For Friday, May 31st, 2019

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, MAY 31ST, 2019

21 Days until Summer

Sunrise: 5:58 am

 Sunset: 8:54 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is What You Think Upon Grows Day which honors Norman Vincent Peale who was born on this date in 1898.  He is famous for writing The Power of Positive Thinking.

We’ve all experience the effect of a negative attitude, just as we’ve experienced that of a positive attitude. Your outlook on situations greatly impact their effect.  If you go into a situation believing it will end badly, it probably will.

Our thoughts are very powerful.  What we dwell upon becomes our reality.  Just for today try to keep positive and see how your attitude changes.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life.

Joel Osteen

I like to look on the bright side of life and keep a positive attitude.  Why feel miserable when you can be happy.  Every day may not be a good one but there is some good to be found in every day when you take the time to look for it.

Hard as it is to believe that the month of May has come to an end, I’m looking forward to June and hoping we see a lot more sunnier weather that what May brought here in Ohio.

If you happen to live where sunshine is the norm, count yourself blessed.  Here the gloomy rainy days are getting to me.  We do have longer days with more daylight but when it’s dark and cloudy more than not, it tends to wear you down.

I try not to complain, because it’s definitely better than winter time.  We are no longer freezing in the cold, the days are warmer and longer and I am thankful for that.

The good news is that today to is to be mostly sunny!  A rare sight that is good for sore eyes for sure.  And for me it’s going to mean a day of yard work and doing things outside.  Not an indoor day at all.  

The patio ond patio furniture on the carport needs a good washing down and the cushions for the chairs need a good washing too.  I’m going to enjoy every moment!

They say being outside is good for you.  It can help you escape from the stress of daily living.  It improves your mood and mental health.  Nature has positive effects on the mind, body, and soul.

 I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Friday! 

COUNTING MY GIFTS

When you think positive, good things happen.

Matt Kemp

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

7114. for positive thoughts, they improve our attitude

7115. for being able to get outside, good for the body, mind and soul.

7116. for a patio and a porch, my favorite place to be

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

It’s not the situation, but whether we react negative or respond positive to the situation that is important.

Zig Ziglar

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Thursday, May 30th, 2019

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.

THURSDAY, MAY 30TH, 2019

22 Days until Summer

Sunrise: 5:58 am

 Sunset: 8:53 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Water a Flower Day which is a reminder to water your flowers.  This time of year our flowers should be in full bloom so let's keep them hydrated.  To keep our flowers alive we have to water them. 

To celebrate take good care of your flowers today and give them a drink.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days.

Robert Leighton

With all the rain we’ve been having I’d say that any outdoor flowers have had more than enough water around here.  Now they need some sunshine.  We have rain showers predicted again today too.  

Many have had worse weather here in Ohio with tornadoes and flooding, so I’m thankful that all we’ve had is rain.  

With Memorial Day came the unofficial beginning of summer so I decided it was time to make my Summer Bucket List.

Go to the beach

Attend the county fair

Buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers market

Take more bike rides

Make S’mores

Eat Ice Cream for dinner

Spend time on the porch with a good book

Watch fireworks

Go to a baseball game

Eat watermelon

Watch the sunset

These are not big ideals, but ones I want to do .  Summer is short and I’d like to make the most of it.

I’m going to try and get out today to pick up a few groceries, I don’t need much, but the bananas and the donuts are gone.  Other than that I hope to get back to the craft project I was working on week before last and see if I can finish that up.  

Quiet days here for me this week as usual.  This time last week one of my granddaughters was  providing plenty of entrainment for me by blowing bubbles, as you can see in the pictures today.

 I hope you all have a GREAT day.  Happy Thursday! 

COUNTING MY GIFTS

The earth laughs in flowers.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

7111. for flowers, they always make me smile

7112. for a project to work on, keeps me out of trouble

7113. for our weathermen, keeping us up to date on the weather

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

Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.

Luther Burbank

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Wednesday, May 29th, 2019

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.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29TH, 2019

23 Days until Summer

Sunrise: 5:59 am

 Sunset: 8:53 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers which is a day to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in the United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage and to honor the memories of those that have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Lord make me an instrument of thy peace.  Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Francis of Assisi

There is a lot of good to be said about keeping the peace.  But it’s sad that in order to do so some lost their lives.  Peace is something most of us desire, but it isn’t always easy to find.

I consider myself a peaceful person and like to be able to make others feel peace filled too. My home is my peaceful place, my oasis from the world.  I avoid confrontations of any kind when ever it’s possible.  Life is just to short to be anything but happy.

Happiness and peace go together.  The way I look at it, you can’t have one without the other.  

Here it is mid week already and it seems as if my week has just begun.  Today is my day to cook.  My weekend leftovers are gone.  What I cook today will last me through the end of the week and then I’ll cook something up new for the weekend.  

I had some frozen meatballs I needed to use up so this is what I decided to make for dinner.

Cheese Baked Pasta with Meatballs

Makes 8 servings

 24 frozen meatballs, 

16 oz rotini pasta

2 jars, 24 oz each, marina sauce

1 c. water

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.

In a large saucepan, combine meatballs, marinara sauce and water.  Bring it to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

Stir in pasta and basil. Transfer to a 13 by 9 inch baking dish and sprinkle with the cheeses.  

Bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve with a salad and some crusty bread

I don’t happen to have any marinara sauce so I’ll be making my own. I found this easy recipe to use too.

Homemade Marinara Sauce

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1/8 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

Heat a medium saucepan over medium low heat.  Add oil and garlic, sauté for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add crushed tomatoes, salt pepper, sugar and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring to combine.  Simmer for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally then add more seasonings if desired.

This recipe can serve as the starting point for many other sauce variations.  You can add fresh basil, onions and any other preferred add ins.

For lack of any new pictures of my own, I’m sharing a few of DS#6’s Memorial Day photos.  They are appreciated.

 I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Wednesday! 

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Whatever we are waiting for - peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance  it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

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

7108.  for peace, very needed in our world today

7109. for plenty of good food to eat, many do not have enough

7110. for happiness, it begins with peace

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

Share your smile with the world.  It’s a symbol of friendship and peace.

Christie Brinkley

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma