For Tuesday, March 17th, 2020

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 17TH, 2020

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.

2 DAYS UNTIL SPRING 

Sunrise: 7:36 am

 Sunset: 7:38 pm

Life is a special occasion!!

Hallmark

Today is St. Patrick’s Day which is a celebration of St. Patrick , the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland . This a national holiday of Ireland   It’s widely celebrated here, but not an official holiday.  Celebrations are themed around all things Irish and by association the color green, by wearing green, eating Irish food and or green foods, imbibing in Irish drink and attending parades which have a long history in the United States and Canada.

St. Patrick was born and raised in Roman Britain during the 5th century.  At the age of 15 he was captured and sold as a slave to an Irish sheep farmer.  But eventually managed to excape.  He spent several years in a monastery before returning to Ireland as a Christian missionary.  

Over the years St. Patrick’s day evolved from a religious observance to a worldwide celebration of Irish culture.  In Ireland men wear shamrocks on their jackets and caps and women wear green ribbons in their hair.  

Whether you have Irish ancestors or just love a good limerick, wear something green or attend a parade to celebrate today.

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future

Irish Blessing

I think most of the parades have been cancelled due to the coronavirus and now they’ve closed most restaurants and bars in Ohio, except for carryouts and drive throughs, so there will not be as much celebrating going on as before.  We are in a new normal and here at my house I’m cooking up Irish food to celebrate.  Today it’s crockpot Corned beef and cabbage for lucK.    Lucky me, I’d say.  It’s a tasty and delusion dish.  

They say corned beef is more of an American thing and the Irish would have preferred regular roast beef, but I have a good size corn beef brisket to cook.  

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

4 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick pieces

10 baby red potatoes, quartered.

1 onion pealed and cut into bite size pieces

4 c. water

1 4 lb. corned beef brisket 

6 oz. cider or beer if desired

1 head cabbage, cut into wedges

1 spice pkg. that comes with brisket

Place the carrots, potatoes and onion in the bottom of slow cooker, pour in water and place brisket on top of vegetables.    Pour cider over brisket.  Sprinkle on the spices from the packet, Then put the cabbage over the brisket.and cover and set cooker on high.  Cook the brisket for about 8 hours  

note:  it looked like my brisket had spices already on it . I didn’t get a special spice packet with it.So I cooked it as it was.  Google says the packets are usually included which include a blend of peppercorns, bayleaves, mustard seeds, dill seeds and a variety of other spices. You can also make your own, using bayleaves mustard seeds, dill seeds allspice, cloves, nutmeg and coriander seeds. You sprinkle the spices over the fatty side  The beef will get infused with their flavors.  A lot of people will use beer instead of cider when cooking their’s but I rarely have beer on hand and always have cider, so cider it is.

I love the story of St. Patrick who brought Christianity to the Irish, using the 3 leaves of a shamrock to explain the holy trinity, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Sprit, saying it was like  one leaf in three.  Legend has it that he also rid The Emerald Isle of snakes.  There is story of him standing on a hill using a wooden staff to drive the serpents into the sea banishing them from Ireland. The story is likely a metaphor for his bringing Christianity to Ireland and driving out pagen gods.

I do happen to have some Irish ancestors, but not sure just haw much Irish I have in me.  Some day I’m going to have that DNA test and find out.  Anyway I have enough to make me Irish !

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

Irish Blessing

I Hope you all have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!  Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

St. Patrick’s Day is a day to celebrate our green heritage.  The ancestry of Ireland.  It’s a day to celebrate  what it means to be Irish and of Irish descent. 

Anthony T. Hicks

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

7940. for ST. Patrick, a saint to be remembered

7941. for shamrocks that teach a lesson

7942. for a wee bit of the Irish in me

.

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!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time — a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.

Adrienne Cook

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma