Press On

August 9, 2024August 9, 2024 meghanewhite

Are you ready to give up? You have faced obstacle, after obstacle, with no end in sight. Your legs are cramping up, breathing is difficult. Winning looks impossible, and finishing your race seems unlikely. You slow down, wipe your brow, and wipe your tears. It’s over. Or is it?

In the summer of 1972, Munich was hosting the Olympics. One race in particular stands out for the extraordinary win from an American named Dave Wottle. Eight men lined up for the 800 meter race and took off running, except Dave had a slow start and was lagging pretty far behind. He had been dealing with tendinitis in his knees which interfered with his training. Things were not looking good for Dave. He later admitted to some fear, and even thinking there was no way he was going to catch up to the other runners.

Something incredible happened in those two short laps where Dave Wottle started out way behind. He began to get closer and closer to the pack, eventually meeting the other runners, and then pressing on right past them. Dave just continued on and worked his way up to the leaders of the pack and at the last second, Dave was the first to cross the finish line. Amazing!! Dave Wottle won the gold medal that day.

Dave’s hard work, determination, and training paid off. He pressed on in spite of how bad his race looked, and he won. What if he would have given up? We would not be talking about him right now, and he would be quickly forgotten. What a fantastic example to us, to keep going in our race in life.

Life is hard. Each of us has a race to run. As Christians we are not running our race alone. We’ve got Holy Spirit power. That doesn’t mean our race is any easier, it just means we’ve got supernatural help to pick us up when we fall. To strengthen, protect, empower, and encourage us when we just can’t take another step. We’ve got Jesus, and Father God leading and guiding us, helping us, and providing for our every need, and giving us purpose.

We don’t run our race to win a trophy, or get some sort of fame. We run the race set before us with confidence in our Lord. We don’t let our past mistakes hold us back, we keep focused on what is ahead, knowing we are forgiven through Jesus’ precious blood. We are heavenbound, and that is our prize.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14, NIV

Press on, brothers and sisters.

Love you all,

Meghan

Check out Dave’s unbelievable win.

Photo credit: Meghan E. White

Food

Peach and Tomato Salad

July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 meghanewhite

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It’s peach and tomato season. Why not use them together in your next salad? This combination may sound weird, but I assure you that it’s delicious! Sweet juicy peaches with flavorful tomatoes are a winning pair. They compliment each other beautifully when tossed in a simple oil and vinegar dressing. The addition of red onion and basil balance out the sweetness from the fruit. It’s a fantastic mix of flavors.

This salad would go well with grilled steak or salmon. The light refreshing fruit and tangy dressing are a nice contrast to savory meat. Perfect for a summer meal, or any time of the year. If you love salad and want to try something new, then this peach and tomato salad may just be your new go to side in the warm months.

Happy Eating!

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

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Peach and Tomato Salad

Ingredients

4 large peaches – sliced into wedges

3 large tomatoes – sliced into wedges

½ red onion – sliced thin

¼ cup fresh basil leaves chopped

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 ½ Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. agave nectar or honey

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large bowl whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, agave, and salt and pepper.
Add peaches, tomatoes, red onion, and fresh basil. Toss everything together. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Use your favorite tomato: Roma, beefsteak, heirloom, etc.
Place the sliced red onions in a small bowl of cold water for 30 minutes, then drain them, before adding to the peach/tomato mixture. This will reduce the bitterness.
Use honey or sugar instead of agave if you prefer.
Let the tomatoes sit in a separate bowl to drain some of the water before adding them with the peaches.
This salad is best served fresh but will last up to a day in the refrigerator.

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Photo Credit: Meghan E. White

Parenting

The End of My Homeschooling Era

May 24, 2024 meghanewhite

It all began in 2004, with my oldest son, Dylan. I vividly remember letting him wear his pajamas those first days of homeschool. I had no clue what I was doing, but knew this is what I was supposed to do. I purchased curriculum and our journey began. I was working for a staging and set design company at the same time I started homeschooling. Thankfully, I worked for myself and could set my own hours. My in-laws watched Dylan on my work days. It was kind of crazy to juggle both at first, but kindergarten is a bit more low key than say, high school. So, it was doable.

Dylan and I were learning together. He was learning reading, writing, and arithmetic. I was learning his strengths and weaknesses (and mine), and where to encourage him, and where to give him breaks and fun. We’d have recess at home, and play classic games like red light, green light. We joined our first homeschool co-op where Dylan started taking some classes, and going on field trips, and making new friends.

Halfway through kindergarten I got pregnant with Joshua. Morning sickness was my BFF all day long for months. Homeschool and work continued. The juggling act got a bit more complicated, but I pressed on like so many other moms. Before long I was hauling a new born to classes and homeschool events for Dylan. I’m an amateur in the homeschool world with only two children. There are some very large homeschool families with eight to ten kids and more. My hats off to those amazing moms.

We had a few years with no homeschool as Dylan went to a public charter school for third through sixth grade. The timing was perfect and the school was nice and small. I still had Josh with me while Dylan was in school. Then Dylan came back home for school in the seventh grade and Josh went to the same public charter school for kindergarten and first grade. I always had a child at home with me over the past twenty year homeschool journey.

Fast forward to today. Joshua just graduated from high school. And yes, he was homeschooled. There are graduations for homeschool kids. Joshua was part of a little school where he took classes and that’s where he had his ceremony. Here I sit. The dust is settling after our homeschool experience that started two decades ago. The remaining curriculum is either being sold or donated. Joshua starts college in August and this mama is done.

As I look back on my homeschooling years I am grateful. It was a blessing being able to be home with my children. We sacrificed to make that a priority. It is the grace of God that carried us through. There were hard days when I said “I can’t do it, Lord. It’s too hard.” It was very difficult for Joshua to go from traditional school to homeschool. He looked at me like I was crazy, and maybe I was. The crazy choice to homeschool gave us the chance to set our own schedule, and do things like take the boys on an annual camping trip right when school started for public school kids.

We homeschooled because we knew this is what God wanted us to do. This is what kept me going on the hard days. But there were so many good days, and good times that made it all worth it. The family dynamic changed. We grew closer because we had to rely on each other. And yes, my husband Tom helped too. I could not have gotten through math and science without him. It was all of us working together. We met so many awesome families along the way. And we had so many fantastic experiences with co-ops, classes, sports, music lessons, and everything in between that contributed to my boys learning.

I am not an expert on homeschool. I don’t think I was that good at it, but I see the fruit in my kids. There are some super star homeschool moms out there, that was not me. Although, when Joshua was in elementary school, he would say, “Mom, you’re the best teacher,” which is so sweet and not true. I pray that my obedience to the Lord will continue to bless my kids. We have so many good memories.

It’s time to close the books on this chapter of my life. I loved it all. What a wonderful adventure our family experienced. Thank you, Lord! It’s all Him. I’m ready for the next chapter, the next adventure. I don’t know what that is yet, but He’ll show me.

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Love you all,

Meghan

photo credit: Meghan E. White

Parenting

Motherhood

May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 meghanewhite

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Young Mother Sewing, oil on canvas c. 1890, Mary Cassatt

Multitasking is a mother’s middle name. Mom’s have to do it all, at once. God has uniquely gifted mothers to juggle, though we don’t always do it well. Sometimes those spinning plates come crashing down, and we clean up the mess, like any good mother.

Mom’s do so many things, and wear so many hats, sometimes piled one on top of the other. Mom’s love fiercely. We love our children so much that we make the costume, and we bake the birthday cake, and we buy the poster board for the school project without complaint. For the satisfaction is knowing that our kids have a smile, and that’s enough.

Mom’s remind those precious children how wonderful they are when they forget. Mom’s protect, comfort, and sit up with sick children in the middle of the night. Mom’s pray, and pray for our kids, because no one else will pray for them like we do.

Here’s to all the mamas out there. You are important in your child’s life. Thank you for loving them, no matter how big or small they are.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:25-26

“THERE IS NO INFLUENCE so powerful as that of the mother.” Sarah Josephina Hale, American pioneer and writer

“What do girls do who haven’t any mothers to help them through their troubles?” Louisa May Alcott, writer and editor

“Our children are not going to be just “our children” – they are going to be other people’s husbands and wives and the parents of our grandchildren.” Mary S. Calderone, physician and writer

“There is so much to teach, and the time goes so fast.” Erma Bomback, humorist

“There is nothing more thrilling in this world, I think, than having a child that is yours, and yet is mysteriously a stranger.” Agatha Christie, writer

“To love the tender heart ever fled,
As on its mother’s breast the infant throws
Its sobbing face, and there in sleep forgets its woe.” Mary Tighe, Irish poet

My mom with her mom, 1958.

Me and my boys, 2020.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Love you all,

Meghan

Food

Cobb Salad

April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 meghanewhite

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Cobb salad is my all time favorite salad. I order this at restaurants whenever it’s on the menu. If I’m really having a craving for a good Cobb salad, I just make my own, and you can too. With a little bit of prep, you can have a delectable, and nutritious meal.

If you don’t want to cook chicken, just grab a rotissere chicken at the grocery store. There is no need to stand over a frying pan cooking bacon. Use fully cooked bacon, and warm it in the microwave. These are just a few suggestions to cut your time in the kitchen so you can enjoy more time indulging in this fantastic salad.

Some fun food history about this infamous salad. The Cobb salad was created by owner of the Hollywood Brown Derby, Robert Cobb, way back in 1937. Mr. Cobb did a fantastic job combining some of my favorite things like avocados, and bacon.

Please enjoy my favorite salad. It’s a winner.

Happy Eating!

For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10

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Cobb Salad

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

8 slices cooked bacon

4 hard boiled eggs

2 cooked chicken breasts

1 (10 oz.) container cherry tomatoes

2 medium avocados

1 (5 oz.) container blue cheese crumbles

2 heads of romaine lettuce

Salad Dressing

2/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 tablepsoon dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Make the dressing:

In a small jar with a lid, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard and salt and pepper. Replace the lid and give it a good shake. Taste and add more salt and pepper as needed.

Make the salad:

Rinse the lettuce. Pat dry, and chop into bite size pieces.
Chop the bacon.
Slice the eggs into quarters.
Cut the chicken into small chunks.
Slice the cherry tomatoes in half.
Halve, pit, and dice the avocados.
Add the lettuce to a large bowl or platter. Arrange the bacon, eggs, chicken, tomatoes, avocados, and blue cheese crumbles in rows on top of the lettuce.
Drizzle with dressing. Enjoy!

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Photo credits: Meghan E. White