For Tuesday, February 28th, 2017

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2017

21 DAYS UNTIL SPRING 

Sunrise: 7:04 am

 Sunset: 6:18 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Happy Birthday to our little Lucky Guy today!

May the dear Lord bless you today and always !

I hope this special day is a very special one for you!

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

A party without cake is just a meeting. 

Julia Child

Yes, I did get to celebrate with this grandson this past Sunday.  It was a joy to be able to be present for a change.  Too many of my family's birthdays are long distance celebrations.  The pictures today were of his party .  It had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme.  And believe me there were several little Ninjas there, but not one of them was a teenager.  

Today is also Fat Tuesday which is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is also known as Mardi Gras Day, Pancake Dary or Shrove Day. It is a day when people eat all they want of everything and anything they want as the following day is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of a long fasting period for Christians. In addition to fasting, they also give up something special that they enjoy. So, Fat Tuesday is a celebration and the opportunity to enjoy that favorite food or snack that you give up for the long Lenten season.

The following is a list of things I try to give up for Lent. 

Give up complaining——focus on gratitude.

Give up pessimism——become an optimist.

Give up harsh judgments——think kindly thoughts.

Give up worry——trust Divine Providence.

Give up discouragement——be full of hope.

Give up bitterness——turn to forgiveness.

Give up hatred——return good for evil.

Give up negativism——be positive.

Give up anger——be more patient.

Give up pettiness——become mature.

Give up gloom——enjoy the beauty that is all around you.

Give up jealousy——pray for trust.

Give up gossiping——control your tongue.

Give up sin——turn to virtue.

Give up giving up——hang in there!
 

I found this list many years ago now and hang it on the refrigerator  as a reminder.

I hope you all have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!

Today is Chocolate Souffle Day.  Notoriously tricky to make, a chocolate soufflé is certain to impress your guests if you can pull it off.  Though cheese soufflés may be better known, everyone with a sweet tooth will prefer a chocolate soufflé instead!

There is definitely no baking going on here at my house but I found this recipe to share in case you want to make your own.

CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE

2 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. flour
1 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 sq. melted unsweetened chocolate
3 tbsp. hot water
3 egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla
3 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Melt butter and blend in flour. Add milk slowly and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add sugar and salt. Mix chocolate with 3 tablespoons water and add to mixture. Cool. Add egg yolks and beat until light. Add vanilla. Fold in egg whites. Turn into greased baking dish. Set in pan of hot water. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. Serves 6.

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Children make your life important. 

Erma Bombeck

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

4699.for our little Lucky Guy, it’s his birthday today!

4700.  for chocolate, always good and good for you too

4701. for pancakes, good for breakfast or for dinner

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

  

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.  

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Monday, February 7th, 2017

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2017

22 DAYS UNTIL SPRING 

Sunrise: 7:05 am

 Sunset: 6:17 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is No Brainer Day ! This day is for me!

By definition, a 'No brainer' is dong something that is simple, easy, obvious, and/or totally logical. Therefore, today is the day for you to do all those 'no brainer' tasks and activities. If a project requires thinking, study, or analysis of any kind, then its not the chore to do today.

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Dr. Seuss

It seems like my brain has been on overload for months and I’m ready to give it a rest.  The ordinary tasks of an ordinary day sounds wonderful to me.  Today is probably a good day to get the laundry done up.  Folding fresh warm towels out of the dryer can be a soothing thing to do.  And of course, I will also continue with the ongoing job of packing.

It’s a ‘no brainer’ here that I still have way to much stuff.  I’m going to have to get really ruthless and as I finish up the packing, more things are going to have to go.  There is some storage space at my new home, but not enough to handle what I’ve got.

We had a wonderful time at our Little Lucky Guys party yesterday and I’ll be showing some pictures of it tomorrow when it is officially his birthday.

Starting off this week with our high temp reaching 50 and they say there is a chance of rain later on.  

I hope you all have a GREAT start to this new week.  Happy Monday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!

Today is Strawberry Day which was created to celebrate those little red fruits bursting with sweet perfection! A gift from Chile in the 1700s, garden strawberry plants made their way to North America in the 1750s. The plant is fairly easy to grow and doesn’t seem adverse to flourishing anywhere in the world. 

The recipe below is very simple and easy way to make a dessert for a crowd.

Strawberry Trifle

1 Angel Food Cake
1 pt. whipping cream 
1 can Eagle Brand milk
8oz. Cream Cheese
2 qt. fresh strawberries, washed and sliced

Use a Glass Trifle Bowl for this dessert. Break cake into pieces. Combine cream cheese and Eagle Brand milk.

Beat whipping cream until thick; fold in cream cheese and Eagle Brand milk.

Place 1/2 of cake in bowl, then 1/2 of the whipping cream mixture. Layer strawberries on top and around sides, then remaining cake, mixture and top with strawberries. Cover with air tight wrap and refrigerate for several hours or over night.

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your lives and into the lives of all those around you. 

Eileen Caddy

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

4696. for simple easy to do jobs that require no thinking

4697. for a clothes dryer that works

4698. for strawberries, they are filled with sunshine!

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

  

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

 An ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains. 

Dutch Proverb 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Sunday, February 26th, 2017

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2017

23 DAYS UNTIL SPRING 

Sunrise: 7:06 am

 Sunset: 6:16 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Tell a Fairy Tale Day which is a day that Fairy Tales are made of. Today is a great opportunity to read your kids or if the kids aren't around, its certainly okay to read them alone. Everybody loves a good fairy tale.

To qualify as a fairy tale, a story does not have to begin with 'Once upon a time’,  but they usually do. It is a requirement, however that the story has a happy ending. There's nothing better than a good story that ends with 'and they all lived happily ever after’. 

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.

Hans Christian Andersen

Today I’ll be going to our little Lucky Guy’s birthday party which was scheduled for last Saturday and then moved to Sunday.  Due to a tummy virus it was then cancelled and moved to this Sunday.  I’m thinking the 3rd try will be the charm.  

Our weather has turned colder and highs today will probably be about 45 degrees.  This is still warm for February and it’s to be sunny later on.  

I’ll be praying for all traveling to and from for this celebration.  It would be nice if we all lived close by, but not possible so when a special occasion comes along it means traveling for most of us.  Still we do it when time allows. Family is important. 

Today I’m wishing you all a happy ever after!

If you see the magic in a fairy tale, you can face the future. 

Danielle Steel

I hope you all have a RELAXING Sunday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!

Pistachio Day celebrates the popular nut, which are native to the Middle East. The largest producer of pistachio nuts today is Iran but they are also grown in other areas, including California and Mediterranean Europe.

Pistachios are not just eaten as a snack, they are also used in cooking and their sweet flavor sometimes finds them used in desserts.  

Studies have even suggested that eating moderate amounts of pistachios can help keep your heart healthy!

I found this easy recipe to make for St. Patrick’s Day which will soon be coming up in March.  It uses pistachio pudding mix which is green.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CAKE

1 pkg. white cake mix
4 eggs
1 c. vegetable oil
1 c. 7 Up
1 pkg. pistachio instant pudding mix, 3 3/4 oz. size

Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat for 4 minutes. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Bake in 350 degree oven 30 to 35 minutes, cool.

FROSTING:

1 (3 3/4 oz.) pkg. pistachio instant pudding mix
1 1/2 c. milk
1  carton Cool Whip,  8 oz. size

Combine pudding mix and milk. Beat for 2 minutes. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over cake. Chill until served.

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it.

 Alexandre Dumas

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

4693. for family, they are important

4694. for dreams that come true

4695. for a sunny day which means the roads are clear for travel

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

  

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly! 

Author Unknown

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma