Race Day is Saturday!

Saturday is race day! It's the 29^th annual Lake Bloomington race. I'm running it for the second time. There is now way I could win. I think the person who won last year ran 4.37 miles in about 23 minutes! Still, I'm hoping to run most of it (I walked about half last year) and I would like to be faster than my 14 minute 53 second pace from last year.

If you don't have anything going on, come out and cheer me on! I would love it. The race starts about 9:00. It will take me at least an hour (or just a bit less?). For maps/directions you see www.lakerunclub.org

Amy

Crispy-Topped Fruit

I found this recipe on the back of a cereal box and tried it. It was really yummy and very easy. It was kind of like a quick cobbler but not as many calories. Oh, the recipe calls for frozen raspberries. I couldn't find just those, so I used a fruit medley. I told a dietitian about it and she said my version would have had more fiber!

Crispy Topped Fruit

2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 bag (16 oz) frozen unsweetened sliced peaches (do not thaw)
1 bag (12 oz) fozen unsweetened raspberries or fruit medley (strawberries, blueberries & raspberries) (do not thaw)
2 cups apple cinnamon Cherios
1/4 cup walnuts if desired
2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
Raisins if desired.

• Heat oven to 375
• In a large bowl mix flour and brown sugar. Stir in frozen fruit until coated.
• Spread in an ungreased 8-inch square (2 quart) glass baking dish.
• Bake uncovered for 20 minutes
• Meanwhile, place cereal in a resealable food storage plastic bag. Seal and crush slightly with a rolling pin.
• In a medium bowl, mix cereal, walnuts, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and melted butter/margarine until crumbly.
• Sprinkle cereal mixture over hot fruit and press lightly.
• Bake 15-20 minutes longer until light golden brown and fruit is tender when pierced with a fork.
  
• Top with raisins if desired.
  

Very yummy! Enjoy!

Princess or Stray Part 2

If you come from a difficult background, my guess (though there may be exceptions) is that you operate from a stray heart; a heart that is afraid to trust and is full of worry and fear. The anxiety of never having enough (food, love, whatever) produces deep roots that are buried deep down into the crevices of one’s heart.

I'm posting today at the Internet Cafe. Click here to finish reading this post.






Adapted from posts on Feb 20, 2008, Feb 21, 2008, and Feb 23, 2008. The posts this time are a bit shorter. Click the dates if you want to read the original posts.

Princess or Stray Part 1

My sisters and I got up very early the morning that Lady Diana married Prince Charles because we didn’t want to miss one single bit of the royal wedding. There’s just something about princesses and beautiful weddings that fascinate little girls. In our early years we learn about these beautiful princesses from stories like Cinderella and Snow White. And in our hearts, I think there is often a yearning to be a princess – to be someone very special.

I'm posting today at the Internet Cafe. Click here to finish reading this post.







Adapted from posts on Feb 20, 2008, Feb 21, 2008, and Feb 23, 2008. The posts this time are a bit shorter. Click the dates if you want to read the original posts.

When I Cannot See You

Yesterday, I went to grab a few groceries at Meijer. I scouted out the shortest line and hopped in, planning what to do next. I had a few things on my agenda and was feeling somewhat rushed. I perused the magazines and then as the clerk was finishing with the man in front of me, I piled my groceries onto the belt.

Then I heard, "Your card has been declined."

The man ran his card again and punched in his PIN. It was declined again. He was starting to get flustered. I was starting to get irritated. He said that he didn't know what his wife had bought. Apparently, they had a limit on their debit card. He pulled out his cell and called his wife. The conversation went back and forth. He got more flustered. I got more irritated. He got off the phone saying, "I hate getting yelled at for something that isn't my fault." He used a credit card and it went through.

I got a little more irritated. If he had the credit card all along, why hadn't he used it right away? Why had he continued to waste my time as well as the woman behind me with a long drawn out drama of calling home.

Last night, I was talking with a few people about how invisible clerks are. I was thinking of some of my interactions on the other side of the counter at Barnes and Noble. I said, "Part of it is that we just really get focused on ourselves." My statement settled into my heart. I had been so focused on me and my time earlier that day that I totally missed the man in front of me. I missed the embarrassment he obviously felt. I missed the tension. Instead of seeing with grace, I only saw that he was holding me up.

I confess that I cannot see you or anyone else when I am only focused on me. That probably happens too much.

So, today I am praying that God would help me really see those around me first. Will you join me?

A Call to be Nehemiah

I became a Christian in junior high. It was a sincere and heart felt decision. I am grateful to the youth group leaders.

I became more fully grounded (Are we ever fully done growing?) during my college years when I got involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. College is a time when every student is bombarded with new freedoms, new ways of looking at things, new responsibilities.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), Navigators, Campus Crusade, and a host of other organizations are on campus to help students navigate unfamiliar waters and consistently point to God.

In one week, the Supreme Court of the United States will be hearing arguments and making a ruling that may forever change the face of campus ministry. I got the following information from my friend Sandy's prayer letter. If you want these organizations to still be there for your sons and daughters, will you pray that God would lead the justices of our nations highest court to look favorably on His servants? Will you pray like Nehemiah did?

On April 19, 2010, the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are scheduled to hear arguments in the case of the Christian Legal Society v Martinez. InterVaristy is among a large number of organizations who have filed 34 amicus (friend of the court) briefs in this case. The justices decision will have a major impact on campus ministyr.

The ruling in this case will impact every chapter of CLS, every chapter of InterVarsity, and every other Christian campus ministry. That's why 17 other organizations adn 13 state attorney generals have urged the justices to make a ruling that protects the rights of religious groups to set their own member ship and leadership requirements. The ruling will either allow these groups to operate the same as all other campus organizations, or it will allow state colleges and universities to deny recognition to Christian groups on their campuses. We covet your prayer. Further information can be found at www.intervarsity.org/news/campus-faith-freedom-alert or click here.

Thanks for praying!

Who Will Take Care of Your Claims?

So, I work for the recorder's office in my county. Along with handling mortgages and deeds and such, we all so handle some paperwork for both the federal and the state IRS. Recently the federal IRS decided to make some changes to how they pay us.

Previously, they submitted the documents with a voucher saying how much they thought it would be. If the fees weren't correct, we would make the appropriate changes (plus or minus) on the voucher and send it back with the recorded documents along with a bill. They then paid us by check. It took 2-3 months, but the system was working.

March 23rd, they stopped paying by check. Instead, they are using electronic fund transfer (EFT). They actually transfer the money the day they snail mail the documents. We get an email when the money shows up in the account.

Glitch: They don't always send the correct amount (plus or minus) and there is no easy way to correct it.

Glitch: No one knows the answer when you call and let them know that they have overpaid and sent too much money since one of the documents submitted had already been recorded. It was sent a second time (along with money) in error.

One of my coworkers has been on the phone multiple times with people. Each time, she is on hold for at least 10 minutes. Each time, she is told that she has the wrong department and they give her a new number to another wrong department where she is told that someone (who doesn't appear to exist) will call her back.

I'm wondering how having the IRS (they are the ones who will reportedly handle claims in the health care overhaul) will work. What will they do if they owe you money? I'm thinking you and I might be listening to a lot of elevator music and recorded assurances that "calls will be answered in the order received" and "that our call is important to them" and "that the next available representative will be with us shortly."

I guess I'm not sure why they didn't have the foresight to think through what happens if there are mistakes before they started the EFT payment.

Since they didn't think through that, will they think through how claims are paid?