ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: For Friday, April 22nd, 2011

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Decide to be happy today, to live with what is yours – your family, your business, your job, your luck. If you can’t have what you like, maybe you can like what you have.

Just for today, be kind, cheerful, agreeable, responsive, caring, and understanding. Be your best, dress your best, talk softly, and look for the bright side of things. Praise people for what they do and do not criticize them for what they cannot do. If someone does something stupid, forgive and forget. After all, it’s just for one day.

Who knows, it might turn out to be a nice day.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

I'm looking out the window
and the day is drab and dreary,
And I'm trying to console myself
by thinking something cheery
I know it's simply horrible
to get in such a slump
And I also know it's up to me
to get across the hump
And I realize I'm selfish
to mention this to you
For, gee, you might be feeling
a little 'low-down' too
but often when I feel like this
I tell myself it's true
That I am not the only one
who feels 'low-down and blue'
And just knowing there are others
who feel the way I do
Renews my sinking spirit
and keeps me smiling through
and know that it's natural
to take a 'spirit-dive'
Provides the spunk and courage
to hang on and survive
And while there are a lot of moods
that we can drive away
by looking on the BRIGHT SIDE
in all we do and say,
There also is a loneliness
that God meant us to feel
But, gee, it sure is mighty hard
to know which one is real
And I'd hate to be a 'sad sack'
who never saw the sun
And just complained that every day
was such a dreary one.
But I know that all the dark days
are just part of God's plan
We should accept them graciously
and do the best we can...
So I'll just keep on trying
for I know it's 'Gospel true'
there never was a cloud so dark
the sun could not shine through!

by Helen Steiner Rice

On the Bright Side Newsletter

I send this little letter out each morning to all my family and friends and even to a few people that I've never met. Many of them send it on to others too. So in order to make it available to more people I post the 'brighter side' of the news here each day in this journal.

The letter began as an effort to keep in touch with my family as they are spread out in all directions. My family, friends and God are the most important things in my life.

You'll find quotes, poems and stories and even a few recipes included in this newsletter. I try to find something new each day to share.

In a world that very often publishes only the dark side of things I felt that others would be encouraged to hear about
'the bright side'.

'On Ya'-ma

Friday, April 22, 2011

For Friday, April 22nd, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

APRIL 22ND, 2011

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

It's FRIDAY!

EARTH DAY!

All year long you walk all over the earth. Literally. You also drive on it, bike on it, and play on it. You surf in earth's oceans, chill out in the shade of its trees, ski down its snowy slopes. So on this day, do something nice for the planet that does so much for you

STARTING THE DAY WITH A PSALM

Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning

Psalm 30: 4-5

No matter how unbearable in the moment, no state of being remains forever. Dawn is salted with the promise of resurrection, cleansing, a new beginning.

Lord, thank you for your promise of new life and new beginnings every day.

Amen

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

NATIONAL JELLY BEAN DAY

National Jelly Bean Day is a time to enjoy gobs and gobs of jelly beans. Anyone who loves jelly beans, knows they are not just for Easter. Sure, they are very popular at Easter. But, they are also enjoyed year round. The flavors are limited only by the imagination of candy makers. If you've never enjoyed the multitude of flavors in a box of gourmet jelly beans, the we suggest you head right out to the store and buy some.

Jelly beans date back to at least the 1860's. Advertisements promoted sending jelly beans to Union troops fighting in the Civil War. The original candy maker is unknown.

Jelly Bean Cake

1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
OR
8 ounces cream cheese
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla Or other tutti-frutti flavor
1 cup Mini jelly beans, omit black/licorice ones
1/2 cup Coconut, optional
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Baking powder
dash salt
Colored sugar for garnish

Chop jelly beans into small pieces. Toss with a bit of flour to coat. Set aside. Beat butter or margarine, and cream cheese if using, with sugar until fluffy. Beat in extract, eggs and sour cream until smooth. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and blend into creamed mixture. Reserve one cup plain batter and stir in jelly bean mixture and coconut if using, to remaining batter. Grease and flour a Bundt pan very well. Place and smooth 1 cup batter into pan and add remaining batter and smooth top. Bake 325F about one hour or tested done and top springs back when lightly touched with finger. Cool on rack 15 minutes and carefully invert onto serving plate. Cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar or fine colored decorators sugar or frost with pastel colored powder sugar frosting.

Note: if using cream cheese use 2 tsp baking powder and omit baking soda. If using sour cream use both the baking soda and the baking powder

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

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

Today is Good Friday, the oldest Christian celebration, commemorating the Crucifixion.

JELLY BEAN POEM

Little jelly beans
Tell a story true.
A tale of Father's love
Just for me and you.

GREEN is for the waving palms.
YELLOW is for the sun above.
BROWN is for the soft earth where
People sat hearing of HIS love.

A SPECKLED bean for fish and sand.
RED for precious wine and
BLACK is for the sin
He washed from you soul and mine.

PURPLE'S for the sadness of
HIS family and His friends,
WHITE is for the glory of
The Day HE rose again.

Now that you've heard the story
You know what each color means.
The story of our Father's love
Told by some jelly beans.
So every morning take a bean
They're really very yummy.
Something for the soul, you see
And something for the tummy.

Author Unknown

Have a Good Friday!

COUNTING THE DAYS

As Seen on God's Billboard...

BEEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED?.... I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL - GOD

60 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,

1 comment:

Kath said...: Loved the poem Ma,which I have never heard before,but unfortunately Jelly Beans are a little too sugary for me I have never liked them.Have Fantastic Friday.Take Care God Bless Kath xx; April 22, 2011 at 12:31 PM

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Friday, April 22, 2011

For Friday, April 22nd, 2011

BEEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED?.... I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL - GOD

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