In Search of the Perfect Donut . . .

Well, as you all know, I recently changed my name from Tari to Mrs. Donut, in order to inspire myself to get closer to my dream. You know, the dream of owning a donut shop. To be exact, the dream of owning a donut shop called Ten-to-Ten Donuts; that's a donut shop that will be an all night donut shop, open from ten at night till ten in the morning.

And while I made some donuts a couple of months ago, I am searching for that perfect donut recipe. Of course, the recipe itself will just be a base. A foundation. I'll tweak it and perfect it until it has that just-right Ten-to-Ten flavor.

I'm looking specifically for a recipe for the old-fashioned glazed cake-type donuts. I couldn't find a specific picture of one on the web, but I think it would most like the swirly-looking ones in the picture above. Down here, they look like two donuts in one, with kind-of like a ridge around the middle of it. So cakey. So glazy. So yummy good. My favorite, favorite ones down here come from Victoria's, and they are maple flavored. Out-of-control, people.

But . . . I'll create a donut that will be even better than that one. If only I can find my base recipe.

Do you guys happen to know a recipe for one of those cakey, glazey, swirly, old-fashioned donuts? Or do you know where I can find one? Sock it to me. You'll get royalties, I assure you. Oh, and all the free donuts you can handle, once I open my shop. That's a promise.

Love to all my donut-eatin' pals!

Oy Vey!

I haven't been much with the updates lately, and here's a couple of reasons why:

Last week, I noticed that something was leaking from the bottom of our fridge. I brought it to the attention of my hubby, and upon inspection, we noticed that it was a leak from the freezer that had dripped its way down through the door of the fridge and onto the floor. The source of the leak was the thawing of all the food in our freezer. Our fridge had broken. Thankfully, we have outstanding landlords (the fridge belongs to the house, not to us), so they replaced it as soon as they could. Unfortunately, it wasn't before we had to throw out just about everything in our fridge and freezer. Talk about feeling ill, and I don't mean nausea due to the smell of the ruined food. I felt ill because we didn't catch it sooner, and because that was at least a week or more worth of suppers gone totally to waste. And any of you on a budget knows that's nothing to sneeze at. And anyone else can understand that food going to waste is just a sad thing to see. So, that was the end of last week.

Also last week, we got a call from our mortgage broker. Things aren't going along as well as we'd hoped with the home-buying. However, she is very nice, very honest, and very helpful. She gave us several tips to help increase our price range. She also advised us to wait about six months before we start looking again. That's disappointing, but . . . in the grand scheme of things, it's just a house. We've had to look on the bright side, put aside the frustration of getting our hopes up (really wanting to put in a bid, etc.), and trust the timing and the right house, neighborhood, etc. to God.

Saturday night, I went to bed with a headache. I woke up with a full-blown migraine that put me down for the whole day. I've been having headaches lately, about one a week or so, and I think it's due to some medication I've been on to help alleviate some other symptoms I've been having. No more headaches since Sunday, though, so that's good. But . . .

Tuesday night, Noodle woke up in the night screaming. She had a fever of about 101, so we gave her Motrin and put her back to bed. She was up a couple more times in the night. Being the mommy and all, I fretted all night and couldn't sleep, apart from being up with her anyway.

The next day, she was fine, but we stayed inside just to be sure.

Wednesday night, while I was at work, BW called me to tell me that Banana had a fever and had thrown up. So guess who didn't sleep Wednesday night? Yep, Banana and I didn't sleep! Poor Banana - his fever got up to just over 103, and he had the fever most all of the day yesterday. But thankfully, he has had no fever or symptoms all day today, and we even got to go out in the lovely weather to play.

I'm still working retail. I really, really like my co-workers, but I really, really don't like the world of retail. And that job I interviewed for, two weeks ago now, has still not contacted me. I have the advantage of BW knowing those in charge, and he said they've made a decision, but have to process it through the "powers that be" before they can make an offer. I'm anxious to know, anxious to get out of retail.

So, we threw away food, I've been sick, the kids have been sick, I've been a walking zombie, my house is a wreck, I still work nights (yuck!), we can't buy a house (yet), I'm exhausted, my kids have been watching way too much tv this week . . . how's all this for a fun family update!

But, (except for the lack of sleep), I think we've been amazingly at peace. Even so, there are still those days that I shed some tears and throw my hands up into the air and say, "Oy vey!"

Be a Christian - at least you won't go to hell!

Mmmm . . . if I may be so bold . . .

I tell you what, things change once you get down South. There's a lovely drawl, a drippy sweetness (in both behavior and food), and an institution of religion that's second to none.

This religious institution is most notable on all the church marquis that every church on every corner displays. At my church, it happens to be digital. Missions, schmissions. We need a dang digital marquis! But I digress . . .

While on my way to do my grocery shopping this morning, I passed a church (non-denominational) with a marquis that read:
"The wages of sin is death - quit before payday comes."

Now, as cynical as I've become, not much makes me react. But this sign did. Thankfully, we're in the South, however, and such messages draw little reaction from anyone else. Such messages are the benchmark of much of the religious education and discipleship that goes on in churches around here: "Get saved, so you won't go to hell!"

And while theologically, yes, I believe in the blood atonement of Christ and the acceptance of that free gift - - - and, I believe in eternal separation from God if Christ is not confessed - - - I do not believe in going around telling people that they're going to go to hell, much less, announcing it from a church marquis.

I can just see Margaret May driving to do her grocery shopping. Now this particular Margaret May has no relationship with Christ. She sees the marquis, stops the car in the middle of the street and says, "Holy Cow! I'd better quit sinning and get saved right away, or else I'll go to hell! I'm so glad I saw that marquis!"

Um . . . no.

When I think of telling someone about my relationship with Jesus, I think of this verse:

"The theif cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

I prefer the KJV on this verse because of that last word - abundantly. In looking for a definition of "abundant," I found this: "present in great quantity."

Wow. Lots of life, says Jesus. Life that He will give us. In great quantity, and all for the asking. So why not tell someone about that? Why not say that this life is hard, yes, but I know the source of Life. I know about a wonderful life, and abundant one.

And I don't believe that Jesus is just talking about eternal life here. I've learned that through walking with him since the age of ten. Even in dark times, in hardships, in sorrow, I've had joy. Not joy that comes through circumstances, but joy in knowing the Giver of that abundant Life.

Why not tell people about that?

I witnessed so many camp-type experiences, in which people would seem to have a genuine encounter with God, perhaps "get saved," or "rededicate their lives," and yet . . . it didn't stick. They quit going to church. They weren't committed to Christ. I believe it had so much to do with the emphasis on what happens after this life, not during it; as well as a lack of discipleship after such encounters or experiences.

I don't mean to pick on Southern evangelical Christians - hey, I'm one of them! I do mean to pick on some of their methods and priorities, and I can do this, because I've seen the practice of growing the Kingdom from other parts of the country. The perspectives are different, the strategies are different, and they work. The Gospel is the Gospel. In the hands of frail and finite humans, we do the best we can with it. But I have to think about it, not damage my witness, and give my hurting neighbor or coworker a message that has real hope.

"Well, Margaret, I'm sorry your husband left you. Are you saved? This life might be bad, but it's nothing compared to hell!"

Sorry . . . yeah, I'm being that bold.

Or, a response that Jesus might have had:

"I hurt with you. I want to share some hope with you . . . "

Of course we cannot sweep away the difficult theological truths, but those come in time, with growth and proper discipleship. I still haven't learned so many of them. It's hard sometimes, the balance. But I just think that maybe the marquis signs might need to come down all together.

Was that too bold?

Something New

Things in the Tasty Names household are moving along quite nicely. We've begun another year of school, got a new car, even had satellite TV installed. Crazy, I know. Buffalo Wings is enjoying his year of teaching so far, I'm still working retail, and the kids still rule the roost. We're eagerly anticipating what this year may hold for us, and next year as well. We're excited about our mission trip in one year to the Czech Republic, and what God might teach us as we prepare for the trip and as we go. We're getting ready to let our church know about our trip and invite members to join us. It's going to be exciting!

AND - I FINALLY start my teacher training in October! Just before our vacation, I applied for the ATC program through Region IV. As soon as we returned from vacation, we learned that I'd been accepted! I was afraid that I might have to make up for some required English credits, but I was accepted without them. I've been holding back on blogging about all this, because at first it didn't seem real. Then, as it began to seem real, I have started to be scared, uneasy, unsure, and anxious about it. What if I don't do well in the training? What if I can't find an internship? What if the kids don't like me? What if I am flat-out not a good teacher?

Well, I guess I'll be finding out!

We found a great lady to keep the kids in her home, so I feel good about that. BW suggested that I apply to be a substitute teacher, so that I can get my foot in the door in the district. That way, when it comes time for me to apply for my internship, my name will already be known and it might be easier. I also applied for a job as an aide at the high school where BW works! It's for a class called Focus, a special ed class with only autistic students. I got a call yesterday to come in for an interview for the Focus job! I go on Monday - please say prayers for me. I'm really excited about this opportunity; it would be great to work with this class as I complete my training. Besides, it sounds like something I'd really love doing.

Our long term plan is this: to have enough income so that I can finish my thirty hours left to complete my masters' degree. As we talked, prayed, and planned for the future, BW and I decided that this would be a good path to take to accomplish that goal.

I'm amazed that my Creator God, who has the hairs of all of your heads numbered, also has the hairs of my head numbered. He is interested and involved in every aspect of my life. As the book of James says, "Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights." I know that whatever happens, whatever success I gain on this earth, it will come directly from He who is my Father of Lights. At the end of all of this, I will return all glory to Him, and everyone will be able to say, "God has done this thing!"

Much love to all of you.