The "Invention"

Necessity, the Mother of Invention

Creativity is not just for the artistic types. Take my husband for instance.
A huge chunk of ice had built up in the bottom of our supposedly frostless freezer. My husband and I decided it was time to defrost this sub-zero mass. I took all the frozen food out and put it in a large cooler chest and turned the switch to off. Then my husband set to work.

Later I went to see how things were progressing. I was surprised to see two blow dryers tied from strings hanging from a shelf in the freezer. Something we ordinarily use to dry our hair had been conscripted to help melt ice.

“Very creative!” I said. I was impressed with my husband’s ingenuity. Necessity had definitely become the mother of this invention.

It’s often true that until a need of some sort arises, our creativity and imagination often lie dormant. All types of problems and challenges can become the fertile soil for seeds of resourcefulness to flourish. We become willing to look at things in new ways. We are willing to ask questions and then listen. As we seek for answers, our desire for solutions propels us to try things we had never thought of before. In the process, we are stretched and also often surprised by what we can do when we truly need to.

While some circumstances call forth our best creative processes, other circumstances reveal our limitations and just how much we don’t know. In our humanity, we often come to acknowledge our need for resources beyond our own. We discover our need for God’s Divine creativity and imagination to take over where our efforts are limited or our resourcefulness fails. We seek God when we realize that we need a whole lot more than our own inventiveness.

Thus, when we are surprised by our own creativity or the creativity of others, may we thank Him. And when we are confounded by our inabilities, may we seek Him—the Ultimate Creator!


(c) 2005 Marlene Depler

Pink roses on my 35th wedding anniversary. 

Invitation to Love

My husband and I celebrated 35 years of marriage yesterday! We drove up to a quiet dinner at a great restaurant in the foothills just outside Boulder to celebrate.

I feel blessed! One day at a time, we have built a life together. And now I can’t imagine my life without my husband and friend.

Here is something I wrote for my youngest daughter’s wedding. It was fitting for her and her husband on their wedding day. It is also fitting for my husband and I after all these years.

Invitation to Love

By Marlene Depler

To love and be loved—this is one of our greatest human
needs.

The God who is defined by love is the God who invites us to
both.

He first invites us to open our hearts to his love.

From that fullness, he invites us to live in love.

When we express love, we reflect the love of our Creator.

Love is His imprint on our hearts.

Marriage is a lifetime commitment to God’s invitation of love.

In this sacred union, we choose to open our hearts to receive
the love that is offered and determine to give an unending love.

Love will not look the same today as it will tomorrow or next
year, yet a commitment is made to nurture that love and to fall in love with
each other over and over again.

Two lives joined in the context of love have greater potential
together than individually.

The constancy, comfort, and compassion of marriage provide a
nurturing environment allowing freedom to experience personal growth.

Love releases us to fully live life.

Love costs everything, and yet in the process we are not
diminished.

Love doesn’t give up in time of difficulty or
inconvenience.

Love allows for two to walk hand in hand even when they don’t
always see eye to eye.

Love allows us to share our hopes and dreams, joys and sorrows,
success and failure with another.

Love finds expression not just in words, but in consistent
actions and attitudes.

We are invited to love, not to possess.

We are invited to support and encourage, not to
control.

We are invited to care without smothering.

We are invited to comfort without minimizing each other’s
pain.

Love invites each heart to make its home beneath its wide
branches.

At the end of life’s journey, little else matters more than
those we have loved and those who have loved us.

(c)2004 Marlene Depler

Under My Skin

When things upset, irritate, or annoy us, we say that they “get under our skin.” I am not sure where this expression came from. Nevertheless, today I will share a few of my pet peeves! What little things annoy you?

Things That Get Under My Skin:

Pouring a bowl of cereal, only to discover there is no milk.

Stepping on someone’s carelessly discarded chewing gum.

Flies, mice, and spiders—if the dare come in my house, it’s war!

Raccoons that have the nerve to raid my corn patch the night before I plan to harvest the first roasting ears.

Finally remembering to use a coupon at the store, only to find out it’s expired.

Wanting to cook or bake something and discovering that I’m missing one ingredient.

Running out of thread just a couple inches before finishing a seam.

Very loud music.

Unreturned phone calls.

The maze of phone menus!

Prank phone calls.

People who don’t at least attempt to keep their word.

Indirect communicators—the ones who always leave others guessing as to the real meaning of what was said.

Rudeness, crudeness, and inconsiderate behavior of all kinds.

A fall centerpiece made with an inverted cake pedestal. Then the cover was also inverted to make a bowl for pomegranates and gords.

Autumn Harvest Cake

I love to make this cake in the fall. In fact, I plan to make one this weekend to take to a get-together. The combination of pumpkin, apples, and nuts is wonderful. With a cream cheese frosting, you can't beat it.

Autumn Harvest Cake:

1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup softened butter (l stick)
½ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly beaten
½ teaspoon vanilla
1-16 ounce can of pumpkin
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 large apple, peeled and chopped
½ cup chopped English walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour either a bundt pan or a 9x13 cake pan.

Mix ingredients in order given. Pour into cake pan. Bake bundt cake for 70 minutes and then cool a few minutes before removing from pan. For 9x13, bake for 45-50 minutes. Cook cake, then spread with frosting. Store in refrigerator. (This cake freezes well!)

Frosting:
1 pound confectioner’s sugar
½ cup butter (1stick)
1-8 ounce package of cream cheese at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla

Clocktower in downtown Munich

Neuschwanstein Castle

Window boxes in Munich

Window boxes near castle.

Fussen area of Germany (Bavaria)

Munich Area

We only had two nights and one day in the Munich area on our way home from Bosnia. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the time we had. Maybe we will be back someday.

Clock tower in downtown Munich.

Cathedral/church nearby.

Crepes with Nutella. Fresh, hot crepes with chocolate. How can you beat that?!?!?

Cab drivers. They drive fast—and take corners fast. Hold on!

Countryside. The countryside was beautiful. The fields were still green even though the trees were in their autum splendor.

Clean. Everything seemed clean and neat.

Charming window boxes filled with colorful flowers.

Cows with cowbells. The windows were down on the train to Fussen. We could hear
the cowbells.

Castle. We saw the Neuschwanstein Castle of King Ludwig II near Fussen. It is the one that Disney used as the model for Magic Kingdom.

Herb garden near Diocletian's Palace

Fortress in Croatia

I Remember Bosnia

My husband and I just returned home from a trip to Bosnia. Thought I would share a few memories.

I remember Bosnia:

Children and grandchildren—what a treat to spend time with five of them.

Cuddles—hugs and kisses from all the kids and lots of cuddles with Jacob.

Candyland—Brent and Rachel like to play Candyland, especially Brent. We played lots of games.

Cake—two birthday cakes! We celebrated Jacob’s first birthday and Rachel’s third birthday. Paula baked the cakes, which were absolutely scrumptious.

Coffee—all Bosnians love their coffee. It is served strong and in small cups with sugar cubes. The sugar cubes are different than the American ones.

Chocolate—Bosnian’s love chocolate as well. We sampled several varieties. Yummy!

Chocolate Croissants—you can’t beat the combination of chocolate and a croissant. I like the texture of their croissants better than the ones in the U.S.

"Chivapi"—a Bosnian favorite. (I probably don’t have this spelled correctly!) This is sort of like a pita, only bigger and a more bread-like texture filled with meat,
usually beef sausage. Chopped onion is served on the side. Quite delicious!

Cabbage—every garden had a cabbage patch. Huge bags of cabbage were for sale at every market.

Cheese—Bosnians like cheese, lots of soft cheeses and white cheeses, but no cheddar.

Cigarettes—most Bosnian adults smoke.

Chess—Ray played chess with the neighbor, who used to be a city champion. They couldn’t understand each other’s language, but they could play a few games.

Coal—sold in bags at roadside stands/the smell of coal burning.

Color—the autumn leaves on the hillsides, the mums at the corner flower shops, the bougainvillea and sunsets in Croatia and the women who love to color their hair!

Clothes hanging on balconies to dry—every balcony had clothes hanging outside to dry. Electricity is expensive, more so at peak hours.

Croatian Coast—we had a short trip over the mountains to the coast of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. We saw an old fortress, Diocletian’s palace and the ruins of a city and amphitheater at Solona.

Cell phone—we helped get Jason and Paula’s second cell phone set up, so they
could both have one to stay in touch!

"CRUH" (BREAD)!!!!!!!!! Bakeries abound, and bread is inexpensive and delicious. Bosnians eat lots of fresh bread. We loved the bread!

Quotes about Children

"Children are our most valuable natural resource."
-Herbert Hoover


"Children are not properties to own and rule over, but gifts to cherish and care for."
-Henri Nouwen


"Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, avoiding our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted."
-Garrison Keillor


"…the child who is not loved by his parents will always assume himself or herself to be unlovable rather that see the parents as deficient in the capacity to love."
- Dr. M. Scott Peck

Time Keeper!

It Takes Time

It Takes Time
By Marlene Depler

My precious child,
be patient with your dreams.
Stop rushing ahead
and pushing so hard.

Things of great value and quality take time:
good bread, great cheese, and fine wine.
Think how long diamonds are in the making!

Weavers weave, thread by thread;
painters paint, stroke by stroke;
builders build, brick upon brick.

I am preparing you for what lies ahead.

I will give you all you need.
Be patient while I shape you.
Do not give up on your dream.
Rose buds need no force to blossom—
only time.

(c) Marlene Depler

Tools of the Trade