Book vs. Movie: My Sister's Keeper

I had the interesting pleasure to read the book "My Sister's Keeper" while I was on dialysis and awaiting the kidney transplant from our awesome friend Dan. (If you haven't read the book, it's a tear jerker, and you can find the plot at the link above). It was definitely interesting to read a story of someone else, although fictional, going through dialysis and awaiting a kidney transplant. The donor in this case is Ana, Kate the patient's sister who was created as a designer baby to essentially save and be a constant donor to Kate who is suffering from leukemia. While my kidney failure was from Lupus, it was interesting, thought provoking, and frightening to think that on a whim my donor could suddenly change his mind regarding donation.

Fast forward 6 months later to today when I watched the movie rendition of the book. Now we all know generally movies aren't nearly as good as the book was and I believe it to be the same with this movie. One of the things that really struck me as an organ transplant recipient was the incorrect information that the actresses kept repeating for the reasons to not donate a kidney:

1. You can't play sports

2. You can't have kids

3. You can't be a cheerleader

With the exception of contact sports not being recommended, these are grossly untrue.

I really struggled with this during the film. What if this movie was someone's only exposure to potentially donating a kidney? What if someone wasn't given a second chance at life because they thought this to be true? Now I know it's just a movie, but doesn't film as a media medium have some responsibility to keep things semi accurate? Especially when you are portraying so many other medical issues throughout the film, why would you drop the ball at that point.

If you've ever even considered being an organ donor, whether donating while you are alive, or after death, be sure to check out Donate Life.

Happy New Year!

2010! Hard to believe it's already four days into the new year. I'm not big on making resolutions, but there are a few things I want to accomplish this year:

Get back into shape (lose the post transplant gain)

Be more intentional about my quiet time

Spend more quality time with Andrew

Spend more quality time with Randy

This is a big year for our church, as we are launching from a service at an established church into a full fledged church of our own. Please pray for Elevation when you think of it, there are many needs to be met when it comes to planting a church and God has it under control, but your prayers are always appreciated. Please also pray for other church planters in the area, especially our friends Bobby & Rachel as they will be leaving the "safety" of his worship pastor role at CLC and starting their own church to reach the unconvinced of Santa Cruz.

We're looking forward to and praying for a hospital free year (the first in at least 3 years), planning a trip to Ireland in the summer (the first time overseas for Andrew & Randy) and praying for constant work for Randy, construction was very slow and difficult this past year.

Wishing you all the best for 2010!

Merry Christmas!

So obviously it's been a while since I updated my blog, hope everyone had a great Christmas with family & friends.

We had a fairly relaxed Christmas, none of the normal driving to a bunch of different cities to celebrate with various relatives this year. Christmas Eve we invited R's and my parents over to have dinner and share gifts with Andrew. He loved being showered with all the grand parent attention!

Christmas day we spent by ourselves as our little family unit. It was a fabulous, blessed day. Andrew opened gifts in the morning, we had a family breakfast, then went to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" (the boys pick...I tried for "The Princess & The Frog" ;). It was a new experience to see a movie on Christmas day, but something all 3 of us really enjoyed.

After the movie we went up to UCSC to walk around and enjoy the gorgeous December weather. God has truly blessed us with a fantastic place to live! The pic above is from our time at the Upper East Field. R and I didn't do presents this year, but gifted each other with the gift of presence. It really was nice to have a simple Christmas where we could focus on what is important: The birth of our Savior.

This Christmas was especially poignant for me, and quite honestly the first time I've really "gotten it" as far as celebrating Christ's birth and what that meant for His life. Going through the medical crisis last year just really put me in a different place for being thankful for the time we have together and for the "little things" we normally take for granted.

Nativity Dance

After the popularity of the wedding dance, the divorce court dance, and of course Jim & Pam on the office a youth group put this together:

Wow, talk about engaging today's culture! What are your thoughts - is it irreverent? Blasphemous? Love it? Something else?

UPDATE: Sadly enough the embedded video doesn't show everything, so check it out on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPDQFGEe2RA

HT to Laura Rodgers for the video!

THIS week's new recipe: Peppermint Bark Brownies

It's Christmas time, so that means lots of baking! I tried out this recipe on Sunday to bring treats to Elevation and YUM! I cheated and used peppermint bark I had bought at Peet's, but if you have the time go for it and make it from scratch.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, plus more for greasing dish
• 4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1 cup chopped peppermint bark, recipe follows

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Line the dish with a piece of parchment paper that extends up beyond the edge of the pan on the 2 wide sides of the dish and lightly grease the parchment. The paper will serve as handles when you are ready to remove the brownies from the pan.

In the top of a double boiler or in a microwave, melt the chocolate and butter until completely smooth. Add the sugar, flour, eggs, and vanilla and stir to blend. Stir in the peppermint bark and transfer to the prepared baking pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center just comes out clean - it's ok if there are a couple of small fudgy crumbs adhering to the toothpick. It's better to undercook these slightly than overcook them - these brownies are meant to be fudgy.

Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely. Using your hands, lift up firmly on the parchment paper pieces and transfer to a flat surface. (If the paper is stubborn, run a thin knife around the edge of the pan, or loosen the brownies slightly with the help of an offset spatula.) Cut the brownies into 2 1/2-inch squares and serve at room temperature.

Peppermint Bark:

12 ounces good quality white chocolate, chopped

24 hard peppermint candies

Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat or in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. Be careful not to scorch the chocolate.

Place the peppermints in a resealable food storage bag and, using a rolling pin, tap the candies to break into small pieces. Place the crushed candies into a strainer with medium holes and shake over another bowl - only the very large pieces should remain in the strainer. Add the melted chocolate to the small pieces and stir to combine.

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and pour the chocolate-candy mixture onto the paper. Using a rubber spatula, spread smooth to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. Press the large peppermint pieces onto the top of the mixture and transfer to a refrigerator to firm.

When firm, break the bark into bite-size pieces and place in an attractive serving bowl or package in airtight containers to give as gifts. Serve at room temperature.

This is best refrigerated if kept for any length of time.

New Recipe - Chicken Enchiladas

So here's the new recipe from last week (sorry it's late!). Was good but definitely could use more spiciness, so keep that in mind if you like things on the spicy side.

Ingredients

• 8 soft corn tortillas

Filling:

• 3 cups chicken broth
• 4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breast, 6 to 8 ounces
• 1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
• 2 sprigs fresh oregano
• 1 small onion, quartered
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/3 palm full
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt

Sauce

• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot cayenne pepper sauce, several drops
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 pinches
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 1/2 cups Monterey Jack shredded cheese,
• 
  
• Directions

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.

Wrap corn tortillas in foil and warm in the oven. Bring broth to a boil in a saute pan. Set chicken into broth with bay and oregano and onion. Return to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Poach chicken in broth 10 minutes. Remove chicken breasts to a bowl and shred with 2 forks. Add 1/2 cup of cooking liquid and tomato paste, spices and salt and work through the chicken using the forks.

Combine all sauce ingredients and heat through, keeping warm until needed.

Remove tortillas from oven and switch broiler on high.

Pile chicken mixture into warm corn tortillas and roll. Line casserole or baking dish with enchiladas, seam side down. Pour hot tomato sauce over the chicken enchiladas and top with cheese. Place in enchiladas in hot oven 6 inches from broiler and broil 5 minutes to melt cheese and set enchiladas. Serve.

3 Days Before Christmas Eve

Last night I was in the kitchen making dinner and Andrew was talking with Randy about how it's almost Christmas Eve when suddenly Andrew blurts out "you know there's no such thing as Santa.....Or reindeer.....Or sleighs." Randy and I both respond with "yes, sleighs are real and so are reindeer." And I ask "where did you hear that Santa wasn't real from." No response. So I ask again, and his response was "from TV."

Obviously there are lots of places where he could hear that Santa isn't real - school, church, friends, TV, but it makes me sad to think that small piece of childhood might already be gone. He's growing up so quickly as it is. Obviously Christmas isn't all about Santa and the gifts, but there is something special about that Christmas "magic" that a child has in their heart.

Does Santa visit your house? Do your kids still believe?