Could you use a mental break today, or would you prefer a long, sober post about the gravity of COVID and the need to vote and the threat of natural disasters and the rising price of groceries in Albania?
Thought so. You’re already up to speed on everything except maybe Albania.
So please come sit by me here on the porch at Peace Ridge and let me pour you a glass of sweet tea. A college friend was visiting yesterday from California and we made Michael a mountain breakfast: a big old pot of cheesy grits, fresh banana bread, and Carolina sausage balls. You’re not here to help us eat the leftovers, so here’s a recipe along with 4 other cheery mentions of some of my favorite things lately!
Carolina Sausage Balls
1 lb. ground country sausage
2 1/2 cups biscuit baking mix (approximate)
12 oz sharp Cheddar, grated (it’s better when you shred it yourself)
1 tsp paprika or to taste
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine crumbled up sausage, baking mix, paprika and cheese. Form into small balls a bit larger than a walnut and place on baking sheets. Bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown. So good! Makes a bunch, and you can freeze the leftovers and reheat them at 375 for 10 minutes.
(2) Want to know how to make your skin look young(er) and glowing even when you’re not and it isn’t? (Now that sounds like an ad, but among the many things I am not, cosmetics saleswoman is one of them. I leave that to the pros.)
Last year I discovered MILK highlighter, and it’s amazing! A one-ounce swivel-up tube has lasted me 18 months already, as it only takes a tiny swipe across the cheekbones. It’s hydrating and light-reflecting, which is great for those of us with dry skin. I love this product!
(3) A book that’s feeding my soul this fall (more satisfying than sausage balls), is Ginger Harrington’s Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life (Abingdon).
Given the difficulty of making future plans during this pandemic, it’s more important than ever to live mindfully and intentionally. Ginger’s writing teaches us to live in the power of the Spirit, and to bring God glory moment by moment in the choices we make.
· "When difficulties threaten to derail your faith, make one holy choice to believe God is with you.
· "When the world glitters and entices with all the pretty things, make one holy choice to love God with all your heart.
· "When you feel alone and it’s all on you, make one holy choice to abide in Christ and receive His life as your source.
· "When you struggle and strive for control, make one holy choice to surrender.
· "When you are weary from trying to do it all, make one holy choice to rest in the provision of God.
· "When the needs of the day overwhelm, make one holy choice to pray.
· "When your thoughts and feelings elevate perception, make one holy choice to embrace truth.
· "When temptations beckon, make one holy choice to obey.
· "When issues arise in your relationships, make one holy choice to forgive." - Ginger Harrington
JUST ONE CHOICE each time, friends…we can do this!
4) Looking for a simple craft that costs almost nothing and that you can do with the kids or grands? Here’s what I’m planning to make with ours: a winter twig
wreath! You can find simple instructions at the link to one of my favorite inspy sites, Thistlewood Farms.
5) Grit & Grace! My favorite group, Balsam Range, recently released a new single that has become stuck in my brain in the best of ways. Even if you’re not a bluegrass fan, take a listen to the video here, and pay special attention to the chorus:
“With one part moxie, another part mettle
I found mercy refusin’ to settle…
In sacrifice and second -guessing, finding strength in every blessing,
Through all the tears and fears I had to face,
I supplied the grit, and God supplied the grace.”
Friend, you've GOT the grit, and I can tell you right now, God's got the grace to go with it.
{And because sharing good things is just plain fun, I have a copy of Holy in the Moment to share with you! Please leave a comment after the post, and we'll draw a name!}
Maggie's first book, This Life We Share, has just released from NavPress.
If you are reading it, please consider leaving a brief review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and/or Christianbook.com. Reviews and recommendations help get the message into more hands, hearts, and minds. Thank you!