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dancingtograce
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Interests: worship, singing, acting/directing, dancing, photography, reading, taking walks, watching the sunset, drinking hot chocolate and chai tea, spending time with friends
Expertise: smiling
Occupation: Theatre Arts Director
Message: message me
Member Since:
12/18/2005
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| Have you ever found that some things you really thought were important
just don't matter at all? Or at the very least not as much as you
thought they did. And maybe other things you never really
considered before become more important? Well, that's
been happening to me in the last few days. I've been allowing
things to affect me that shouldn't matter and I haven't been focusing
on the things that really should. I guess God finally decided it
was time for that to end because He's been taking things away from me
in the last couple weeks that I have been holding on to for far too
long. It was an incredible feeling. It wasn't even a
conscious yielding up of all those things, it happened as I was helping
lead worship. I was suddenly filled with such peace and joy that
I was almost laughing as I sang. I was filled with God's
laughter, it was like we were laughing together and delighting in each
other. A feeling I haven't felt in a long time and never as
stronly as I did yesterday. I assure you though, if you ever feel
so free, you will be fully aware of it. It was as if all the
weight of things building up over several years even was completely
gone. Amazing Grace, my chains are gone. Mmm, I have
been happy ever since. Maybe not smiling every minute, but my
heart has been light.
Your love is amazing
Steady and unchanging,
Your love is a mountain firm beneath my feet
Your love is a mystr'y
How You gently lift me
When I am surrounded
Your love carries me
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Your love makes me sing!!
Psalm 27:14 ~ Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
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| I just wanted to say hello from Rome, Italy. It is so so beautiful here! I love it.  | | |
| I just put my dog, Psalty, down this morning. He'd gotten
really bad -- he was disoriented and almost completely blind and
deaf. I didn't expect it to be as hard as it was though, I guess
because I've been away from him so much with college and all the
traveling I did during high school. He was 14 and he'd
lived a good, long life.
I'm trying to get packing done and finish getting the house and other
things in order. We have to leave for the airport at 11
tomorrow. We fly through Atlanta, then we're on our way to Italy
for two weeks! I'm so excited. We'll be spending a few days
in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Please pray for safe travels for
us.
I hope everyone's next two weeks are a blessing, especially as many of
you prepare to go back to school. Enjoy every moment. As we are
reminded with the tragedy in Minnesota, we are never promised another
moment.
I have three verses to share with you that God has really been using in my life the past week. . .
"You called in trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the hiding place of thunder." Psalm 86:10
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. . .to Him be the glory."
Eph. 3:20
"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth." Job 19:25
Grace and Peace,
Jessica
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| I have recently rediscovered how much I like to cook. I have always enjoyed it, but in the last few days I have realized I love cooking. Last night was the big event! I sauteed shrimp (and a pork chop for my mom because she doesn't like shrimp) that had been marinated for a couple hours and served it on a bed of angel hair pasta with asparagus tips and parsley. I made a wine sauce that was basically the same as the marinade to pour over the main dish. The accompanying salad included lettuce, sliced black olives, almonds, feta cheese, and Italian dressing, and we had Pillsbury garlic breadsticks (they're delicious; I highly recommend). To drink was a Schmitt -Sohne Riesling, Relax. -- a wine with a delicate, sweet flavor. I took parsley leaves and some of the chopped parsley and decorated the edge of the plates and bowls too, which was a fun addition. All in all, it was a great experiment that turned out to be pretty tasty and healthy, and gave me even more desire to try new dishes as much as I can. I am learning that you need to not worry about whether something might be good which can keep you from experimenting much, but just have fun cooking and tweak the recipe later.
Here's the marinade recipe I used -- try it, you'll love it! I found it in InStyle magazine this month.
John Stamos's Marinade
1 c olive oil
1/4 c white wine (I used Clos du Bois chardonnay)
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
For a chic atmosphere I set the table with white placemats, a bouquet of yellow daisies and carnations, 2 ember candles (Pier 1 Imports), and fancy cutlery, with Michael Buble's new album Call Me Irresponsible playing softly in the background. Can you tell I had fun? If I open up my own restaurant I will call it Chez Nicole's.
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| I'm in San Francisco! That's all I have to say. Have a great weekend!
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