Author: The WheatandTares

Tuesday’s Treats #120

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La Riva

Location: Rivne, Ukraine

Simply AMAZING pizza!! Oh my goodness! I will crave this when I return home! Don’t let the humble appearance from the outside detour you. It is so good!!

(My apologies for this pic! It’s blurry, but I wanted to be able to give you a glance of the outside. It’s just a simple building with a sign.)

We ordered a four cheese “red” pizza with tomato sauce, salami, and peppers. We asked for green, but they gave red, and I told as actually glad once I tasted it. Those in our party got a four cheese “white” pizza with Alfredo sauce and prosciutto (italian bacon). It was delicious as well; however, I am partial to ours.

All the ingredients were so fresh and delicious! Had I not felt like a piglet, I’d eaten so much more! I cannot say enough good about it.

The atmosphere is cool as well. Note, it’s not a real big restaurant; so, on a busy night, I’m sure there’s a wait. We had a party of six, but we were able to walk right in and seat ourselves. There were 3 other tables filled and only one or two left once we put two together.

Here is their website; however, it is in Ukrainian. I didn’t see an option to translate, but you can check it out.

Mother’s Day Can Be Tough

/ The WheatandTares

Just thought I’d share this with you again this year as a little “Day after Mother’s Day” celebration. Hope you are encouraged today. 💗

The WheatandTares's avatarthe grizzle grist mill

Motherhood can be so tough sometimes. We constantly feel like we will ever measure up. We don’t have enough time to do all the things we should do, all the things we want to do, all the things we must do. We make mistakes. We carry guilt. We live with regrets.

We compare our lives with the next mom, and we believe we should be better, or we believe we are better; either way itleaves us feeling empty and so much less than. We want more. We want less. We strive to be better, different or just simply unique in this life in which we long to succeed.

Then, Mother’s Day rolls around. All the cards, all the words, all the commercials, the candy, the gifts. Do we deserve all that? Do we want all that? Do even we need all that? For one day out of the year we…

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Warrior or Weeper?

/ The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

I posted a similar pic the other day, using the same phrase; so, please, forgive me for being redundant. But this has been my motto for the last month, and yet, when I look back, I think this has been my motto for quite a while now…

Sometimes, I just have to remind myself to get back in the fight.

When you’ve fought so long to become someone, the person God has called you to be, there are moments when you just grow weary in the well doing. When you’re helping someone else through the battle, you know all the right answers to give them. You have faith to cheer them on. You believe they can and will make it through.

Yet, when it’s your battle… you know, that one you’ve fought your whole life and you thought it would surely have ended by now. Yeah, that one. When you’re in the middle of that battle, it can get wearisome. You can grow tired. You can become lonely and afraid that this is never going to end!

But can I encourage you? One warrior to the another? One child to the other… (because after all, that’s really all we are, aren’t we? Little children in grown up bodies who have learned to fight, frustrate, forge and forget.)

You were made for this! You have been equipped to win! You have been fashioned for this fight, and just as a trained boxer can get weary in the last round, all you have to do is stand and find your knock out punch!

So, raise your sword one more time. Lift that shield just a little higher. Take that next step toward your enemy and show him you will not back down.

You can do this! You will make it! WIN!!

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

Need more encouragement? Check out this blog post and this one, too.

Fear or Fire?

/ The WheatandTares

When troubles come, what do you do? Do you cower, shivering in fear? Do run away and hide? Do you stand, paralyzed by indecision and doubt? Do you run to the flames, ready to encounter what comes?

How you endure the heat will often times dictate who you become when the embers cool. What wisdom you to use to conclude your decisions will often determine your promotion or your failure. The whys of your choices will always impact those who follow.

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

Tuesday Treats #119

/ The WheatandTares / 6 Comments

Rebra BBQ

Location: Bukovel-Yaremche, Ukraine

This place is so cool! The atmosphere is great, and the food is delicious. You can sit along the window and watch the skiers fly, or tumble, down the side of the hill. The staff is nice and friendly, and the menu has both Ukrainian and English translations. If you’re American, and you’re looking for some food BBQ while skiing in Bukovel, you’ll want to check them out.

Now, the locals will tell you it’s way too pricey to eat here, and to their standards of food payment, it is. However, for meals in the States, it’s about comparable to a high-end BBQ place. They have lots of sides, several sauces from which to choose, and desserts a plenty.

We had the beef brisket, ribs, cheeseburger, roasted potatoes and fries. The beef is beefy, and the cheeseburger is thick. Everything was delicious. The desserts were different, but yummy! The cronut was not at all what I expected, but it was very tasty. It’s a croissant doughnut, filled with a lemon chocolatey cream, glazed with this strawberry, caramel icing, and this is served cold. The “brownie” is more like a cake, but it is chocolatey good.

*Note to all Americans: upon your entry, if you see a sign that says, “Administration is not responsible for staff,” please know this doesn’t mean what we think it means! 😂 It means they aren’t responsible for stuff! This cracked us up, and I did try to mention it to the staff, but I’m not sure they’re going to change it. So, if you happen to drop in, and you are greeted by this sign as you hang up your coat, just know it’s not a reflection on what you’re about to encounter! 😂

Here’s their website as well; so, you can take a look at stuff.

The Voice

/ The WheatandTares

It’s steely nails claw at my flesh as I pull away.

The cloak of darkness lies thick against my skin.

It’s weight so heavy, I can hardly breathe.

It’s burden so deep, I fall to my knees.

The voice calls from afar, but I can’t hear it above the screams.

The invitation comes to my soul, but I shield it with the shadow and pain.

The longing drifts in, taunting, haunting, but I look away past the cage.

The voice calls in the distance, but I can’t hear it above the heart’s rage.

I cry out, hoping he will hear.

I run, searching for the freedom.

I stumble. I fall. Always two steps behind.

Always dragging back to the days that unwind.

When will this turmoil end?

Does He not see my torment and suffering?

Does He not hear my heart shattered and bleeding?

When will the rescue come needing?

The voice calls to me once again.

The invitation is sent deep within, I am tempted to shun it thrice more.

The longing gently woos the mind, guiding me through the mire.

The voice whispers but to my soul, it is an echo across the chasm of my desire.

Ever near. Ever drawing me back.

He promised to never forsake.

He promises to never leave.

All I must do is believe.

Penned – MG – 4/25/18

Tuesday’s Treats #118

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Pasta Mia

Location: Rivne Oblast, Ukraine (Kyivska vul. 84)

Ok, so I’ll be honest. When our translator and driver said we’d stop to eat at a little cafe, along the highway between Rivne and Kyiv, and we pulled up to the gas station here, I was a bit skeptical…well, a lot skeptical. Here, in the US, when you stop for a bite to eat at most gas stations, you better just grab a prepackaged bag of chips and a coke, cuz if you eat in the “cafe,” you may very well wish you hadn’t a later on! Lol!

If you find yourself in this same scenario, and you pull into this cafe/gas station, go ahead and order up a plate! It’s that good! Our translator got the pasta with Parmesan cheese, and I had a bite. Yum! She got a cappuccino as well that looked delicious. I got a latte and an apple strudel kind of thing out of the display case (so sorry. I don’t remember the name of it!). They warmed it, and it was absolutely delicious! They had several pasta dishes and coffees from which to choose, and many more items in the display case, but like I said, I had been skeptical to start; so, I didn’t take in all the choices. The menu is also in Ukrainian; so, I couldn’t read it. The connected store has a nice selection of drinks and snack items as well; so, if you’re not in the mood for pasta, they’ve got you covered. 😉

It was a nice little break on our 3 hour drive in the snow from Lviv to Rivne that day, and I will cherish the memories made with sweet friends. Here is the TripAdvisor site for you to find a little more info, as they don’t have a website that I could find.

*UPDATE 1/2020: the cafe is still there, and I had the original location posted incorrectly. It is between Rivne and Kyiv. However, note this address given above may be wrong, or the restaurant has 2 locations. When above address entered, the location shows inside Lviv city. When only placed restaurant name into gps, location showed outside Lviv toward Ivano-Frakivsk; so, I’m sorry I am unable to give exact location. However, leaving Rivne toward Kyiv, cafe/gas station is on the left, and gas station is a “green one.” (Often these on the highway are either green, blue or yellow.😉) Hope this helps, if you are traveling and searching for it!

Fight Right

/ The WheatandTares

Too often, we fight the wrong enemy. We fight with the wrong weapons, and then, we wonder why we’re struggling and losing the battle we’ve engaged.

Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Wage war with the right enemy, or you will constantly be “spinning your wheels” in conflict but never achieving a resolution. Face your foe with the right weapons, or you will constantly be losing ground and be receiving wound after wound, never winning the victory.

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

No matter the battle, No matter the giant, with God by your side, YOU CAN WIN!!

Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, then who can be against us?”

Scars

/ The WheatandTares

Your scars may be many. They may be deep, and they may be unforgettable. Yet, consider them scars of honor. Consider yourself blessed to be in company with Jesus.

His scars are many. His wounds were deep, and how He attained each one is unforgettable. He died for you. He died for me. All because of His love for us. ❤️

Isaiah 53:5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

Tuesday’s Treats #117

/ The WheatandTares / 5 Comments

Michie Tavern (aka The Ordinary at Michie Tavern)

Location: Charlottesville, VA

This is the most intriguing restaurant I’ve been to in a long while! If you are looking for an experience, as well as, good, home-cooked, country food, you won’t want to miss this!

From the original log cabin entrance looking upon the beautiful roaring fire and hearth to the colonial dressed wait staff to the tin cups and plates on which you eat, you will immediate feel as if you have just stepped back in time. This place was incredible!

The food is incredible with choices of Southern fried chicken, hickory smoked pulled pork, and marinated baked chicken, black eyed peas, green beans, mashed potatoes, stewed tomatoes, baby beets (not really my fave), Cole slaw, biscuits and cornbread. This is all-you-can-eat; so, don’t be shy to ask for a little more. You’re gonna want to! The beverages of choice are good ol’ Southern Sweet tea, old fashion Root beer, coffee, old fashion Nehi orange soda and several others. Don’t miss dessert with homemade peach cobbler, Cookie sundaes and and root beer or orange dream floats (see pic above).

Upon entering, it will appear the seating capacity is small; however, don’t be fooled. There’s plenty of seating to the left of the buffet line, and they even have a covered patio if you prefer a little fresh air. Once you fill yourself full, don’t miss the gift shop just outside the Tavern, and the short museum tour upstairs is worth the few extra bucks. (Self guided, too. Those are my favorites. 😉) The gift shop is full of unique, colonial and Virginia-specific items. I could spend hours in there, as well as, in the General Store locates across the parking lot. It’s located in the old grist mill.

I love stuff like this, and I hope you will, too. I always feel like I walk away from an experience like this with a little deeper richness to my life, and I hope my character has deepened as well. Hope you will enjoy!

PS. Don’t be thrown off when you go to their website to find more information. I’m not sure if they are working on it, or if they simply chose the simple approach. You might feel as if you’ve clicked on the wrong link; however, I assure you, it’s the right one. Just click on the pics at the top for more pictures, and click on Dining to get to other options and the Menu. (Or just click on the links I’ve given you here! Lol!)