enough said

It has taken some time for me to get to this point.  A dream has been building that is bigger than me.  It started last week as I had the opportunity to share some of that dream.  

I have heard it said that in order to be successful we need to prioritise what is truly important. Most Christians would say that they choose God as number one in their lives. I have come to realise that as William P Young writes in his book 'The Shack” the trouble with priorities is that it sees everything as a hierachy...you put God at the top... what does that mean and how much is enough? How much time will you give him before you can go about the rest of your day, the part that interests you the most. He doesn't want a part of us and a piece of our life. He simply wants us.

So I made a start with the ladies that I shared with.  So it continues. I hope you will join me as I unpack the equation and find what is enough for you.

Check here for each of the posts
I am enough 
I have enough 
I do enough
Plus one
To the power of three

Time Out

Just what I needed.  The last week or two I have had lots on the calendar to keep up with.  It's times like this that I need a bit of me time.  Most of the tasks that I do seem to be stuck on the replay button.  No matter how often I do them they will be back tomorrow.  So I make sure I do at least one thing a day that is just for me. There will always be more to do.  I know when I have done enough.  The new Stampin Up catalogue arrived today.  So while I have a list of things to complete {the biggest being a catch up on my blogs}  I took some time out and had a look through.  Great pick me up.  Now I am ready to get back to business.

What do you do for me time?

Slow Cooker Sticky Date Pudding

Some time ago I read about this great idea for making your very own cook book.  For some time I have been meaning to get my recipes more organised than the folder of loose pages. So I have started sorting and taking pictures to add to my own book.  I am looking forward to putting it together and having one place for all our favourites.  I will be sure to print a copy for all the boys to take with them when they leave home.

Here is one of our favourites for dinner parties.  I used this one for a ladies night we had at church recently.  It was certainly popular.  Now they can try it themselves.  This one is for you Robyn.

I stumbled across a recipe for slow cooker caramel pudding while blog hopping.  It used raisins and sultanas. After trying it the taste was good but I wasn't so keen on the chunks of fruit. I had a go adapting it using a sticky date recipe that I have.  The result so yum!  As it makes a large 10-12 serving it is a great one for dinner parties and oh so easy to throw together and serve up when ready.

Caramel sauce
1L boiling water
3/4 cup sugar
75 grams butter, diced

Pudding
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
2-3 tsp mixed spice
1 1/2 cups dates
boiling water
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
50 grams melted butter

Turn the slow cooker on to low to preheat while preparing mix
Stir the water, sugar, and butter together until the sugar has dissoved and the butter melted.  Pour into the pre warmed slow cooker and cover with the lid.

Put dates into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soften.

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and mixed spice into a large bowl.  Stir in brown sugar and make a well in the centre.

Mash or blend dates with the water. Pour into the well. Pour the milk into the well and, using a wooden spoon, sitr gradually to form a thick batter, free of flour lumps.  Once all the milk has been added, stir in the butter.

Spoon the batter evenly into the hot sauce and cover with lid.

Cook on high for 1 hour then turn to low for a further 3-4 hours.  Do not lift the lid for the first 2 hours of cooking time.

Serves 10-12
Prep time 15 mins
cooking time 4-5 hours using high and low. 

Enjoy

Our Table

I came across this post by Angie at Bring the Rain. It inspired me to put together some thoughts about our table as it holds just as many memories. I was amazed at how sometimes it is the simplest of things that can have the greatest impact on us. The story is something of great worth that I want to record and pass on.

I remember when I first got the table. Going off to study I was setting up my first flat. Together with my parents we had been gathering bits and pieces of furniture. A friend of Dad's had a table he was wanting to get rid of.. It had been well used, the lines and dents all had a tale to tell. A solid piece with extensions at both ends, the table was certainly quite a find. So I took it to my Pop who always took a look at the projects we presented him. And he lovingly sanded the table back and varnished and polished it back to its former glory. A lasting memory of the love that he shared.

Now it was time for me to write it's story.

It was almost to good to be used by students. But the table held up after many cusine experiments, late night study sessions and card games. It shifted with me as I moved flats. Until when I finished my studies I decided to move to Auckland and I couldn't take it with me. So the table went on it's way with my brother as he started out on his flatting adventures. Just when I thought that the table had ended it's tale with me my brother headed off overseas. It was just as I was getting married and moving into our first home.

It was to be our table.

Whenever we moved we made room for our table, and we have moved so many times I have to keep count to remember. It fitted in the one bedroom unit we shared with our 12 month old when we sold our first house, before we moved closer to family. It even fitted in the 2 and ½ bedroom place we shared with our 3 boys with another on the way.

Seems like it was a part of the family. Our table has entertained many guests. It has held craft projects, late night homework catch ups and had playdough mushed into it and been turned about to find the perfect spot for fort building. We are gathering around more for games nights as the boys grow older. But most importantly it has held many family dinners. Gathered around we share our favourite part of the day amongst passing dishes and toddler tiredness. At the moment that is enough. I read this post at A Holy Experience. For now it is hanging there as a great thing I want to do at our table. One thing at a time.

So I wonder do my boys really know the depth of the story as they sit at this table? Do they know how much love they have as they sit around it? Like Angie said in her post I want to do more but the Lord reminds me 'Your love is enough. And when it isn’t, Mine is'. 

It is starting to show it's age, our table. There are more marks and dings than I can count and the seats are badly in need of repair. I know there is life in her yet. We have so much more story to tell. At a time when sitting around the table together as a family is becoming a thing of the past, I look forward to more love and laughter around our table.