For Friday, April 30th, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

APRIL 30^TH, 2010

It's FRIDAY!

AND

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SUNSHINE BOY!

May the dear Lord bless you today and always!

I do wish I was there celebrating this birthday. My Sunshine Boy is named so because of his very special smiles and laughter! I got a call yesterday evening from him so he could tell me he is now riding his bike without training wheels on it. Hurray!!

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day

Quoted in P.S. I Love You

THINKING

The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps

Proverbs 16:9

In order to be flexible, we need to allow the presence of God to work freely and completely in our lives.

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

Fridays are usually pizza nights at my house but I'm not sure at all what will be on the menu here today. I thought it might be nice to share a summer time dessert with you all today. It's supposed to be near 80 degrees here today

Banana Pudding Squares

35 NILLA Wafers, finely crushed (about 1-1/4 cups)

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine, melted

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Neufchatel Cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

3 bananas, sliced

2 pkg. (1 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

3 cups cold milk

1/2 square BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, grated

MIX crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch dish. Refrigerate until ready to use.

BEAT Neufchatel and sugar in medium bowl with whisk until blended. Stir in 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP; spread over crust. Top with bananas.

BEAT pudding mixes and milk with whisk 2 min.; spread over bananas. Top with remaining COOL WHIP and chocolate. Refrigerate 3 hours

PRAYERS

Let us pray that we may always do to others as we would wish them to do to us.

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

AROUND HOME

Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.

Benjamin Franklin

I'm at DS#6's house again today and watching our little Lucky guy. I've been so blessed this week to be able to enjoy all the smiles this little one gives to me. To hold a baby is pure Joy!

I'll probably leave this evening for home and then return here Sunday evening. DS#6 and his wife have an AP (American Press) Awards Dinner to attend this weekend. He has been nominated for an AP award for one of the graphics he did. He won an award last year and I'm sure he'll get another this year. He is very good at what he does.

FAMILY

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight

Phyllis Diller

It is not by accident at all that I have grandchildren that just radiate with SMILES. Their parents do the same. Isn't it so very true that children learn what they see.

I also had a call from DS#2 the other day to let me know he is finally home from all his travels. He enjoyed a couple days off and then went back to work.

COUNTING THE DAYS

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile

Author Unknown

53 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma

For Thursday, April 29th, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

APRIL 29^{TH, 2010}

It's THURSDAY!

It's now been 20 days since I retired from work and I can't believe how fast those 20 days have gone. I'll have to admit that I'm adapting

to this wonderful way of life even better than I thought I would. There has not been a day yet that I have missed going off to work. I don't think I ever will

either.

I've not had one boring moment either and that too is something I don't think I'll ever see. If anything my life is much busier and more rewarding than it has been for quite awhile.

We are having another beautiful full moon right now. You know they

are special to me. This is the Full WILD GOOSE moon. We all see the same moon and when I see it I think of that and of all of you.

THINKING

There is only one path that leads each of us toward God but we travel it differently and will come together at the end of

the road.

Jesus said, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:3

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

Thursdays are SANDWICHES FOR DINNER DAY at my house

DSE#6 introduced me to Wraps made with a basil flavored

tortillas and they are delicious.

Wrap sandwiches first burst upon the lunch scene about 10 years ago. These sandwiches are variations of traditional sandwiches; but the bread is different.

Any type of flat bread is spread with a hot or cold sandwich filling, rolled up, and eaten out of hand

Herbed spreadable cheese is a fantastic base for any wrap sandwich. Here it's paired with sliced turkey, tomatoes, and Swiss cheese.

herbed spreadable cream cheese

thinly sliced cooked turkey

tomato, thinly sliced

thinly sliced deli Havarti cheese

baby spinach leaves

sliced mushrooms

Spread herbed cheese and top with remaining ingredients. Roll up tortilla, enclosing the filling.

Enjoy!

PRAYERS

Dear God, help us each to accept the differences among us a

nd to learn to love each other for who we are now

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us

.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU !

AROUND HOME

I always like to list some of the things I'm thankful for in my life and today

I'm thankful that I had a chance to catch up on a little sleep last night. Every 4 hour feedings haven't been a part of my life for a very long time until this week. I've been trying to give DS#6 and his wife a little break so they can get some much needed rest. They both have to go off to work each day and both have jobs require a lot so I figure I can forgo a little sleep as I can also rest while the

baby is napping.

Just about the time I get used to it my days at their house wi

ll come to an end. And hopefully too the baby will be sleeping the night through for them by that time.

FAMILY

I was reminded by DDIL#1 that this is It's Special Education week. This is in honor of all the kids and adults who need a little extra help & understanding. Parents that have a child with special needs and people that teach children with special needs deserve a lot of praise and encouragement. I am blessed to have both in my family and they are very special people indeed.

I've found that my internet connection is much stronger at

my son's house. Here at home I have a weak connection. I'm able to connect though and th

at is the important thing.

Being in touch with family and friends every day has become very important to me. It makes me feel so much more connected to what goes on in the world. Here at my house the world seems so far away most days and

I'd be lost with out it.

I'm so thankful that I've been blessed with family and friends to keep in touch with

COUNTING THE DAYS

To Realize The Value of Time...

author unknown

To realize the value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute:
Ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when you share it with someone special.

53 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma

Pictures today are of what's blooming at my house right now.

For Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

APRIL 28^TH, 2010

It's WEDNESDAY!

I'm at home again until tomorrow afternoon. DS#6 and his family had to come back into town for the funeral services for her great grandmother. I'll go back with them Thursday afternoon and stay through Friday then home again for the weekend. At least I am now free to help them out when I can.

After a rainy start to the week we are now enjoying some sunshine and blue skies. It's still a little cool out especially at night but it looks like we may be warming up when we are closer to the weekend. More rain is also predicted.

THINKING

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:25-30

With Jesus as our Shepherd, we will always be on the right path if we listen to what He is saying

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

Breakfast for Dinner

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

It's really better if made a day ahead. After it cools completely, cover it well with plastic wrap, then let it sit at room temperature until the next day. Yummy!

3 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup orange juice

2 eggs

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans OR quick cooking oatmeal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, milk, orange juice, eggs, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon, and beat well at medium speed until smooth and well blended. Set aside.

In medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup flour until well blended and crumbly. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans or oatmeal until well mixed.

Spread 1/2 of the cake batter into an ungreased 10" angel food cake pan. You can also use a well-greased and floured 12-inch Bundt pan. Top with half of the filling. Spread remaining batter over the filling (it won't cover completely, so don't worry), then top with rest of filling.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes until cake is light golden brown, begins to pull away from pan edges, and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack. Store tightly covered. 16 servings

PRAYERS

Thank you, God, that we can be sure of your presence with us for now and for all time. Help us to see life as cause for awe and to move more deeply into your love

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

AROUND HOME

The sun is shining and it's a quiet morning here. The day looks like it will be just great.

Since I have these couple of days at home, I'll try to get a few things done around here. For one thing I can do my laundry. There is always that to do.

I have no car as that was left behind and I rode with DS#6 and family back home last night. It saved me driving, but I'll only be at their house Thursday evening though Friday, then I'll have to drive back home again anyway.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Once you choose hope, anything's possible

Christopher Reeve

54 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma