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The Effects of Total Immersion

The Captain’s Corner

In my last blog post (which you can read later, here), I mentioned that I had spent a few weeks assisting with a summer aviation camp for high school students. The campers were immersed in the field of flying and actually got to fly the airplane on either their first of second day of camp!

The campers’ enthusiasm was both obvious and contagious; their conversation, about flying and airplanes. It was a joy for me to share their fascination with flight.

From my first flying lesson at the age of fifteen, I too was captivated by flight. Additionally, my numerous years of flying often filled my mind with airplanes and all things aviation-related.

However, this can lead to a personal fault, which I freely confess: If you ask me about airplanes, you’ll hear an answer filled with more than you ever wished to know. In other words: extreme input of information leads to extreme output in explanation!

This principle of input and its corresponding output reminds me to consider God’s Word and its role in everyday Christian living.

Psalm 119:113, KJV – “…Thy law do I love.”

Psalm 119:174, ESV – “…Your law is my delight.”

I have to ask myself, How much love do I have for God’s Word? How much do I delight in it? Am I fascinated and fixated on God’s Word as much as I am on the topic of flying? 

When we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, it will be reflected in our conversation, as seen in Psalm 119:171 (ESV): “My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes”). Additionally, we will have a ready answer to give to others who see the hope of God within us: “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15, NASB).

Click here to visit our YouTube channel today to hear Joe share some highlights from this post.

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By Petals from the Basket | August 3, 2019 | Bible Reading, Events, God-and-I-Time, The Captain's Corner |

Of Gray Hair and YouTube Channels

We’re branching out! This blog will remain the foundation for all that we do in the other realms, but in addition to our Facebook page and Instagram account, we are adding a YouTube channel!

Each day we will post a 2- to 5-minute devotional thought via a YouTube video. By subscribing to our channel, you can view the videos during the most convenient time of your day! Please take a moment to watch the video below, then subscribe to the Petals from the Basket channel on YouTube! We’ll see you back here on Saturday for a special blog post from Captain Joe!

By Petals from the Basket | August 1, 2019 | Events, God-and-I-Time, Life Changes, The Captain's Corner |

Recipe: “Come on Over” Watermelon Salad

When we invite someone over for a meal or have overnight guests who will join us for at least one meal, I ask, “Do you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions?” As long as I’m meal planning for their visit, I may as well put the work into a meal that they can actually eat!

I’m finding that more and more of our guests are eating gluten-free—some out of necessity, some by choice. So I recently decided to add some gluten-free options that I can draw from quickly when the need arises. So throw some chicken or burgers (with no added “fillers”) on the grill and use the recipe below to create a great side dish that allows you to tell your friends who eat gluten-free, “Come on Over—I’m prepared for you!”

“Come on Over” Watermelon Salad

Prep time: 20 minutes-ish
Serves: 8
From the kitchen of Brenda Henderson

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 medium seedless watermelon
  • 2, 1/4″ slices of red onion
  • 2 cups spring mix greens
  • 9 oz tub of crumbled feta cheese (or gorgonzola) [omit if guests eat dairy-free]
  • Approximately 1/4 cup pecan pieces or pecan halves

Directions:

  1. Slice the watermelon into 1″ cubes.
  2. Dice the red onion slices.
  3. Place the spring mix into a medium bowl. Using kitchen shears, cut the greens into “edible-sized” pieces (i.e., don’t make your guests “fold” their greens in order to eat them graciously).
  4. Layer 1/3 of the watermelon, onions, and spring mix, topping with 1/3 of the feta cheese.
  5. Repeat the layering process two more times.
  6. Top with pecan pieces.
  7. Serve in a clear bowl if at all possible. This salad is beautiful!

I’d love to hear how your salad turns out! Better yet, send a photo of your completed salad to PetalsfromtheBasket@gmail.com on or before August 10, 2019, and we will select a random winner to receive a FREE copy of our soon-to-be-released book on hospitality and entertaining!

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By Petals from the Basket | July 27, 2019 | "Come on Over" Recipes, Entertaining, Ideas |

Lessons Learned; Lessons Shared

The Captain’s Corner

I spent this past week teaching high schoolers in an aviation camp that was offered by a local flying school. The activities included ground school on aviation-related subjects (weather, theory of flight, navigation, and federal flight regulations). The twenty campers received three hours of actual flight instruction along with cross-country flying to nearby airports. The camp was a “total immersion” experience into the world of flying.

In addition to assisting with aviation camp, I have spent two nights a week for the last six weeks as a student in a private pilot ground school class. This class will prepare me to teach this same information to future students of the course. Both the aviation camp and the ground school class gave me the opportunity to share some of the lessons I learned in my over fifty years of flying.

In a similar way, you and I have an opportunity to share what God has done for us in our walk with Him. We can tell our children, grandchildren, and everyone we meet how God helped, guided, and sustained us in various life situations.

Psalm 73:28, ESV: “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

Psalm 71:17–18, KJV: “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shown thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.”

The psalmist is expressing that the spiritual lessons we have learned are spiritual lessons that we should share with others. Age should only strengthen our resolve to teach present and future generations about our mighty God!

 

By Petals from the Basket | July 13, 2019 | Bible Reading, Events, Family, God-and-I-Time, Life Changes, The Captain's Corner |

Entertaining Made Easy: 3 Hospitality Hacks

You’ve tested one of our “Come on Over Recipes,” and you’re ready to take the next step and invite someone over for a meal, for a yummy dessert, or for a friends-and-family game night. Or maybe you’re an experienced hostess just looking for some fresh ideas or for ways to simplify your current routine. We’re here to help!

Joe and I believe that our home should be a haven—not just for us, but for all who enter its doors. It’s not about stuff. (Otherwise, decluttering/simplifying wouldn’t be a multimillion-dollar industry!) It’s about being who we are, where we live…living out our faith.

That said, here are a few quick-and-easy hospitality hacks from the Henderson house!

(The following portion of the post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click on the link to purchase the item, we receive a small commission, at no additional charge to you.)

Once the meal is over, set the table for the next meal.
  • It feels great to have something accomplished prior to when it is needed!
  • When you are preparing to entertain, this allows you to see if anything is missing or if there is something you have forgotten to set out.
  • It creates a sense of order.
  • It produces a sense of anticipation.
  • Don’t just do this for guests, do it every day! This is our house, not staged, after dinner this evening. Notice that the breakfast table (back in the sunroom) is already set for tomorrow morning as well. You may need to use your table for other tasks between meals, and that’s okay. Just set everything out once the table is ready to be used for the next meal.
Have calm instrumental music playing in the background.
  • It presents a peaceful atmosphere.
  • It invites pleasant conversation. (My mom would often say, “It’s hard to argue when there’s pretty music playing!”)
  • It states that their arrival was not a surprise. You planned for it by having the music playing when they arrived.
  • It helps to keep the cook (you!) calm.
  • Some of our favorites (click to learn more and/or to purchase):
Use games as household decor.
  • Unique games like mancala (pictured in the photo from our Great Room) make great conversation starters.
  • They provide a comfortable environment for conversing with someone you are just getting to know.
  • They are convenient to use when you’re “killing time” until the casserole is ready.
  • They create cross-generational settings.
  • They’re fun!

The most important thing to remember is the oft-quoted truth: Hospitality is not about the condition of your home; it’s about the condition of your heart.

So open your heart and tell a friend, “Come on over!”

 

 

 

 

By Petals from the Basket | June 18, 2019 | Entertaining, Events, Family, Friends, God-and-I-Time, Ideas, Life Changes, Organization |