For Sunday, October 1st, 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, OCTOBER 1ST, 2017

81 DAYS UNTIL WINTER 

Sunrise: 7:25 am

 Sunset: 7:09 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Welcome October !

 October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, American Pharmacist Month, Apple Jack Month, Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Clergy Appreciation Month, Computer Learning Month, Cookie Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Eat Country Ham Month, International Drum Month, National Diabetes Month, National Pizza Month, National Vegetarian Month, National Popcorn Popping Month, Sarcastic Month and Seafood Month.

Today is Change a Light Day which is a reminder to do your bit for the environment and upgrade your old lights to new energy saving lightbulbs. Energy saving lightbulbs are generally more efficient, cheaper, and last longer than conventional lightbulbs.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Light is good from whatever lamp it shines.  

Author Unknown

Here at my house, the lamps all have energy saving bulbs in them. I’ve found that they definitely do last much longer than the others.  Saving energy when we can is important for our environment and it’s one small thing that I can do to help.

My house has lots of windows that let natural light in so all summer lamps were rarely used, but now with the daylight hours decreasing, they’ll be used more and more.  There are some days in the winter that are so dark, they are needed all day long.  

October days are here and for me, that means more time spent indoors and more cooking and baking will be going on.  The salads and sandwiches which often made a meal for me in the summer will change to soups and stews.  I made a big pot of stew on Friday that has provided some good eating all weekend.  Thankfully, I will have plenty of leaf raking to do so I’ll be getting some exercise. 

It’s my day to relax and refresh once more.  There will be more busy days ahead and I want to be ready for them.  They say a Sunday well spent means a week of content!

I hope you all have a RELAXING Sunday!

Homemade Hash I had earlier in the week

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

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

It’s Homemade Cookies Day! Rather than stop by the store for your favorite brand of cookie, bake up your own batch of cookies today! Whether you use a family recipe or browse online for a fun new recipe to try, today is the perfect day to bake up delicious cookies.

On one of our trips to the Amish Farmers Market they had some Oatmeal Whoopie Pies for sale that were delicious so I’m going to try and make some up for myself.  I found this recipe that might just work. For those that don’t know…whoopie pies are 2 cookies put together with a frosting like filling in the middle.

Oatmeal Whoopie Pies

3/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups packed soft light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 tsp baking soda
3 Tbs boiling water
Filling:
1 large egg white
1 Tbs vanilla extract
2 Tbs milk
2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, softened

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a couple of baking sheets and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in the eggs. In another bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Beat this into the creamed mixture. Stir in the oats and cinnamon. Mix all together well. Stir together the baking soda and the boiled water. Stir this mixture into the rest of the batter, mixing it in well. Drop by the tablespoon onto the baking sheets, placing them at least 2 inches apart. 

Bake until the cookies are firm and just starting to turn golden around the edges, some 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the baking sheets to wire racks to cool completely when done. 

Combine the egg white, vanilla, milk and 1 cup of the icing sugar. Cream well together. Add the remaining icing sugar and the shortening, beating all together until smooth. Spread 1 Tablespoon of the filling on the bottom of one cookie and top with a second cookie.

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.   It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Melody Beattie

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

5305. for light to darken dark days

5306. for cookies, homemade are the best

5307. for a day to rest, relax and refresh

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

There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  

Edith Wharton

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma