For Saturday, February 10th, 2018

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.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, 2018

38 DAYS UNTIL SPRING 

Sunrise: 7:29 am

 Sunset: 5:56 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Umbrella Day which honors one of the worlds most invaluable inventions.  Umbrellas come in all sorts of sizes, colors, shapes and designs.  The smallest umbrellas fit inside a purse or glove compartment.  Golf umbrellas are popular sizes.  Then there are lawn and beach umbrellas.  There is one or two made just for you.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy day.

As strange as it seems we may need an umbrella at some point this weekend.  With temps warming to above freezing, we are expecting a wintry mix of snow and rain.  It’s nice to be warmer but snow and rain can make for dangerously slippery conditions.  Slipping and sliding around is not good whether you are walking or driving.

Of course my favorite kind of umbrella is a beach umbrella and I’m looking forward to summer days when they will be needed.  We have a nice pool here with tables, chairs and umbrellas all around and that is what is in the pictures today.  

Umbrellas just aren’t for keeping you dry, they shade you from the sun too.  Right now some sunshine would feel very good.  Although we can’t bottle it up and pull some out when we need it. I do have a bottle labeled sunshine, where you are to put slips of paper in with sunny moments for the year written on them.  It’s sort of nice to pull one out on a dark and gloomy day and remember a happy time.

I hope you all have a SUPER Saturday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

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

It’s National Cream Cheese Brownie Day.  The brownie is America’s favorite bar cookie.  There are hundreds of different brownie recipes but today we celebrate the sweet, rich and creamy flavors of a cream cheese brownie.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies

1 c. butter, softened

1 small 3 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened

2 c. sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup flour

3/4 c. cocoa

1/4 tsp.baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 c. nuts chopped

Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease bottom of 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan

Beat butter, cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to butter mixture until well blended.  Stir in nuts.  Spread batter in prepared pan.

Bake 40 to 45 minute until brownie begin to pull away from sides of pan.  Cool completely.  Prepare frosting, spread over brownies. Cut into bars.

Brownie Frosting

3 tbsp. butter, softened

3 tbsp. cocoa

1 1/3 c. powdered sugar

3/4 tsp. vanilla

1 to 2 tbsp. milk

1 tbsp. light corn syrup, optional

Beat butter and cocoa in small bowl until blended.  gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating well.  Add 2 tbsp. milk and corn syrup, if desired.  Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency.  Add additional  milk, 1/2 tbsp. at a time, if needed.  

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Prayer is like an umbrella

in the storms of life 

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

5701. for umbrellas, a wonderful invention

5702.for chocolate, brownies are good

5703. for warmer days, we’re out of the deep freeze

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

The mind is like an umbrella - it functions best when open.

Walter Gropius

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma