On the Road

   
 It really feels as if we have started our journey “on the road” to Day Camps 2014.
   Slowly things are beginning to pull together. To use my often repeated “1000 piece jigsaw puzzle” analogy:- we are just starting to put the border together (always start with the border) and soon we will see that the perimeter is in place, then all we have to do is fit the other 950 or so pieces into their respective positions!
    How grateful I am that the Lord is already well aware of how the finished “puzzle” should look and that He is there, nudging some pieces into their holes,  letting us know when we have forced a piece into the wrong place and need too start a section over. As I become more focused on the details of this process there is a tension between not overlooking what is currently happening around us and becoming fixated on the goal ahead. It is so important to invest in the “now” of community–building and fellowship activities; the valuable interactions and events taking place during the 48 weeks between Day Camp Seasons. A careful balance needs to be maintained in order not to miss important interactions with any of the souls within the body of this Ministry (including one lost sheep about whom I’ve been recently obsessing!).
    So many great pieces have slipped into place over the past few days!! A former Team Member, recently graduated with a BFA in Art Illustration from a University in the States has agreed to design our “Follow the Leader” logo/cover image. A recent Team Leader, and her friend have taken on 2 Chapters of the Program Manual, and our sub-committee working on the Slideshow is off and running, all SO exciting!
 On the “now” side, next Saturday we will come together for the Fall Team Gathering. A flurry of planning emails has occurred as our original plan was sidetracked in favour of Plan B (always have a Plan B when working with young people!!) I am trusting that the Coffee House Poster will materialise in the next few days as we need to have copies ready for distribution at the Team Gathering.
Several very good one-on-one visits with former Team Leaders have taken place, with good conversations around the lunch or dinner table. These young adults all remain very important to me. It is a privilege to hear about their joys and struggles and to offer them my thoughts as they move ahead with school, work and relationships


 I also managed to squeeze in some time for baking, sewing and knitting, even completing 2 Christmas gifts,woo hoo! and the recent glorious weather  lured me out into the garden to mow, prune, and rake and
to transplant  chrysanthemums.

 The anticipated brickwork (round 2!) did not happen, sigh. However I made the decision this morning to partially close down the deck area in case the crew turns up on Monday,( ever hopeful!). It is so lovely, sunny and warm that am loath to bring in my wicker chairs but  I would like to air the Winter carpets and lay them prior to the Team Gathering so it seems best to make space on the deck to complete this task BEFORE it is once again splattered with mortar.
As I write this afternoon gluten-free bread (for a friend), apple crisp and date squares are all baking in the oven. Dinner plans are for an Asian meal with some Japanese eggplant that was in the most recent veggie box.
Since a lot of people seem to be eating gluten-free these days, I thought I would include my bread recipe. It has been approved by several people, so it might prove useful to someone out there. (It is presupposed that all ingredients are certified Organic!)
Seeded Gluten Free Loaves
  • 4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
  • 2 cups buckwheat flour
  • 4 tsps. Xanthium gum
  • 3 Tbsps. sunflower seeds
  • 2 Tbsps. sesame seeds
  • 2 Tbsps. active yeast
  • 2 ½ cups warm water
  • 4 tsps. sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 6 Tbsps. Olive Oil
  • 2 ½ tsps. Sea salt
  • 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
Place the warm water and 2 tsps. sugar in a small bowl, sprinkle with the yeast and leave for 10 minutes or until puffy. In a large bowl, combine the flours, seeds, xanthium gum, and 2 tsps. sugar and the salt. Stir with a whisk until all ingredients are well combined.  Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the olive oil, eggs, yeast mixture and vinegar. Beat together until well mixed. Oil 2 glass or ceramic loaf pans. Divide the mixture between the pans. With wet hands, smooth the top of each loaf. Sprinkle with additional sesame seeds if desired. Cover with a tea towel and let rise for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Bake the loaves for 55mins. or until nicely browned. Turn out and cool on racks. Freezes well.
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