Food 4 Thought Friday

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions

Breakfast
What is your favorite time of day and why? Oh, that is a tough one! I guess I will say morning, I am the most productive and the most energized!


Lunch
If you could find anything under your Christmas tree this year, what would it be? Another hard one! hummmmm......I really would like some slippers!

Dinner
Would you want to know when you were going to die?You are one one today!!! Yes and No. It was hard knowing my father was going to die yet at the same time it have us opportunities to say goodbye and strengthen relationships and make memories we otherwise would have not done. Yet watching someone die is sooooooo very hard.


Midnight Snack
If someone gives you a Christmas gift that you weren't expecting to, do you give them one in return even though you didn't plan on it? YES!



Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?) Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!!!!!!!!



PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!

1. Snow is beautiful and whimsicality until January!.

2. I'm looking forward to the holidays, Christmas cookies,putting up my tree and decking the Halls.

3. Hot Chocolate is the best drink ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is The Cosby show.

5. I'm done with trying to figure out why my holiday light keep blowing a fuse!.

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is old Christmas movies, Christmas music, lights, well just about everything.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to decorating our tree, tomorrow my plans include a youth activity with my church our church Christmas Party and Sunday, I want to SLEEP IN ( not!) go to church with my family, do a good job teaching my lesson, have a simple dinner and finish our Christmas puzzle!

to play along go hear.

Preview of Alysa's Senior Pics

What a fun daughter. Alysa is always so happy and loves life! She is a great daughter! Love ya Alis!

My sister-in-law or I just should say SISTER! Took these great pics of Alysa while she was in Utah last. She is really great at what she does you would not know she is just starting out!!! We are hoping to get some winter pics in January when she returns for a few weeks.

Click hear go to her photo link.

10 Tips to Keep You Centered and Sane through the Holidays!

Holiday happiness can quickly turn into seemingly insurmountable stress with lack of time, and the increased family pressures. With balancing skills put to the test, it's easy to understand why mothers between the ages of 28 and 54 are the most "stressed" during the holiday season. Transform stress into sanity with these ten tried-and true tips.

1. Schedule mini-breaks: While you can have it all, you can't have it all at the same time! Schedule 10-20 minute breaks during these hectic days.

2. A positive perspective: The easiest way to lift up our selves is to lift up someone else. Volunteer opportunities come in all shapes and sizes and can fit any time and/or budget.

3. Delegate: Take off the super-mom cape and delegate responsibilities to other family members.

4. Party with a Purpose: Say goodbye to marathon baking and usher in a party with a purpose. Host an afternoon get together, inviting friends and family to bake their favorite recipe in bulk. Each quest will leave with a sampling of each recipe. If you love to bake make it a tradition everyone helps with.

5. The greatest thing since sliced bread: The "gift card" is a wonderful solution for those who "have everything." Consider a gas, bookstore, music, electronics, grocery, or department store, gift card.

6. Write it down: While you may have the memory of Einstein or an elephant, this is not the season to test it. Create a Holiday Notebook for recording all your notes, thoughts, ideas, contacts, gift lists, and dates.

7. What goes in... must come out: Avoid dramatic changes in eating and drinking habits as delectable holiday goodies circulate. Food and mood go hand-in-hand.

8. Balance your budget: Be creative with your financing and plan in advance for gift-giving and large menu purchases. Sticking to your budget will not only decrease holiday stress, but post-holiday- shopping-stress as well.

9. Marathon shopping: Early in the holiday season, take a day mid-week and do a marathon shopping expedition before the malls (and their parking lots) are packed. If you have small children arrange with a friend to trade child care to help each other out.

10. Browse and buy: Shopping online offers the convenience of automatic shipping and 24/7 hour access. Shop early to save on last-minute handling costs.

What's tips do you have that get you through the holidays? Click on my comments and Share!!

Monday Makeover!

"It is always too early to quit." Norman Vincent Peale

L

ast week John and I were discussing how, when people find strength in unknown reserves,--and keep pushing forward despite the odds--they realize success. Almost every great success story has a "dark bottom," where hoping seemed difficult--if not crazy! Yet, it is in those times that we learn our true strength and develop the skill set and attitude that brings long-term success.

This is one of my most favorite Poams and I keep it near me and read when I want to quit!

Don't Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will.
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill.
When funds are low and the debts are high.
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
--Anonymous




Monday Makeover~~
Print out today's poem and keep it handy for times when you need a reminder to "stick to the fight when you're hardest hit."
When things go wrong as they sometimes will, and the road ahead seems all uphill -- I may rest, but I'll never quit.