God's Time is ALWAYS on Time!

Guten Morgen (good morning) daughters of grace!!

I’m writing you from Lenzerheide, Switzerland as I finish up my last trip with the US Ski team.  It has been an amazing, crazy, surprising and growing experience for me.  As I sit here at the finals I am amazed that I am surrounded by Olympic medalists.  Our ski team brought home four medals this year and it makes me feel good to know that even though I was not able to go to Sochi I helped to fuel the athletes in the months before and weeks after their Olympic medals were won.

To make this experience even more special, my son is here with me for this final week.  As many of you know, my original plan was for my son to come with me for a week during January.  Due to several factors he was not able to.  Both he and I were disappointed.  However, God’s timing is not our timing.  Even though I was disappointed I realized that it was for the best.  So many things went wrong the week we planned for him to come and honestly the plane ticket would have been through the roof financially.  We most likely would not have had the best time.  I was trying so hard to make it work but it just wouldn’t come together.  It reminded me of something my grandmother used to tell me.  “If it’s too hard and you have to MAKE IT WORK it may not be for you.”.  It was always a hard pill to swallow.  Now, I don’t think she meant that hard work was bad or that we shouldn’t go after our dreams.  She meant that sometimes God’s plan is different than our plan and we shouldn’t force it when God is saying no.  Since God knows best, He will and DOES protect us from things that we may think are great for us.  

This trip has been excellent.  The ticket was $300 less than we would have paid before and he’s having a great time.  We are at a lovely hotel in Switzerland and he gets to interact and snowboard with the athletes!!!  Things went a lot more smoothly this time.  Yes, I had to search for a plane ticket but right before I found it my prayer was - “Lord, You’re will be done.  If it’s not meant to be I give up.”  The next thing I knew I got a great rate on the ticket.  His arrival and departure times are perfect with his flight leaving 30 minutes before mine and we arrive at home only three minutes apart.  To top it off our state is having OGT testing this week and he had already passed his exams so he will be missing very little school.  This is working out better than I could have thought! Remember God’s time is not our time.  His plans are not our plans and His ways are not our ways.  Pray sisters, pray hard but be willing to let go when God shows you that something may not be for you.  Remember His plans are always best!  

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  ~ Isaiah 55:8-9

This weeks recipe is a favorite of the ski team! My Chocolate Banana Bread.  Who doesn’t love a yummy dessert and this week’s recipe is sure to please.  Allow your little ones to mash up the bananas!  Excuse the photo.  A skier had already attacked the bread before I could get a photo.  I also used two pans for my bread as I didn’t have a loaf pan available.  Gotta be flexible!  Enjoy!

Chef Robin’s Chocolate Banana Bread

2 cups all purpose flour

½ tsp baking soda

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 egg

5 tbsp milk (low fat buttermilk if available)

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg

½ cup butter

1 cup (about 3) mashed bananas (Use dark bananas and mash them coarsely)

1 bar GOOD dark chocolate, chopped

½ cup nuts (optional)

1. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
2. In a large bowl cream sugar and butter. Beat the egg slightly, and mix into the creamed mixture with the bananas. Mix in sifted ingredients until just combined. Stir in milk, chocolate and nuts. Spread batter into a greased and floured 9x5 inch loaf pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F until top is brown.  Use a toothpick tester to check for doneness.
4. Enjoy!