advent is here.

“We are all meant to be mothers of God, for God is always needing to be born.”

- Meister Eckhart (13th century Christian mystic)

real ones.

"It is the sweet, simple things of life
which are the real ones after all."

- Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House in the Ozarks by Hines)

soon it's gonna' rain.

and actually it's already begun. i think it rains here more than it stays dry. in all four seasons.

today is especially dreary. it needs the right accompaniment to fully hone in to this kind of weather.

today is the kind of day where i would normally put on one of my barbra streisand records and let it be my soundtrack for the afternoon.

so, since i don't have my vinyl right now, youtube will have to do.

here is barbra singing, soon it's gonna' rain from the fantastiks.


and here are the lyrics:

Hear how the wind begins to whisper
See how the leaves go streaming by
Smell how the velvet rain is falling
Out where the fields are warm and dry
Now is the time to run inside and stay
Now is the time to find a hideaway
Where we can play
Soon it's gonna rain, I can see it
Soon it's gonna rain, I can tell
Soon it's gonna rain, what are we gonna do?
Soon it's gonna rain, I can feel it
Soon it's gonna rain, I can tell
Soon it's gonna rain, what will we do with you?
We'll find four limbs of a tree
We'll build four walls and a floor
We'll bind it over with leaves
Then duck inside and play
Then we'll let it rain, we'll not feel it
Then we'll let it rain, rain pell mall
And we'll not complain if it never stops at all
We'll live and love within our castle
Hear how the wind begins to whisper
Feel how the rain is falling now

apple-cinnamon bread pudding.

i've been buying a bag of apples each week (for only 2 francs!) from my neighbors, just around the corner, and am now finding new ways to bake with these fresh-from-the-trees green apples. they're delightfully crisp and perfectly sour. but baking with them is a treat too.

similar to the system with the pumpkin & squash stand, this apple & flower stand isn't manned (or womanned, for that matter) by anyone. instead, there's just a little jar to put your coins in and the honor system really works. ya' pay for what ya' pick out. it's a beautiful thing.

so, here's another in-season dessert recipe for you... happy green apple time.

Apple-Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

• 4 cups soft cinnamon bread, torn into small pieces
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, very thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup raisins or chopped dried cranberries (optional)
• 2 cups milk (try vanilla soy milk with it!)
  
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

Butter an 11x7-inch baking dish. Heat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, combine bread, cinnamon, and apple slices, and raisins or chopped dried cranberries, if using; toss to mix.

In a medium saucepan, combine milk, brown sugar, and butter; heat over medium heat until hot and butter is melted.

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs with vanilla. Quickly whisk in the hot milk mixture then pour the mixture over the bread. Stir to mix well.

Pour bread mixture into the prepared baking dish. Set a jelly roll pan or large shallow baking dish in the oven. Set the bread pudding pan inside the larger pan. Add very hot water to the outer pan to a depth of about 1/2-inch. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean.

still wanting to live as an ordinary radical.

i just had a great reminder about the kind of person i want/hope to be.
yes, the person i hope to become. but also the person i hope to be today, even now. through sharing life with other people. no solo trek here.

loma invited shane claiborne to share (preach? speak? story-tell?) about some of his convictions and practices with the campus yesterday, and the audio file from that chapel is already posted online. some eunc (european nazarene college -- where i presently live) friends and i gathered just now to listen to it together. good, good stuff. always more to dialogue about. and live-out. so let me know if you were at that chapel (or the monday evening q&a!!), if you listen to the file linked below, if you're still wrestling/processing/continually trying to apply convictions and practices that were provoked/inspired by reading the irresistible revolution: living as an ordinary radical, or if you're just wondering, 'what the heck is this all about?'

let's share.
together.

to listen to the chapel audio file, go here: http://www.pointloma.edu/CampusLife/Chapel.htm

Instructions: Find the chapel date you would like to hear [November 9th, 2009 - Shane Claiborne] and simply click the title to start the player. To download a copy of the mp3, click the download button next to the chapel title or double-click the title and select "Save File".

To filter the list, select the year and semester you would like to view. To filter by a particular speaker, type that speaker's name in the box.

a nun's life

the lastest intriguing blog that i stumbled upon:

http://anunslife.org/

i like what i'm reading. thanks sisters!

do not let your love be a pretense.

this says everything. i have no words to add. but an amen.
and a so be it.

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans:
(Romans 12:9-16)

Do not let your love be a pretense, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as sisters and brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.

Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied.

all saints day.

remembering those who have gone before.
a great cloud of witnesses.

Grant us during our pilgrimage to abide in their fellowship,
and to become partakers of their joy.