The other day I was going through a lot of papers I have as we are making a move from Australia back to the US very soon. I came across a folder of papers I was just going to toss out because they aren't relevant to my situation anymore but they were too helpful to just throw out to never been seen again. They are papers I found helpful as a young mother. I gleaned ideas of fun things to do with my children. I found them particularly helpful during the long breaks from school.
With that in mind I have decided to transfer the information to my blog in hopes that others will find it useful.
The first paper I pulled out to share with you was an article by the dear Erma Bombeck.
Treat Friends, Kids The Same
On TV the other day, a leading child psychologist said parents should treat their children as they would treat their best friend...with courtesy, dignity and diplomacy.
"I have never treated my children any other ways," I told myself. But later that night, I thought about it. Did I really talk to my best friends like I talked to my children? Just suppose.....our good friends, Fred and Eleanor, came to dinner one night and......
"Well, it's about time you two got here! What have you been doing? Dawdling? Leave those shoes outside, Fred. They've got mud on them. And shut the door. Were you born in a barn?
"So Eleanor, how have you been? I've been meaning to have you over for such a long time. Fred! Take it easy on the chip dip or you'll ruin your dinner. I didn't work over a hot stove all day long to have you nibble like some bird."
"Heard from any of the gang lately? Got a card from the Martins. Yes, they're in Lauderdale again. They go every year to the same spot. What's the matter with you, Fred? You're fidgeting. Of course you have to go. It's down the hall, first door on the left. And I don't want to see a towel in the middle of the floor when you're finished.
"Did you wash your face before you came, Eleanor? I see a dark spot around your mouth. I guess it's a shadow. Do, how are your children? If you ask me I think summer school is great for them. Is everybody hungry? Then, why don't we go into dinner? You all wash up and I'll take up the food. Don't tell me your hands are clean, Eleanor. I saw you playing with the dog.
"Fred, you sit over there and Eleanor you can sit with the half glass of milk. You know you're all elbows with it comes to milk. There now, your host will say grace.
"Fred, I don't see any cauliflower on your plate. Have you ever tried it? Well, try a spoonful. If you don't like it I won't make you finish it, but if you don't try it, you can just forget dessert. And sit up straight or your spine will grow that way. Now, what were we talking about? Oh yes, the Gerbers. They sold their house. I mean they took a beating but....Eleanore, don't talk with food in your mouth. I can't understand a word you're saying. And use your napkin."
At that moment in my fantasy, my son walked into the room. "How nice of you to come," I said pleasantly.
"Now what did I do?" he sighed.
Erma Bombeck
How close to the mark is she? Do we really speak to our children as we should?
Of course we need to teach our children not to speak with food in their mouth and to leave muddy shoes outside, but can't we do it in such a way as to not crush their spirit at the same time?
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
November 22, 2010
May 15, 2010
Happiness Machine
Here is a video clip of the Coco-Cola Happiness Machine. It just makes me smile every time I watch it. I would have loved to have been a part of something like this.
ENJOY
ENJOY
February 18, 2009
Be of Good Cheer
I was driving with my oldest son a few years ago and asked him:
"If I die before you have children, what will you tell them about me?"
He told me that was a strange question but he'd give it some thought. Later on he said to me, "I know what I'd tell them. I'd tell them you were funny."
YES!!!!!!!!!! That's perfect.
Last year I also asked my 11yr old son the same question. He said “I’d tell them that you THINK you’re funny.”
I LOVE a good laugh. I enjoy making others laugh and be happy.
Many years ago when I was a young adult, we were up in Redcliffe for a young adult conference. It was early morning...maybe 1am. There was a bunch of people already down at the beach so my sister and I along with our friends, walked down to the beach.
The group was there alright. They were sitting on the cement steps that lead down to the beach. I thought it would be so funny if I was to leap over the stairs, right onto the beach in front of everyone and go "BOO"....or something like that. It was going to be soooo funny. I took a little run off and as I hit the top step to jump to the sand, my feet didn't move. Instead of jumping to the sand I fell SMACK onto the cement steps. Hitting each one on the way down. I was on the beach with everyone around me. I decided that was the funniest thing EVER!!! Although I was in pain I saw the funny side of it and to this day I WISH it was on video so I could see it. I joked about the 'beached whale'. I could hardly breathe. It turned out I had broken a few ribs but it was still FUNNY.
The topic of this evening has been "Be of good cheer".
I'd like to think that I am 'of good cheer' altho my daughter would say that I find the negative and make fun of it. For example:
People tell me there's a light at the end of the tunnel. In my life it has turned out that the light was a TRAIN!!!!!
Life isn't passing me by.....it's trying to RUN ME OVER!!!!!!!!!!!
People have put their arm around me and said "This too shall pass"....I say "So do kidney stones and they're not much fun either!!!!!!!!!"
So I will accept the negative comment from my daughter. I 'embrace' it.
Three years ago I injured my back and ended up in the ER. They told me I had to stay on my back for a week. I couldn't go downstairs. I couldn't sit up. It was awful. The next week I had a little skin cancer removed from my nose one day, that night my husband and I rolled over in bed at the same time and I got head butted right in the stitches. Blood everywhere. He couldn't drive me because he had no licence, (which is a whole other story!!!!!!) so I drove myself up to the ER. Got home at 3am then got up to teach seminary. Another morning I was walking up to the gate at the chapel to unlock it for seminary and fell over scraping my knee really badly and injuring my foot. By the end of the lesson I could barely walk so it was back up to the ER I went. This was all in the space of TWO WEEK!!!!!!!!! I figured there were three options. 1. I was earning Frequent Flyer Miles. 2. One more visit and I’d get a set of steak knives. 3. Legally change my name to Job. Sure I tried to make light of the situation. I tried to crack jokes but I was sick of it.
There was another time that I came home from teaching seminary and on the way upstairs to my bedroom I said to my husband I QUIT!! I quit being a mother, I quit being a wife, I quit the papers (I help one of my brothers with his paper delivery every week for the past 8 years), I quit...I just quit".
Now nothing had happened in seminary that morning or anything that I can even pinpoint to make me really feel that way or lose it. I had just had it. Of course I couldn't quit. I still had to go down and make sure that the lunches were actually done and that they'd leave the house.
Have ya ever had one of those days?
Sister Hinckley had a delightful sense of humor. She said: "The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache" (Virginia H. Pearce, ed., Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999], 107)
There are many things in this life that cause us to feel stress.
Those of us who have children and are racing around doing lunches and chasing kids to get dressed in the morning and then have a child say "MUM!! What about my cooking??!" (For their home Ec. class) or "MUM! I need the deposit for camp today" or "MUM!! Where are the cookies you said you would cook for our class today?" Sometimes happening ALL in the ONE morning.
Of course husbands and children are not the only causes of stress. There are stresses with work, cars, family relationships, drivers that don't use their blinker, telemarketers calling when you are already happy with your phone company etc. There are also those things "in the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see" that many of us deal with ALONE.
I think we have all had worries or things that get us down in our lives but the key is not what this is but how we deal with it..
A lot of the time we may not be able to get rid of what causes us to be down or stressful....ie; the husband or the kids. But maybe we can find ways to help us cope with it.
I'm not talking about overcoming depression. That's a whole 'nother ballgame. I will say that if you feel like you are dealing with depression...GET HELP!!!! Medication has been a God send in my life on more than one occasion.
So the scripture goes: D&C 61:36 And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you;
In the Savior's last discourse to His disciples the first thing He said to them was, "Let not your heart be troubled." (John 14:1) And His closing words were, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Let me tell you a story of someone who is an example of being of good cheer.
In 1993 Pres Hunter was giving a talk at BYU. His talk made the news that night. Not because it was unusual for a church leader to speak at BYU but because while he was giving his talk a guy came up to him at the pulpit and grabbed him. The guy was holding a briefcase and claimed there was a bomb in it. He tried to get Pres Hunter to read a letter he had typed but Pres Hunter refused. The 15 - 17 000 people in the congregation began to sing "We thank thee oh God for a prophet". Finally the man was overpowered and Pres Hunter again began his speech about 'challenges'.
He said: " Life has a fair number of challenges in it........ Indeed, you may be feeling that you have more than your share of problems.
"....... we must not walk on our lower lip every time a few difficult moments happen to confront us.
".......I reassure you that things have been worse and they will always get better. They always do--especially when we live and love the gospel of Jesus Christ and give it a chance to flourish in our lives."
HOW can we be of good cheer then? How can we do it when the world around us seems to be caving in?
I'm not talking about being a Pollyanna and acting like everything is wonderful or drawing a big happy face on as if that's going to take care of everything. There is no sin in being sad or crying when things go wrong. I think the problem comes when we dwell on those things and lose sight of the 'plan of happiness'.
Here's a few ideas. Some of them I have tried. Some of them you will roll your eyes at.....just like I did. But who knows...they just might work. What works for one may not work for another.
• Have realistic expectations for yourself—Heavenly Father doesn't expect you to be the perfect. Just that you are doing 'all you can do'.
• Learn to say "NO"
• Put on makeup.
• Paint your nails.
• Shave.
• Stop and look at a sunset
• Own an outfit that just makes you feel like you look good (a special friend of mine has a 'happy skirt'. It's a cheerful colour and she just feels happy when she wears it)
• Have a hobby (sewing, scrapbooking, blogging).
• Read the Ensign and scriptures.
• Attend the temple.
• Dance like no one is watching.
• Join a gym (I did that once but it didn't work. They didn't explain to me that I needed to actually GO and do stuff!!)
• Girls' overnight trip. (I did this with a group of friends last year. It was good for the soul. I hope to do it again soon.).
• Get online. Join Facebook. Add me as a friend!
• Laugh.
• A tub of chocolate double fudge brownie ice cream and two spoons
• Choose your battles.
* Talk it out with someone who can give you perspective, not just sympathy
* Count your blessings - really name them one by one
* Serve somone else - even in a very small way
* pray "When sore trials came upon you, did you think to pray?"
In spite everything which may be discouraging or frustrating, in spite of anything which causes you to feel lonely or overwhelmed .. . . there is hope smiling brightly before us, and angels WILL attend... help and comfort give us to our journeys end.
Many of you have read or heard about Anne Frank who hid from the Nazis with her family in a tiny space. They were in that cramped situation for over 2 years! They had to remain completely silent from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm every day! In her journal she described their hiding place as "a little piece of blue heaven, surrounded by heavy black rain clouds."
I suppose we can't imagine what her circumstances were like, just as I can't imagine your circumstances nor you mine. But I do know that attitude is a choice. We can create and enjoy "a little piece of blue heaven" even at times when we are "surrounded by heavy black rain clouds." So this year let's keep the 'plan of happiness' in focus which leads us to 'good cheer'.
"If I die before you have children, what will you tell them about me?"
He told me that was a strange question but he'd give it some thought. Later on he said to me, "I know what I'd tell them. I'd tell them you were funny."
YES!!!!!!!!!! That's perfect.
Last year I also asked my 11yr old son the same question. He said “I’d tell them that you THINK you’re funny.”
I LOVE a good laugh. I enjoy making others laugh and be happy.
Many years ago when I was a young adult, we were up in Redcliffe for a young adult conference. It was early morning...maybe 1am. There was a bunch of people already down at the beach so my sister and I along with our friends, walked down to the beach.
The group was there alright. They were sitting on the cement steps that lead down to the beach. I thought it would be so funny if I was to leap over the stairs, right onto the beach in front of everyone and go "BOO"....or something like that. It was going to be soooo funny. I took a little run off and as I hit the top step to jump to the sand, my feet didn't move. Instead of jumping to the sand I fell SMACK onto the cement steps. Hitting each one on the way down. I was on the beach with everyone around me. I decided that was the funniest thing EVER!!! Although I was in pain I saw the funny side of it and to this day I WISH it was on video so I could see it. I joked about the 'beached whale'. I could hardly breathe. It turned out I had broken a few ribs but it was still FUNNY.
The topic of this evening has been "Be of good cheer".
I'd like to think that I am 'of good cheer' altho my daughter would say that I find the negative and make fun of it. For example:
People tell me there's a light at the end of the tunnel. In my life it has turned out that the light was a TRAIN!!!!!
Life isn't passing me by.....it's trying to RUN ME OVER!!!!!!!!!!!
People have put their arm around me and said "This too shall pass"....I say "So do kidney stones and they're not much fun either!!!!!!!!!"
So I will accept the negative comment from my daughter. I 'embrace' it.
Three years ago I injured my back and ended up in the ER. They told me I had to stay on my back for a week. I couldn't go downstairs. I couldn't sit up. It was awful. The next week I had a little skin cancer removed from my nose one day, that night my husband and I rolled over in bed at the same time and I got head butted right in the stitches. Blood everywhere. He couldn't drive me because he had no licence, (which is a whole other story!!!!!!) so I drove myself up to the ER. Got home at 3am then got up to teach seminary. Another morning I was walking up to the gate at the chapel to unlock it for seminary and fell over scraping my knee really badly and injuring my foot. By the end of the lesson I could barely walk so it was back up to the ER I went. This was all in the space of TWO WEEK!!!!!!!!! I figured there were three options. 1. I was earning Frequent Flyer Miles. 2. One more visit and I’d get a set of steak knives. 3. Legally change my name to Job. Sure I tried to make light of the situation. I tried to crack jokes but I was sick of it.
There was another time that I came home from teaching seminary and on the way upstairs to my bedroom I said to my husband I QUIT!! I quit being a mother, I quit being a wife, I quit the papers (I help one of my brothers with his paper delivery every week for the past 8 years), I quit...I just quit".
Now nothing had happened in seminary that morning or anything that I can even pinpoint to make me really feel that way or lose it. I had just had it. Of course I couldn't quit. I still had to go down and make sure that the lunches were actually done and that they'd leave the house.
Have ya ever had one of those days?
Sister Hinckley had a delightful sense of humor. She said: "The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache" (Virginia H. Pearce, ed., Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999], 107)
There are many things in this life that cause us to feel stress.
Those of us who have children and are racing around doing lunches and chasing kids to get dressed in the morning and then have a child say "MUM!! What about my cooking??!" (For their home Ec. class) or "MUM! I need the deposit for camp today" or "MUM!! Where are the cookies you said you would cook for our class today?" Sometimes happening ALL in the ONE morning.
Of course husbands and children are not the only causes of stress. There are stresses with work, cars, family relationships, drivers that don't use their blinker, telemarketers calling when you are already happy with your phone company etc. There are also those things "in the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see" that many of us deal with ALONE.
I think we have all had worries or things that get us down in our lives but the key is not what this is but how we deal with it..
A lot of the time we may not be able to get rid of what causes us to be down or stressful....ie; the husband or the kids. But maybe we can find ways to help us cope with it.
I'm not talking about overcoming depression. That's a whole 'nother ballgame. I will say that if you feel like you are dealing with depression...GET HELP!!!! Medication has been a God send in my life on more than one occasion.
So the scripture goes: D&C 61:36 And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you;
In the Savior's last discourse to His disciples the first thing He said to them was, "Let not your heart be troubled." (John 14:1) And His closing words were, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Let me tell you a story of someone who is an example of being of good cheer.
In 1993 Pres Hunter was giving a talk at BYU. His talk made the news that night. Not because it was unusual for a church leader to speak at BYU but because while he was giving his talk a guy came up to him at the pulpit and grabbed him. The guy was holding a briefcase and claimed there was a bomb in it. He tried to get Pres Hunter to read a letter he had typed but Pres Hunter refused. The 15 - 17 000 people in the congregation began to sing "We thank thee oh God for a prophet". Finally the man was overpowered and Pres Hunter again began his speech about 'challenges'.
He said: " Life has a fair number of challenges in it........ Indeed, you may be feeling that you have more than your share of problems.
"....... we must not walk on our lower lip every time a few difficult moments happen to confront us.
".......I reassure you that things have been worse and they will always get better. They always do--especially when we live and love the gospel of Jesus Christ and give it a chance to flourish in our lives."
HOW can we be of good cheer then? How can we do it when the world around us seems to be caving in?
I'm not talking about being a Pollyanna and acting like everything is wonderful or drawing a big happy face on as if that's going to take care of everything. There is no sin in being sad or crying when things go wrong. I think the problem comes when we dwell on those things and lose sight of the 'plan of happiness'.
Here's a few ideas. Some of them I have tried. Some of them you will roll your eyes at.....just like I did. But who knows...they just might work. What works for one may not work for another.
• Have realistic expectations for yourself—Heavenly Father doesn't expect you to be the perfect. Just that you are doing 'all you can do'.
• Learn to say "NO"
• Put on makeup.
• Paint your nails.
• Shave.
• Stop and look at a sunset
• Own an outfit that just makes you feel like you look good (a special friend of mine has a 'happy skirt'. It's a cheerful colour and she just feels happy when she wears it)
• Have a hobby (sewing, scrapbooking, blogging).
• Read the Ensign and scriptures.
• Attend the temple.
• Dance like no one is watching.
• Join a gym (I did that once but it didn't work. They didn't explain to me that I needed to actually GO and do stuff!!)
• Girls' overnight trip. (I did this with a group of friends last year. It was good for the soul. I hope to do it again soon.).
• Get online. Join Facebook. Add me as a friend!
• Laugh.
• A tub of chocolate double fudge brownie ice cream and two spoons
• Choose your battles.
* Talk it out with someone who can give you perspective, not just sympathy
* Count your blessings - really name them one by one
* Serve somone else - even in a very small way
* pray "When sore trials came upon you, did you think to pray?"
In spite everything which may be discouraging or frustrating, in spite of anything which causes you to feel lonely or overwhelmed .. . . there is hope smiling brightly before us, and angels WILL attend... help and comfort give us to our journeys end.
Many of you have read or heard about Anne Frank who hid from the Nazis with her family in a tiny space. They were in that cramped situation for over 2 years! They had to remain completely silent from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm every day! In her journal she described their hiding place as "a little piece of blue heaven, surrounded by heavy black rain clouds."
I suppose we can't imagine what her circumstances were like, just as I can't imagine your circumstances nor you mine. But I do know that attitude is a choice. We can create and enjoy "a little piece of blue heaven" even at times when we are "surrounded by heavy black rain clouds." So this year let's keep the 'plan of happiness' in focus which leads us to 'good cheer'.
January 2, 2009
Eggplant Salsa
This recipe comes from a dear friend who is Spanish. My family are salsa fiends and simply LOVE this. I can not make too much of it.
Recipe:
Dice up the eggplant
Let it sit in water until you're ready to use it. This will stop it from discolouring.
Dice the onion and the capsicums
Blend/puree tomatoes. When you blend them there is no need to peel them. This makes things so much easier and less messy.
I couldn't find any vegetable bullion easily here in Utah so this is what I used. I have since found I can order the bullion from online stores. All is right in the world again.
Cover the ingredients with the blended tomatoes.
Cook it down till you are happy with the consistency.
1 eggplant, diced
1 large onion, diced
2 red (or green) capsicums (peppers)
Tomatoes (maybe 2 or 3) blended/pureed
Vegetable stock cubes to taste (I use between 3-5 per batch...but can add more if you want)
Oil (I really don't know how much. Enough to cover the bottom of the saucepan you're using)
Heat oil and put in eggplant. Cook until eggplant isn't white anymore. Now add onion and cook for a minute or two. Add capsicum and mix well. Crumble stock cubes into mixture. Taste to see if you need to add some more. Now add the tomato juice....just enough to cover the ingredients. Bring to the boil. Stir every now and again so mixture doesn't stick to the bottom and burn. Turn down to simmer. Simmer until you reach the consistency you like.
You can blend this if you don't like chunky salsa.
I haven't tried canning/bottling this yet. Mainly because it doesn't matter how much I make, it's gone in a matter of days.
I'd love to hear from you after you've tried this recipe to see if you love it as much as I do or to share what you may have done a little differently.
I have found the perfect bowl to go with this salsa recipe. Check out salsa bowl to find out more.
If you enjoy this recipe then you may also like this recipe KUNG PAO CHICKEN
Recipe:
This eggplants reminded me of a character from a cartoon called Doug. His friend Skeeter bares a striking resemblance to this vegetable.
Dice up the eggplant
Let it sit in water until you're ready to use it. This will stop it from discolouring.
Dice the onion and the capsicums
Blend/puree tomatoes. When you blend them there is no need to peel them. This makes things so much easier and less messy.
I couldn't find any vegetable bullion easily here in Utah so this is what I used. I have since found I can order the bullion from online stores. All is right in the world again.
Cook it down till you are happy with the consistency.
1 eggplant, diced
1 large onion, diced
2 red (or green) capsicums (peppers)
Tomatoes (maybe 2 or 3) blended/pureed
Vegetable stock cubes to taste (I use between 3-5 per batch...but can add more if you want)
Oil (I really don't know how much. Enough to cover the bottom of the saucepan you're using)
Heat oil and put in eggplant. Cook until eggplant isn't white anymore. Now add onion and cook for a minute or two. Add capsicum and mix well. Crumble stock cubes into mixture. Taste to see if you need to add some more. Now add the tomato juice....just enough to cover the ingredients. Bring to the boil. Stir every now and again so mixture doesn't stick to the bottom and burn. Turn down to simmer. Simmer until you reach the consistency you like.
You can blend this if you don't like chunky salsa.
I haven't tried canning/bottling this yet. Mainly because it doesn't matter how much I make, it's gone in a matter of days.
I'd love to hear from you after you've tried this recipe to see if you love it as much as I do or to share what you may have done a little differently.
I have found the perfect bowl to go with this salsa recipe. Check out salsa bowl to find out more.
If you enjoy this recipe then you may also like this recipe KUNG PAO CHICKEN
November 25, 2008
Scones/Biscuits
Yesterday I tried out two recipes that were quick and EASY AS. Two recipes for scones (or for my US friends...biscuits).
Cheesy Scones:
1 cup self raising flour (in lieu of SR flour 1 cup plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder 1 1/4 tsp cream of tartar)
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter or marg
1 cup grated cheese
1/3 cup milk
Heat oven to 200 degrees C (450 degrees F). Cut or rub in butter and flour till it looks like bread crumbs. Stir in cheese and milk. Stir until mixture forms soft dough (a little....VERY little...more flour can be added if dough is too sticky)
Turn onto lightly floured surface (I use one of those cheap cutting 'boards' that come in different colours for fish, dairy, poultry etc...such easy clean up). Knead only 8-10 times or until dough is smooth-ish. Pat into a 6 inch square. Cut into 9 squares (can use scone cutter but squares leave no off cuts). Place on ungreased baking tray (I still use baking paper). Bake for 10-12 mins or until golden brown.
Optional: I also threw in a handful of chopped ham.
The other one is TOO easy. I got it from my friend Naomi. THANKS Naomi.
Lemonade Scones:
3 cup SR flour
1 cup lemonade (for my US friends that would be SPRITE and NOT what you would call lemonade)
1 cup cream
Mix all ingredients until they come together. Turn onto floured surface and knead lightly. Cut scones and place on baking tray. Pop into pre-heated oven (180 degrees C or 350 degrees F) for about 15 mins or until lightly browned.
Serve with cream and jam.
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!
Cheesy Scones:
1 cup self raising flour (in lieu of SR flour 1 cup plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder 1 1/4 tsp cream of tartar)
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter or marg
1 cup grated cheese
1/3 cup milk
Heat oven to 200 degrees C (450 degrees F). Cut or rub in butter and flour till it looks like bread crumbs. Stir in cheese and milk. Stir until mixture forms soft dough (a little....VERY little...more flour can be added if dough is too sticky)
Turn onto lightly floured surface (I use one of those cheap cutting 'boards' that come in different colours for fish, dairy, poultry etc...such easy clean up). Knead only 8-10 times or until dough is smooth-ish. Pat into a 6 inch square. Cut into 9 squares (can use scone cutter but squares leave no off cuts). Place on ungreased baking tray (I still use baking paper). Bake for 10-12 mins or until golden brown.
Optional: I also threw in a handful of chopped ham.
The other one is TOO easy. I got it from my friend Naomi. THANKS Naomi.
Lemonade Scones:
3 cup SR flour
1 cup lemonade (for my US friends that would be SPRITE and NOT what you would call lemonade)
1 cup cream
Mix all ingredients until they come together. Turn onto floured surface and knead lightly. Cut scones and place on baking tray. Pop into pre-heated oven (180 degrees C or 350 degrees F) for about 15 mins or until lightly browned.
Serve with cream and jam.
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!
November 23, 2008
Loving Friends
The other night I was with a number of dear friends for a birthday party. The birthday girl had a lovely idea of having each of us share something (bring for show and tell or just the tell part) that has helped us to feel loved.
There were many lovely things spoken about. How one feels when complimented by a loved one; or when someone brings home gifts that are thoughtful. Some spoke of how their spirituality helps them feel loved, by reading the scriptures or feeling the Holy Ghost, or even by recognizing the 'tender mercies' of the Lord. All these things are beautiful and have helped me to feel love. One friend even mentioned her 'happy skirt' and how it makes her feel good when she wears it.
What I shared was a scrapbook I made (nothing like the scrapbooking they do now...literally a scrapbook that I stuck things in) MANY years ago. I filled it with cards, letters, notes, etc from people who said nice things to and about me. Someone was at my place of work once and wrote a note on the desk calendar...just to say hi...I have kept that for over 20 years. It was a show of love.
In thinking about what I would share with my friends, I came to realize there is a difference between knowing you are loved to 'feeling' you are loved.
I have always known I was/am loved. But that doesn't mean I always FELT loved. I have had times of loneliness that makes me ache. I've had times of hurt where I have wished for the end to come. I think many of us have felt like that, if only for a short a time. If you haven't....well lucky you.
Early in my married life when I was away from all that I had loved, all my family and friends, I was the loneliest I've ever been. A dish of loneliness and newlywed 'bliss'(?) and all the difficulty that can come from discovering the faults in each other. So I was not 'feeling' loved. I would often sit and look through my scrapbook to remind me that I was loved and I could actually 'feel' it too. I would cry...sometimes sob like a baby. It's so good to feel loved.
I got to a point that I didn't need to look at the book as often and when someone would say anything unkind to me I was able to say "It doesn't matter what you say. You can't make me feel bad! I'm a good person and people love me!" Ok it wasn't quite like that but in essence that's what I was saying.
It's easy enough to be loved and not 'feel' loved when our lives are filled with trials and unkindness. We may even have times where friends are few and far between or we are just too busy to enjoy them. I think we need to have something that we can bring to memory that reminds us of the feeling that comes with knowing you are loved. Whether it's a 'happy skirt', a post it note, a scrapbook of cards and notes or some other way.
Here's some songs and a story with a great message. I love them.
Max Lucado writes beautiful stories with wonderful messages. This one is called "You are special"
Book being read.
Cute little play by kids.
ASL version.
Michael McLean has some beautiful songs that are uplifting and inspiring. Just a couple of my favourites are:
You're not alone. (sorry...I could only find them on a facebook page/application. So if you don't have facebook I'm sorry)
If only you believe in yourself.
This song is by Hilary Weeks. She seems to capture just what a woman is feeling...the loneliness, the pull to be Wonder Mum or Super Girl, she gets it and she writes about it in her music.
He'll carry you.
And this one is another one by Michael McLean. I just found it. I hadn't heard it before. It's beautiful. It speaks of the struggles we have that aren't always seen by others and how we need to pull together.
Safe Harbors.
I would hope that during those times we are in need of a 'safe harbor' and need to feel loved, that we remember that we ARE loved.
There were many lovely things spoken about. How one feels when complimented by a loved one; or when someone brings home gifts that are thoughtful. Some spoke of how their spirituality helps them feel loved, by reading the scriptures or feeling the Holy Ghost, or even by recognizing the 'tender mercies' of the Lord. All these things are beautiful and have helped me to feel love. One friend even mentioned her 'happy skirt' and how it makes her feel good when she wears it.
What I shared was a scrapbook I made (nothing like the scrapbooking they do now...literally a scrapbook that I stuck things in) MANY years ago. I filled it with cards, letters, notes, etc from people who said nice things to and about me. Someone was at my place of work once and wrote a note on the desk calendar...just to say hi...I have kept that for over 20 years. It was a show of love.
In thinking about what I would share with my friends, I came to realize there is a difference between knowing you are loved to 'feeling' you are loved.
I have always known I was/am loved. But that doesn't mean I always FELT loved. I have had times of loneliness that makes me ache. I've had times of hurt where I have wished for the end to come. I think many of us have felt like that, if only for a short a time. If you haven't....well lucky you.
Early in my married life when I was away from all that I had loved, all my family and friends, I was the loneliest I've ever been. A dish of loneliness and newlywed 'bliss'(?) and all the difficulty that can come from discovering the faults in each other. So I was not 'feeling' loved. I would often sit and look through my scrapbook to remind me that I was loved and I could actually 'feel' it too. I would cry...sometimes sob like a baby. It's so good to feel loved.
I got to a point that I didn't need to look at the book as often and when someone would say anything unkind to me I was able to say "It doesn't matter what you say. You can't make me feel bad! I'm a good person and people love me!" Ok it wasn't quite like that but in essence that's what I was saying.
It's easy enough to be loved and not 'feel' loved when our lives are filled with trials and unkindness. We may even have times where friends are few and far between or we are just too busy to enjoy them. I think we need to have something that we can bring to memory that reminds us of the feeling that comes with knowing you are loved. Whether it's a 'happy skirt', a post it note, a scrapbook of cards and notes or some other way.
Here's some songs and a story with a great message. I love them.
Max Lucado writes beautiful stories with wonderful messages. This one is called "You are special"
Book being read.
Cute little play by kids.
ASL version.
Michael McLean has some beautiful songs that are uplifting and inspiring. Just a couple of my favourites are:
You're not alone. (sorry...I could only find them on a facebook page/application. So if you don't have facebook I'm sorry)
If only you believe in yourself.
This song is by Hilary Weeks. She seems to capture just what a woman is feeling...the loneliness, the pull to be Wonder Mum or Super Girl, she gets it and she writes about it in her music.
He'll carry you.
And this one is another one by Michael McLean. I just found it. I hadn't heard it before. It's beautiful. It speaks of the struggles we have that aren't always seen by others and how we need to pull together.
Safe Harbors.
I would hope that during those times we are in need of a 'safe harbor' and need to feel loved, that we remember that we ARE loved.
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