May we all be thankful for the blessings in our lives...
All in a Word (by Aileen Fisher)
T for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.
H for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday.
A for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart.
N for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember.
K for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon.
S for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that abounds.
That spells ~~~THANKS---for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Quote
Friends...pick you up when you have a down day, share your good times and help you wade to higher ground when you are struggling. SLW Nov 2009
The Little Things
What makes life special? We all have routines. We get up at a certain time during the work week. Some people eat the same breakfast every day. Others have to have a hot shower, a cup of coffee or tea before they start their day. At times, I feel like I am going through the motions and life is ticking away. We are all too busy. Life is hectic. I prefer the slow lane in life. The “stop and smell the roses” path.
So what is life? Are we important? What role do we each play? What role do I play? I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a wife, a mother, a friend. I am part of my family, the family I married into, my employers’ family and my church family. I have friends that I consider family. That is a lot of LIFE to consider and think about.
Yesterday, I received an email from a high school, no an elementary, friend. He is a dear friend that thinks enough of me to send me emails with strong messages. He knows how to “punch” me and set my mind in motion and leave me with tears in my eyes. I get after him about that, telling him he needs to warn me that I might need a tissue or two. Today Todd forgot that warning. In the email he sent were some words that touched me and made me think, thus write this. Those words were:
So why am I writing this. After reading the story about a cabbie that picked up an old woman and drove her around for 2 hours before taking her to the hospice residence, he spent time with her, talked with her and made her feel special and loved. I thought, "It is the simple, pure things we do in life that really matter." I smile a lot, I say hello to strangers as I walk by. Those are little things that I hope brighten someone’s day. People have asked me why I smile often. First, it makes me feel good even when I am having a “gray” day. Second, I know smiles are contagious. Third, why not smile?
Funerals and memorial services are not high on anyone’s list of events to attend; however, think about why you are there. People gather to celebrate that persons’ life. Celebrate. We celebrate their life as they are in a better place than we are. We mourn our loss as we are left here without them and their absence will be felt. I like to hear what others have to say about the person that has departed. People mention good deeds, helping others, giving of their time, putting others before themselves. At my great-aunts funeral, my uncle mentioned my aunts’ cookie jar. A cookie jar, of all things. I smiled because I too, remembered her cookie jar. Her cookie jar was never empty and she always offered him cookies and then made him take a few extra cookies, just in case. It was a small gesture to her, but it obviously meant a great deal to him and others as he recalled it. The little things that people remember because they were touched by that person. They felt special and loved.
I enjoy slipping little notes in our children’s lunch pails. I want them to know, even though we are apart, I love them and think about them. I cut their sandwiches with cookie cutters for a special touch. Occasionally, I drop Hershey kisses into my husbands’ lunch pail (sweets for my sweetie). I love to hug my family.
I’ll ask someone in a parking lot if I can take their empty cart back to the store for them. I hold a door. I say thank you, please and have a nice day. I send a short email – just to say, "Hello, I am thinking of you." I know there are many more ways, simple things I can do throughout the day to make someone feel good, even for a second.
Do something simple today. Make a difference. Take the time, slow down and make a “heart print” on some one. Make them feel good, special, loved!
So what is life? Are we important? What role do we each play? What role do I play? I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a wife, a mother, a friend. I am part of my family, the family I married into, my employers’ family and my church family. I have friends that I consider family. That is a lot of LIFE to consider and think about.
Yesterday, I received an email from a high school, no an elementary, friend. He is a dear friend that thinks enough of me to send me emails with strong messages. He knows how to “punch” me and set my mind in motion and leave me with tears in my eyes. I get after him about that, telling him he needs to warn me that I might need a tissue or two. Today Todd forgot that warning. In the email he sent were some words that touched me and made me think, thus write this. Those words were:
We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will ALWAYS remember HOW you made them feel.
So why am I writing this. After reading the story about a cabbie that picked up an old woman and drove her around for 2 hours before taking her to the hospice residence, he spent time with her, talked with her and made her feel special and loved. I thought, "It is the simple, pure things we do in life that really matter." I smile a lot, I say hello to strangers as I walk by. Those are little things that I hope brighten someone’s day. People have asked me why I smile often. First, it makes me feel good even when I am having a “gray” day. Second, I know smiles are contagious. Third, why not smile?
Funerals and memorial services are not high on anyone’s list of events to attend; however, think about why you are there. People gather to celebrate that persons’ life. Celebrate. We celebrate their life as they are in a better place than we are. We mourn our loss as we are left here without them and their absence will be felt. I like to hear what others have to say about the person that has departed. People mention good deeds, helping others, giving of their time, putting others before themselves. At my great-aunts funeral, my uncle mentioned my aunts’ cookie jar. A cookie jar, of all things. I smiled because I too, remembered her cookie jar. Her cookie jar was never empty and she always offered him cookies and then made him take a few extra cookies, just in case. It was a small gesture to her, but it obviously meant a great deal to him and others as he recalled it. The little things that people remember because they were touched by that person. They felt special and loved.
I enjoy slipping little notes in our children’s lunch pails. I want them to know, even though we are apart, I love them and think about them. I cut their sandwiches with cookie cutters for a special touch. Occasionally, I drop Hershey kisses into my husbands’ lunch pail (sweets for my sweetie). I love to hug my family.
I’ll ask someone in a parking lot if I can take their empty cart back to the store for them. I hold a door. I say thank you, please and have a nice day. I send a short email – just to say, "Hello, I am thinking of you." I know there are many more ways, simple things I can do throughout the day to make someone feel good, even for a second.
Do something simple today. Make a difference. Take the time, slow down and make a “heart print” on some one. Make them feel good, special, loved!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tooth Fairy Visit
A couple of weeks ago, our son told us, yet again, that he had a loose tooth. So I asked him to show me and this time, he was actually right. He had a lose tooth. He was anxious about losing his first tooth. I told him to wiggle it with his tongue (no fingers in the mouth please) but he informed me he could not do that as his tongue “gets too tired’. What was I thinking when I suggested that?
This weekend, it was quite loose so he asked his father if it was ready to be “plucked” out. On Saturday, he bravely asked his father to tie dental floss around the tooth. Remember that old trick? Floss, tooth, door handle – tooth still in mouth. We took a different approach. I think the slamming of a door worried our little guy.
We gathered in our bedroom and watched. I took pictures and we all laughed. First of all, tying floss around a tiny tooth is a challenge; however, the Big Guy was persistent.
The one time he managed to get it tied, he gave the ends to the Little Big Guy to pull. Pull…and he decided not to. So the Big Guy untied it. I really did not think that he could untie it but he is good. Our Little Big Guy went to bed with a mouth full of teeth.
Sunday morning, while eating breakfast he came over to me and said his tooth bothered him. He could not eat. So I suggested he go get a washcloth and I would try one time to pluck it out. After all, it was quite lose. So with an open mouth, he approached me hesitantly. Carefully, I grasped his little white tooth and pulled up. Pluck. I heard it but did he? He shut his mouth and said “You can try later”. I opened the wash cloth and said, “You need to go rinse your mouth as I have your tooth”.
He grinned from ear to ear then ran to the bathroom hooting and hollering. After rinsing and spitting (why do little boys love to spit?) he was all smiles, all day long. And his attitude changed – that wasn’t so bad! It came right out – whaoooo!
When his father returned home, he told him he could pluck his tooth out, just as innocent as could be. His father was agreeable and started to head to the house when our son grinned and revealed his secret. Nice trick-thanks for telling him that sissy!
So November started off with a visit from the tooth fairy and questions about the tooth fairy. One “person” that is quite mysterious. So we answer the questions as best we can or we ask our children what they think. How does she know when a tooth is placed under a child’s pillow? (Answer: A bell rings).
There are some questions we, as parents, still cannot answer. But the delight in a childs’ eyes and the toothless grin - PRICELESS! I still find myself looking at his mouth quite often and smiling.
This weekend, it was quite loose so he asked his father if it was ready to be “plucked” out. On Saturday, he bravely asked his father to tie dental floss around the tooth. Remember that old trick? Floss, tooth, door handle – tooth still in mouth. We took a different approach. I think the slamming of a door worried our little guy.
We gathered in our bedroom and watched. I took pictures and we all laughed. First of all, tying floss around a tiny tooth is a challenge; however, the Big Guy was persistent.
The one time he managed to get it tied, he gave the ends to the Little Big Guy to pull. Pull…and he decided not to. So the Big Guy untied it. I really did not think that he could untie it but he is good. Our Little Big Guy went to bed with a mouth full of teeth.
Sunday morning, while eating breakfast he came over to me and said his tooth bothered him. He could not eat. So I suggested he go get a washcloth and I would try one time to pluck it out. After all, it was quite lose. So with an open mouth, he approached me hesitantly. Carefully, I grasped his little white tooth and pulled up. Pluck. I heard it but did he? He shut his mouth and said “You can try later”. I opened the wash cloth and said, “You need to go rinse your mouth as I have your tooth”.
He grinned from ear to ear then ran to the bathroom hooting and hollering. After rinsing and spitting (why do little boys love to spit?) he was all smiles, all day long. And his attitude changed – that wasn’t so bad! It came right out – whaoooo!
When his father returned home, he told him he could pluck his tooth out, just as innocent as could be. His father was agreeable and started to head to the house when our son grinned and revealed his secret. Nice trick-thanks for telling him that sissy!
So November started off with a visit from the tooth fairy and questions about the tooth fairy. One “person” that is quite mysterious. So we answer the questions as best we can or we ask our children what they think. How does she know when a tooth is placed under a child’s pillow? (Answer: A bell rings).
There are some questions we, as parents, still cannot answer. But the delight in a childs’ eyes and the toothless grin - PRICELESS! I still find myself looking at his mouth quite often and smiling.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Dinner Rolls
Today we made dinner rolls. I had a recipe put aside that I have been wanting to make for a year at least. I put it aside and could not find it so I found another dinner roll recipe. I mixed it up, kneaded it and let it rise.
Wow - see what a nice warm oven does for the rising process! After our daughter punched it down, I divided the dough and cut each half into twelve parts. My associate bakers rolled those into balls and set them in the pans to cover and rise again.
Then before our venison dinner was done cooking, I put the rolls into the oven to bake. The smell had all of us standing in the kitchen, waiting. Waiting for the timer to go off, butter knife in hand.
We found another "keeper" recipe! Light and airy, oh yeah. We'll make these again for Thanksgiving dinner.
I'm thinking warm roll with jam on it for breakfast. It would be a nice compliment to a hot cup of tea!
Wow - see what a nice warm oven does for the rising process! After our daughter punched it down, I divided the dough and cut each half into twelve parts. My associate bakers rolled those into balls and set them in the pans to cover and rise again.
Then before our venison dinner was done cooking, I put the rolls into the oven to bake. The smell had all of us standing in the kitchen, waiting. Waiting for the timer to go off, butter knife in hand.
We found another "keeper" recipe! Light and airy, oh yeah. We'll make these again for Thanksgiving dinner.
I'm thinking warm roll with jam on it for breakfast. It would be a nice compliment to a hot cup of tea!
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