I have developed an affection for old hymns over the past few months, but this hymn has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I remember when I was little that my mom had an a cappella version of this song on cassette, and we would listen to it while working in the kitchen.

While I was in the middle school choir at my church, I was asked to sing the fourth verse of this hymn solo. Although, I tend to believe it was because I could remember all the words, not because I have a good singing voice.

Then, four years ago, my husband and I used this hymn at our wedding.

This hymn is Irish in origin, and is said to have been written in the 8th century by Dallan Forgaill. It was translated from the ancient Irish in 1905, and put into the present form in 1912. Like O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, this hymn was part of a monastic tradition, although I don't think the present melody was used until later.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

--all information from Cyber Hymnal and Wikipedia

Okay, so the inspiration for this recipe came straight from my head, and the fact that I had several pork chops taking up space in my freezer. It's based on several recipes I have made in the past, or something I read in a magazine. I can't remember which. This makes enough for two, so double the recipe if you plan on serving more.

Easy Sweet and Sour Pork Stir fry

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 pork chops, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
1/2 can diced pineapple, unsweetened
1/4 cup jarred sweet and sour sauce.

Cook pork cubes and pepper strips in oil over medium high heat for about 7 minutes. Add pineapple and sauce, stir well. Cook an additional 5 min. over medium low heat. Serve over rice and enjoy!

The beauty of stir fry is that you can throw in pretty much any kind of veggie, use more or less oil, and more or less sauce. My hubby enjoyed this one, so it is definitely a keeper!

This coming year I am hoping to spend much more time reading, both the Bible and any other quality book I can get my hands on. I have learned so much this past year in my readings, but I feel like I have only nipped the tip of an iceberg. To keep myself motivated (and accountable) I plan on updating my "Currently Reading" selections more frequently, and I am keeping track of everything I read in 2008 in the sidebar as well. (I listed Jane Eyre as completed in 2008, even thought I read the bulk of it in 2007, so it isn't entirely cheating.)

I also found a blog hosting "The 2008 Puritan Reading Challenge," and I am planning on jumping in this as well. The basic gist is that there will be one short Puritan book "assigned" each month, and the host will be giving background information and such for each book. I have been meaning to read some of the Puritan classics, but never knew where would be a good place to start. I'll be keeping a button for this on my sidebar as well.

Finally, if anyone has any great books that changed your life, provided wonderful encouragement, etc, please let me know and I will add it to my "must read" list!

I usually don't get so excited about such things, but today I received not one, but TWO seed catalogs. Beautiful catalogs with gorgeous pictures of all the stuff I could grow if I only had a back yard.

Perusing seed catalogs would be so much more enjoyable, however, snuggled up with a blanket, a kitty in my lap, and a cracking fire in the grate. A steaming mug of hot cocoa in my hands would complete this magical picture. But, alas, that will never happen as it is 80 degrees here today. *sigh*

My favorite catalog comes with the most delightful descriptions of the vegetable seeds they sell. Each one sounds precious and like a priceless work of art. I can imagine myself picking the most earthy-flavored beans, or harvesting the crispest lettuce, or pulling up the most succulent carrots. Each of these would be prepared in the most delicious way and served outside on my back terrace with jazz music and red wine. Okay a girl can dream a little can't she? :-)

I know I'm romanticizing gardening just a wee bit, as I leave out all the hard work. Scanning the catalogs and picking out seeds is just a sliver of the work involved in growing your own food. I look forward to this opportunity someday, but for now I am content to dream.

Above is a picture of my sad little tomato plant

Our pastor was planning on beginning a series on Joseph (of "coat of many colors" fame) but ended up being out sick, so we had a guest pastor in his place. So I will just have to wait a week before I can blog on that series.

During the service we usually will have a series of call-and-responses or a catechism question in which the congregation will give the answer in liturgical fashion. Growing up, I never understood the reason for liturgy, and so I found it rather dull and meaningless. I've grown to appreciate it more, however. In today's service we responded to the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism. How wonderful it is to raise up one voice as the body of Christ in speaking this biblical truth:

Q. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?

A. That I belong--body and soul, in life and in death--not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

It's been a very lazy day here and I can't think of anything remarkable to say other than it's warm outside and my kitties are cuddley and way too cute. You can never speak too much about kitties.

I'll be returning to more thoughtful fare with a "Sunday Ponderings" post tomorrow.

When one is in a overwhelming cooking slump?

Anyone who knows me knows just how much I love to cook, but this unwillingness to get into the kitchen is beyond me. I think I have only cooked a meal 5 times in the last month, and those only grudgingly. I've got steaks, chicken breasts, pork chops, and a turkey in my freezer, but I have yet to come up with a plan on how to use them.

Any thoughts on overcoming the cooking blues or any recipes for those I-just-don't-want -to-cook days would be most appreciated!