Meghan E White

Don’t Be Afraid, God’s Here to Help

January 28, 2023 meghanewhite

Fear is a powerful force that can bring us to our knees, and strike terror in our hearts and minds. Fear can also draw us to our Heavenly Father as we ask for His help. And He delights in helping us. What an awesome God who loves us so very much!

Are you stressed out, afraid, anxious? Welcome to the club. There’s no shortage of things to be afraid of in this dark world. But……..there is hope! We do not have to stay in a fearful place. God is ready and always available to reach out and rescue us. We just need to ask.

This scripture was part of a devotion in the YouVersion Bible app a few years ago. We can never get enough encouragement. I pray you are encouraged today.

Do not be afraid! God is here to help you. He’s got your back, and your front. Keep trusting God.

Love you all,

Meghan

Lord,

Thank You for for grace and mercy, and for helping us when we are afraid. Bless every person who is reading this, and afraid. Give them peace, hope, and comfort. Take them by the hand and make a way for them. Change their perspective as they take their eyes off of their problems and look to You. We love You, Lord!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Nature

Save the Monarchs

January 21, 2023 meghanewhite

Hello to you! It’s been a while since I’ve written a post. I allowed myself an extended break, and it was delightful. No social media, no blogging, no regrets. I highly recommend social media breaks. I will write about social media another time. Today it’s all about monarch butterflies because they are beautiful, and important, and make me happy.

Right around Christmas the temperatures dropped to below freezing, which doesn’t happen often in Southeast Texas. I noticed a few monarch caterpillars on the milkweed in the garden, and then had the crazy idea to dig up the plants and bring them inside to save the caterpillars. So we dug up two milkweed plants, put them in buckets, and brought them to the safety of our dining room. A few caterpillars were placed in a terrarium. Monarch caterpillars eat the sole diet of milkweed, so there was no concern over caterpillars escaping.

We kept them inside for about a week until the weather warmed up. I would daily check the branches for new caterpillars, and they just kept showing up. There were fifteen total between the terrarium and the plants. I love all things nature, and plants, and animals, and butterflies, so this was fun for me. We felt like we were running a monarch rescue.

The caterpillars have been outside since the new year doing well. We went to a local nursery in hopes of finding milkweed to feed our ever growing caterpillar family. The nursery gave us a dozen milkweed plants for free since they were about to throw them in the dumpster. Definitely God’s providence.

Our first butterfly emerged the other day. I felt like a proud parent as it stayed on my fingers for a while drying out its wings. There are currently nine chrysalises, or chrysalides (not sure on the correct plural for butterfly cocoons) waiting to become lovely butterflies. I am enjoying every moment of watching these precious little creatures grow up.

The reason I am nerding out over monarchs is they remind me of my creator. Every stage of a caterpillar from egg to butterfly reflect God’s glory. There is no mistake or randomness in caterpillars or butterflies. They serve an important purpose to help with pollination of the vast majority of the world’s flowering plants. Monarchs are kind of a big deal. All butterflies are a big deal. Only God would make pollinators so beautiful.

As I watch each stage of the caterpillars I am blown away that everything they need is inside of them. No human can do that, only God, our magnificent Creator, can create something so remarkable. Nature brings me solace in a hurting world. I am comforted knowing God made it all, and He has the final say.

God cares for all of His creation. He cares for you too. There is nothing too hard for our awesome God! Nothing! Whatever is concerning you today, give it Him. God loves you so much.

And I love you too.

Meghan

Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3

If you need prayer send your requests to meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com

Family

The Big Five-Oh!

November 30, 2022 meghanewhite

Here’s where it all began for me. My first professional photo shoot. A photographer was going door to door, and my mom agreed to have my two-month old photos taken. The photographer positioned my chubby little arms in different poses. I was a very calm baby so I cooperated. The pictures are some of the few baby pictures I’ve got. I am the fourth of five children, and we were lucky to have any pictures from childhood at all. When I was young parents did not chronicle every single moment of a child’s life. You got the highlights and that was good enough.

I am fifty years old as of Thursday, November 24th, 2022. My birthday just happened to land on Thanksgiving this year. I celebrated by having a delicious turkey dinner with all the fantastic sides. It was a low key day, and I loved it. I am a pretty low key kind of a person. I don’t enjoy a lot of attention, so a chill day with my family is a dream day.

Back to turning half a century old. I suppose I should feel bad, or sad about aging, but I don’t. I feel good. Actually, I feel great. I still feel like myself, but better. Not better because I am so wonderful. I am comfortable in my skin, even if it’s a bit more wrinkly. I am just grateful for this life God has given me. My pastor used to say, “That breath you just took, you can thank God for that.”

My life is in God’s hands. He has already decided when my life will end. He has not given me the knowledge of an exact date. I am to trust Him, and know that He has a plan for me. So I do my best to trust Him, but I’m not always good at it. I am a planner and not knowing the future has tested my faith time and time again. The Lord knows this about me, and graciously walks me through my challenges, fears, and doubts. He is faithful, even when I am not.

I’m still breathing as of this writing, and God is not done with me yet. It could be tomorrow when He calls me home, maybe another ten years. Or maybe in fifty years! Which seems so strange. On that day, will I hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,”? That’s my prayer, but I fall short often. Thank God for His amazing grace.

For some, turning fifty means it’s all downhill from here. The best years are over. I disagree. I’m just getting started. I’m ready for what’s next. I know who holds my future. I know who will carry me through every trial. I know who will never ever leave me. His name is Jesus. He is my Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus for saving my life, and giving me hope. Thank you for my birthday. Thank you for today, and each day you have blessed me with. I don’t want to waste what You have given to me. Life is a beautiful gift.

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. James 4:14, NASB

From one vapor to another, have a great day.

Love you all,

Meghan

Food

My Favorite Pumpkin Pie

November 18, 2022 meghanewhite

I love pumpkin pie. I grew up with my mom making pumpkin pie using sweetened condensed milk, which is very good. Many years ago I was given this amazing pumpkin pie recipe using whipping cream, and I’ve never looked back. You’d think all pumpkin pies are the same. They are not.

Many store bought pumpkin pies are bland, and just not that great. I always prefer homemade over anything store bought. My only exception to this is the infamous Costco pumpkin pie. Those are delicious. The reason I love this pumpkin pie recipe is it makes a light, fluffy, and perfectly spiced custard pie, with just the right amount of sweet. Pumpkin pie can be a bit gelatinous, and this amazing recipe is light, creamy, and fabulous.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Pumpkin Pie

Yield: 1 pie

Ingredients

¼ teaspoon ginger

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of salt

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 (15oz) can of pumpkin

1 cup whipping cream

1 unbaked pie shell

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°
In a large mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients. Beat in the eggs until the mixture is fluffy. Stir in the pumpkin, then stir in the whipping cream.
Pour pumpkin pie mixture into a prepared pastry filled pie pan.
Bake at 425° for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 375° and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely and enjoy!

Notes:

The pie will rise in the oven and get fluffy while cooking. Once it cools it will shrink down a little bit.
If the crust is getting too dark while cooking, cut a 4 inch circle in the center of a square piece of aluminum foil. Loosely place on the pie while it finishes cooking.

Food

Roasted Lemon Rosemary Cod and Potatoes

October 26, 2022 meghanewhite

This recipe is a great way to add nutrition packed fish to your diet without being boring. The potatoes are perfectly crisp and brown, almost like a chip. The cod is tender, and flavorful with lemon and rosemary. It’s a winning combination.

A variety of herbs will work for this fish. I used the herbs I had on hand from my garden, rosemary and garlic chives. Tarragon or thyme would be tasty. Use what you’ve got, or what you prefer for herbs. Like any recipe, tweak it to your liking.

I love simple dishes that cook in one pan. This meal delivers with wonderful texture and flavor all while giving much needed Omega-3 into your diet. You’ll get a tasty, appetizing dinner, that’s easy to make and satisfying to eat. Enjoy this lovely fish supper!

Happy Eating!

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all. Psalm 34:19

Roasted Lemon Rosemary Cod and Potatoes

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 cod fillets (6 to 8oz. each)

1 to 1 1/2 lbs. russett potatoes, skin-on, thinly sliced into 1/4 inch rounds

7 tablespoons total salted butter, (3 T. melted butter for potatoes, 4 T. cubed for fish)

2 garlic cloves minced

4 sprigs of rosemary

1 T. fresh chopped rosemary

1 tsp. fresh chopped garlic chives

salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 lemon thinly sliced

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
Slice potatoes into thin rounds and place in a large mixing bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of melted butter and toss to coat evenly. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, garlic, chopped rosemary, and chopped garlic chives. Mix it all together.
Spread potatoes into four piles, fanning out each potato wedge so they overlap slightly. Bake for 30 minutes.
While potatoes are cooking, pat cod fillets dry with a paper towel. Use plenty of salt and fresh ground black pepper on the cod.
Place a cod fillet on each cooked potato pile. Add 1 T. cubed butter on each fillet. Then place a sprig of rosemary, and two slices of lemon.
Bake the cod and potato piles for an additional 15 minutes.
Use a spatula to transfer each cod/potato pile to plates.
Remove rosemary before eating, and squeeze the lemon slices over the cooked cod.
Enjoy!