children to come watch him. As a parent myself now, I believe it was his intention to turn this into a learning experience for his 6 children.)

Two great stories about him that stand out in my memory!

He was a navy man during World War II. One year he did something "just for the adventure and challenge." He stayed in a tent in Alaska for an entire year. He hunted and trapped for food. There was a newspaper article written up on him about this adventure and I need to get possession of it. One of my favorite stories was when he was working up in Greenland on one of the radar bases. Something got messed up and he lost all power. Which, when connected to Norad is NOT a good thing. Norad got quite excited because they were "off line" in a sense and my father knew he had only minutes to get the back up system going so as to not get Norad too anxious over what was happening. (I'm surprised he didn't lose security clearance over that!)

He met my mom while at her house one day to pick up her older sister Donna for a date. Donna was sick so he said fine, I'll take your other sister. (my mom) And that was that!

My dad, Christie and I at the time we lived on the island!