Thursday Morning Update

So... a week from today we'll be in September. I only have one question: Where did AUGUST go?!

I really feel like life has been flying by. I've had some great opportunities over the past month, but it made time go even faster. I've still been trying to process... I'll give you a little snapshot into my mind.

Jordan and I left for Castaway Club on August 1st and were planning to stay until the 6th as adult guests (a.k.a. the nicest, most relaxing, and spiritually challenging vacation ever). We spent that week going to various planning meetings, spending time on the beach, reading on the deck that overlooked the lake... just soaking it all in. We also spent time getting to know the staff that was at the camp for the month of August. After making some great connections, I ended up staying through August 12th to work at Castaway for a WyldLife week. (if all of this seems like Greek to you, check out www.yl.org)

[note: please don't hate me after reading this. this is called pure, unfiltered honesty...]
Throughout the first week, Jordan and I were faced with materialism, which forced us to reevaluate our priorities and values. I'm still processing, but it was clear to me that stuff is a barrier in my ability to have freedom in life through Christ. I find myself comparing what I have to what others have and always wanting more. I have a list a mile long of all the things I want - when does it get to the point that that list starts to control the person I am?

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:7-10)

I have a birthday coming up, and my mind naturally drifts toward my wish list of gifts (this is where that "don't hate me" thing comes into play). I could easily rattle off 20 things I'd love to receive for my birthday... and they're all material. On Twitter, I follow a great organization called Charity Water and I've been seeing their marketing to give up your birthday - meaning to ask for donations to their organization instead of gifts or money. Welcome, conflict. As much as I'd love a heaping pile of gifts and money, I can't help but remember that there are people all over the world who have much less than I do - even down to suitable drinking water. So I'm stuck in the tension of what I want vs. what other people need. The answer should be clear, but sometimes it seems hard to discern... mostly because I'm human and sometimes the right thing just doesn't seem as fun for me. :-) I can sit here and justify the reason that I need money (trip to NYC, trip to Vail this winter, we're "poor" newlyweds, etc., etc.), but I have a pit in my stomach. People don't have water. I already have two trips planned (that we can afford... any extra $$ would just be for fun spending... of more stuff that I really don't need). Anyway. Hopefully I'm not the only person who gets stuck in this tension - Jordan even said he thinks it's a good tension to feel. It means that I'm actually processing the "in this world, not of it" part of being a Christian. Tough stuff.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. (John 15:19)

 Our Young Life experience was incredible. An amazing vacation - mostly because it combined relaxation with great times of ministry and spiritual growth. We were challenged personally and as a couple, and I'm so thankful that we got to have this experience.

Much more I could write, but this is getting long. I'll leave you with this fun picture of us parasailing (gotta love the windblown look).

This might explain...

...those few extra pounds I'm trying (to no avail) to get rid of. But it's heavenly, so you really should try it some day soon. SO easy to make and got 3 thumbs up from everyone who's tried it. :-)

[picture and recipe from Tasty Kitchen]

Molten Chocolate Cake

Added by brandielle on July 28, 2009 in Desserts, Special Occasion

Prep Time 15 Minutes Cook Time 13 Minutes

Servings 4

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

• 4 pieces (squares) Semi-sweet Baking Chocolate
• ½ cups Butter
• 1 cup Powdered Sugar
• 2 whole Eggs
• 2 whole Egg Yolks
• 6 Tablespoons Flour
• 2 cups Real Whipping Cream (seriously It's So Much Better!)
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Spray 4 custard cups with Pam and place on cookie sheet.

Microwave chocolate and butter in large bowl on high for about 1 minute, until butter is melted. whisk until chocolate is also melted.

Stir in sugar until well blended. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour.

Divide between cups.

Bake 13-14 minutes until sides are firm and center is soft. Let stand 1 minute.

Combine sugar and heavy cream and whip until stiff.

Invert cakes on dishes and top with whipped cream.

You're Gonna Love This

Stop everything you're doing. Because you MUST try making these incredible Salted Caramel Brownies. I made them for our book club and they are soooo tasty! The combination of sweet and salty is heavenly. I won't lie to you and say they are super easy to make, but even though they require things like a double boiler and homemade caramel, they're totally worth it! Enjoy!

[image and recipe from Brown Eyed Baker]

Salted Caramel Brownies

Yield: 16 brownies

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Bake Time: 35 to 40 minutes

5 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into quarters
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 eggs
1¼ cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
Salted Caramel Sauce (recipe follows)
Fine sea salt

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line the pan with overlapping pieces of foil and spray the foil.

2. In a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of almost-simmering water, melt the chocolates and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. (Or, melt in the microwave on 50% power for 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.) Whisk in the cocoa until smooth. Set aside to cool.

3. Whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl until combined, about 15 seconds. Whisk the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture; then stir in the flour until just combined. Pour about half of the brownie mixture into the prepared pan and spread into the corners. Spoon 9 dollops of Salted Caramel Sauce on top of the brownie batter. Top with the remaining brownie mixture, spread into the corners and level the surface with a spatula. Again, spoon 9 dollops of the Salted Caramel Sauce on top of the brownie batter. With a dull butter knife, gently run it through the batter to swirl the batter just a bit (don’t do it too much or it will all mix together). Sprinkle a bit of sea salt on top.

4. Bake until slightly puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a small amount of sticky crumbs, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours. Remove the brownies from the pan using the foil handles and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into squares. Brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

(Brownie recipe adapted from Baking Illustrated)

Salted Caramel Sauce

Prep/Cook Time: 10 minutes

1 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2/3 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the sugar over medium-high heat, whisking as the sugar begins to melt. Some of the sugar will harden into clumps, but that’s okay – it will melt eventually – just keep whisking. Continue to cook the sugar until it reaches a dark amber color. At that point, whisk in the salt, and then add the butter all at once and whisk until it is completely incorporated into the sugar. Remove the pan from the heat and pour in the heavy cream (it will foam up when first added). Continue to whisk until it forms a smooth sauce.

Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before using in the brownies. The leftover sauce can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. (You’ll probably need to warm it up a bit straight from the refrigerator.)

Design Files

I'm dying to redecorate our house (that we just decorated a year ago...). It all started with a trip to Pottery Barn and now I'm dreaming of interior decorating all day and night. In an effort to save funds, we're not going to redo anything right now. So, this leads to wishing and day dreaming about our future home.

Welcome to the Design Files.
[sidenote: these posts will probably be long... because i adore home shopping and this is therapeutic for me. it's more for me than anything, but i hope you get some fun ideas!]

Thank you, Pottery Barn, for my newest obsession of your antique-silver set of utensils. I'm in love.

And this lamp? Heaven.

Jordan and I couldn't agree on these pillows... but I adore them.

This sofa plus the pillows from above... Yes, please. You might be thinking, "Didn't they just get all new furniture?" Yeah. We did... but a girl can keep dreaming, right?! I actually love the whole look of this room.

Then we went to Anthropologie. Jordan gave me 10 minutes to shop. Is he CRAZY? 10 minutes hardly even scratches the surface. As we were leaving, I immediately texted my friend, Kristen, and set up a girls' date back to the store so I can have ample time to ooo and ahh over everything. Thank goodness for girls.

When I have a daughter (when, not if) :-), her room will have this doorknob. I insist.

Beautiful knobs. It's amazing the difference you can make in a room by changing knobs on the cupboards, and these would really make it special.

Don't tell me wallpaper is out of style. Because a wall covered in this sounds lovely.

How much do I love these ADORABLE measuring cups. Too much for words.

My mother-in-law got me this candle last year at some point. I brought it to work and fell in love with the smell. It's like being in the Caribbean, even though we're actually stuck in Minnesota. Coconut milk mango - to die for.

I just think these little stands are cute. I picture them on a bookshelf in our TV room.

That's enough for now, even though I could go on forever. First installment of the Design Files - complete.

where i see God

Can you see it?

As Jordan and I were driving home from my two weeks at Castaway (one of the greatest places on earth), I couldn't help but stare at the sky. See those beams of light? I've never seen anything like it. So, naturally I forced Jordan to pull over so we could take pictures.

Now, I've seen beams of light coming from the sun sneaking behind clouds. But in this case, we were looking east as the sun was setting in the west. It was like God crafted our own little light show. And it was beautiful. Where these beams were coming from is beyond me... The only answer I have is the Creator.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands..."
-Psalm 19:1

We're Baaaack!

Serious blogging break. Consider it over. :-)

I've been out of town for two weeks. And before that, I had the busiest two weeks ever. So that makes for a full month of craziness, which can account for my lack of bloggage (is that a word?... it is now!).

I'm planning to post more tonight about the last month of life in the Lindstedt world. It's been busy, but it's been great. God's good and faithful and has such a great sense of humor. Can't wait to write more about it!