2021 Staff Reading Challenge

 

This year's reading challenge is out and about! 

As I did last year, I'll update throughout the year with books that fit each category. I think #3 is going to be the most challenging, because I am not an audio book person! Maybe a short one that I can listen to on the way to town one morning...

And I'd better hope Phil LeMaitre writes another novel by the end of this year if I want to read a REALLY local author, but I could reach out a little farther geographically and read Casey Rislov, C.J. Box, or Craig Johnson. They're all Wyoming, so they should all count!

The book I own but have never read will be easy, I've got an entire section of my bookshelf devoted to those. And there's another part of a shelf that is made up of books that would possibly stretch into category 4. 

Maybe Dorian Tskioka's got one I haven't read yet! She has a wonderful gift for retelling fairytales.

Categories and Books  

1. A book I own but have never read:

Won this one on Goodreads awhile back, and just never had the chance to get to it till I'd whittled down my library pile.

This one fits a couple of categories. I bought several of this series and this author at a clearance sale awhile back, but I had such a stack at the library that they got put on the back burner. I finally read this one, and will definitely be reading more! It's also a mystery, so would fit category 11 as well.

2.  A Wyoming Book Award Winner or Nominee (Buckaroo, Indian Paintbrush, Soaring Eagle): When I started the post the nominees had not yet been released, so I will update later.

Let 'er Buck by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

3. An audiobook of any genre:

4. An Emotional Support (or self-care) Book:

We've been reading this as a Professional Development book at school, and I found it really helpful for myself as well as for my classroom and professional life.

5. A Book I Saw Someone Reading:

One of the high school classes in which I substituted was reading this book, and I had to know the rest of the story, so I checked it out from the library, took it home and finished it that night!

6. A Book Made Into a Movie:

I know it's hard to believe, but I'd never read MacBeth. Another High School class was reading it, so I downloaded it to my Kindle and eventually meandered my way through. There are several movie versions of this particular Shakespeare play.

And I finally read The Outsiders! I didn't even know this book existed until I found out I was teaching it in Junior High (Sorry, Middle School) Language Arts. It's amazing!!!

7.  A Re-Imagined Fairytale or Myth:

The Spindle's Touch by Dorian Tsukioka

Absolutely amazing story, I loved it! Definitely would like to read more from this author. I have now read all of the books in her Fairy Tales Through Time Series.

This one was very different. It has lots and lots of fairytales all turned and twisted into one big story.

8.  A Book By a Local Author:

9.  A Book Less Than 200 Pages:

This was our first assigned read for our class this semester, and it was a very quick read. Even with the study guide I think it took less than an hour. Very informative and interesting as well.

10. A Book That Makes You Laugh: 

I was sitting at a table eating lunch, and people nearby (farther than six feet of course) were looking over at me because I kept laughing out loud. This is the book I was reading at the time, and I found it a very fun read.

11. A Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, or Crime Novel:

I read a lot of mysteries, so this was an easy category to fill. Let My Daughter Go is a Christian Mystery Novel and one of my first mysteries of the year. 

And I waited months and months for this one!

Sunday, April 25, 2021

 

Ginger Creams from Dot’s Kitchen

 From Great Grandma Dot’s Recipe Book:

1 cup molasses

1 cup sugar

1 cup shortening

1 cup hot water

1 teaspoon baking soda

Enough flour so spoon will drop slowly

Ginger

Cinnamon

And other spices as desired – let stand overnight – spread thick in pan

Bake and frost with powdered sugar frosting cut in oblongs.

As I’ve mentioned before, these were most likely baked in a wood stove, where time and temperature were variables that didn’t always stay the same. 

I baked them at 350 degrees for 15 minutes and they were chewy without being burnt or hard.

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I do not have shortening, and coconut oil was suggested as the closest substitute because butter and margarine both have more water. I had half a cup of coconut oil, so I did a little margarine combo with half and half. 

I now know why they talk about things being as slow as molasses. I drained the dregs of my molasses bottle but didn’t have the patience to wait for the last little bit, so there’s about a spoonful of honey in there as well.

I had my ingredients set up for a beautiful shot, and then I got impatient with the molasses and dumped everything else in while I was waiting 😂.

Here’s everything but the molasses, hot water, and flour.

I spun it up before adding the flour, and the mixture bubbled out over the sides.

I mixed in the flour until the spoon was a "slow drop".

The amount of stickiness panicked me and I lined my baking sheet with foil and parchment paper.

I would probably use the regular mixer if I made this recipe again because I think it would give me a better idea of the consistency of the dough when adding flour.

This may go hand in hand with anything involving molasses, but this is a messy project.

It didn’t say to cover it with plastic, that’s a cat precaution on my part.

It’s sitting overnight, and we will flash forward to the finished product!

Miso Soup from The View From Great Island

 I LOVE miso soup, and I order it every time we go to one of our favorite places, House of Sushi. This recipe was quick, simple, and delicious, and there are lots of things you can add to make it to your tastes.

Here I've poured the vegetable broth into the pot and am fixing to cut up the mushrooms and green onions (I went with green onions because they're a tad easier to find in our local stores).  I did go to Natural Grocers because it was the one place I knew I would for sure find Miso, and that way I didn't have to run all over town searching. I do plan to check other stores on regular trips because after making this I definitely want to have the ingredients on hand! It's fast and easy and so delicious!

I also picked up some varieties of mushrooms we hadn't tried since they have quite a few. There are links to pages describing these varieties if you click the photos, but I picked up cremini and shitake varieties.

I've always wanted those cool little glass bowls that you see the chefs on TV use, so when I found some at our local thrift store I had to bring them home! I've used them a few times, but this is the first time I really got to set them out as a display.

All bits and bites sliced, chopped, and ready for cooking! The vegetable broth is simmering and ready for the mushrooms and tofu first, then the green onions, cilantro, and miso when it's ready to take off the heat.

Mushrooms and tofu simmering, onions added, cilantro topped...I did forget to take a photo when I took out some broth to whisk together with the miso before combining it with the whole batch.

And I took a picture with my pretty glass bowl before I tasted this absolutely delicious recipe!

Pastor Paul Page April 2021 Abraham's Big Test

 

Genesis 22:1-13 Genesis 22:1-14 ¹And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.² And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

³ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.⁴ Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.⁵ And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.⁶ And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.⁷ And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?⁸ And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.⁹ And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.¹⁰ And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.¹¹ And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

¹² And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

¹³ And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

 

Abraham’s Big Test

 

Abraham was holding on to God’s word, to God’s promise to him. Abraham told Isaac that God would provide a lamb.

 

Abraham followed God’s command. He did not hold anything back, but gave willingly everything to God. Abraham had faith in God.

 

God put a test in Abraham’s life to see if he would do what he was told. God also tested Isaac – He didn’t have to obey his father, but he was old enough he could have ran or fought – God tests us as well. Will we lay down our lives to Him and follow His will?

 

Abraham had to be remembering God’s word, God’s promises as he walked up that mountain.

 

God wants our obedience.

 

Abraham never questioned God, he got up early and did what God had asked. This is what God wants from us.

 

Hebrews 11:17¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

 

James 2:21-22²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?²² Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

 

Romans 10:17¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Hebrews 11:1 ¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

Ephesians 2:8-10⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

We are saved by faith, not works. We are God’s works – our job after we’re saved is to go out and work to share Christ with others.

 

There are parallels in this story.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son. 

God was willing to sacrifice His son.

John 3:16¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

              Isaac was willing to give himself, to be a sacrifice.

              Jesus was willing to give Himself, to be THE sacrifice.

John 15:13¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

              Abraham took Isaac to where Jesus would later be crucified.

 

              Isaac carried the wood for the fire.

              Jesus carried His cross.

 

              Isaac asked where is the lamb? Abraham answered God will provide.

              We need to remember even in the hardest times that God will always provide for you and me, and he has already provided the greatest gift of all, Jesus, the Lamb of God.

John 1:29²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 

Hebrews 11:17¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Short Study in Psalms with Paul