Motherhood and Ministry

“Just Call Me Danger”

jodymccomas — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:10:29 +0000

So I’m afraid that’s what Isaac would say if he had words right now, “Just call me danger.” He is all boy and if anyone says that boys are girls aren’t all that different I would have to beg to differ. Isaac and Jenna couldn’t be more different. Although Isaac is as sweet as can be (we had friends over this week and he hugged their 8 month old daughter at least 10 times as sweetly as could be and his newest thing is to blow us kisses) he is also rambunctious, likes to throw things, climb, and hit things (including his head against hard objects) and say ow. If you turn around for a second he is climbing up on something, including the dining room table. Yikes. In the last couple weeks he’s had his first black eye thanks to the brick seat in front of the fire place in our old house and had his first trip to the ER (you can see how adorable he was in that gown and he was trying to make a break for it) thanks to some breathing issues from a slight case of pneumonia. There just aren’t many dull moments around these parts. Here are a few pictures because he’s just too cute not to show off. My kids are definitely going to miss that big mirror in our old house. It gave hours of entertainment as they loved to stare at themselves.

Neighborhood Discoveries

jodymccomas — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Tonight while I was getting gas I noticed a little delicatessen (Edelweiss Sausage Company & Delicatessen) around the corner. Since we’re new to the neighborhood I decided to take the kids in and have a look around. Let me just say that this was one of the highlights of the week. I know, a trip to the ER, sick kids, and unpacking boxes isn’t hard to top but this place was a little slice of European heaven. It’s a tiny little market that sells mostly German products, grocery items, cookies, pastries, and don’t forget the chocolate. I found my favorite Milka bar of all time in there, the caramel Milka (and to top it off, it was on sale). I used to have friends bring me those from Croatia when they would come back from there and I would ration them out for months taking only small bites here and there. Oh dear, I ate almost a whole one tonight just because I know that it’s only .4 miles away and I can go get more.

This little gem of a store also has a small selection of food that you can order and pull up a chair at in the small seating area to enjoy. One of the reviews said it has the best Reuben of all time and I definitely will be trying that out in the near future. I mean, I have to see if they are right.

They also had a wide variety of sausages, meats, and cheeses. Oh the cheese, I just stood and stared at that case knowing I couldn’t partake but will definitely have to on some special occasions. I decided we couldn’t leave without buying a sausage to try out. We decided on the beer brat and of course a couple chocolate bars. I only got one sausage to share between Jenna and I, I’m not sure why. Rookie mistake. It was so delicious that it took me back to our trip to Germany and Austria (that’s where the two pictures are from). It was so amazing that I’m already thinking about the next time we’ll visit this little treasure. I see sausages in our dinner menu at least once a month from now on.

Can you tell I love food? I do, and I love little whole in the wall, authentic food places and that’s just what I found today. Now I’ll be needing some self control to stay away from there.

In light of the topic, here’s a picture from our house. It’s the only one for now because it’s still pretty bare around here but it’s the dining room and one of my favorite spots. I LOVE to have people over for meals so it’s going to get lots of use. I also love the built-in cabinets!

Humbled and Blessed

jodymccomas — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:34:32 +0000

The past 6 months have been challenging in so many ways. Each day has a new challenge or unexpected twist now doesn’t it? But along with those challenges has been a resounding theme of God’s grace, His provision, His care; for me personally and for our family. We have been blown away by how God has used so many people to give to us financially (some we have never met), emotionally and physically (by sending cards, a meal, giving a hug, watching our kids), and spiritually (by praying for us, encouraging us, sending us notes and cards). It’s honestly a little overwhelming and humbling to be on the receiving end of such generosity by people like you, our team of ministry partners, our students, our family and friends, and ultimately our God. God has used people, the body of Christ, to spur us on, to reaffirm that yes indeed we are right where He wants us to be. I read a quote this week (that I’m probably going to get wrong but it was something like this) that said, “It’s often darkest when you’re in the shadow of His wings.” Sometimes that can be true. It can feel dark when God is actually protecting you or doing something in your life.

All that to say that I’m so grateful right now. I’m thankful for God’s timing even though it has seemed so late recently. I’m thankful for how He has chosen to show His love to us through people.

So here’s my challenge to you, if God puts someone on your heart in some way act on it. Pray for them, send a card, call, text, fb or whatever to let them know that you are indeed thinking and praying for them. It could just be the encouragement that they need for that day. Thanks for those of you who have done that for me. It has been such a blessing!

Our Little Yellow Bungalow

jodymccomas — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:40:40 +0000

I’m kicked back on my couch watching American Idol in our new home that we like to call the little yellow bungalow (because it is indeed yellow, on the inside and out. It’s a good yellow though, that picture below isn’t the greatest representation.). There are still many things to be unpacked but I’m sooooooo tired. My body is sore and now that I sat down, I think this is where I’ll stay. We are so thankful to be here and loving many things about the house itself. There are some weird quirks that we’re learning to work around but then, isn’t that just how life is, working around the quirks?

Just a quick note to let you know we’re still here and soon I’ll have a few pictures to share. When you compare it to the one you see here it will make it all look good.

We’re Moving!!!

jodymccomas — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:16:37 +0000

The time has come my friends, we are moving tomorrow morning!! It’s kind of funny because I don’t remember a time when we’ve moved that it didn’t snow. So as if God were saying now is the time, it’s been snowing this week. Perfect.

We signed our papers today, got keys and will be moving into that cute yellow house I talked about earlier. (If you’ve prayed for us thank you so much because this really is a huge answer to prayer.) The sale is still not final but we will be doing a lease with the option to buy until they figure out how to get their stuff in order. It’s the best scenario for now and we’re thankful for it. We are so ready to move on from the situation we’re in although we’re thankful for the Lord providing it. Now we move on to the home with one bathroom. We can do this.

As you can see from the picture. Matt made a sweet box fort for Jenna and she’s been in there for the last 5 days coloring pictures on the boxes. I’m not sure why we think they need toys. Boxes, crayons and Tupperware are always the favorite around here.

So stay tuned. After we’re moved in I’ll post pictures and let you into our new world.

Best Pie Crust Ever

jodymccomas — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:39:10 +0000

One of my favorite meals is Chicken Pot Pie and Cornbread. They are totally comfort food and usually what I take to friends if they need a meal. I decided to try a new pie crust recipe because my friend Sam said it was amazing. And oh my, it was. Anything with that much butter has to be amazing. You all should definitely try it. Don’t think of the calories, just eat and be satisfied.

Pate Brisee (Pie Pastry)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter chilled and cut into small pieces

1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.

With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream through feed tube. Pulse until dough holds together without being wet or sticky; be careful not to process more than 30 seconds. To test, squeeze a small amount together: If it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disc and wrap in plastic. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour. Dough may be stored, frozen, up to 1 month.

Today and Teachable (Funny) Moments

jodymccomas — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:02:49 +0000

I didn’t grow up in the south where much of the racial segregation took place in our history between African Americans and white Americans. But I did grow up in a small town that is VERY white and racism was still very much alive. Now having a son that is a quarter African American today takes on new meaning for our family. I guess you could say it’s just more personal now. So last night we were explaining to Jenna why she didn’t have school today. We began to explain who Martin Luther King Jr. was and what he stood for. That he was an incredibly brave man, a man who loved God and people and stood up for what was right. She seemed a bit confused and started asking questions. She said, “we’ll Isaac’s white, you’re white, dad’s white, and I’m white.” I explained that Isaac was actually a quarter African American and I had family from other countries as well. She then said, “Okay, so dad and I are white and you and Isaac are only half American.” Never a dull moment in teaching around here.

I’m so thankful for men like Martin Luther King Jr. I’m even more thankful for a God who loves all of us no matter our race, ethnicity, culture, or skin color.

I loved re-reading these words. I hope you will too.

Here’s an excerpt from his “I Have a Dream Speech”:

I Have a Dream, Washington, D.C., 1963

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Our Indoor Storage Shed

jodymccomas — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:18:18 +0000

Well, the inside of our house looks like a storage shed. We began packing most of our things this weekend and have most of the big stuff done. We’ll be moving next weekend and I couldn’t be more thrilled. We are SO ready to move on from the housing hell that we’ve been living with the past 6 months now. Our landlady is sending us out with a bang, literally. We’ve had a whole week of residing going on around here and it’s been louder than I ever could have imagined it being. So next weekend could not come soon enough. I’ll share more about how God provided the house for us to move into later.

My new addiction on tv is Storage Wars. Have you all seen it? Well, it’s quite entertaining and Matt was trying to sell the boxes in our living room via twitter to the highest bidder today. He’s real funny.

Two Pieces of Advice

jodymccomas — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:01:40 +0000

At our cru conference another staff woman shared a quote that someone she loves always says,

Make memories you can live with, because you will.

Isn’t that the truth.

Then we were privileged to hear from a couple that have served God for 50 years here and overseas. They are a wealth of wisdom and I’ll share more about what they had to say another time. One of the things they said was,

You will never regret trusting God.

That too is the truth. I think the two go together. If you trust God, following Him through life, you won’t regret the memories you’ll make along the way. I know I have many memories I wish I could erase in my life and I can safely say that they were all made while doing my own thing, disregarding God’s ways. May I never forget that God’s ways are loving, His ways are proven right and trustworthy and will only bring blessing. Following Christ doesn’t mean life will always be easy or fun, but it’s always right and always worth it.

What do you think about this? Have you experienced this to be true?

Cake Secrets

jodymccomas — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:19:40 +0000

Growing up my mom decorated cakes as a side business. She hasn’t done it for years but people still call begging her to make one. Not just because they looked amazing but they also tasted amazing. This definitely made me a cake snob. I’m very picky and won’t just eat any cake. I even did cake decorating in 4-H because she led a group and not to brag, but I won many grand champion ribbons on my wedding cakes that I made for fair (there weren’t that many competitors……but they were still pretty I assure you). Bet you didn’t know that about me.

So I’ll let you all in on a little secret that you may not know. The reason the cakes taste soooooo good is that they are frozen before decorating and eating them. It can be a box cake mix or from scratch. If you bake the cake, let it cool, and then wrap it up well and put it in the freezer it makes all the difference. It can be overnight or for a few weeks but freezing is a MUST. It’s easier to frost the cake too because you take it from the freezer and immediately decorate it. Fewer crumbs get into the frosting that way.

I also have had the most compliments on my cakes when I use the cool whipped frosting I found on Allrecipes. It’s light, not too sweet and soooooo good. It can be tricky to decorate with because it’s pretty soft but I make it work. It’s amazing if I do say so myself. (Jenna’s cake was one layer chocolate, one layer rainbow chip, and decorated with the cool whipped frosting.)

Here’s the Frosting recipe:

1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 cup milk (I use a little less so it’s not too runny)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix with milk and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Gently fold in whipped topping until no streaks remain. Spread evenly over cake.

Give it a try and tell me what you think. Happy baking.