Tear Jerker

We recently watched Brian's Song. Even though it was made over 35 years ago, it was still surprisingly good. I'm not at all a sports-minded person, but there's just something about me and sports movies. I cried in the theater when we saw The Rookie. And pardon the confession but I laughed until I cried during Facing the Giants. The acting was pathetic! Though I was laughing, I also really cried because it was so sentimental. Imagine me laughing and crying at the same time, and my kids asking "What, Mom? What?"

Back to Brian's Song. It was '71 and was one of the first made-for-TV movies. It did so well that they began playing it in theaters. The movie begins with a Hemingway quote: "Every true story ends in death." Well, this is a true story. It's about Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, football players with the Chicago Bears. Brian befriends Gale and helps him recover from an injury. Then Brian finds out he has cancer and Gale encourages him throughout the battle.

If you watch it, you'll have to note the ladies' fashions. In the scene where Gale's wife brings him home from his injury she's wearing a very cute jacket and skirt. Near the end of the movie Brian's wife, Joy, stands near the bed wearing a brown turtleneck baby doll dress. Styles do make a repeat. Unfortunately I'm old enough to see those cycles roll around again.

Enjoy the movie, it's a tear jerker!

FUN FACTS for older folks:

The interior of Gale's house was the same set as Darrin and Samantha's house on Bewitched.

Remember -

As spring approaches:

"Gardens are not made by singing, "Oh, how beautiful," and sitting in the shade."

~Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Loca Luna Meatloaf

I'm adding this one to my collection. It's got a little more flavor to it, which is nice. I think I'll rotate it with my everyday meatloaf recipe to spice things up for a change every now and then . I did get a couple of comments on the huge pieces of tomato which are not in our usual meatloaf. Next time I'll chop the whole tomatoes up some before I put them in. It was really hard to try to do that with all the other ingredients, plus I doubled the recipe so there was a lot of meat to work with. Overall, it was a real tasty meatloaf. Definitely one to do again.


Loca Luna Meatloaf
Chef Mark Abernathy

Mix:
2 lbs. Ground Beef
2 Lg. Eggs Beaten
2/3 cup Dried Bread Crumbs or Crumbled Saltines
1 large Yellow Onion diced
1 Tablespoon Minced Parley
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
1 Jalapeno Minced FINE
2 Teaspoons Lawrey’s Seasoned Salt
½ cup red bell pepper diced
1/2 cup Chopped Celery
1 cups Whole Peeled Tomatoes and the Juice
½ cup ketchup

Form into a loaf & place on a pan coated with non-stick spray.
Cook at 325 degrees for 1 ½ hours or until internal temp of 170 degrees
Remove, drain off grease and while hot, cover meatloaf with glaze mixture, raise temperature to 375 and bake for 5 more minutes.

Glaze: Mix together:
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper

What Wondrous Love is This?

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on.

An American folk hymn.
William Walker's The Southern Harmony, 1843

Cyberhymnal.org

Take Care

Little children, you must seek rather to be good than wise,
For the thoughts you do not speak shine out in your cheeks and eyes.

If you think that you can be cross or cruel, and look fair,
Let me tell you how to see you are quite mistaken there.

Go and stand before the glass, and some ugly thought contrive,
And my word will come to pass just as sure as you're alive!

What you have and what you lack, all the same as what you wear,
You will see reflected back; so, my little folks, take care!

And not only in the glass will your secrets come to view;
All beholders, as they pass, will perceive and know them, too.

Out of sight, my boys and girls, every root of beauty starts;
So think less about your curls, more about your minds and hearts.

Cherish what is good, and drive evil thoughts and feelings far;
For, as sure as you're alive, you will show for what you are.

~ Alice Carey (1820-1871)


Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

A Bleeding Heart

A Heart for God

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.

~Psalm 27:4

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You.

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!

~Psalm 84:1-4, 10-12

Pancakes & Waffles

I've always enjoyed pancakes and waffles. My mom used to make waffles a lot when I was at home. Her batter had a sweet taste to it...but sadly, I don't have the recipe. The one I use is from the 1953 Better Homes and Garden cookbook.

Pancakes are extra special for two reasons: My husband's dad makes them for breakfast when my kids spend the night. I'll never forget the first time they experienced his pancakes. They couldn't believe how big they were - the size of the plate! He also makes the syrup which is quick, easy, good and warm.

The other reason's because of a childhood memory. I was travelling with my family and stopped for breakfast at a little cafe. I ordered the blueberry pancakes and they were so delicious. I don't remember where the cafe was but I can still see the front of the building, the door and windows, and the taste I'll never forget! So, is it any wonder that we have pancakes for breakfast over and over?

Buttermilk Pancakes

4 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
5 cups buttermilk
1 stick melted unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Papa's Syrup

2 cups sugar
1 cup water
maple flavoring to taste

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and cook until sugar is dissolved.

"Oh Boy" Waffles

2 1/2 cups sifted enriched flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 beaten eggs
2 1/4 cups milk
3/4 cup melted shortening or salad oil

Sift dry ingredients. Combine eggs, milk, and shortening. Combine liquid and dry ingredients just before baking; beat until smooth. This is a thin batter. Bake in hot waffle iron. Makes 10.

Love

A bell is no bell 'til you ring it, a song is no song 'til you sing it,
And love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay -
Love isn’t love 'til you give it away.

~Oscar Hammerstein, Sound of Music, "You Are Sixteen (Reprise)"

A Fun Book

Counting Kisses by Karen Katz is a sweet and fun book. It's a simple story about a family figuring out how many kisses it takes to get a tired baby to sleep. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, so babies love to look at it. Each page has a row of hearts to count and "kiss" which makes it fun to teach older ones to count.

Karen Katz was inspired to write children's books after she and her husband adopted a baby. In 2002, she received the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award for this book.

New CD

Colbie Caillat's CD titled Coco is a new one out. She has a great voice and her music is fun, peppy, and also good for easy listening. The thing I like most about her CD is that all the songs are good. Usually I only like a couple of songs on an album, but with hers I enjoy listening to it from the beginning to the end. Enjoy it in your car, for background music, and it's even upbeat enough to get you in the mood for cleaning.

She's 22 years old and just recently started playing the guitar at age 19. Her dad is a producer who has worked with groups such as Fleetwood Mac.

Books That Influenced C.S. Lewis

1. Phantastes by George MacDonald
2. The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton.
3. The Aeneid by Virgil
4. The Temple by George Herbert
5. The Prelude by William Wordsworth
6. The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto
7. The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius
8. Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell
9. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams
10. Theism and Humanism by Arthur James Balfour

The Bible (especially the Psalms and New Testament )
Centuries of Meditations by Thomas Traherne
Confessions by Augustine
He Came Down from Heaven by Charles Williams
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales
The Man Born to Be King by Dorothy Sayers
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
The Sermon on the Mount by Charles Gore
Philosophy of the Good Life by Charles Gore
Serious Call to a Devout & Holy Life by William Law
An Appeal by William Law
Smoke on the Mountains by Joy Davidman
Theologia Germanica
Works by Jane Austen, Scott and Trollope

Sources:
The Christian Century 1962 issue
The C.S. Lewis Reader's Encyclopedia