Ancient Words:
Guarding words from Scripture, poets, philosophers, the Book of Common Prayer, and the common man.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
This Dark Night
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Of Pictures and Pieces
Saturday, January 6, 2024
We Were Meant to Live
It's a new year, a new Church season (Epiphany). It's a new season of life for me, as I'm about to get married. And there is a new recording of Switchfoot's Meant to Live that I wish you could hear. I've known this song for twenty years, but this recording breaks my heart almost every time I hear it. It makes me think of you. It makes me miss you. And it makes me cry.
Sunday, December 31, 2023
December Jamborees
Recapping December in Photos...
Summit's Christmas party at the Peel House was just lovely!
Good thing we looked fabulous in this photo, because we only took two all evening!
Over all, 2023 has held some very big losses and sadness... But it has also been filled with much happiness and excitement, too (there's a sapphire ring on my left hand, since Nick asked me an important question when we were in Wisconsin in October).
The best parts of the year and the hardest parts all involved people we love and support (and who support us). Where would we be if the Lord did not put us into families and tuck us into loving communities? Where would we be without the Lord Himself? HE is our life.
Friday, October 6, 2023
Where is Time?
Does it live on the bottom of a well,
Saturday, September 30, 2023
We Are Once In a Lifetime
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Autumn Apple Spice Cake
Autumn is my favourite time of year... There's a nip in the air, the sunlight is honey-gold, and the flavours are rich, warm, and home. If you need to be transported to an autumn tree-lined lane, this soundtrack never fails to work for me.
Generally I'm not a cake person, but in the autumn and winter I love a good coffee cake or spice cake with a cup of maple black tea with a good book or my favourite fall films.
If you are looking for something cinnamon-spicy and appley-dapply, here is a sour cream apple spice cake recipe for you!
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter*, softened (8 Tablespoons)
- 3/4 – 1 Cup packed brown sugar
- 1-2 tsp vanilla or maple flavouring (or 1 tsp of each)
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream/yoghurt*
- 2 apples, peeled, cored, and grated (granny smith are super good!)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 Tbs fresh grated ginger (or 1 tsp dry)
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups (270 grams) whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
2-3 Tbs Butter
1/4 C Oats
3 Tbs Brown Sugar
1 Tbs Flour
Cinnamon (to taste)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9"×9" or 9"x13" glass pan with butter.
- In a medium bowl or sifter, combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together/sift flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar with a hand mixer or whisk 2-3 minutes, until light, fluffy, and well combined.
- Mix in eggs, one at a time.
- Stir in sour cream and apples.
- Add the dry ingredients mixture and gently mix till all dry ingredients are just mixed together. Don’t over-mix.
- Pour cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with crumble topping, if desired.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or till a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool on a wire rack. *
- Make this recipe dairy free by using vegetable oil and apple sauce in place of the butter and sour cream.
Inspired by: https://www.onelovelylife.com/apple-spice-cake/
Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Irrational August
When love blooms bright and wild.
—Madeleine L'Engle
It is no secret that I despise the month of August. The heat, the weight of work, the physical and emotional exhaustion, it all feels crushing... But this August has been especially hard to bear. In the span of a week, two of my oldest Summit connections were dealt death blows in their families: one lost their 17-year-old daughter, the other his 88-year-old wife just 12 days before their 66th wedding anniversary.
Now in the same span of time, I will attend two funeral services... One for a vibrant girl who was just about to begin adulthood, the other for a gentle soul full of humour and grace—both loved Jesus, and both loved people. It is no easier to go to one service or the other. Death is the great thief, thrusting itself into our safe worlds and snatching away those we love; snatching our security from under us.
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Somebody Loved
Monday, July 3, 2023
K. G. M.
His tide went out
with the rising of the Hunter's moon
in all its fullness and hunger,
that early July morn
For days and weeks
his body ebbed away, bit by bit
until his gaunt frame
sighed its final exhale
The sound of that breath,
though faint, much the same
as YHWH's very name—
a final note of coming hope