What Defines You?

Last night my church gathered for our 1st summer picnic and watched this year's Oscar Winning Documentary Short. So good! Here's the trailer. If you haven't seen it I suggest renting it off ITunes and giving it a gander.

Thought Provoking Questions:
- What do you let define you?
- How do you get up in the morning (happy/depressed)? Does that affect the rest of your day?
- What are your dreams?
- Is there someone that you wish you could be honest with and tell them you love them?

The Return of Granola Girl

This morning I got up at 5:30

And I packed this for breakfast

And why did I get up that early?
And take my granola on the go?

Because ALL of the Chicago-land REI's had garage sales this morning.

And my very first Chicago friend (who ironically lives in Milwaukee)
drove the hour and half to stake out two of the sales with me.

Store #1 was a success for him
Store #2 he snagged a good deal for me

CLIMBING SHOES!

(my latest granola obsession since my first experience climbing in the Red River Gorge in KY)

Want to be a Granola Girl on the go like me?
Here's my family's AMAZING homemade granola recipe:

4 cups rolled oats-- thick ones are best  (don't use quick kind)
1 cup slivered almonds or other nut
1 cup cashews or other nut1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup vegetable oil1/2 tsp salt

Dried fruit (raisins are typical, but my favorite are cranberries and blueberries)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees (to bake for one hour and 15 min) 
or 325 degrees (to bake for 30 min)(I typically go for longer, but I'm a "slow-cooked" fan)
In large bowl combine oats, nuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, and brown sugar.  In separate bowl combine maple syrup, oil and salt.  Combine both mixtures and pour onto pan with high sides.  Cook as directed above, stirring every 15 minutes.  Remove from oven when lightly browned and transfer to large bowl again.  Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.

ENJOY!

Not With Worldly View

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore
Christ's ambassadors,
as through God we're making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf; Be reconciled to God. God make him who had not sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

This was the passage that I studied this morning with my church family.

Then I was pointed to the following video this afternoon from a ministry update I follow

Although made two years ago and I'd heard of this short film, I had never watched it myself. I found tears in my eyes at several points and God showing me a beautiful picture of what it means to not regard anyone with a worldly view. That's what the Butterfly Circus is all about - seeing the person as the person and not as their circumstnaces. BEAUTIFUL!

Who do you need to stop seeing their old self?