Sunflowers

I'm sitting at the LA airport waiting the eight hours until I can check my bags. I think I can safely say that one of the hardest parts of being a missionary is saying goodbye. Perhaps second only to the intense loneliness that comes afterwards... and lasts way too long. It just keeps happening and gets worse every time. When you are oceans away from family and friends you feel in 'limbo', like you are hanging between two different countries.

In the past five hours I have walked around, stretched, messaged friends, cried really hard in front of strangers walking past (twice), read my bible, and colored in my journal. God often talks to us only after we have waited on him and I've been waiting for a very long time. Just now, I thought he was telling me something about sunflowers but I couldn't quite make it out so I looked up sunflowers.

When sunflowers are young, they 'follow' the sun. Before it comes up in the morning, they are facing east, waiting for it to rise. As the sun moves across the sky, the flower's stem grows unevenly-faster on the east side-which tilts the flower to the west. At night, the stem grows unevenly as well, faster on the other side, so that by sunrise the flower is facing east again. With this flower's fascination with the sun, it's no wonder it starts to look like one.

So what's the spiritual lesson? If you want to be beautiful, if you want to look like Jesus, don't take your eyes off him. Live facing whatever light you have! In the seasons of life that feel dark, struggle through them rather than giving up. That way when the sun reappears you will already be facing it.

Because I am human, I will cry. I will continue to feel like my heart has been ripped apart and scattered all over the globe. But I will keep my face turned towards the light that I have, the pieces I am allowed to keep, the joys and people God has given me for the season I'm in. One day I will be in a place where there is no more darkness and all my loved ones will be in one place with me. I want to be ready when the time comes and bear the mark of Jesus in the meantime.

How to Make Fried Potatoes as Good as Granddad's

No, I am not yet the expert he is and he may have a different process but this is the best I have figured out.

Rule #1: get the right kind of potatoes

 This is the one I haven't figured out yet. Some kinds are waxy, some are mealy, some keep their shape, some mush, some are dense or starchy and each one has a different flavor. I do know that even the right kinds turn out different each year. Our garden was all potatoes for the first time this summer and I think they turned out pretty good.

Rule #2: boil the potatoes the day before

Let them cool and put them in the fridge. Next morning is the easiest time to peal them if you want to. The kind of potato matters here too, some have thick or bitter peals, some taste ok. Cut them in small cubes which don't smush as much as slices.

Rule #3: use well seasoned cast iron

Non-stick can work but it won't give a good flavor. With steal or aluminum the crunchy, buttery part of fried potatoes will stick to the bottom unless you have a tall strong dad willing to stand there and scrape. Even then, you end up with crispies instead of hash browns.

Rule #4: don't crowd the potatoes

Use two pans if needed. You should not have more than a double layer. Less is better.

Rule #5: Use enough butter or oil

You can't see in the picture but it takes more than you think. If it starts sticking add more. A well seasoned skillet takes less. Salt and pepper to taste.

Rule #6: have patience!

This is the hardest one. You want them to be nicely browned before you flip them. I haven't counted but I would guess you don't need to flip more than 5 times. Flipping instead of stiring helps them not mush.

So there you have it. My favorite fried potatoes. They don't even need ketchup if done right and those of you who know me know that is saying something.

My favorite 12 days of christmas song

On the First Day of Christmas a Stranger Said to Me...

So funny! I like "no not Mormon either." We usually get asked if we are Amish and not so much Catholic or Mormon but I bet we have heard all of them and we answer pretty much the same way this family does.