130215 XIX

At 2 am, I said that it was time, and took a shower. After some arm twisting, my husband finally got me to the hospital at 8am, but no room was available! It had been a busy night in maternity. All the while, I was calm and smiling. No one believed that I was that close to delivery, so they told me to walk the halls. I wasn’t reacting in the traditional manner. You see, there was no pain.

By 10am, I had a room with nurses, a special bed, and machines. A doctor named “Bucky” came to see that I was dilating properly, and asked how I felt. Still smiling, I said that there was pressure, but no pain. He told the nurse that it would be at least another four hours. They made me stay flat on my back. And hooked me to machines.

Soon, the pain hit! It lasted for 45 minutes. Bucky appeared. He was supposed to leave at noon, and it was almost noon.. Although barely half of his estimated time had passed, he was able to deliver a soft little blob that opened its eyes at me. My mother-in-law took a picture of that moment. I look like I’m ready to dissect a frog. I was tired, but my heart was filled with love. My first, born at 12:23pm, was absolutely perfect.

During pregnancy, I had prayed for lack of pain, perfect health, good teeth, and that only one of the three physicians would deliver that baby. I wanted Bucky to be there, because he was the one who once told me that I was too old to have a child. He had wanted to give me fertility treatments, but I had said that God would provide. He was the nicest in that practice, and I wanted him to have the blessing of welcoming my dear Elizabeth into the world.

Today, my incredible little girl is nineteen years old! Happy Birthday, Sweetie! You are God’s Best! You live up to your name.

ELIZABETH
GENDER: Feminine

Meaning & History
From  the Greek form of the Hebrew name ('Elisheva') meaning "my God is an oath" or perhaps "my God is abundance". The Hebrew form appears in the Old Testament where Elisheba is the wife of Aaron, while the Greek form appears in the New Testament where Elisabeth is the mother of John the Baptist.

130206 "...the borrower is servant to the lender."

Proverbs 22:7b  "... the borrower is servant to the lender."

In the late 1980s, I had a credit card debt of $388. It tore me up! I had been reduced to a minimum wage job that barely met my living expenses, and that debt haunted me! I married, and the debt became worse. Like a person who gains excess weight gradually, I didn't notice that my step was sluggish, nor that my energy levels were suffering. Debt seemed natural and a part of life.

My heart knew better. Sometimes, the light would shine and we'd pay off most or all of it. Debt-freedom felt good, but never seemed to last. There was always one more shiny object to have. When he was taken in September 2010, it took me just six months to pay off the last penny of about $70,000 worth of debt. I was finally debt-free.

After two full years of continuous freedom from debt, I must say that it feels great. I don't have to rob Peter to pay Paul. I don't have to do the credit-debt shuffle. Over the weekend, I heard that again credit card companies were starting to apply fees for using the cards, so immediately, I switched my Debit card use to debit only. Why pay for something I don't really need?

Modern, worldly wisdom comes up lacking again. Use a mortgage to buy a house, but become homeless when the economy shifts? Everyone needs a college education to make 'real' money, but how many college grads are working in their chosen fields? How many are working?

God knew, and still knows more than any man. Buying a home is not bad; getting an education is not bad, but are they the answer for everyone in every situation? Obviously not. Here is my point:

If one is not able to pay for something outright, then something is wrong. Don't go into debt.

Proverbs 22:26,27
  Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
  If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

God is more reliable than money.

130201 Peanut Butter Soup

• 8 oz chicken meat
• 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
• 6-8 garlic cloves, chopped roughly (These can be done to taste.)
• 1 large sweet potato, cut into small chunks
• 1 lb cut or crushed tomatoes
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup chopped peanuts
• 1 Tbsp ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
• Salt and black pepper
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro

Cook meat. Saute onions in oil until clear. Add garlic and saute a minute more. (Stock can be made from chicken drippings: Add water to pan, boil, skim fat.) Reserve peanut butter, roasted peanut pieces, and cilantro. Then, with stock as a base, start blending remaining ingredients together in small portions and add to large pot. Stir in peanut butter. Heat to serving temperature. Top individual dishes with peanut pieces and cilantro. May be served cold.