Tag Archives: Sandy Kirbty Quandt

Blossoming Mimosa Trees and Delayed Dreams

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While traveling through Alabama on Interstate 85, Pilot and I like to look for blossoming mimosa trees. We point out each one we see.

As we traveled north to attend the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference this year, we were disappointed and surprised to find fewer than usual trees with blooms.

On our return trip the following week we spotted tree after beautiful tree full of blossoms.

We tried to figure out what may have caused the lack of trees in bloom as we journeyed to the conference. Not enough rain. Too much rain. Colder than normal winter. Warmer than normal winter …

We’re not horticulturists so truly have no idea for the delayed blossoms. We settled for the fact it simply was not the right time yet.

Having spent the week with over three hundred writers at the BRMCWC, I couldn’t help make the comparison between those mimosa trees and each of us. Not only those of us who write.

We’re all on different journeys. We don’t achieve our goals, don’t blossom, at the same time do we? Some of us bloom earlier. Some bloom later. Some dreams are achieved earlier. Some achieved later.

Some of us have a profusion of blossoms on our tree. Others don’t have as many. The number of blossoms does not negate the beauty of the tree.

No matter how successful or unsuccessful our lives may appear to others or ourselves, our lives continue to be beautiful when we offer them for our Creator God’s purposes.

I’ve found when hopes or dreams are delayed, there are some who think they must know the exact reason for the delay. They theorize the reason for the delay is too much this. Not enough that. When honestly, in much the same way as Pilot and me and the mimosa blooms, they don’t have the slightest idea, and truly don’t need one.

It’s just not God’s time yet.

I’m coming to realize the One who told the moon when to shine and the sun when to sleep, told the sea it could only come so far and no further, placed the stars in the heavens and the bars around Orion knows when our not time yet will turn into it’s time now.

The same way God told each and every blossom on each and every mimosa tree that lines I-85 when it was time to bloom, he knows when it is time for our dreams to blossom.

As we wait for whatever dream we hold in our heart, perhaps we should remember the mimosas that bloom at God’s appointed time and not one moment sooner.

Is there a dream you’re waiting on to bloom?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Curious to know more about my writer side? Then check out my author interview on Lorrie Domin’s awesome site.

Gluten-free Sausage Alfredo Recipe

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Pilot whipped up this delicious gluten-free one dish Sausage Alfredo meal the other night. It’s simple and quick.

  • 1 pound package smoked sausage
  • 8 oz gluten-free pasta, cooked, drained
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 – 2 tsp salt-free Cajun seasoning (salt to taste)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Prepare gluten-free pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

 

Saute sausage for 5 minutes.

 

Add cream and Cajun seasoning and boil. Reduce heat. Simmer 3-4 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken.

Stir in Parmesan cheese.

 

Add pasta and toss.

Enjoy!

If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Sunday Scriptures — This is the Day

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The past few weeks have been difficult for me health-wise. No new major health concerns, thank you, Jesus, just the same ole naggingly annoying ones that are a pain. Literally. 🙂

It seems my fibromyalgia and connective tissue issues flare the most as I am getting ready for church where I lead a women’s Bible Study. Can we say, “Opposition”?

Last week I was ready to stay home, although I knew I wouldn’t, when I read Psalm 118 which begins, “Oh, thank the Lord, for he’s so good! His loving kindness is forever.” A few more verses and I read, “In my distress I prayed to the Lord and he answered me and rescued me … The Lord is on my side, he will help me … ” then I reached verse 24.

It brought back memories of a song our son, Pie, learned in vacation Bible school. This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it …

I will rejoice and be glad when pain hits, not because of the pain but because this is the day the Lord has made and he is with me in the middle of my pain. He is on my side. He will help me. And I will thank the LORD because he is so good. Even in the pain.

Joyce Meyer says, “Don’t dread the day, attack the day.”

In a place where you are dreading the day? How about we join together with the Lord and attack it instead?

What do you do to get through those dreadful days and turn them into days of rejoicing?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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One of my posts is scheduled to appear on Inspire a Fire November 3, 2015. Please stop by and check it out.

Sunday Scriptures — Start Over Again

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

My mother was an excellent seamstress. She could make clothes without using a pattern, and could make alterations with ease. While I enjoy sewing I do not enjoy having to rip out seams and re-do them. I’d rather start fresh.

When I make a mistake while crocheting, it’s no big deal to pull the yarn and correct the mistake. In knitting, it’s more involved. For that reason, I pay closer attention to what I’m doing.

When potters are creating something and it doesn’t look quite right, they don’t go any future. They squish the clay together and start all over again.

I’ve never created anything with clay beyond fifth grade so don’t have a lot of experience with it, but I sure did create tons of things with Play-doh, and I did not like it when someone mixed all the colors together. Starting with a fresh can of Play-doh, to me, was the best.

Just like clothes that need altered, crochet that needs ripped out, clay that needs squished, we mess up at times. We sin. We fall short of the goal Christ set before us.

That’s when the Master Potter, Crafter, Creator, rips out the seam that needs altered, pulls the yarn to get back to the spot before the dropped stitch, squishes the lump of clay and remolds us so we have the opportunity to be remade, reworked through the power of the cross.

When we have been cleansed by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we are given the opportunity to start over new. Just like a fresh can of Play-doh where the colors haven’t been mixed together.

Do you enjoy reworking a craft, or do you prefer to start all over from scratch?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

But the jar that he was forming didn’t turn out as he wished, so he kneaded it into a lump and started again. Jeremiah 18:4 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Gluten-free Banana Bread Recipe

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

One of my fondest memories growing up was my mom’s delicious banana bread. Man. It was wonderful. Here is a gluten-free recipe for you to try.

  • vegetable oil spray for misting the loaf pan
  • Rice flour, or Gluten-free Bisquick for dusting the pan
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups Gluten-free Bisquick
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium-sized)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mist a 9 X 5 inch loaf pan with vegetable oil spray and dust with rice flour.

Place the oil, brown sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla in a medium-size bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. About 45 seconds.

Place the Bisquick and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl and stir to combine.

Place a third of the dry ingredients in the bowl with the egg mixture and beat on low speed until just combined.

Add 1/2 cup of the mashed bananas and beat until combined.

Add another third of the dry ingredients and beat, then add the remaining 1/2 cup of bananas, followed by the remaining dry ingredients and beat to combine.

Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake until lightly golden brown, 40-45 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about an hour before slicing.

Enjoy!

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I wish you well.

Sandy

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