Last Night's Dinner

I had a wonderful date last night with my sweet husband!  We went to a wonderful little Italian Restaurant called Café Roma.

The restaurant is set in an lovely brick building with jazzy pictures on the walls and Frank Sinatra tunes playing.  It is an intimate place to take a date and the food is simply wonderful!

With a full bar, it was a great place to enjoy a dirty vodka martini.  Served with its own tiny shaker it the perfect balance of saltiness.

The fresh Caprese appetizer was topped with basil and a balsamic reduction.  The perfect bite to start off the meal.

My salad was spinach, candied pecans, mushrooms and gorgonzola dress with a balsamic vinegrette.

My husband had an arugula salad with cucumber, tomato, grilled corn, percutto and pickled red onion.  It was dressed with oil, vinegar and cracked pepper.

For his main course he had the special of the day,  a hearty Italian sausage lasagna. 

I had the catch of the day, mahi-mahi.  This beautifully grilled fish was served with oven roasted potatoes and steamed green beans.  The gorgeous saffron cream sauce set the dish off perfectly!

To finish the evening we shared delicious piece of tiramisu with raspberry cooli.

Café Roma was a wonderful experience as always and a relaxing way to spend the evening.  

We hope to be back soon!

Barbara A. Ensley

Soli Deo Gloria 

Battle Scars

I'm going on a date with my husband and I couldn't be more excited!  I've taken a shower and I've shaved.  I even, by the Grace of God, put on makeup.

I feel sexy and I hope (at least to him) that I look it too...but I have battered legs from my latest garden project...

Even with photo editor and my cute booties they look awful...

And you know what? I've decided I don't care.  These are my battle scars..

All that matters is that I see myself as beautiful, because I know that my husband and my Heavenly Father already do.

Barbara A. Ensley

Soli Deo Gloria 

Vagina Monologue

 

Alright warrior princess, I know you have your big girl parties on, because you are tough!  

You take on each day as a new challenge.  

You are an Amazonite! 

There is beauty in you even if you've fallen down.

You are a force to be reckoned with. 

You are a super mom.

You are a blooming beauty that springs anew.

You are sexy.

You can kick ass if you need to.

You're not afraid to get your hands dirty.

And the result is a thing of beauty.

Take time for quiet.

Find time to be in the sun.

 

Take time to recharge 

 

 Take time to relax.

 

Take time to be with your children.

Take time for intimacy.

Be glad you are a woman, a mother, a friend, 

a warrior, a princess...

You are special; created by God for love. 

Love.

Smile and laugh and enjoy the moments, 

because they are a gift to you, 

warrior princess!

Barbara A. Ensley

Soli Deo Gloria 

Elijah in the Wilderness

It's been a tough weekend.. I've been alone with 4 kids in the middle of a big storm, literally.  In the middle of the night a big oak tree decided to try and make a shishkabob of my house.

God is good.  He protected my kids sleeping in the room where a branch went through the ceiling.  God helped me keep my calm.  My sweet boys made me proud and knew exactly what to do and helped each other.

I left a message for a friend a little bit ago, after an attempt at a conversation (interrupted by children, of course).  "Hi there, this is Elijah calling from the wilderness..."

I looked up Elijah and here's what I found.

"Elijah’s life was filled with turmoil. At times he was bold and decisive, and at other times fearful and tentative. He alternately demonstrates victory and defeat, followed by recovery. Elijah knew both the power of God and the depths of depression.

As was true for Elijah, when we focus on the noise and the tumult of life in this world, we can get our eyes off of the LORD. However, if we listen for His still, small voice and walk in obedience to His Word, we find victory and reward."

This is Elijah in the wilderness..

(a.k.a. Barbara on Circle Drive) signing off.

Soli Deo Gloria

When Mama is sick

"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

This is difficult thing to do; especially if you are the type of person who is used to doing everything.

I run around most days with a mantra that's closer to "If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself."  And guess what?!  My body decided to not let me do anything for a while!  

Without going into a long explanation, I have had some stomach issues lately.    And on top of that, I managed to catch some bronchitis.  My body has decided it has had enough of me doing everything for everyone and has called it quits.

Needless to say, I've been having to learn how to rest and relearn how to take better care of me.  If for no other reason than "When mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

Part of this is wrapped up in this verse from Psalms.  

Be Still 

 

stop moving and just breath

stop trying to fix everything 

stop trying to control everything

be in the moment

And Know

that God is in control

that I am where I need to be

that I am loved infinitely

abundantly

beyond all measure

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

 

The Least of These

Being a mother has it's many rewards, but it can also be a demanding job.

It means eating most of your meals cold.
It means taking care of everyone even if you're sick or tired.
It means second-guessing yourself as a parent, even if you're doing an admirably.
At times it is tedious and for the most part, it is a thankless job.

There are times when I wonder if it is really what God has called me to do with my life?
Surely, God had something better in mind than changing daipers... right?

In Matthew 25 Jesus says, "What you do for the least of these, you do for me.."

The least of these...

In my small corner of the kingdom, that would be my children.

Which means, when I kiss their scrapes, and get them drinks before bed, and sometimes loose sleep, and all the other myriad of things I do as a mother, I am doing it for the glory of God.

It means, I am serving Christ by helping my children.  It means I am loving them as if they were, as our priest Hendree Harrison would say, "Christ, walking around."

And sometimes there are times, when even the least of these shows that they are learning to serve and love others too (even their mother)!

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

Beautiful Art

Did you know that you are God’s Masterpiece? 

What is a masterpiece? 

Definition of masterpiece: an artists’ greatest work.

Here are a couple of examples..

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Gate way to September by Charles Birchfield

Exquisite! 

Ephesians 2:10 

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, 

so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

That’s YOU! You are God's masterpiece!

Blessings

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley