I couldn't stop smiling. . .

"Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."' Nehemiah 8:10

I couldn't stop smiling. It simply wasn't possible. I am standing in right field, shouting "Go go! You can do it!" the sun is beating down, but the slight breeze makes it feel so good. There's the pitch! A swing. . .and yet another miss, but no one seems to care.

Again the pitcher lobs the ball in a deliberately slow arch. Before the ball comes near, the batter has already swung and missed, yet shouts of encouragement fill the air. The black rubber tee comes out. The bat comes at the ball, it wobbles off the tee and toward the pitcher. The crowd erupts, clapping and cheering ring out. The pitcher kicks the ball backwards to the waiting gloves of the infielders behind him.

The batter makes his way to first base, his gait uneven, but sure. He has his hands up in the air and the biggest smile on his face. Tears blur my eyes as I look around. What I see is almost impossible to describe with words but for me it was familiar: the excitement filled chaos of a Challengers baseball game.

There is a little boy running around the outfield simply enjoying the way his shadow darts after him in the early evening sun. There is another little boy wheeling about in his wheel chair, playing without a glove, catching and throwing wayward balls without a hint of fear. Other players stand or sit in the field, cheering on their teammates. The announcer pokes fun at the pitcher and the players around me giggle.

Suddenly, from the corner of my eye I see a player come at me, her baseball hat in one hand and her glove in the other. She'd just scored, making sure to hop onto each 'plate' as she rounded the bases. I gather her in a big hug as she shouts, "I did it! I did it!" Before I even set her down she's already on her way to get high fives and congratulatory hugs from her parents standing on the sidelines, their smiles as big as hers.

This wasn't just a typical Challengers game, it was the dedication ceremony and inaugural game for the new Fargo/Moorhead Miracle Field. A field specifically created for those who aren't your average ball players! There may be no grass or dusty red dirt on this field, but none of the players mind. The green, white and red special rubber turf made to resemble a baseball field works even better for wheel chairs and crutches and the smaller dimensions make fielding, running and batting a lot more accessible and fun!

Thank God for this community, for those who have donated and invested countless hours, money and hard work to see this dream come true. It truly is a "miracle" field because every time it's used miracles will happen! I am so blessed and honored to be a part of it and I encourage everyone to come out and see a game for themselves. Not only will your cheering brighten and inspire the players, but you will leave brightened and inspired too!

(Here's a recipe from my mom that would probably feed a team of hungry baseball players and was always a 'hit' with Dad and me! Enjoy!)

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pkg. thick cut hickory smoked bacon
• 12 ounce can baked beans
• 1 pound baby Yukon gold or favorite potatoes
• 1 medium Vidalia or yellow onion
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)

Dice onion, cut bacon into 3/4 inch pieces and slice potatoes. In a large pot or electric frying pan, add ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook for a few minutes adding onions when beef begins to brown. While ground beef is cooking, add bacon to heated skillet and cook until crispy. Drain about 1/2 bacon drippings, but leave enough to fully coat potatoes. Add potatoes, season with salt and pepper and continue cooking. When ground beef is no longer pink, drain all juices from pot and add baked beans, bacon and potatoes. Season with garlic and chili powder and add salt and pepper, if needed. Cook until mixture is hot and potatoes are fully cooked.

I've Seen Miracles Just Happen...

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Samuel 16:7

For the last several weeks I have begun to pray and plan for another year of Sunday school. The Sunday school I teach is unlike most Sunday school classes. Yes, we sing (and sometimes dance), read Bible stories, memorize verses, pray, make crafts and have a snack. Sounds pretty typical doesn't it?

However, Triumphant Teens/Kids are Sunday school classes designed with students who have special needs in mind. Every Sunday, volunteers with years of experience and training create an atmosphere of comfort, learning and fun for the students who otherwise would have a challenging time in Sunday school.

There are pictures to hep describe every word of the verses, there are skits and hands on experiments to bring home not just the idea that Jesus loves you, but that because of that love you can love others, even if you're 'unique.' In fact, because of their qualities I've seen these students love deeper and yearn for Jesus more than anyone!

Last Sunday our church showed a video we'd made of our class throughout the year. I was sitting with one of the students and she couldn't take her eyes off the screen. Through teary eyes I looked around and realized I wasn't the only one who seemed overjoyed in watching these special students learn about our Savior. The student I was with got so excited about seeing herself and her friends on screen that she began flapping her hands and smiling with this amazing joyfilled sparkle in her eyes. If joy is so evident now, what will it be like in heaven?

Often our students are over looked and under loved in the school system, the community and unfortunately, in the faith community as well. I do not believe this is intentional; I think it is a case of ignorance and fear. Before I became acquainted with the special needs community, I was scared of people who looked, talked and behaved outside of what I deemed normal.

I would see someone in a wheel chair or walking crookedly and I my heart would break, thinking, "Oh poor person." I wanted to talk to them, but I didn't know if they would understand me. I wanted to help them, but I didn't know what to do. So sadly, I would simply ignore them.

Looking back on the life expirences God provided me, I know that I am where He wants me to be. In 6th grade my teacher took our class to the Regional Treatment Center in Fergus Falls every Monday after lunch. We would sit around tables and talk with the residents there, do craft projects, play games and go for walks together.

It was terrifying.

I remember worrying that somehow my mere presence would harm these gentle people because I didn't know how to be their friend. By the end of that very short year, I came to love Monday afternoons. The residents had become friends. I knew their names, their quirks and that they liked ice cream just much as I did!

Being a Sunday school teacher is such an honor and blessing, but even more so because my students have so much love to give. They aren't afraid to be different because it's all they've ever known. They aren't afraid to love because it just isn't in them to judge or hate. My students teach me more about love, sacrifice and sheer joy then anyone ever has.

To see their smiling faces when they've memorized a Bible verse is amazing, but even better I love the look of joy they get when they figure out how that verse applies to their lives. For them Jesus is personal and real and I am so looking forward to learning and growing with my students again this year!

(Here's a great recipe, from my mom that would be great to treat Sunday schoolers of all abilities! It's great to make as a group too! Mom made these for me to bring to school on my birthday and it was always a big hit!)

Dirt Cups
1 pkg. Oreo cookies, crushed to resemble dirt
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding

1 pkg. gummy worms
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
cups, spoons and fake flowers

Mix: Prepare vanilla pudding as directed on package and allow to set. Mix in cream cheese until smooth. Add oreos and stir. As you fill the cups, hide a few gummy worms in each. Refrigerate for 3 or 4 hours then enjoy!

My Mom: A Proverbs 31 Woman and the "Casserole Queen."

Welcome. I finally decided it was about time to put this writing skill Christ gave me to use. I don't know, or really mind if no one ever reads this, but lately I have felt lead to simply write. Unfortunately, since I live a pretty droll life outside of work, where the real exciting stuff happens, but like the CIA I cannot talk about my job, this endeavor may be very short lived.

So, onto today's topic. My mom. Sharon Anne Johnson. The Lord blessed me with 25 years of love and food from her and I'd like to share some of her creations. Mom wasn't a gourmet chef, but she kept dad and I happy and well fed. She was the "Casserole Queen" with a pound of hamburger and a can of cream of mushroom soup, she could make magic.

Mom would sit sideways on her rickety, metal stool over the sink peeling and slicing nearly a whole bag of potatoes. She'd use Idaho or Red, whatever we had on hand. Her arthritic fingers swelling in the cold water, but she never complained. After slicing the potatoes into thin slices she would throw them along with a few tablespoons of butter into an electric frying pan.

The pan would sizzle and pop. She'd carefully stir the potatoes coating them in the melted butter. Mom would cover the pan and stir occasionally for about 15 minutes. Once the potatoes were nearly soft, she'd add the finishing touches.

The air in the entire house would smell edible, as if you could scoop it up in your fist and shove it into your mouth. I think that's true of anything fried in butter, but potatoes especially make a truly lovely aroma. Next Mom would add, you guessed it, the secret of all secret ingredients--cream of mushroom soup, along with a half a can of milk. (More if needed.) Top that with green beans, fresh if you have them or 2 cans of green beans works great too.

I know I said Mom usually used ground beef, but for this amazing conglomerate of goodness she used ring bologna. Yep. That's right. She'd grab the "not so good scissors" from the junk drawer and cut off slices. I usually use the all beef variety, cause I'm a snob like that.

Then after letting that cook up for another 10 minutes mom would sprinkle the entire dish with shredded cheddar cheese and stir to melt. Mom, with concentration on her face and a smile for having accomplished something she knew we'd like, would proudly bring it to the table.

I cannot tell you how amazing this looks being scooped up onto your plate, when you're hungry it looks ever MORE amazing and smells just . . . well DELICIOUS! It's this blob of charred brown from the fried potatoes mixed with a bright green slashes of the beans, dark brown circles of beef and the dull yellow of the cheese. It's ooey and gooey and oh so good!

Mom. Thank you. You made this because you knew it made us happy and it still does today. I can see your beautiful face smiling down from heaven every time we make this. You truly were a Proverbs 31 Woman and I'm so grateful for all you taught me. After all in 2004, I did win the potato peeling contest at Potato Days and I'm sure it's from watching you peel all those potatoes for this dish! I love you!

In honor of the true "Casserole Queen" here is her recipe for what we affectionately call, "Ring Bologna Hotdish." (The ingredients are approximate. Add more or less potatoes to your liking. Etc.)

Ring Bologna Hotdish
1 Ring Bologna any variety, but I prefer all beef
2 cans green beans (drained) or fresh green beans (cleaned and parboiled)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 - 1 can(s) of milk
2 lbs peeled and sliced potatoes
4-8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. butter
 
On medium heat melt butter in electric frying pan or on the stove in the biggest frying pan with a lid you have. Add the potatoes and coat with melted butter. Fry for 15 minutes until potatoes are becoming tender, cover and stir occasionally.

Stir in soup, milk, beans and bologna. Cover and stir occasionally 10-15 minutes until heated through.

Sprinkle with cheese and stir to melt. Enjoy!


"She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family. . ." Proverbs 31:15