Monday, January 31, 2011

The Auntie's Cookbook

There's something about using recipes that have been passed down through the generations...

This afternoon, I had a case of some serious culinary mind freeze. I had 4 chicken breasts thawing...and I was pouring over my myriads of cookbooks. After a while, all the recipes started to look the same, each of them claiming their own unique flavours, simmered to perfection for an explosion of savoury delight. One recipe wanted me to use cream of chicken soup, another cream cheese, another sour cream, another soy sauce...the list of endless ingredients went on...and on...and on.

J ended up calling me to let me know that he would be home from work early tonight, and STILL those four chicken breasts remained on their plate, shining in all their raw, pink glory. And nothing had yet triggered my palatable senses.

With only an hour before J would be home, I turned to an old stand-by: The Fabulous Frugal Fast Favourite Foods of The Girls from Gorrie...since that's too much of a mouthful, I fondly call it "The Auntie's Cookbook." This huge 3 ringed binder full of recipes is a family heirloom of sorts. My grandma, my mom and my four aunts collaborated this book of all their tried and true recipes a few years back to pass down to their grandchildren/children/nieces and nephews once we all passed the threshold of adulthood. Basically, these recipes were to keep us from eating take-out when we were poor students or newly married.

One of my favourite parts of this eclectic medley of recipes is the personal notes each contributor has left beside their recipes. For example, my mom posted a recipe called "Poor Man's Dinner," which she ironically wrote beside, "Delicious! With million dollar taste!" Or the "Strawberry Pie" recipe that apparently was "from the day of Mom's cancer surgery." (Although I'm not quite sure why such a morbid notation was made...) Needless to say, there are times when I will just plop down on the couch, open up The Auntie's Cookbook, and feel like they're right in the room with me...all talking at once, all sharing their stories, all in my face, but all desiring to put good food in my belly. And, it's comforting.

I didn't have time to sit and be sentimental this afternoon, however, and luckily enough, I turned to page 5 and found: "Barbecue Chicken," submitted by Mum. While the title of the recipe sounds completely lackluster (at least compared to the Lemon-Basil-Splash-of-Balsamic-Sprinkled-with-Parmesan Chicken recipes I had be looking at earlier), the fact that there were only 5 ingredients spoke volumes as the clock quickly ticked away.

BARBECUE CHICKEN

21/2 - 3 lbs cut up chicken
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water

Place a large sheet of aluminum foil onto a shallow baking pan. Foil should overlap the pan on all sides. Arrange chicken pieces, single layer. Combine the rest and pour evenly over chicken. Cover and seal edges. Bake at 375 for 50 min. Uncover for the last 10-15 minutes.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures to show you of how it turned out, but believe me when I say that it's a simmering, spicy conglomeration of goodness. And oh so easy. So, thanks, Mum - it's always fun to cook with you in the kitchen!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

1) Abide

Abide. What do you think of when you hear that word? I looked up the definition and discovered it means "to remain in one place; to continue to be sure or firm; to dwell or sojourn." 

As a small group leader for YACC (Young Adults College and Careers) at our church, we are undergoing a study called "Abide," where we learn to abide in God and in the time that we spend with Him. If I was to share my opinion with you about personal time with God, I would likely tell you that it's important - it's something that should be done.

I'm a big list person. Every morning I start off my day with writing a list of things to accomplish by the time the sun goes down. Always at the top of my list, I write down: 1) Devotions. And, typically, about half an hour later, I will take up that list and put a big, black line through the word "Devotions," breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that "phew! I got that out of the way!", and then continue on with my day.

Since when did my worship with God become a 30 minute time slot that I needed to put a harsh, angry scratch through? It's like I set an egg timer and as soon as the bell would ring, I would stuff our omnipresent God back into His box, only to allow Him out the next day for His daily scheduled appointment. "To dwell or sojourn" has had no place in my devotional walk.

I looked up the antonyms of "abide" and was shocked at what I found: "depart, migrate, leave, reject, resist, quit, hurry, move..." And while those words may seem a bit drastic, allow the reality of them to sink in. Up until now, every time I closed my Bible up, I would migrate to the next thing on my list, depart and hurry onto other more pressing matters.

God, teach me to abide. Slow me down so that I allow my thoughts to dwell and sojourn, to remain in one place, to continue to be sure and firm on You. Change my daily list to read: 1) Abide. And let me not put a line through it. Instead, grant me the perseverance to never fully accomplish or finish abiding in You.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Cherry Blossoms and Conflict Resolution

I had my first ever group interview today at Warm Embrace Elder Care. www.warmembrace.ca  The position that I am being interviewed for is a companion aide (where I go into the elderly client's home and enable them to still live independently by helping them with groceries, taking them to doctor's appointments, making their meals, cleaning their home, and over-all keeping them company etc).

I've heard the horror stories about group interviews - the on-the-spot thinking in front of a large group of strangers, the "team-building" interactive scenarios etc... I am here to calm the nerves of everyone out there who may be full of fear and trepidation about such an upcoming interview.

I will admit that I was somewhat nervous this morning about going for an interview. It's been a few years since I've really had a proper interview, and there's a huge difference between being interviewed for a hairstyling position and being interviewed for a caregiver position. I remember my interview for my salon job - I was dressed to the nines. I had gone tanning a couple of weeks previously, so that my make-up looked perfect. I had funky pink and purple chunks highlighted through my hair and my accessories were top drawer. In essence, half of my resume was presented in the way my make-up, my hair and my clothing were portrayed. Imagine my relief when most of the women who were being interviewed with me today had their hair tied back in pony-tails, weren't wearing any make-up, and accessories were at a minimum. (Although, I may have taken it a little too casual in wearing jeans. I did notice that I was the only one wearing them, despite the fact that they were dark wash and obviously dressy!) Perhaps it was because I was in a room of caregiver "types" that made the group interview a little less intimidating. Or perhaps it was because most of the women with whom I was being interviewed were older, with motherly characteristics. Either way, the fears of a group interview were quickly dissipated once I walked in the door.

We did play an interactive game, forcing us to get up and get to know each other, called Caregiver Bingo. I learnt that Shelley does not have Facebook; Pat likes murder mysteries; Lily has the same shoe size as me; Phyllis keeps a journal; and Raven enjoys gardening. Needless to say, I won the game and proudly took home a Cherry Blossom bubble bath set as a prize! That was definitely the first interview I've walked away from where I left with more than I came in with!

There was no way to avoid the on-the-spot questions, however. I was one of the last ones to be quizzed, so it gave me time to think of how I would answer each other candidate's question. The woman named Raven got asked, "When have you been in a situation where there was a dispute that you had to settle?" Raven was a very gentle woman - she looked sort of like a washed-up, old hippie. She was silent for a long while, and then said in a dreamy kind of voice, "I'm grateful to be living a life that is void of disputes." She then continued to sit in comfortable silence before she rendered up an example from her dispute-free life about how she conducted a survey for student rights.  I recall thinking, "Wow! Am I ever glad that I didn't get asked that question!" I definitely do not have a portfolio full of dispute settlements. I tend to rather be the one who stirs the pot, fueling the fire for controversy, than the peace-maker. The questions continued to flow around the circle, each one easy enough to answer.  Wouldn't you know it, by the time my turn came around, all the other questions must have been used up because I got asked the same question as Raven. Ironic is what I call it.

I definitely didn't sit in dreamy silence. I looked up at the ceiling. Tapped my foot. Said "ummmmm." And then "oh wow...." And to be honest, I can't quite recall what I said about my experience in solving disputes, but it must have been satisfactory enough because my answer was greeted with nods of approval and encouraging "hmmms" from all the other matronly-like applicants.

The rest of the interview consisted of scenario solving questions, which I was able to answer confidently and precisely. I left the interview feeling pretty satisfied and hopeful. The next stage of interviews will be taking place on Friday and Monday, so I should know by tomorrow whether or not I made the cut.

I can say that it was an overall positive experience despite the fact that I wore jeans and was stumped on my question of conflict resolution. And if I don't get the job? Either way, it's ok. My qualms have diminished surrounding all group interview myths, PLUS I've got a tub full of soapy cherry blossom bubbles to soak in!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Hannah and Joseph

As I mentioned before, I previously was a hairstylist. What people say about "Only my hairdresser knows!" really is true. For some reason, as soon as a client sit in your chair, you automatically become their best friend, whether they are young or old. Secrets are shared, tears flow and gossip is rampant between client and hairstylist. It is truly one of the most unique relationships I have ever experienced.

Being a hairstylist has changed me in a lot of ways. I view things differently. I learn to not take people necessarily at face value. I discover ways to accentuate hidden beauty. But most of all, I learn to be friends with extremely diverse people. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss that interaction with my clients.

What would surprise me the most would be how often God would reveal Himself to me through my clients. I came across an old journal entry I had written about a year ago that gives a little glimpse into my life as a stylist:

"Oh the beauty of child-like faith! Hannah was three years old, with fluffy blonde curls. She was perched on a booster seat, squirming, tilting her head this way and that while I tried to cut her hair, all the while chattering away incessantly. Every other phrase started off with, 'But why?' as she would scrunch up her nose in deep contemplation. Suddenly, she let out a big gasp, and her round blue eyes got even rounder.

'I have a movie about Joseph!' she squeaked.

'Oh ya?' I replied, smiling.

Hannah nodded her head vigourously.

'And he had brothers and his brothers SOLD him! And they threw him in a pit and they SOLD him!'

She looked intently at me for a proper reaction.

'Oh no!' I said. 'Did they throw him in a pit because he had a colourful coat and his dad loved Joseph more than them?'

Her eyes widened even more, shocked that I would know the same story.

'Yes! And they SOLD him! And he went far, far away and then his brothers came back and they became friends and they lived happily ever after. The end.'

Hannah was beaming, so proud that she had so accurately depicted the Joseph story.

After this vivacious little three-year-old left, I couldn't help but marvel at the transparency, the vulnerability, the pure excitement she had over one simple Bible story. God put Hannah in my chair today to show me His love and His faithfulness.

'Oh, God!' I cried out. 'Give me the courage and faith of Hannah - to proclaim Your love and forgiveness without shame. Give me the strength to cling to childlike faith. Help me to never forget that likewise, You SOLD Your Son - You SOLD Him! So that He could forgive me, and be my friend, and we could live happily ever after. The end.'"

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Worlds Apart

J and I had our ROOF training this afternoon at church. For those of you who don't know what ROOF is, it stands for: Reaching Our Outdoor Friends - an organization that comes alongside homeless youth in the Waterloo region, giving them essential services to maintain a somewhat "regular" day-to-day life. Here's their link: http://www.roof-agency.net/

I came home, very overwhelmed, realizing how completely unequipped I am for such a daunting task. Not only does my mind not comprehend how some young people have such horrific backgrounds, but I can barely fathom the idea of living day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute, moment-by-moment with the uncertainty that must plague these young people. My eyes are opened to how utterly naive I am.

I grew up in a solid family. My parents are still together, and still love one another. Neither of them have either molested or abused me. I've had consistency in my life. I never doubted whether or not I would come home, have dinner, go to sleep in a warm bed,  or know that I was loved by my family members. In fact, I'm ashamed to admit how often I have taken those most essential building blocks for granted. Instead, I would complain about the paint colour in my bedroom, sigh over the fact that Mum made supper with spinach...AGAIN, bemoan the fact that my brother had the comfier mattress, and argue with my parents over curfew.

http://www.roof-agency.net/roofpress/?p=92

Which brings me to the looming question: How in the world will I ever relate to these people, when my most earth-shattering annoyances are likely grievances they desire to have the option to grumble about? How is it possible to even bridge the gap between my world and their world? What hope can I possibly give them, when I've never lived in a world of hopelessness?  It is here that I am reminded of the prayer of Jabez: 1 Chronicles 4:10 "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory!'"

So often as Christians, it's easy to stay within our own little bubble, where we feel safe. The idea of stepping out of our comfort zones, or enlarging our territories, to reach out to those who are less fortunate is often shrugged off, passing that duty along to the missionaries. My experience, growing up in Christian circles, is that it's much easier to shove money at "problems" out there in the world, rather than doing something. Don't get me wrong, so many of these reputable organizations need money to continue doing the work they do. However, without the hands, the visions, the work ethics of those "money-shovers," the "problems" are never truly solved.

Basically, it doesn't matter that I don't have the same experiences to relate to these youth. It's immaterial that my world and their world are separated by millions of light years. What matters is that my territory is expanding, my limits are being stretched, my hands are being used and most importantly, that God is calling us all to that purpose.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Armchair Applications

Job hunting. Those two words can be daunting, exciting, foreboding, uninspiring. At least, until today.

I've currently been unemployed now from my hairstyling career since September because of health reasons. Almost 5 months. Up until now, I haven't noticed how long it's been, simply because there's been so much going on -  what with planning our wedding, moving into our new apartment, Christmas and New Years. But now that J is back to work and our apartment is organized (no more eating or sitting on cardboard boxes), I'm starting to get a major dose of cabin fever.

I woke up this morning, full of vigor and purpose. I had my resume written up. I just needed to print off ten or so copies, and I was going to bundle up, and tromp downtown to see which businesses I would be interested in working for, or should I say, would be interested in hiring. However, my resolve quickly dissipated when my printer had technical issues, and my resumes failed to be produced.

Call me "old-school," "old-fashioned," or "out of date," but I'm the type of person, I like to go into the business, introduce myself, shake my potential employer's hand, and give them my hard copy resume. I'm not much for emailing my resume off into the great unknown of cyberspace. But, today I had determined that I would send out my resumes. That left no other option but for me to tackle the endless Kijiji, Monster, KW Jobshop and more...ads.

So, instead of bundling up in hat and mitts, coat and scarf, I bundled up beneath a big, cozy afghan and snuggled up with my laptop to start the search...And you know, despite the fact that I didn't get to introduce myself and shake hands with possible bosses, I was pleasantly surprised.  From the comfort of my couch, I was able to fill out job applications, submit reasons why I am perfect for the job, and come up with 3 things I struggle with in the work environment...all without being asked on the spot and left gapping like a fish out of water! Plus, I could do it with a big mug of tea in my hand, my hair up in a messy pony tail, my sweat pants on, and jazz fm streaming through my computer speakers... without even feeling remotely guilty!

Was my day productive? I'd like to think so. I found some promising ads that piqued my interest. And consequently, my resume got filed off, without me having to trudge through the snowy streets of downtown Kitchener. Don't get me wrong - I still hold fast to the great merit there is in face-to-face job application. But who's to argue when an ad says: "Accepting email resumes only." Or "Do not call to follow up on your resume. Only those emailed will be considered for an interview." I know I'm not going to argue. Not when I've got a hot cup of tea and  Louis Armstrong to keep me company.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Uncertain and Uncharted Waters

I've never blogged before. Ever. In fact, I seem to remember a time when I would scoff at bloggers and their "behind the screen" sub-culture. I claimed that they weren't experiencing life, but rather, hiding behind text and fonts and an electronic hum.

Why the change? I love to write. I have a big box of journals that I've kept since I was in grade 1. As a little girl, I remember coming home from school every day, sitting down at my desk, and writing page upon page of hopes, dreams and any other notion that popped into my head. Now, I'm not such a little girl anymore. But I still have hopes, dreams and silly notions that scream to be written down. And while the love of writing has never left, the convenience of time has. So, that brings me to today, this very moment when I bridge the gap between pen and paper and typing and computer screen.

I can't promise you reams of interesting topics, scandalous gossip, or even well written material. However, I can promise you a little extra glimpse of me. So...here goes nothing, or maybe, actually... something? We'll see.