For Monday, November 7th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

NOVEMBER 7TH,  2011

It's MONDAY!

DEAR SANTA LETTER WEEK BEGINS

November 7-13 is Dear Santa Letter week around the nation. This early start to a letter-writing campaign for the big guy can be a great way for you to spend time with your child, helping them write their own list and find out exactly what they are looking for this holiday season. Many children will still opt to write an old fashioned paper letter to Santa and mail it while others may want to use technology to their advantage and email it to him. No matter how your child chooses to send their list, encouragement and quality time is the most important aspect of this yearly task. 

To me, the beginning of November seems a bit early to be writing letters to Santa. I'm still eating Halloween candy, and we haven’t even hit Thanksgiving yet.

Maybe I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a kid. The child universe revolves around Christmas.

I know that some kids never grow up so there may be a few adults that might want to make their list this week too.  Remember Santa will be checking his list, to see if you've been naughty or nice this year.

Make your list, check it twice and hope against hope that Santa has put you on his nice list this year

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

Chocolate is a vegetable, made from cocoa beans. Almonds are good for you, as they help to improve your Cholesterol levels. So, bittersweet chocolate with almonds is good for you, right!?This is a delicious bar with a dough base, almond pastry filling and melted chocolate drizzled on top. You may cut these bars are large as you desire but I like to cut about 40 little bars and nibble throughout the day.

I hope you enjoy these tasty chocolate gooey bars on a beautiful fall day like today.

Chocolate Glazed Almond Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup dark brown sugar, packed

½ teaspoon sea salt

¾ cup unsalted butter, cold

3 egg whites

1 cup granulated white sugar

1 can (12-1/2 ounces) almond cake and pastry filling

2 cups sliced almonds

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat into a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350F degrees for 18-22 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Meanwhile, in another large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites, sugar and almond filling until blended. Stir in almonds. Pour over crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set. Cool completely on a wire rack.

In a microwave, melt chocolate; drizzle over top. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Makes about 40 bars

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 I'm thankful for the gifts that don't cost anything

The Gift of Listening . . .

But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

The Gift of Affection . . .

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

The Gift of Laughter . . .

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, I love to laugh with you.

The Gift of a Written Note . . .

It can be a simple Thanks for the help note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

The Gift of a Compliment . . .

A simple and sincere, You look great in red, You did a super job, or That was a wonderful meal can make someone's day.

The Gift of a Favor . . .

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

The Gift of Solitude . . .

There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition . . .

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really, it's not that hard to say Hello or Thank You.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other.
                  
    Mother Teresa

45 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

49 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

 

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

Love,

ma