1. To Catch a Hummingbird

2. Finding Your Fortress

Growing up in the Susquehanna Valley of North Central Pennsylvania has been a delicious treat, especially hiking trails and enjoying the lakes and many displays of God's beauty that abound in this mountainous region. Much of my inspiration for writing has been birthed here and centered on the Christian values I have come to heed and love.

To the onlooker my twenty-seven years may appear simple and sheltered. That assumption is far from the truth. I have a boundless depth of stories and tales that are bursting to escape. I hope my column Dew from Heaven: Tanya Szendrey's Splashes of Encouragement and Sprits of Inspiration will be a means that God can use to refresh you and give you a plain and pure perspective from a fellow traveler who walks daily with her God.

I came up with the title "Dew From Heaven" because any beautiful message I may share from God will not be the thirst quenching drench of wisdom the fullness of our Savior has the power to pour out on us. I am only a vessel, a siphon of sorts that our Lord speaks through to the hearts of my readers.

The morning dew is only a mist. My words are light compared to the depth and weightiness of my Savior's wisdom found only in Him and His Word. But He still uses me. All can see that the dewy mist does glisten at times when the sun shines on it. Jesus being God's Son is so magnificent that not only His Word shines, but His whole being blinds us with the light the Father bestowed on HIM. I sparkle; Jesus is the bright Morning Star. He is the Light of the World. My writing is a small taper leading the redeemed to a land where light is embodied by Jesus.

"What a joy to be nestled in grandma's overstuffed wicker chair, sipping chilled lemonade, and nibbling on one of her moist peanut butter cookies while enjoying the comfort of her porch."

We may recount such words, remembering the memorable days of congregating as a family on our beloved grandma's porch. Hummingbirds and the rapid wiz of their wings tickled our ears as they suckled the sweet nectar from fragrant blooms. As we look back we stand in awe of the days as youngsters when we witnessed the occasional reunions of neighbors as they gathered on the security of our porch to fill us in on their winter happenings, and at the same time we brought them up to date on our summer plans.

Today as I journeyed out my front door I glanced at the many porches that lined the homes on my street. Some had decorations, others were bare, but all were lonesome; not a soul was to be found enjoying them. Summer weather had no effect in beckoning my neighbors to the heart of their homes: their porches.

"Are they crazy?" I questioned as I went throughout my day. Contrary to what I have come to understand concerning the people on my block I find great delight and solace on my porch. With my Bible and loving conversation with the Lord my porch becomes a cathedral and a sanctuary where I can only but praise Him. I have joyously found days of Heaven upon Earth.

The days of yesteryear may seem ancient to us, but they still move us, wooing us to come and enjoy the rich splendor of soothing face to face conversation with our neighbors. Our porches are empty in this high-tech age.

In a lot of ways we resemble the hummingbird. Watch their little heads and beady eyes as their bodies move in and out of the flowers. They don't pause. And neither do we. Often our thoughts are someplace else while we attempt to have those "porch talks." Like the hummingbird we hurriedly move from one thing to another. Our birdbrain nature may cause us to be withdrawn.

I don't know about you but those days visiting grandma on the porch certainly stir my heart, drawing me back, and at the same time birthing in me a new desire to bring back those times when neighbors were freely welcomed to visit. In the past, Sunday's were sacred, and restful, and the porches were always occupied.

How can we reproduce such a beautiful arrangement of quality moments on our porches? What can we do to draw our neighbors into our lives? How can we win the hearts of kindred spirits so we can once again create those memorable and nurturing times which we all very much need?

Slowing down is one of the best tricks to enable us to use our creativity. To get started ask yourself these questions; "Where do you go to find rest when you are tired? Does the plump cushioned wicker couch seem to soothe your aching body? Then bring it to the porch.

By providing comfortable seats and layering warm quilts, blankets, and soft throws on the sofa you will make quite an inviting place. What kinds of treats do you call comfort foods? My favorite is my mother's homemade tapioca pudding. It takes time to make, but it is well worth it, and our guests always crave it.

Do you have a specialty dessert? Make it. What kind of birds or wildlife do you treasure watching? Plant their favorite flowers or hang bird feeders and houses and you will have succeeded in creating your own sanctuary.

Are you shy and lonely and don't know how to go about attracting others? Read the bestseller from the 1930's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. (Read it while on your porch.)

By creating an enjoyable atmosphere that is comfortable, and by enticing weary people with scrumptious delights, topped off with pure heart to heart conversations you will be the talk of your community. You can create big things, with a cup of tea, a good book, and an inviting porch.

As for my porch it is a subtle winsome place that is enjoyed by many. Our guests find it an oasis, a delicacy to be savored, a favorite part of the house where we are free to observe nature. A comfortable couch, two chairs, three stands, a kitchen table set and natural stone fountains grace what we have come to call paradise. Writing is a favorite activity at my house and the porch is a wonderful place to do just that.

My young friend Kristin who suffers from autoimmune disorders sees my porch as a getaway where she naps for hours at a time while I type my children's books. Garden parties, birthday celebrations and tea time is observed on the porch. Outdoor extravaganzas are fun but much more exciting when held outside under a roof where rainstorms are not a bother. Whether you have a porch facing the front of your house on a busy street or one in your secluded backyard, make a date with choice foods and engaging company, and you may discover your porch is the only place you want to be.

Let your heart that seeks after comfort find its resting place on a porch fashioned by you. Let the spirit of Grandma's porch live on.

Now here is my recipe for tapioca pudding:

Tapioca Pudding Recipe

Mix 2 quarts milk

3/4 cups sugar.

Bring milk and sugar to a boil.

Add 3/4 cups pearl tapioca.

Cook and stir until tapioca balls are clear, about 30-45 min.

Beat 3 eggs.

Combine with 3/4 cup sugar and one cup milk.

Add some of the hot tapioca mixture slowly while stirring into the cold egg mixture. Then mix all together in the pan and bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.

Cook for about three minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. vanilla.

A slower method I use to avoid scorching is in the first step. I bring the milk and sugar to a boil, add the tapioca, remove from heat, stir carefully every so often, and let stand (covered) for 1 to 3 hrs. This softens the tapioca and you don't have to stand stirring it for 45 minutes. Then combine with the remaining eggs, sugar, and milk.