How To Make Autumn Soup

 
 
Back in early autumn, we went camping in the mountains. Each night the fog rolled in, and I had a good time taking photos in the morning before the skies cleared. I also went down the creek and found a series of waterfalls, a mossy tree, and a wallaby who didn’t know what to make of me.
Now, autumn is over. The weather is feeling like winter too; I’ve put extra blankets on my bed, and dragged out some oversized wool jumpers. And, it’s caught me by surprise again. Weren’t we just in summer?!
 
I like to do monthly challenges, because I think a month is a good length of time to push one’s self and make changes, yet the end is still in sight, so it doesn’t get discouraging. For March, a friend and I did a photo challenge together, where we took a photo each day. In April, I practiced every single day, tried to send/text/email something encouraging to a friend each day, and also did a #growingtolive challenge for a week. And May: I didn’t have any challenges to do every day, but I did achieve some goals I set, such as make a garment, begin a blog ‘series’, and send some articles (hopefully) for publishing.
 
I’m trying to actively push my comfort zone, or at least, sometimes I try. Other days I’d rather stay holed up and not see anyone. Anyway, this autumn I busked by myself for the first time. It was in my local town too, which made it extra-scary because people I knew saw and heard me. (Does anyone else get more nervous performing for people you know than strangers?) Other than that, I had two articles published in the Grass Roots magazine, and 40cms cut off my hair to donate to the AAAF (don’t worry, I still have some left). I haven’t had my hair this short since I was about seven, and I’m still wondering who I am.
 
A few exciting things happened in the world of blogging this autumn. Janie wrote a wonderful guest post here on Apples of Gold, and I guest posted and shared an interview on her blog too. I found a few new sites to add to my reading list, like Scattered Journal Pages – I like Amanda’s spiritual insights, and thought provoking posts; Storyshucker – his stories had me laughing; and Humans of South Auckland – a website sharing inspirational stories of everyday people. And this post offered another aspect on beingprolife which I really appreciated.
 
I’ve been slow at reading this year, but May was a good month – I read nine books. My favourites would be The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Little Red Writing Book, but Out of the Black Shadows, Horse Sense for People and Love in the Driest Season were good too.
 
I’ve also been reading through the New Testament, and found some incredible promises: But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:57-58) We can be steadfast and unmoveable, because we know our labour is not, and will not be, in vain. Isn’t that encouraging?! I also like 1 Corinthians 14:10, which says, There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. In other words, chin up chickadee – your voice, your words, thoughts and ideas matter. They’re significant.
 
So that’s my basic recipe for autumn soup – a little bit of whatever’s happening, a few challenges and stretches, some excitement; some relaxing ‘home time’, and a dose of reading, blog perusing, and claiming God’s promises.
 
 
Now, don’t leave without telling me how your autumn (or spring) was! What have you been reading? Have you ever thought of donating your hair, or gone busking, or done monthly challenges? What’s been your latest discovery in the blog world, or your latest favourite promise? What are you looking forward to about winter (or summer)?
 
P.s If you’re wondering where the name autumn soup came from: I tried skeletonizing leaves once - I collected a handful of different leaves, and boiled them in water and bi carb soda. They had a strong smell, and the siblings decided I was making autumn soup. I thought it was a good name for the conglomeration of activities my autumn consisted of, and decided to use it. :)

#GROWINGTOLIVE

For the last week I’ve been challenging myself to actively join in the #growingtolive movement, every day. Each day I wrote down what I’d done to make that day a growing experience, and a few of my thoughts on what I'd done and learned.

Here’s how it started:

We’d gone for a walk that afternoon, and as we were discussing some Bible verses, something prompted me to launch into a passionate rant on making the most of what I called some of our most capable years: 18-25. I said the expectations society puts on them were crazy. Those years were meant to be a training time, a preparation for greater responsibilities. I said it was a time to learn, and a time to give, because that’s the age when you have the most heart to put into things, so put it into something that matters. It wasn’t until I’d finished spewing my opinions that I realized: Oh, hello; I’m talking about myself. I’m that age. What am I doing? How am I making the most of these years?

The same night, I was browsing a few blogs, and came upon Miss Aaliyah’s latest update of the #growingtolivemovement. I was sitting there contemplating how I could take part in it, when I realized these two topics were linked. The moral to my rant earlier was that we need to make the most of these (and all) years of our life. The #growingtolive movement is about making every day count, and using each day to grow – growing to live, and living to grow. (Well, that’s my personal interpretation of it, anyway.)

I decided to challenge myself to a week of growing to live. I purposed to do something every day, mostly something creative, to break the ordinariness of each day, and just grow and enjoy life. I also planned to look into what God says about creativity, and growth.

Day One

I wanted to do something, a creative project, something to stretch myself, and give. But the day got later, I got tireder, there were things I had to do, and the creative extra didn’t happen. But I was thinking – the challenge is about living and growing. Looking back in days to come, what will really matter? I decided that taking my brother to work, taking my mum for an appointment, helping the ladies at the show hang the quilts and needlecraft display, playing scrabble with my brother and sister, and doing music practice was more about growing and living than I could’ve expected. I think the being creative is only a growing experience if other responsibilities are fulfilled, and doing things to stretch ourselves is only living if it’s not taking away from time we should be spending with family. In the end though, I did express myself creatively – I wrote a (very rough) draft for an article.

Day Two

Today I was determined to do something new and creative, something untried. My sister and I went to get the mail, and on the way back I picked a leaf; the biggest, most perfect leaf I could find. Somewhere in the recesses of my memory I thought it was possible to artificially skeletonize leaves. I looked it up, and got a general idea, but I never bothered to look at the details (note to self: it would’ve helped if you did). I picked some more leaves and put them all in a pot with water and bi carb soda and left it boiling for a while – autumn soup as the siblings dubbed it. The autumn soup bubbled away until I inspected a leaf and thought I’d already overdone it. The idea was to get a toothbrush and rub at the leaves, and the green bits would fall off and lovely skeletons would remain. Mostly what happened is I rubbed too rigorously and destroyed the leaf, or I rubbed and barely got anywhere. It really didn’t work, but I still learned something, and I kind of got one half a leaf skeleton. Not to be deterred, I put the water off the leaves into a dish, and soaked some paper in it to dye it, and use it for stationery. That did work. 

Then, if we’re counting creativity, I made some muffins as well. And they were, I mean are, gluten-free, and contain beans. And if that turned you off, they are soft and spongy, and taste nice too.

Probably what I would consider most enriched my day, was taking photos of the stars and moon tonight. I went out and noticed how bright the stars were, and the moon looked pretty – there was only a sliver of it - so I took some photos. Not that photos can ever reflect what it's like to stand under a cloudless sky overflowing with stars.

I’m still thinking: what really turns a day into really good for me? What makes me feel really alive? Creative pursuits are good, and completing a project is a good feeling, but I don’t think that’s a growing to live feeling for me. I want more. What makes me feel alive is giving, talking about God, stretching my imagination in that line. And learning, learning about God, and fascinating facts about life and what makes things happen, and people think the way they do, and why, and how, and how it all links with God and the way He made us. Perhaps this exercise is more about finding what I really enjoy in life. 

Day Three

Today I enhanced my normal day experiences by doing violin practice outside. It was slightly annoying with the sun reflecting off the white pages, and the wind playing with them at times. But it was good; I might do it again. It just makes life more interesting, to borrow a phrase from my younger self. :)

I also managed to take a lot of photos, and I think what my sister and I made for lunch ought to count as well. We had crunchy baked potatoes, onion and zucchini with lentils in gravy, and homemade pita-style garlic and basil bread. It tasted good. 

Tonight, after working out some details while in the shower, I made a little card. It already had a picture on it, and I cut out some words and letters from a magazine and a piece of yellow vellum, and arranged them on the picture. It reads, “Every time I think of you I feel blessed.” 

Day Four

I was in the middle of further investigating our being made in God’s creative image this morning, when plans changed. So, my growing to live, living not just existing, doing what makes my heart sing experiences today would be: watching people at the mall, talking to a friend on the phone, and brainstorming a new idea. 

Day Five

Today it was: going to town, driving with the windows down, doing the groceries, and browsing at the library. It’s weird because I didn’t want to do the shopping, but when I did, I may have even enjoyed it. Seeing and spending time with my grandparents and my music teacher also made the day brighter. 

Day Six

I cooked something for tomorrow’s breakfast – cooked apple, and blackberries, with a meant-to-be-cake-like topping that will hopefully taste delicious - I think that counts.

I also went and took some photos of the sunrise this morning – it was really colourful, and there was fog, which always makes things better.  And I read a book, which shouldn’t count because it took me from things I should’ve been doing, but it’s been so long since I’ve just sat and read a book, and gotten into a story. It was just nice. 

Day Seven

Today’s living experience was a sweet one. :) A friend came over, and she had a few-day-old lamb with her. I could hear him baa-ing, and I peeked out the back door to see if I could see him, but no, I couldn’t. All of a sudden his head and neck appeared from the side of the house, and he looked at me and baa-ed – his questioning pitiful baa. I guess that was the end of me. :) Later in the afternoon, I fed him, and then just sat/lay there and talked to him, ruffled him up, and rubbed him. He started to walk away once, but then he turned around, tossed his head, and came running back to me, sliding stop and all. Then he curled up next to my legs, and went to sleep. It started to rain a little so I picked him up and took him to the veranda, and watched him investigate everything. I always thought I had no motherly instincts, but I seemed to have proved that my affection for baby sheep is pretty strong. I forgot to mention that he had a brown nose, and brown spots on his legs, which were too large for him, making him adorably clumsy. :)

So that’s a brief summary of my week of growing to live! (I know you’re doubting the brief bit, but the original document was over three thousand words, so be thankful. :)) I’m glad I did it, because I think I did learn some things, and try a few things I wouldn't normally take time to do. I also spent a lot of time thinking about the spiritual side to this, and hopefully I’ll share some of those thoughts in coming posts. I’m still kind of reeling thinking about the wonderful way God made us, and that all He wants to do is adopt us back into His family.

A special thanks to Aaliyah for beginning this #growingtolive movement, and if you haven’t seen her introductory post, go and read it here! What do you think about the growing to live idea? How do you make each day a growing experience? What makes you feel alive? And, what’s your favourite baby animal? :)


P.s A totally unrelated fact, but the talented and inspiring Janie just hosted me on her blog. You can read my guest post here, if you want to, and she also interviewed me here. While you're there, make sure you read some of her writing too - it's always an encouragement and blessing to me. :)

Summer's Past

Summer’s past? I know I say this at the end of every season, but I honestly can’t believe that this summer is (technically) over. It seems like we’ve hardly begun. But then, it also feels like it should still be 2015, and instead we’re up to the third month of 2016. 

I realized the other day that I had barely taken any photos this summer, so I went out one morning and took a few as the sun was coming up. It sort of fascinated me how a pretty ordinary photo could be turned into something entirely different and beautiful when the focus was shifted. Often we don’t like stuff out of focus, we want it perfect, or ‘normal’. But sometimes out of focus, backwards, upside-down, the entire opposite, is most beautiful. And I’m still thinking about that concept, and relating it to life, so that possibly didn’t make any sense.

I‘m just trying to think what I have spent the last three months doing. I finished school in December (another thing I can’t believe), went to a wedding and a camp in January, and spent time canvassing and practicing violin and piano in February. In between, I busied myself worrying about plans for the future, checked out a lot of fabulous blogs on the internet, began making getting up early a habit, played at a nursing home by myself for the first time, cooked meals, and everything else that comes into the category of ‘normal.’

The main highlight of my summer was the D’Sozo camp in January, and additional week of canvassing following it. It was a really great and amazing experience, just learning more about how to share the hope we have, spending time with people who are like-minded, and getting out and being a blessing to others. It also started me canvassing, and, by God’s grace and strength, there’ll be no going back. :) 

(I’ve already mentioned canvassing a few times, and I will probably be mentioning it again, so I thought I’d better explain exactly what it is! By canvassing, I mean literature evangelism. We go out with a selection of books - including a healthy cookbook, a few different encouraging spiritual books, and a couple of different children’s books with Bible and character building stories – and knock on people’s doors. We show them the books, and chat with them. We don’t sell the books, but rather give them out on a donational basis, so that everyone who will read them is able to afford them. In between we pray a lot, and it’s amazing to see God answer prayers, work miracles, and change hearts. For me, canvassing is a way that I can be a help and blessing to others, and it’s also exhilarating to watch God work. So there, that’s canvassing in a nutshell! Are you coming with me next time?)

I’ve read appallingly little this summer; only one book in the whole month of January, and not too many more for the other months. The Boy in Striped Pajamas and Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry were the ones I enjoyed most. I picked up Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry in an op shop last week for one dollar, started reading it right away. Basically, I didn’t stop until I finished. Goodreads tells me it’s part of a series too, so I’ll have to check out the rest of them, because it was a good story: easy to read, yet riveting, well-written, and also touching to read about the injustice people had to go through. And then to realize it really happened; the book is based on the author’s family’s story. I’m also still reading Ministry of Healing and it’s inspiring and thought-provoking as well. (And it’s actually one of the books we canvass!)

In the Bible, I’ve been reading Acts, and the stories in there are amazing. Those disciples had so much faith and courage. They believed, they prayed, they went forth, and no one could stop them. God worked miracles through them, and often hundreds or thousands of people believed at once. But the disciples were humble too, and that strikes me. They could’ve taken glory and praise for the things they were doing, but they directed it all back to God. I’m only up to chapter thirteen, but so far two things seem pretty clear about the disciples’ evangelistic methods: they prayed a lot, and they shared about Jesus every single chance they had. It’s been really convicting. And I recommend it, if you’re wondering where in the Bible to read next.

Anyway, I always feel like these posts are so full of me, and I’d really rather hear about you. :) So what were some of the highlights of your last three months? Are you keen to try canvassing (or have you done it already)? Have you read Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry, or the book of Acts? What’s been your favourite book, verse, quote, song, etc? What are you looking forward to most about the next season?

Winter Collection

Well, technically, winter has come to an end. It’s been a short three months, and in some ways I’m sad to see it go. But then it will be nice to have warmer days, and who doesn’t like it when the grass gets greener, and the trees bud and leaf up, and flowers start to bloom? Actually, the last two days have been very spring-like; bright and sunny, and we had a snap of warm weather last week - so it's coming.

My reading this winter has been a little sparse. I’ve only scraped in a maximum of five books a month. My favourite of them all though, would have to be Between Shades of Gray, (which I reviewed here). Paperboy, Treasures of the Snow, and Seven Little Australians were also good. (See, I like reading books below my age.)

This blog, Small Things, has been inspiring me lately. I only discovered it recently (and don’t ask me how), but her photos are really good. I like how they’re of home life, animals, and scenery – the simple things in life, which most often, end up being the greatest. 

This quote, especially the last sentence:

The price paid for our redemption, the infinite sacrifice of our heavenly Father in giving His Son to die for us, should give us exalted conceptions of what we may become through Christ. As the inspired apostle John beheld the height, the depth, the breadth of the Father’s love toward the perishing race, he was filled with adoration and reverence; and, failing to find suitable words to express the greatness and tenderness of this love, he called upon the world to behold it. “Behold what manner of love hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1 What a value this places on man! Through transgression the sons of man become the subjects of Satan. Through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ the sons of Adam may become the sons of God. By assuming human nature, Christ elevates humanity. Fallen men are placed where, through connection with Christ, they may indeed become worthy of the name “sons of God.”  Steps to Christ 15.1

One of the highlights of this winter was going to the Eastward Music Camp. It was a really amazing experience; musically, socially, and spiritually. We learned, recorded, and filmed five different songs, and so far three of them are released! Here’s my favourite, Into the Woods:

There’s also All for Christ and A Tender Heart. And, hopefully the last two will be released soon!

Other than that, it’s been a fairly quiet winter. We went away for a couple of weekends, we had a pet lamb for a few days (until it died :(), and we’ve had lots of rain. My brother and I had our birthdays; he got his license, and I got officially old. My family and friends made me feel much loved. I started having piano lessons, and committed to doing a piano exam. I finished the course in Creative Writing I was doing, and made little progress in maths. And, as usual, time went very fast. 

So, how was your winter? Or summer, if you live on the other side of the world? What inspired or encouraged you? What are you looking forward to most about spring/autumn? For me, I’m looking forward to warmer sunshine-y days where I can go for morning walks without freezing; flowers and buds; more opportunities; new life and growth.