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.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH, 2017
Sunrise: 6:40 am
Sunset: 8:22 pm
Life is a Special Occasion!
Hallmark
Today is Serendipity Day which encourages people to look for and notice those unexpected good things that are always out there, if we have the eyes to see them.
Serendipity is the term for a happy accident or a pleasant surprise. Of course, you can't deliberately set out to create a happy accident or it wouldn't be an accident, but you can step out of your routine, step out of your comfort zone, and try new things. Go new places. Meet new people. Listen to new music and eat new foods. When you shake things up in this way, you are preparing the ground for a serendipity or two to occur!
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
In reality, serendipity accounts for one percent of the blessings we receive in life, work and love. The other 99 percent is due to our efforts.
Peter McWilliams
I do love unexpected surprises. It’s nice when things to turn out to be much nicer than expected too. I believe that while not every day is good, there is something good to be found in every day.
Sometimes an unexpected turn of events leaves you smiling, and when that happens, we need to be appreciative and thankful. It’s these happy times that carry us through the tough times.
I’ve learned that if things are good right now, we need to enjoy it. It won’t last forever. If things are bad, don’t worry because it won’t last forever either. Just because life isn’t easy at the moment, doesn’t mean you can’t laugh. Just because something is bothering you, doesn’t mean you can’t smile. Every moment gives you a new beginning and a new ending. Happiness in the long run is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them.
They say that it’s not happiness that makes us thankful, but thankfulness that makes us happy. Showing appreciation for the good things you have is one of the most powerful happiness boosting activity there is.
This has been a very fast and busy week and while I didn’t accomplish a lot, at least I made a little headway. Although sometimes it seems I take one step forward and 2 steps back, things are better than they were.
The pictures today are just the beginning of the back to school pictures I’ve received of my grandchildren. Some won’t start for another week or two, so there will be more in the coming days.
As school begins I’d like to share this little prayer I found for the Children.
A Prayer for the World's Children
Ina Hughs
We pray for children
who sneak popsicles before supper,
who erase holes in math workbooks,
who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,
who never counted potatoes,
who are born in places where we wouldn't be caught dead,
who never go to the circus,
who live in an X-rated world.
We pray for children
who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.
And we pray for those
who never get dessert,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who can't find any bread to steal,
who don't have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren't on anyone's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We pray for children
who spend all their allowances before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories,
who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,
who get visits from the tooth fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
who squirm in church or temple and scream in the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.
And we pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anyone,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move, but have no being.
We pray for the children who want to be carried and for those who must,
for those who never give up and for those who don't get a second chance, for those we smother. . . and for those who will grab the hand of anyone kind enough to offer it.
Amen
I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Friday!
WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN
There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!
It’s National Ice Cream Pie Day. This food holiday honors this refreshing frozen dessert that comes in many delicious flavors.
If you're a fan of retro desserts with a modern twist, this recipe is for you. Taking a page from the classic baked Alaska, this pie features a strawberry ice cream filling and a meringue topping. As for that twist, the crust is made from crushed pretzels and graham crackers instead of the traditional cake bottom. It's salty sweet perfection
Baked Alaska Ice Cream Pie
3/4 cup crushed pretzel crumbs, lightly salted
3/4 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup instant milk powder
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 pint strawberry ice cream, slightly thawed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir the pretzel crumbs, graham crumbs, sugar, and milk powder together in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until combined.
Empty the mixture into a 9 inch pie pan. Press the mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides of the tin. Bake for about 9 to 10 minutes. The crust should firm up a bit and will be very fragrant. Let crust completely cool before filling.
Scoop the softened ice cream into the cooled crust. Using an offset spatula, begin to shape the ice cream so that there is a mound in the center, leaving a bit of room near the top edge of the crust for the meringue topping. Freeze until solid, or overnight.
Meringue Topping
4 large egg whites
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
In the bowl of an electric mixer, gently whisk together the egg whites and sugar by hand. Fill a medium saucepan with a few inches of water and bring to a simmer. Place the mixer bowl on top of the saucepan to create a double boiler. Whisking intermittently, heat the egg mixture until it reaches 150 to 160 degrees on a candy thermometer. Once hot, carefully move the mixer bowl back to the stand mixer.
Using the whisk attachment, beat the egg mixture on high until stiff peaks and the outside of the mixing bowl returns to room temperature. Add in the vanilla and mix for about 30 seconds.
Using an offset spatula, spread the meringue on top of the chilled ice cream. Lightly toast under the broiler just until browned. Serve immediately or place back in the freezer.
COUNTING MY GIFTS
What people call serendipity sometimes is just having your eyes open.
Jose Manuel Barroso
Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is truly is always something to be thankful for.
5173. for moments of unexpected happiness
5174. for schools and teachers
5175. for ice cream, always good
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
Whether we name divine presence synchronicity, serendipity, or graced moment matters little. What matters is the reality that our hearts have been understood. Nothing is as real as a healthy dose of magic which restores our spirits.
Nancy Long
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
2 comments:
It is that time to head back to school. Seemed like a short summer for the kids here. That was a good prayer for the children. In these days and times, much prayers are needed for them.
Betty
How tall your grands are becoming!
That necktie on the little guy is a great touch!
PS - This prayer had me teary-eyed. I'm going to share it on my FB page tonight.
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