Beloved Blog

Random Road Thoughts!

belovedga — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:48:45 +0000

We are on the road alot. Contrary to popular belief Amy talks constantly….and about very random things. Here is one example….

Trampoline Fun!

belovedga — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:24:48 +0000

This is a behind the scenes look at our “I DARE YOU” retreat photo shoot. We failed to find out the maximum weight limit for the trampoline. YIKES!

Kim Snoring

belovedga — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:33:15 +0000

Ok, this is why I LOVE my husband. Some couples make videos in the bedroom for other reasons than this! Travis videos me SNORING!

Amy’s Recipe of the Week #2

belovedga — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:38:15 +0000

Nothing says summer like a good ole’ steak on the grill. And since we are smack dab right in the middle of summer (my least favorite season, incidentally….I’m a red-head….red-heads just aren’t made for summer) I thought I would share one of my favorite steak marinade recipes. This one is oh-so very easy and oh-so very yummy! This marinade works great with other meats and vegetables too, but it is especially wonderful with a big, juicy steak. So, without further delay…..fire up the grill, and enjoy!

Ginger Marinade

1 T. vegetable oil

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup sugar (brown sugar or honey will do as well)

1 t. ginger

1 clove garlic, crushed

Combine all ingredients and pour over meat. Marinate 2-3 hours turning meat several times to make sure good coverage.

Amy’s Recipe of the Week

belovedga — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:04:55 +0000

It’s probably not hard to tell that I like everything having to do with food. I like to eat it. I like to watch it on TV (Food Network!). I like to talk about it (thus, this blog). I like to read about it. (I have an extensive collection of cook books.) And of course, I like to cook it. I come by my love of food VERY honestly. I am Southern to the core…..and those of you who are too, will know that we Southerners revolve alot of our lives around food. In a Southern home, food is always a part of every celebration and every tragedy. My mom was a fantastic cook. She was a Home Economics major at the University of Geogia back in the 1950′s. She took her cooking and entertaining very seriously. I truly believe that she did not KNOW HOW to fix just one or two side dishes at Christmas dinner (or Thanksgiving or 4th of July, etc). She definitely came from the school of “more is more”. I think I got my love of cooking and entertaining from her.

With all that being said, I am starting a new weekly blog where I will post one of my favorite recipes. Some will be old family favorites, and some will be newly discovered ones. Give them a try and then post your comments. It will be kind of like a virtual dinner party! And I always LOVE a party! This first recipe is one of my favorites my mom used to make when I was growing up. It’s kind of like beef stroganoff with a twist. Enjoy!

Ground Beef Delight

1lb ground beef

1 medium onion

3 T. oil

1 can cream of mushroom soup

3/4 can of water

1 can diced Waterchestnuts

1 T. Worchestershire sauce

1 t. sugar

1 carton sour cream (1/2 pint)

Chow Mein Noodles

Salt & Pepper to taste

Brown meat & onions in oil. Drain. Add all ingredients (except sour cream). Simmer for 1 hour. Stir in sour cream just before serving over Chow Mein Noodles.

Cooking for the Boys

belovedga — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:29:34 +0000

Shopping, preparing and cooking for my family is really frustrating for me. I do not like it at all. So I am reaching out via this blog post to anyone of you that have good, easy recipes so I can feed my family and not hate it. Travis is a vegetarian so that’s a challenge but I am open to advice and suggestions. To all you moms out there that have the cooking thing down reach out to me. I NEED YOU!

Kim Gravel

Sad News

belovedga — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:29:46 +0000

I received some very sad news today. A friend passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. It’s interesting that I call this person “friend” because I had only been in his presence a few times and I only know his first name, Derek. But for the very limited time I spent with Derek, he made a profound effect on my life. I first met Derek about 6 years ago when Beloved went to sing at the Baldwin State Prison, which is an all male prison, in Milledgeville GA. We loved it so much that we have returned at least once a year since then to sing and worship at the prison. Derek was young, in his mid to upper 20s. He was in charge of running the sound equipment. The first time I met Derek it was so hard to comprehend he had done anything that would have resulted in him being incarcerated. He had the most kind and gentle spirit. He performed his duties of sound engineer with the utmost level of excellence that you would have thought we were singing at Carnegie Hall. I respected that level of integrity in him. Most of all, Derek loved Jesus more than anything and you could see it all over him. He once told me how he read his Bible 2 hours and 40 minutes a day. He said he didn’t have any money but he could tithe his time because that was all he had. Somewhere along the way in conversation, Derek shared what brought him to the prison. He had made some stupid mistakes when he was 18 and had been paying for them for almost 10 years. Recently Derek had been transferred to another prison to begin the process of being released. He caught a bad virus and two days before his release he died. I must confess this is one of those times where I really don’t understand God’s plan. I know Derek is in heaven and would not come back if he could but what a mystery. It seems to me that Derek would have been such a powerful witness once he was on the outside, but instead God chose to take him home. Knowing Derek brought a face and a name to God’s grace. I will never forget him and look forward to the day when I will see him again and rejoice that we are both free indeed.

Back to School

belovedga — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:53:13 +0000

I believe I heard a collective yippee coming from the Mom’s across the states for back to school and back to routine. For some mom’s, I’m sure it is a sad time having that little one go to Kindergarten and wonder all day ‘how will they make it without me?’ I remember that first day walking my children to the bus stop with their little lunch boxes and their name pinned to their shirt with the bus number on it as well. That day seemed so long and I couldn’t wait to meet them at the top of the hill and hear all the news of the day. Snack time was always a favorite thing to talk about and for my son what they did in PE!! The years fly by and then you find yourself where my husband and I are….empty nesters!! Our son and last one at home just left to go back to University of Georgia for his sophmore year and we pray for his protection against all that satan throws at our young people. He is in his first apartment and packing was hilarious. One entire bedroom was stacked with boxes and linens for his bed and bath and then one room in the basement had furniture waiting to take up residence at UGA!! Looking at the truck AND trailer I started singing….’so we loaded up the truck and moved to beverly”…. We laughed and cried (well I did) about our son growing up and taking on adult responsibilities. His roommate ‘found’ a great deal on a loveseat and sofa that was leather….maybe pleather..we’re not sure- for $50. My first thought was ‘does it stink?’ My son said ‘why would you ask that?’ He said he laughed outloud when he first saw the ensemble and leaned down to smell it. Long story short Austin called me to say ‘how come you are always right?’ They sprayed it down with Febreeze and he said it’s great now!! I love college guys….they really don’t care like girls do. Truth is we miss him terribly, but also know that he is growing up and becoming a man and for that we are grateful. I get tearful writing this and I know that all mom’s in whatever stage you are in get a lump in your throat thinking about our children! Share your stories with us….we would love to hear your ‘back to school tales’!

Much love, Denise

Is it really a small world?

belovedga — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:35:26 +0000

It’s always strange when you run into people in another city that know someone you know. We recently made a trip to South Africa and ran into a group of missionaries at the airport that live near a little town Beloved often visits. We started to talk a bit and found out that they know our friends in Indiana and also attended the church of Denise’s former pastor. The phrase so often attached with these types of epiphany’s is “small world”!

What I learned from my trip to South Africa is actually quite the opposite. We stayed in a very nice camp in Timbavait Private Nature Reserve inside Kruger National Park. You know the one that all those National Geographic specials are filmed in. It was just awesome! Everyday would be a new adventure into the wild bush to see what wonderful creatures God has created for our viewing pleasure. The adventure was just spectacular. We so often get trapped in the rut of our everyday life that we only think about the things we see and hear just in our local area. South Africa was like nothing I have ever seen before. You can see it in a movie or go to the zoo, but you can’t really understand until you see it with your own eyes. God is so BIG! He is much bigger than the box I try to keep Him in. This trip was such a humbling experience and just a great opportunity to soak Him in.

Olympic Fever

belovedga — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:33:57 +0000

Are you watching the Olympics? I am watching every moment that I can! I just LOVE the Olympics, which is a little strange because I really do not consider myself a huge sports fan. I think I enjoy the Olympics so much because of the incredible stories of strength, courage, perseverance, endurance, triumph, etc. The ability of the human spirit is quite an amazing thing. I have two favorite stories that I have heard so far. The first is about the petite US weightlifter, Melanie Roach. She is the wife of a politician, and the mother of 3 children, one of who is autistic. She was poised to go to the 2000 games but suffered a serious back injury just weeks before the trials. She never let her dream die and now she is at the 2008 games ready to give it her all! The other story which just makes me cry every time I see it is about the former Sudanese “lost boy” Lopez Lomong who carried the US flag in the opening ceremony. Here is a man who had literally nothing to his name. Back in his home country, he was one of about 3,800 refugees that wandered and literally ran for their lives. By a turn of events he was adopted by an American family and began running track in high school and then later in college. It is amazing to me how God can take something that is a tragedy and turn it into something glorious and triumphant. Only God can do that! These stories not only encourage and lift my spirit but they remind me of how I need to press toward the mark and run the “good race”. I am going to look towards these 2008 games as inspiration to dream big and keep pressing on, even when I don’t feel like it! Ok, gotta go and get back to the water polo match! USA, USA, USA!!!!

Amy