Pattern | Five Minute Friday

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: Pattern

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I am a needleworker in many different mediums. I knit, crochet, cross stitch, embroider and quilt. In all of those crafts I use a pattern. It tells me how much thread and fabric I need. It tells me what colors to use. It basically tells me how everything will be pulled together to make the end project.

Some people use the pattern as a general guideline. They change many aspects of the original and come up with a project that is unique to them. I on the other hand rarely stray from the pattern. I occasionally change something minor like a color or size but I rarely change the overall pattern. 

I find great comfort in having those guidelines to follow so I know exactly what my end result will be. I do not enjoy surprises. For example I never do mystery stitch-a-longs until they are completely finished and revealed. I like to know exactly what my end result will be.

Right now my family is in the midst of a very stressful health situation. Our doctors are using patterns to gage what our outcome will be. But we don't know the end result because just like a mystery stitch-a-long each section is still being revealed. It's making me so stressed. But the other day I was whining to God about it and just lamenting how uncertain everything is and in His gracious way He reminded me that He's already given me the ultimate pattern to follow . . .His Word.

I may not know what Tuesday holds. But I certainly know how it all began and how it will all end. And that means I know it will all be okay. I just need to follow the pattern.

Stop!

Feeling inspired to write? Link up with us here at Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday.

 

A Season to Reflect {Five Minute Friday}

By @Fitzysmom

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: REFLECT

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It's mid December and our house like many others are in the midst of the Advent season. Each year we trace the lineage of Christ leading up to His birth with a different story each night. Our immediate family is made up of four separate households. Two have kiddos and two don't. The houses with kids are using The Jesus Storybook Bible with ornaments that we made and the houses without kids are using The Story of God's Love For You. Both books are by the ultra talented Sally Lloyd-Jones and the readings are the same. 

If you are familiar with the books you know that the subtitle say, "Every story whispers His name." Such an appropriate thing to say! Every single story in the Bible points us to Jesus. This year as we reflect back on these things I'm intrigued by what sticks. For me I'm still stuck on day two.

Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and discovered that they were naked. God came along and clothed them and then removed them from the garden. (That's obviously the simplified version.) But what I've been reflecting on while I'm doing the dishes or making the bed or taking a shower, is that covering their nakedness (a.k.a their sin and shame) brought about the very first death. An animal was sacrificed to clothe them. Here's how Sally Lloyd-Jones puts it:

"But before they left the garden, God made clothes for his children, to cover them. He gently clothed them and then he sent them away on a long, long journey--out of the garden, out of their home." (The Story of God's Love For You, pg. 12)

I'm completely struck by the gentle love God has for us His people. At this very moment He knew all that would enfold and He still chose to cover them. I weep as I write this because our sin is not solitary unto itself, it always costs somebody else something. In this case it was an animal but ultimately it would be Jesus.

Let me leave you with the final words from day two's reading:

"Before they left the garden, God whispered a promise to Adam and Eve. 'It will not always be so! I will come to rescue you! And when I do, I'm going to do battle against the snake, I'll get rid of the sin and the dark and the sadness you let in here. I'm coming back for you!'

And he would. One day, God himself would come." (The Story of God's Love For You, pg. 14)

Stop!

Feeling inspired to write? Link up with us here at Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday.

Are You Weary? {Five Minute Friday}

by @Fitzysmom

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: WEARY

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From 1983 to about 2007 my middle name was Weary. God had blessed us with three great kids and He’d also called us to educate them at home. All around me my friends were happily dropping their kids off at school and then pursing things like coffee dates and lunches and art classes. Me, well I was just trying to get my youngest to sit still long enough to learn math.

During this period of my life 2 Thessalonians 3:13 became my life verse. “Brothers (and sisters of course), do not grow weary in doing good.” If you remember the context Paul was encouraging his fellow believers not to grow weary when all around them others seemed to not be doing what they should. I’m not saying that homeschooling is for everyone, but for us it was what God had required.

Do you remember that old hymn that starts out, “O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?” Yes that was me. At times I would become so buried in the darkness that there felt like there was no light. But the next line would remind me of something important. “There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free.” There’s always light to look towards the Savior!

The chorus would point out the problem and point to the solution as well. When I grew increasingly weary it was because I had turned my eyes away from Jesus and put them on the things of this earth. Things like coffee dates and art classes that were completely about me. Instead God was calling me to be about Him and the work He would have me do.

Stop!

The rest of the story . . .

My middle name has mostly gone back to being Jo. Now my daughter and daughter-in-law have taken up the moniker. Between those two families they are raising eight of my grandbabies. I see the same weariness overtake them at times. This time around God has called me to gently come along side of them and sing into their ears.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

Feeling inspired to write? Link up with us here at Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday.

DANCE: The Flying Dutchman {Five Minute Friday}

by @Fitzysmom

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: DANCE

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The wedding ceremony, reception and dinner were all finished and we were heading out to the dance. For this Southern Baptist girl this was a new experience. I'd never been to a wedding dance and had no idea what to expect. This was a compromise to appease my new husband's family so it was all new to me.

Let me just say that these people are crazy! (in a very good way) As the bride they pinned money on my dress to dance with me. Then they auctioned off my shoe. (Much to my sister's dismay. It was after all her shoe. I had borrowed it to fulfill the old, new, borrowed, blue thing. Don't worry she got it back.) Then came the dance that would go down in the long list of family folk lore . . . The Flying Dutchman.

The Flying Dutchman is a polka that is performed with groups of three. It all starts out simple enough with three people kind of prancing around in a circle with arms linked. Then it happens. The music shifts and the three people start doing this do-si-do type move that kind of flings the middle person (that would have been me) between the other two people (that would have been my dad and husband). 

All was going swimmingly until it wasn't. Somewhere in the midst of the do-si-do part I was spinning away from my father and towards my husband and our arm link up missed. I did the flying dutchman all right! Did I mention that I was wearing this beautiful wedding gown with tiers upon tiers of lace all layered over a hoop skirt? When I missed my husbands outstretched arm I went skidding across the floor and let's just say that I'm pretty sure that everyone in the place got a glimpse of my pretty new wedding night panties. Talk about being mortified!

But of course this fairy tale doesn't end there. By the next day I couldn't walk. So like all newlyweds we went off to the emergency room. (Isn't that where all newlyweds go on their honeymoon?) Long story short we wound up spending our honeymoon in the hospital (using a bed pan I might add). 

Stop!

Wait! . . . I have to tell you the best part. It's now almost 30 years later and we're busy living happily (most days) ever after. I don't think I'd go back and do the whole honeymoon in a hospital thing again but it sure did help to shape who we became. We learned that together we could get through almost anything. 

Feeling inspired to write? Link up with us here at Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday.

BACON: both repelling & compelling {Five Minute Friday}

by @Fitzysmom

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: BACON

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There are some scents out there that are just distinctive and frying BACON is one of them. It is compelling and repelling at the same time. I’m compelled by it because I know how it tastes. I’m repelled by it because I know it can be messy.

My walk with Christ can be the same. I’m compelled to follow Him because He not only scooped me up out of the pit I was in but He cleansed me and made me whole. When I’m walking with Him closely my life is savory like the taste of BACON.

But if I’m honest there is a repelling part of the Christian life as well. Sometimes I’m like Paul and I find myself doing things that I know I shouldn’t be doing and shirking the things that I should be doing. Just like BACON it can be a messy walk. And I find myself looking over at the grilled chicken wanting that seemingly clean meal.

But oh the joy when I just sit back and savor the flavor! Don’t get me wrong I’m really not comparing life in Christ to BACON, but the metaphor does seem to work. Sometimes the path He leads me down is a greasy grimy mess but the feast at the end will be worth it every time!

END!

Feel inspired to write? Link up with us here at Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday!

Writer's Workshop ~ Funeral Sandwiches

2.) Share a favorite recipe from your childhood that you still make today.

Growing up in a southern family I've eaten my fair share of funeral sandwiches. After I married and moved away they kind of fell off of my radar. Funeral dinners often consisted of various casseroles but not the ones I grew up on.

I was recently reminded of them while I was at my son’s house after our newest grandson was born. A sweet family from their church brought over dinner and it consisted of what I knew as “funeral sandwiches”, a couple of bags of chips, a tin of chocolate chip cookies and a gallon of delicious sweet tea. Let me just say, southern people really know how to show their love!

Funeral Sandwiches are definitely for the living. They are the easiest thing to make and take to someone you care about. They are delicious enough to have at a special family gathering. And they are wonderful for an end of a crazy busy day meal.

So for your eating delight . . . here’s my Grandma Lillie’s recipe:

Lillie Mae’s Funeral Sandwiches

1 pkg of dinner rolls (She ALWAYS used King’s Hawaiian rolls, but Aunt Sally used regular rolls)

½ - 1 lb deli sliced ham

½ lb thinly sliced swiss cheese (we’ve also used provolone)

½ C melted butter

2 T brown sugar

2 T Worcestershire sauce

2 T mustard (spicy mustard adds a nice kick)

1 tsp onion powder

(At this point Aunt Sally would add some poppy seeds. Grandma Lillie never would because they got in her dentures, not that she would ever admit to that!)

1. Split the whole package of rolls in half and lay the bottom half in your 13 x 9 pan.

2. Layer the deli ham over the top of the roll bottoms.

3. Add a layer of the swiss  cheese.

4. Put the tops of the buns back on.

5. In a bowl, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and onion powder.

6. Brush the top of each bun with the mixture. Drizzle the remainder over all of it.

7. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 24 hours is really the best.

8. When you are ready to make them heat the oven to 350°. Bake the sandwiches covered for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 10 minutes more.

There you have it! Now go make a batch or two for yourself or a friend. They are a perfect way to say I care. Just remember to put them in a disposable pan so the intended recipient isn’t burdened with washing and returning! (That’s the free momma advice coming out of me!)

Want to join in the fun? Choose a writing prompt from the list below. Write your blog post. Then hop on over to Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop and link up. We'll be looking for you! 

The Prompts:
1.) Something that spooked you.
2.) Share a favorite recipe from your childhood that you still make today.
3.) A blog post inspired by the word: ordinary
4.) Begin with “I thought I saw…”
5.) Tell us about a smell that reminds you of home.

Bloom Where You're Planted ~ Five Minute Friday

by @Fitzysmom

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: BLOOM

GO!

I have this little plant stake that has the saying “Bloom Where You’re Planted”. I never thought much about it until this past year. It always seemed like a quaint little trinket with a double meaning. Then the totally unexpected happened.

My husband had a major job change that left us living out of a suitcase and a hotel for the past year. It isn’t easy to make friends when you are only in a location for a month at the most. How do you even go about trying to find your niche let alone bloom in it?

Somewhere around month two it finally dawned on me that perhaps this was a season in my life that was meant for me to draw closer to my husband and to my Savior. Once I settled into that thought I really did begin to bloom.

I’m sure some of the hotel staff probably wondered what was going on in my room with the loud praise music and the wacky woman talking out loud to herself. (I tend to talk aloud to the Lord when it is just He and I in the room.) When my husband would come home to the hotel we would spend time together at the pool or just in the room talking about things that we just never had time to before.

The seemingly impossible began to happen. I began to bloom! Not only did I bloom but I would even hazard to say that I blossomed. I not only reconnected with my husband and Jesus but I remembered who I was. Beyond being a wife, mother and grandmother, I’m an artist, a lover of the written word, and a total Coca-Cola addict! (Hey, a girl has to have some vices to survive the wash, rinse and repeat life of living in a hotel.)

Now it’s your turn . . . where are you blooming at in your life right now?

STOP!

Feel inspired to write? Link up with us here at Lisa Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday!

Visit To Be Sociable or Inflict Pain: The Choice Is Yours ~ Five Minute Friday #fmf

by @Fitzysmom

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: VISIT

GO!

When I think of the word visit it brings up wonderful memories of gatherings of family or friends or a mixture of both. I can hear the laughter shared about some inside joke that only makes sense to those present. I can smell the aromas of a savory meal because there is always great food during a visit.

But as I pondered the word visit I also realized that it could also have a different meaning. As in something bad or ominous. In the Bible we find reference to some really great visits, from the incarnate Christ, the Holy Spirit, ministering angels, etc. We also see some pretty awful visits as well such as the death angel visiting each of the  unprotected homes and killing the first born in each of them.

I then began to think about what type of guest do I want to be when I visit someone, because after all the choice is mine. I can choose to be refreshing and bring with me faith, hope and love. Or I can be the worst of guests and bring condemnation and scorn. 

I pray that I will remember Who I represent and become a visitor that is welcomed with open arms.

STOP!

Feel inspired to write? Link up with us here at Lisa Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday!

Tree ~ Five Minute Friday #fmf

by @Fitzysmom

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: TREE

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One of my favorite children's stories is 'The Giving Tree' by Shel Silverstein. The tale chronicles the life of a little boy and the apple tree that gives of herself to that little boy. In fact that tree just gives and gives and gives without much gratitude in return. Throughout the life of the boy he just continues to take and take from the tree. He uses its branches to make a house and then later he cuts it down to a stump to make a boat. But at the very end it is that stump that the boy now man finds comfort in.

I know it is just a fictional account but I find so many metaphors to life. We as mothers, wives and daughters are tasked with giving and giving and giving. It is hard. It is tiring. It is frustrating. But in the end when that little one climbs up into our lap or that husband holds us close or that aged parent clasps our hand and smiles it suddenly all becomes worth it.

I pray that at each stage of my life I will continue to give without bitterness. I pray that I will continue to give without expecting something in return. I pray that I will give until I am completely used up and my LORD welcomes me home.

STOP!

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Truth ~ Five Minute Friday #fmf

by @Fitzysmom

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: TRUTH

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I am a news junkie so day in and day out I hear talking heads spout off about whatever the cause of the day is. Recently it has been the whole health care debacle. Claims of lies, misspeaking, half-truths, and misleading have inundated my TV. One of the current questions is if the truth would have been told from the start would it have changed the outcome?

No matter which side of that issue you are on I think we can all agree that if the truth isn't spoken there are consequences to deal with. It isn't just nationally that this is relevant it is personally important too. Whether I lie in little ways or big ways it hurts someone.

Last night I watched the Billy Graham special 'My Hope America'. In his beautiful southern drawl Dr. Graham spoke the truth of the cross. He said it is an offensive symbol to many. Many don't want to see it as anything but a piece of jewelry or art to be hung on a wall. But the truth is that we all must come to the cross and accept or reject it. It would be easy to tell a lie about the cross in our efforts to not offend. But in doing that we hurt Someone. The irony is that the person that is hurt the most is ourselves.

I am one of those that have accepted the message of the cross. As a believer I have the obligation to speak the truth even when it would be easier to evade it or stay silent. My greatest desire is to be like Billy Graham. At my 95th birthday celebration, when someone says that I'll be speaking about the cross the response will be, "Of course she is . . . because it is the truth, and she speaks only the truth!" LORD, may it ever be so!

STOP!

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Together ~ Five Minute Friday #fmf

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: TOGETHER

GO!

From the moment they were born I knew there would come a day that my children would grow up and leave my house. And after twenty-one years it began to happen. By the way . . . the biggest downside to having children one after another is that they leave one after another!

I adjusted to them being gone mainly because they lived close and we saw them often. When the grandbabies began to arrive we saw them even more often. The bliss of being together for the holidays seemed like it would just go on and on. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and all the rest, you name it and we used it as an excuse to gather and connect.

Then it happened . . . this past Christmas we were all within thirty minutes of each other but over the course of a few days illness began dropping us like flies. For the first time we weren't going to be together to do advent with everyone. No Fitzpatrick Family Game Night. What to do about the trophy?

At first we were all very sad, but slowly we realized that it gave each of us time to be with our immediate families. Each family made new memories and did some new things. This granny's heart just longed for those sweet little ones but I also have to admit that the time with my man was very nice.

Because of all the changes that have come about this year it looks like we may not be together again for the holidays. While I will miss the chaos and long for my loved ones . . . because we are better together . . . I've also learned that we are always together  in our hearts and minds. (And on Skype!!!)

The greatest thing in the world is that we have a promise that one day we will always be together!

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

~ 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18

STOP!

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Laundry ~ Five Minute Friday #fmf

Laundry on a Clothesline
Josef Albers

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: LAUNDRY

GO!

Laundry . . . the never-ending and non-glamourous task of every homemaker! Surprisingly enough, of all my household chores it is my favorite. I find such a sense of accomplishment in seeing neatly folded and put away laundry. I love how it makes my house smell and the feel of freshly washed sheets at the end of a long day is just as soothing to me as a long hot bath.

One of my fondest and earliest memories of my grandmother's house is the clothesline in the back yard. My grandfather made it for my grandmother and it truly was a work of art. Four taunt lines that were spaced widely apart and beautiful flowerbeds that surrounded each of the poles. I loved to walk between the lines of clothing and just inhale that wonderful scent that mixed detergent and fabric softener with sunshine. If I close my eyes and inhale, I can still imagine it.

My grandmother always used Tide detergent and a very generous helping of Downy fabric softener. She also bleached all of her whites. Those are some of my favorite comfort smells. To this day I just can't resist bringing a warm towel straight from the dryer up to my nose and basking in the delightful scent and softness. It never fails to remind me of the beautiful promise we are given in the book of Isaiah:

"Come, let us discuss this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool."

~ Isaiah 1:18

STOP!

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TRUE ~ Five Minute Friday #fmfparty

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: TRUE

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True: Consistent with fact or reality; not false or erroneous.

Being a mom I get caught up in daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, wiping bottoms, and basically holding down the fort while hubby works hard for us. While doing these tasks I often lose sight of what is true. Or even what is true about me and who I am.

I start to believe lies over what is true. I become inconsistent and restless. This usually happens after a week that was difficult. Then I start to think I cannot do this. I battle myself and wonder what happened and then God sits me down and I stop and realized I have lost sight of what is true.

Quick story, just the other day I was having a busy rush around day where I had put what is true aside and concentrated on tasks. Nothing else mattered but completing these tasks, I was in the car with the boys running errands when a radio program mentioned this wife who was trying to get her husband out of jail in Iran. She went on to tell how her husband was a Christian and was trying to start an orphanage and then was thrown in jail and it has now been a year. I was heartbroken and began praying and made a mental note to look up this man Saeed Abedini.

I got out of the car and my 4 yr. old asked me what I was thinking at first I was like hurry up we need to get you new shoes and then I stopped and realized how will he know what is true if I never tell him so I told him about a daddy being in prison and how I was praying for him. My son then said oh I will pray now for him. Right then I felt like God was saying this is what is true. This moment when you teach my child to pray for those suffering that is what is true. New shoes are not a life skill but knowing to pray for was is true and having empathy towards others is.

When I listen to what is true, what is good I can be everything God intended me to be, I am consistent, content, and at ease with where I am in life. When I listen to what is true I am surprised that I ever fell for the lies. The only way to be happy is to be true to who you are. Who has God called you to be? For me it is being a teacher of what is true.

Stop!

I would rather know the truth than be happy in ignorance. If I can't have both truth and happiness, give me truth. I can be happy in heaven.

~ A. W. Tozer

Mercy ~ Five Minute Friday ~ #fmfparty

One Word Prompt ~ Five Minutes of Writing ~ No Editing

Today's Prompt: MERCY

Go!

I'm from a southern family and as such I grew up with sayings that had multiple meanings totally dependent on the situation. One of the well used phrases is "Lord Have Mercy". The meaning changes with punctuation or voice inflection.

"Lord. Have. Mercy!" is best used with a raised eyebrow to denote an aura of disbelief or disgust. The interesting thing is that I don't think it is ever really being directed to the Lord. It is usually being directed at someone's momma, as in saying, "Lord have mercy! Why would you let your child . . ."

Lately I've found myself crying out "LORD, have mercy!" I beg Him not to give me what I deserve but in His loving grace I ask for undeserved mercy. I'm overwhelmed by His goodness in extending this to all of us. May I learn from Him how to extend mercy to others.

My prayer is that when I hear the phrase "Lord Have Mercy" I will pause and reflect on the vast meaning of it. And the next time I use it, may I use it wisely!

Stop!