Author: The WheatandTares

Never Again

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The best thing to do in those moments of pain, bitterness and despair is to hold onto hope, release the pain and embrace forgiveness. It doesn’t bring instantaneous joy, but it definitely will bring eternal peace…

The WheatandTares's avatarthe grizzle grist mill

Tears fall like rain down the well worn path tonight.
Memories of yesterday flood in black, shielding my sight.

You steal the joy in today by the lies of promised change.

Yet, suddenly my heart is not broken this time, all feels strange.

The pain I expected is lessened by a greater presence of hope.

I am no longer bound by your emotional game and rope.

My hands are open as I let go of all you have done and forgive.

I release your memories, your deceit and your hate, never again to relive.

Penned – MG – 8/10/17

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Tuesday’s Treats #133

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Tradewind Coffee Co.

Location: Dacula, Ga

What a great little coffee shop! I had been hearing of this place for a while, and I finally got to go by yesterday. It was wonderful…Everything from the friendly staff, the yummy dessert display, the cute little kids room and “board” meeting rooms, the overall cleanliness, and of course, the delicious coffee! And yes, I got the gigantic brownie, and they asked if they could warm it for me. Yes!!

They even have an area for guest musicians and open mic night. A great seating area right outside, and even tons of coffee beans for you to buy and take home! If you’re in the area, be sure to carve out some time to come, sit and relax for awhile. They have great, comfy seating both inside and out, as well as, high tops and cafe tables with free WiFi and plugins; however, if you’ve got two rowdy, older boys, as I did that day, they’ll be glad to fix your coffee to go, too! 😉

Tradewind

Bring Your Brokenness

/ The WheatandTares

Hope this helps someone’s broken heart today as it has mine.. 💕

The WheatandTares's avatarthe grizzle grist mill

Sometimes, we clutch and hold so tightly the very things that are broken, bruised and shattered in our lives, those things which God so desperately longs to heal for us. It makes me think of a tiny child whose favorite doll has a leg that falls off or a toy truck that has a wheel that keeps coming off. Sometimes, that child will hold onto the toy, trying to put the broken part back together, growing more and more frustrated, because it just won’t work right. Finally, growing so frustrated, they throw a temper tantrum or break the toy further, not knowing how else to handle the situation.

This reminds me of our youngest with his lego building. There was a time when he just could not get some of the pieces apart to put them exactlywhere he wanted. He has always been pretty independent in his building of things…

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Tuesday’s Treats #132

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Bistro Off Broad

Location: Winder, Ga

Great atmosphere, friendly staff and amazing food. This place is a hidden gem. We were told about it several months ago, and today was the first time I got to try it out.

My apologies for this not being the best picture, but I forgot to get a pic of the appetizer when it came out before we gobbled it down; however, you can slightly see it in the background here. These were fiery buffalo mozzarella bites with a tomato jam. They were extraordinary! Little bite size mozzarella balls with jalapeño “coins” that bring an amazing heat, and the “jam” is a sweet combination to cool it all down a bit.

I had, also, ordered a Caesar salad, which was amazing, and I thought I had snapped a pic, but evidently, I did not. The dressing was perfect, not too soupy, not too thick, just light enough to bring flavor to the fresh romaine and crunchy croutons. Oh, and the baked Parmesan piece as a “garnish” was the perfect touch. You can add grilled shrimp, roast chicken or steak to this to make a full meal. This is what my friend had as her meal, and she said the chicken was absolutely delicious.

Yes, I have posted a close-up of the French Dip; so, hopefully, you can see the slight softness of the fresh bread and the piles of shaved Prime Rib on this sandwich! It was scrumptious!! Everything was fresh, farm to table goodness. Even the fries were irresistible with just a slight bit of saltiness and no greasy after taste.

Please note, due to their farm to table dedication, some of their items are seasonal and not always available. However, even though their menus is a bit limited, they seem to do what they do with extreme excellence! I look forward to eating here again soon!

Here is the website to find location and menu option.

Tuesday’s Treats #131

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Tani Thai

Location: Buford, Georgia

This is a newer restaurant in Downtown Buford. If you’ve ever been downtown, it is in the same location that Adam’s once was. The owner and staff are very friendly. The atmosphere is very nice, and the food is delicious! … and I’m not even a frequent visitor to Thai cuisine! 😉

A friend and I went here for lunch one day to try it out, and we had so much fun as we split all of our dishes and treated it as a 4 course meal. We started with the shrimp cones. Oh My! These were scrumptious!! I’m sorry we didn’t get a picture of them. We gobbled them up too quickly, but they were whole jumbo shrimp wrapped in a type of egg roll, served with a tangy-spicy sauce. I’d go back simply to get these!

Next, we decided to have soup and salad. We ordered the coconut mushroom soup with chicken and the Tiger Tear’s salad with chili-lime seasoned grilled beef and sweet peppers and fresh greens. Both were delicious and just spicy enough to bring a little warmth.

The entree was the Masaman Curry with yellow coconut curry, onions, sweet peppers, avocados & cashews, with your choice of chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu, served with steamed rice or brown rice. We chose chicken with steamed rice, and we had no regrets! It was incredible! The heat was just a little warmer than the soup, and when I go back again, I’ll go up one notch, but it had such a wonderful flavor…and the steamed rice is a nice heat reprieve for your mouth!😂

For dessert, we ordered the coconut cake. Oh my goodness, talk about moist! It’s moist and sweet cake, served on a plate of raspberry and lime sauce, but it wasn’t too overpowering sweet; however, I wasn’t able to completely finish that huge slice. The raspberry sauce was delicious and cut a bit of the sweetness, but the this picture doesn’t do justice to the actual slice!

We will definitely go back. …well, it’ll probably have to be a girls’ lunch, as it was before, as my husband isn’t too keen on this cuisine, but I’ll definitely go back. 😉 If you’d like to find their address or check out their menu, here’s the website.

Note: For each dish, you get to choose the level of heat (scale 1-5), and even though I enjoy quite a bit of spice, I was a little hesitant and unsure of the level of Thai (curry) spice; so, we chose 2 for the salad and the soup and 3 for the main entree.*

Ps. Here’s an interesting article that might help you when deciding on the level of Thai spices…

UPDATE: Returned visit a few weeks later: everything was still delicious. I ordered almost the same thing, except I opted out of the soup this time and changed the appetizer to the cheese rolls. These were amazing! If you like crab ragoons (done right), you’ll love these. These do not have crab, but they are made with that same cream cheese goodness all wrapped and rolled up in, what looks like, a mini egg roll. My friends got the fried rice and the garlic, honey chicken. These were great dishes as well.

Also, note: if you are like me and don’t much care for fish oil, get the salad dressing on the side or not on it at all. Apparently, this wasn’t on the salad the last time, but this time it was. They quickly and graciously amended it, but it was a definite surprise on that first bite. The waiter said some have to become accustomed to the taste…

Tuesday’s Treats #130

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Boll Weevil Cafe & Sweetery

Location: Riverwalk – Augusta, Ga

This place is amazing, and what they do well, they choose to do amazingly well. It is definitely a cafe, sandwich style; so, please don’t come here searching the local burger and fry joint. There’s plenty of these in the surrounding areas; however, if you want an incredible sandwich, or even, a delicious dish of shrimp and grits, this is the place to go grab lunch!

Try the Curious George, The Jerk or even the Grown Up Grilled Cheese for a great and yummy choice of sandwiches. Don’t forget the delicious soups they have to start: corn chowder, tomato apple or turkey and rice, but be sure to save room for the incredible desserts to finish off the meal!

You can go by the display case or just look over the menu they bring, but I bet your ability to choose might be a tad bit difficult. Death by Chocolate, Strawberry and Red Velvet are just a few of the cake choices. Turtle Crunch, Cookies N’ Cream, and Blueberries and Cream Cheesecakes are each absolutely AMAZING, and there’s also Tiramisu and Key Lime Pie! Needless to say, the choices are just about endless, and I haven’t had a dessert here I didn’t like! Oh! I almost forgot. Be sure to order a cup of coffee, and you’ll be delighted with a little side cup of chocolate sauce and whip cream to make your own mocha, too!

Check out their menu and location here, and after lunch or dinner, take a stroll along the Riverwalk, and you won’t feel so guilty eating all this yumminess!

A Trade Off

/ The WheatandTares

Sometimes, I have to remember that I don’t have to continue in my weakness, thinking somehow, it’s going to magically turn into greatness. When the Scripture says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13) that’s what it meant!

I am only strong when I admit my weakness and allow Christ to rule and reign in my heart AND in my actions! I am only refreshed when I throw my weakness into His greatness! I am only encouraged and able to carry on when I release my pride and stop pretending to be strong and realize I am only strong because of Christ living inside of me!

Thank you, Jesus, I don’t have to muster up some pretend faith to be a valiant warrior when I am just a truly, the warrior is a child. Thank you for trading my weakest moments with Your strongest power! Thank you that you are able! You are faithful, and You are strong! ❤️

The Weight of the Broken

/ The WheatandTares

So many broken hearts all around me today. The weight of it all tugs on my own to weigh me down. My mind swirls with the endless possibilities, the various scenarios, circumstances, and outcomes.

One heart is trampled after years of devotion, self-sacrifice and provision. Deceit and lies run rampant. Another is captivated by mistrust and fear, threatening to become the self-fulfilling prophecy through the tears. Still another is full of anger, bitterness and rage while pretending to love and adore a fantasy fabricated within the mind.

Oh dear Lord, how do we help them? How do we stop the bleeding? Can we even intervene? The pain is so great. The brokenness seems beyond repair. Is there any glimpse of hope to be found?

The questions thrash about like tornadoes through my head. Twisting and turning without end. We look to a book, a counsel, a song or a situation to correlate, to somehow make sense of this unfathomable reality.

Yet, no answer can be found in the carnal. No solution can be brought forth in mere words. No ears have the capacity to hear the true heartbeat of the broken.

The only answer is Jesus. The only shred of hope is Him. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. There is no promise of reconciliation, or even redemption, without His mercy and grace.

It may sound too cliche. It may sound like just another punchline, but I have found He is the only source of Truth. He is the only anchor that holds. He is the only Rock that stands when the whole world falls apart, and you’re wondering if you can even take the very next breath.

I can’t even walk without holding onto His hand.

He is all I need. ❤️

Happy 4th Anniversary!

/ The WheatandTares / 5 Comments

Thanks to all of YOU who have read, inspired and encouraged me over the past four years! You are who make this blog interesting and worthwhile. These last four years have been a blast, and I look forward to many more! 😊💗

Like a Bomb or a Flower?

/ The WheatandTares

I saw this photo the other day, and it made me think about its meaning…

A flower is…

Beautiful. Delicate. Created by the Master Designer. Needs water, soil and sunlight to grow and survive. Some grow perfectly on the windowsill while others flourish in a great garden. Some attract bees, insects and spiders, but most all invite a gentle touch, a sweet smile and a deep inhale and exhale of stress relief. Some open up with beauty in the early morning hours and close up to shield their fragility as the sun sets. Some can weather the worst of storms and then be crushed by the tiniest of hands.

Flowers can represent friendship, love, jealousy and celebration. They can bring healing with their fragrance and comfort with their beauty. They can bring joy to brighten a home and peace to a grieving soul. They have even been known to bring healing to an ailing body and peace to a tearful spirit.

A bomb is…

Intense. Intriguing. Resilient and steadfast for the moment. Needs human hands to be created, moved or altered. Needs nothing to remain as it is, only a man’s touch to flip the switch. Once set, it is just as fragile as a flower under a combat boot. Some are extremely complex. Some are too simple to be described. Some are designed by madmen, while others are constructed by a genius of authority. Some are made to bring harm, while others are invented to protect the innocent and defend the weak.

Bombs can represent danger, fear, desolation and destruction. They can also present honor, courage and perseverance through the darkest of nights. They can’t bring healing, but the when used properly, they can bring deliverance from fierce enemies. They can’t bring love, but when executed with precision, they can bring guardianship against terror. They can’t bring peace, but when stored and presented with life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in the forefront, they can create almost a holy hush that no one dare to unravel.

As a woman, I will choose to be both, a flower and a bomb. Yet, the only way to be perfected in each of these is to be submitted to and placed within the hands of Almighty God. For, He is the only entity who controls the air I breathe and protects the ground on which I walk. He is the only Deity who can bring gentle restoration to the bones and a fierce security to the mind, all in the same nanosecond. Within my own strength, I can be too breakable and too dangerous for anyone’s well being; yet, with His divine wisdom, I, and all those around me, are safe within His grasp, because of His eternal love, grace and justice.