For Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

NOVEMBER 30TH, 2010

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's TUESDAY!

Stay at Home Because You Are Well Day is today.

Do you feel okay? If so, it is a good day to take off from work. It is recommended that you use extreme caution and good judgment. Following the concept of this day could get you a reprimand or cost you your job. Even if you don't stay home, I do hope your are well and even if you don't have to go off to work, like me, I still hope that all is well with you today too.

THINKING

The waiting is the hardest part

Tom Petty

We often speak of Advent as being a season of time in which we prepare for the Lord’s coming into our lives .Perhaps we should see it as a season of our heightened awareness, for the truth is that we should be looking for God already at work in our lives each and every day. God is always offering Himself to us.

Advent is a time to conscientiously, deliberately

begin each day of Advent by giving God some early moments of reflection and awareness of His presence to us along with a commitment to be about accomplishing His purposes, His tasks. What better way to begin our days?

Today, instead of quickly texting a friend, wait until you have time and talk with them.

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

It's Eat a Green Apple Day

An apple a day may indeed keep the doctor away, especially a yummy, crisp green apple! Treat yourself to a bite of good health and munch on a ripe apple. Tempt the family with an apple cobbler or baked apples with a dusting of cinnamon!

Green Apple Salad

2 T fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2 T Dijon mustard
1 T + 1 tsp. honey
6 T extra-virgin olive oil
5-6 large stalks celery with leaves
2 large Granny Smith apples
salt to taste
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted then chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries (optional, but nice if you're serving this for Christmas)

Whisk together the fresh lemon juice, Dijon Mustard, honey, and olive oil and set dressing aside.

Wash celery stalks and dry with paper towels, making sure both stalks and leaves are very dry. Cut leaves away from stalks and chop to make 1/2 cup chopped celery leaves. Slice stalks on the diagonal into very thin slices, enough to make 2-3 cups sliced celery.

Working with one apple at a time, cut apple into fourths, peel and cut away seeds, cut each fourth into half crosswise, then cut each piece into thin wedges. Toss cut apples with a small amount of dressing as soon as they are cut so apples won't turn brown.

Combine sliced celery, chopped celery leaves, and apple/dressing mixture and stir to combine. Add enough more dressing so celery and apples are well moistened, but not overly wet. (You may not need all the dressing.) Season salad with salt to taste.

Toast walnuts in a dry pan over high heat for about 2 minutes, or until they start to smell toasty. (The toasted walnuts will smell a bit like popcorn.) Coarsely chop walnuts, then mix walnuts and dried cranberries (if using) into salad and serve.

PRAYERS

God of hope, you are a light in my darkness, a relief in my fear, my hope for a better world. Thank you for your promises kept and promises to come

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

If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.

Elbert Hubbard

This is the end of another month and now that December is arriving we need to get ready for Christmas.

Advent Calendar: Time to get your calendar ready!

Elf Arrival: Is your elf ready? Do you have him or her where you can find it? Is your arrival letter written and do you have the gift from the North Pole that the elf can bring? If not…pull off some elfish magic and get them ready now!

Christmas Cards: Get out those cards and finish addressing them, add a newsletter or note if you like and put them in a basket or box ready to mail December 1st! Don’t forget to buy your stamps early.

We'll be having another raise in the cost of a stamp come January so the last time I went to the post office I purchased Forever stamps. They even have Christmas Forever stamps right now. These will be good to use even when the cost raises.

COUNTING THE DAYS

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.

Nursery rhyme

21 DAYS UNTIL WINTER!

25 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

139 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

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 Monday, November 29th, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

NOVEMBER 29TH, 2010

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's MONDAY!

Electronic Greeting Card Day is today. I prefer the greeting cards of the real variety and am still working on addressing my Christmas cards for this year. There are some nice electronic cards out there though and I think a lot of people use them but with all the viruses and such that go with so many of them, I just quit using them.

A few years ago there was a warning out about a Virtual Card for You that proved to be a hoax but there was a very real warning put out about a Postcard for You that proved to contain a virus. As always just make sure you know the sender before opening any e-mail and if you don't, just delete it.

THINKING

I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.

Charlie Brown

Think of one thing today that makes you happy about Christmas, write it on a Post-It and keep it with you this Advent season.

Advent calls us to remember that God is our Creator. Remembering God’s acts of creation, as well as God’s acts of redemption, liberation, salvation, and grace, we grow in anticipation of the Child’s coming at Christmas and on the last day. The first step in Advent is to remember that we are created by God and loved by God.

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

November 29th is National Chocolates Day

Practically everyone loves chocolate. Chocolates are a traditional gift for loved ones at Valentine's Day and Easter. They are more likely to be presented to friends and colleagues during the late year Holiday season. From candy samplers to chocolate wreaths and dessert recipes, consider adding chocolates as stocking stuffers or secret Santa

Here is a recipe for Chocolate Candy Crunch Cookies that you might enjoy

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (unsifted)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
1 1/4 cup candy coated chocolate pieces, divided

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until well blended. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in 3/4 cup candies.

Drop by teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Place 2 or 3 remaining candies on top of each cookie near in the center. Bake 10-11 minutes or until soft-set (do not overbake).

Cool 1 minute. Remove from cookie sheet and place on wire rack. Cool completely.

Makes about 50 cookies

PRAYERS

Gracious God, I thank you for those that love me, even in difficult times. May I find hope in them and in you As we begin our Advent journey, be the light that guides our way.

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'm here at DS#6's this morning as I'm babysitting for our little Luckey guy. I'll be back home this evening and then watching Mr. Wonderful the rest of the week.

I had lunch with DS#4 and his family and DD, her hubby, and DS#6 and his family and also some of DDIL#6's family yesterday before #4 had to head back home. It was a short visit with them but at least they made it home and the weather was good. The traffic wasn't so good at all though as everyone else in the world was headed home too.

Today sure will be a fast one. Take good care everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.

Helen Keller

22 DAYS UNTIL WINTER!

26 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

140 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

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 Sunday, November 28th, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

NOVEMBER 28TH, 2010

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's SUNDAY!

Today we celebrate Red Planet Day

Mars takes center stage today as we take a moment to acknowledge our neighboring 'red' planet. Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system and is visible with the naked eye.

Red Planet Day commemorates the launch of the Spacecraft Mariner 4 on November 28,1964. The 228 day mission of Mariner 4 brought the spacecraft within 6,118 miles of Mars on July 14, 1965

THINKING

Today is the beginning of Advent

Many are busily getting ready for Christmas, but how many are ready for Christ? What if this Advent didn't mean waiting for His Christmas coming but His actual Second Coming? Would we be busy about many things , or prepared and ready to greet Him when He comes again?

The four weeks before Christmas is a time of preparation, waiting and hope. Advent is the season of the prescense ad expectation of the eternal. For this very reason it is a particular period of joy...This joy, invisibly present within us, encourages us to journey on with confidence.

You cannot know the day your Lord is coming

Matthew 24:42

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

It's National French Toast Day!

Who doesn't like a hot breakfast? Especially when it is yummy French Toast! Start your day right by treating yourself to a plateful of this sweet treat

Decadent French Toast

5 Eggs
1/2 cup Sugar
3 tablespoons Cinnamon
1 Quart Milk
3 tablespoons Almond Extract
3 tablespoons Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
18 slices French Bread (3 per Person)

Mix first 7 ingredients together, should be hot cocoa color. Dip bread, with tongs into mixture. Cook with butter in iron skillet over medium heat until crisp.

PRAYERS

Lord, the light I choose to let into my life today is based on my trust in you. It is a weak flame, but I so much desire that it dispel a bit more darkness today. Let this candle be my reminder today of my hope in your coming

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

Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique and too soon gone

Deborah Whipp

I was so very surprised as yesterday we had some unexpected visitors. DS#4 and family came in for our Thanksgiving celebration too. DS#3 and his wife and family did a great job of hosting our Family feast and we also celebrated our little Lads first birthday too. What a celebration it was ! Thank the dear Lord for such a wonderful day.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?

Author Unknown

23 DAYS UNTIL WINTER!

27 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

141 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

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

Love,

ma