For Saturday, July 9th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JULY 9th, 2011

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

It's SATURDAY!

HOP A PARK DAY

Hop A Park Day encourages you to visit the local parks in your area, and to enjoy public space put aside tor rest and relaxation. Larger or managed parks often host events on this day, from barbeques to sporting events – why not find out what’s going on at your local park and join in?

July is also National Parks and Recreation Month, so to celebrate, visit each of the parks in your area for a special activity.

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

National Sugar Cookie Day

National Sugar Cookie Day is a day to satisfy your sweet tooth. Popular with young kids, and old kids, sugar cookies usually don't last long around the house.

It's pretty easy to see how Sugar cookies came to get their own special day. Almost everyone has had them. Many people are hooked on them. Put out a plate of sugar cookies, and you can be certain they won't be there for long. We haven't seen any surveys, but it's a sure bet that sugar cookies are right up there with chocolate chip cookies as America's favorite cookie.

Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar
2 cups butter room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon lemon rind grated
2 eggs
6 cups cake flour

Cream together sugar and butter in an electric mixer. When fluffy, add vanilla and lemon rind. Blend well. Add eggs, one at a time; mix well. Remove from mixer. Add cake flour; blend with a heavy mixing spoon. Chill dough in refrigerator 1 hour or overnight.

Roll dough to 1/8" thickness and cut out with cookie cutters. Bake in preheated 375F oven until brown, about 7-8 minutes.

NOTE: If colored granulated sugar is used for decoration, prepare an egg wash - 1 well beaten egg with 1 tablespoon milk - and brush over the cutout dough. Sprinkle with sugar and bake

This recipe makes approximately 120. cookies

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!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Gracious and loving God, you know our need for meaningful work. Send your Holy Spirit to guide those who are searching for employment. Help them to recognize the gifts and talents you have given them.

Deepen their desire to follow your will. Inspire them as they contact potential employers. Give them patience as they wait for responses. Shelter them from feelings of rejection. Protect them from discouragement. Give them courage to overcome fear.

Shower on them the graces they need to persevere. Let this time of searching become an opportunity to grow in faith, to cultivate the virtue of hope, and to experience your healing love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

AROUND HOME

The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed

Maximes Chamfort

Laughter is a precious gift. It is good to laugh or even smile at least once a day. There have been many studies done on the benefits of a smile. Frowns, scowls and grimaces will always push people away but a smile will always draw people in. Smiling reduces stress, boosts our immune system, lowers blood pressure, puts us in a better mood and helps us stay positive. A smile is also contagious. Once you smile there is a good chance someone else will smile too.

The refreshing power of a smile or a laugh is indeed a gift from God.

Here is a ***BIG SMILE*** for you today!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Being in a good frame of mind helps keep one in the picture of health.

Author Unknown

76 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

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

Love,

ma