Heaven (not really, but close)

Tornado Destruction

Matt drove his truck yesterday and let me snap some pictures of the tornado aftermath that hit Raleigh on Saturday.  These pictures were from a neighborhood about a mile away from our house.  Most of the major damage seemed to be caused by fallen trees.  This wasn't the worst of it, as many homes and business in North Raleigh and surrounding towns were completely leveled to the ground.  Please be praying for North Carolina!

Book Review: Blind Hope (Meeder & Sacher)

Let me start out by saying that I am a huge fan of dog books in general.  I started out as a young girl, reading James Herriot books, and over the years have added books such as The Art of Racing in the Rain, to my list of all time favorites.  Therefore, I was excited to read Blind Hope, by Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the way the story was told.  The book is narrated by Meeder, the owner/operator of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch.  She tells the story, mainly through dialogue, of Sacher, a staff worker at the ranch.  Laurie, in turn, tells the story of her blind dog, Mia, and the lessons she learned from her.  Don’t get me wrong, the story is good, and the lessons learned, admirable, but the relaying of stories from one person to another and finally to the reader allows the plot to become rather lackluster.  As the reader, I found it somewhat monotonous to overhear a conversation that someone had with someone else about their life.  I would have found it much more interesting if Sacher just wrote her own book.

Aside from the storytelling aspect, the book is sweet.  Themes of brokenness, trust, and hope run through, all pointing Sacher back to her relationship with God.   Some of the lessons seem rather cheesy, but I chalk it up to the writing, not to the actual story.

In the end, I would probably skip this book if you are an avid reader of dog/animal books.  There are many more out there better written.  However, if this is your first go around with a canine story, I think it is a sweet, simple read to add to your library.


(Waterbrook Multomah Publishers/Blogging for Books provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.)

Happy Day

An Update from Jackson

This is Jackson.  I've snuck on the computer while my family is out to give you an update.  Since my last post, things have gotten worse.

First off, I've developed strange habits.  One of my new-found comforts is to trap myself in the office.  At first, my family thought I kept getting trapped accidentally, but I've been caught nudging the door shut with my nose.  And if they are home, I just sit there and wait for them to discover that I am stuck.  I like to be rescued.  If they are not home, I try to dig myself out and create masterpieces like this:

Mommy and Daddy were none too happy about my attempt to get out.  Mommy covered the hole up with duct tape until they decide to replace the carpet.  She said it looked classy...

...but I think she was being sarcastic.  Another habit that I've developed is to eat...ummm...stuff that I'm not supposed to eat.  Non-edible things.  Yes, I admit, I've been doing that.  I don't know why I do it, as it certainly does not taste good, but Mommy diagnosed me with a form of OCD and I trust her because she is a therapist.

Oh, if you thought I moved on from my old habits, you are wrong.  I still gnaw on the master bedroom door frame and leave pools of drool (Hey, I rhymed!) that stain the carpet every Wednesday night when Mommy and Daddy have people over for their weekly Bible study.

While they learn about Jesus, I remind them of total depravity and the effects of the fall.  Hey, someone has to do it.

Lastly, I've been getting comments lately on my weight gain by friends, family, and the veterinarian.  I am self-conscious and feel rather embarrassed when Mommy calls me Triangle Butt.

I guess looking at this picture, I can see it in my hips and thighs.  And stomach.  And pretty much my entire torso.  It probably doesn't help that I'm eating extra non-edible "snacks" throughout the day.  How does that work anyway?  Can I still gain weight from eating non-food?  Am I thinking too hard?

Please, someone save me before they take more picture of me like this:

They claim they still love me immensely, but sometimes I wonder...

The Hummels

A beautiful script on the floor...done with lights!

Elizabeth and her daddy, dancing while waiting for their turn at the rehearsal.  Makes my heart melt.

 

Gorgeous decor in the ballroom.  I felt like Cinderella :)

Congrats, Alex & Elizabeth!

Almond-Crusted Tilapia

We've been trying to eat more fish lately, so I've been searching online for non-fishy-tasting recipes :)  Yesterday I made Almond-Crusted Tilapia from allrecipes.com and it was delicious!  The pairing of sweet almonds and salty parmesan cheese worked wonderfully in this dish.

1 egg

1/2 t. lemon pepper

1/2 t. garlic pepper

1/2 c. ground almonds

1 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese (divided)

4 (6 oz.) tilapia fillets

2 T. all-purpose flour for dusting

3 T. butter

Salt to taste

Parsley

Lemon wedges



Beat the egg with the lemon pepper and garlic pepper until blended; set aside.

Stir together ground almonds with 1/2 c. of Parmesan cheese in a shallow dish until combined; set aside.  I didn't have grated Parmesan, so I substituted shredded Parmesan.

Dust the tilapia fillets with flour, and shake off excess.  Dip the tilapia in egg, then press into the almond mixture.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook tilapia in melted butter until golden brown on both sides, 2-3 minutes per side.  Reduce heat to medium, and season with salt if desired.  Sprinkle the tilapia with the remaining 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, cover, and continue to cook until the Parmesan cheese has melted, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the tilapia to a serving dish, and garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.