On My Mind Today

Events over the last several years have recently had me reflecting on history, and the people who have come and gone leaving a major impact. In the midst of these thoughts one question came to mind; if I could invite anyone to my dinner table, who would it be? The answer was not quite as simple as one might think. As I started to compile my list, I found they would be a multi-faceted and diverse group, and the table would need to be quite large to accommodate them all. The people I have listed below is a small sampling of who I wish I could have the opportunity to talk with. They are religious figures, Native American leaders, Presidents, First Ladies, Civil Rights leaders, women's rights advocates, etc. Truthfully, there are too many to list them all. Jesus - It would be a gift to hear about his life in his own words. Pope John Paul II - first non-Italian Pope Mother Theresa - Devoted to caring for the sick and poor Dali Lama - Tibetan Buddhist Sitting Bull - Lakota Chie...

From the time they are children, women compare themselves to others and find imperfections; something that their eyes perceive as flaws. Whether it is the birthmark on their face, wispy fine hair or freckles from head to toe, something they see or hear tells them that they are not perfect. From toddler age to the early school years girls see themselves in a better light, and aren't as quick to be self-critical. Unfortunately, when they reach the age of 8-10, classmates will begin to point out things that are not perfect setting the stage for the never ending inner struggle that will follow them for many years. Being a teenager is extremely difficult for young women who don't fit the "mold" of what is perceived as perfect. If they're too thin, too heavy, too tall or whatever falls outside of the norm, then their peers will be more than happy to point it out or give them an unflattering nickname. The ridicule is devastating, and the trauma of it all can stay wit...

Give your brunch a bit of Mexican flare with this Fried Egg Tostada from Food Network Magazine. You can prepare this with a lot of heat, or not so much for those faint of heart. Use mild salsa if your family and guests prefer, or kick it up with the hotter version. I used medium salsa, sliced jalapenos and feta cheese. However you decide to make them, they are delicious! Fried Egg Tostada Serves 4 4 tostada shells 1 tablespoon Butter 4 eggs salt and pepper Iceberg lettuce, shredded Lime juice Salsa Sriracha Cilantro Cotija cheese, crumbled Lime wedges 1. Heat butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Crack eggs in pan and cook until the white is set, but the yolk is still runny, 3 to 4 minutes. 2. Top tostada shells with shredded iceberg lettuce; season with salt and a squeeze of lime juice. Top with 1 to 2 tablespoons salsa and fried eggs. 3. Drizzle with Sriracha and top with cilantro and crumbled cojita cheese. Serve with a lime w...

Given the right tools, children can grow into adults who will have a major impact in changing the world for the better. Some key things that will empower them are learning to be a contributing member of a group, being taught to think for themselves and to make good choices for the majority, and understanding that volunteering within their community is something that should be expected. As children reach an age where they begin to socialize they need to be introduced to group play. If they can learn through play to be a part of a group, and not to only think of what they want, it will prepare them for school and so much more. Some of the earliest groups they can participate in are Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and 4-H which have been around since the early 1900's. Many parents may think that they are outdated, however they all teach good citizenship, leadership, self-reliance, responsibility and good character. All of these qualities are as relevant today as when these groups began. ...

Although we have been experiencing snow, sleet & rain we have almost made it to the halfway mark of winter. Despite this fact, spring seems so very far away as the north winds blow and the temperatures drop. Frequent sunshine and longer days are helpful, but what I wouldn't give for a day of sitting on the beach and soaking up the rays. This time of year, it helps to have a good imagination and a stash of memories from the summer days left behind so many months ago. If I close my eyes and shut out the cold winter view in front of me, visions of hot sunny days at the beach come to mind. In time it seems so real I can almost feel the hot sun shining on my face. After entering this dream world of memories so many things come to mind, and I relive the fun times from last summer. So much to enjoy and be thankful for: The sound of the waves crashing onto the beach. My grandchildren's laughter as they play in the sand, and their squeals of joy as they run into the waves. ...

Whenever I want a quick, easy dessert recipe I know I can rely on Betty Crocker. This decadently chocolate dessert is made with ingredients that are normally in any baker's cupboard. You can whip this up, throw it in the oven, and have a guest worthy dessert in less than an hour. Serve with vanilla ice cream for a treat everyone will love. Hot Fudge Sundae Cake Makes 9 servings 1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons cocoa 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup milk 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup chopped nuts (optional) 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 1-3/4 cups hottest tap water Ice cream 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, the baking powder and salt in ungreased square pan, 9x9x2 inches. Mix in milk, oil and vanilla with fork until smooth. Stir in nuts. Spread in pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa. Pour hot water over b...

“The people we most love do become a physical part of us, ingrained in our synapses, in the pathways where memories are created.” ― Meghan O'Rourke, The Long Goodbye Our memory is an amazing thing, and yet can also be very fragile. In our early years we take it for granted thinking that we will always have it; naive or ignorant about how untrue this is. From the time we are infants our brain begins to store memories of our life events; good, bad, happy, sad, and so much more. As we travel on our path of life we recall these memories to comfort us, to make us laugh, and to hold on to the good times. They are a big part of who we are and how we live our life. When we, or a loved one starts to lose the ability to recall these memories, or even something that happened a few short hours ago, we may initially attribute it to getting older. As it starts to become a bigger issue we may try to ignore or hide it rather than acknowledge there is a problem. Family members or friends may take ...

Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Not enough value is placed on integrity today. Those in a position of influence, who should be displaying this characteristic are choosing to behave in a manner that is amoral or unethical. It seems that each decade it has progressively gotten worse as nobody seems to be holding them accountable for their actions. When did we decide as a society that integrity doesn't matter? Somewhere along the way deceit, corruption, disgrace, and dishonor have become the norm for many. They have no problem bullying, chastising and mocking others in public, on television and also social media; calling it their "truth". The sad thing in all of this is that we have either become immune to, or beaten down, by this behavior. Our children deserve to have better role models, and we should demand it from those in a position to influence them. People of integrity do exist in our communities and we s...