On My Mind Today

This has been a very difficult year in so many ways for everyone not only in this country, but around the world. We have all had to endure tough days filled with apprehension and fear while we struggled through the worst health crisis the world has seen in 100 years. Although there is still work to do to bring this to an end, we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It is comforting to see some semblance of normalcy once again with summer arriving. In the midst of the pandemic regular healthcare visits came to a screeching halt, and getting answers to our current or new health issues became difficult as we could no longer see our providers in person. Eventually we were introduced to telehealth visits and after a learning curve for both providers and patients, we all adjusted and found these visits could be more convenient and also productive. The isolation from family and friends was exhausting, and I wondered at times how those who lived through the Spanish Flu pandemic of 19...

One of the greatest gifts that we can give our children is teaching them how to manage money. In today’s world where they are constantly bombarded with advertisements for everything from technology to the latest fashions, it would be very easy for them to spend rather than save. Our children grow up watching us and how we handle our money. They see us writing checks or paying bills online, using ATM machines and purchasing things with credit cards. If we start teaching them when they are very young how to manage money, they will be better prepared to avoid financial issues as adults. One of the first things we need to do is talk about money and proper spending habits. Explain to them the difference between wants and needs, and the value of saving money for the future. Start giving them a small allowance early, and increase it as they get older. With the increased allowance you can give them certain things that they will be responsible for purchasing. Their allowance should not be tied ...

Father's Day is a holiday to honor fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In the United States, Father's Day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd, and celebrated on the third Sunday of June for the first time in 1910. The day is held on various dates across the world and different regions maintain their own traditions of honoring fatherhood. Fathers play a significant role in their children's lives, and at times do not realize how much influence they have in shaping who their children grow up to be. On this Father's day, I would like to share once again a blog I wrote a few years back about my own father, and also wish every father a very happy Father's Day. My Father's Absence Although it's been twenty-plus years since my father's passing, I still miss him. There are some days when I feel his absence more than others; with the arrival of Father's Day there have been many of these days. My father was not a perfect ...

From the Dartmouth Hitchcock Newsletter, this soup comes courtesy of Heather E. Wolfe, MPH, RDN, LD, CHC. It can be made in an Instant Pot, regular slow cooker or on the stovetop. This soup is very easy to make and ends up tasting like a mild stuffed pepper. You can spice it up with some hot sauce if you prefer more heat. Serves: 6 Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups Stuffed Pepper Soup 1 cup uncooked brown rice 1 ½ cups water 1 pound lean ground beef or soy crumbles (optional) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 green bell peppers, diced 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomato 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth Cheddar cheese, optional garnish Hot sauce, optional for adding spicy heat Add rice and water to Instant Pot. Pressure cook for 20 minutes followed by a 10-minute natural release (note: you can use the rice setting for white or parboile...

Yes, we all have to make a living. There are bills to pay, food to buy, and clothing to put on our backs. However, our desire for all the other peripheral things seem to have gotten out of control. We are burdening ourselves with expectations that are not for our needs, but for our wants. The pressure that we put upon ourselves to try and fulfill every want that we or our children desire, only puts undue stress on everyone. Many of the things we think we need to have will do nothing to improve our lives. Ultimately they can make things more stressful as we push ourselves to work harder to afford these “luxuries”. When we are faced with the choice of buying the latest and greatest, we need to take time to think it through. Do we, or our children, really need this? Will it truly add to our lives or take away from family time? Will it be of value and used enough to justify the purchase? The answers in most instances is no. What we should expect is to wake up every morning and live t...

It can be extremely difficult to keep the faith when it seems like so many things continue to try us in our daily lives. Even though nobody ever said life would be smooth sailing all the way, it would be nice to see things fall into place on a more regular basis. It can be exhausting when we feel our inner strength and determination are being tested for a long period of time. It wears on us emotionally, mentally, and physically. At times we may feel that nothing ever goes right, and we reach the point where we may want to give up. Giving in can seem easier than continuing what seems to be a never-ending battle. It does not matter if our struggle is physical due to health issues, or mental/emotional from elevated stress in our life. All of these can test the resolve of even the strongest person. Nobody is immune from life’s difficulties, and some of us may have to endure more than others. As unfair as that may seem, it is a fact of life. None of us can be everything to ev...

If you are looking for a quick after school or late afternoon snack, you can't go wrong with these delicious energy balls. The oatmeal energy balls contain one of my favorite pairings - chocolate and peanut butter, while the Pistachio energy balls have dates, coconut, honey and oats mixed in with the nuts. Both not only taste great, but are healthy too. From: https://togetherasfamily.com  these oatmeal energy balls  require only 4 ingredients! Oatmeal Energy Balls   3 cups quick oats 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips 1/2 cup honey Instructions Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. You can either stir by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula OR use a hand mixer and beat on LOW speed until combined. Increasing speed as needed. The mixture is thick so it will take a few minutes to fully mix it all together. Roll into balls. I use a small cookie scoop to get even sized energy balls, which holds abou...

“We are, all of us, creatures of habit, and when the seeming necessity for schooling ourselves in new ways ceases to exist, we fall naturally and easily into the manner and customs which long usage has implanted ineradicably within us.” ~ Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Beasts of Tarzan We all have our own little idiosyncrasies; harmless things that we started doing at one time or another and have become a part of who we are. Most of the time we do them without even being aware of it. What we seem to be oblivious to, others will notice and may find endearing, or perhaps it will drive them crazy. We all have family members or friends that have some interesting habits. It could be certain words or sayings they use that sound strange to us, or facial expressions that make us think “what is that?” Some have compulsive habits that others may find quirky. It can be as simple as the need to do things in a certain order each time we do them, or a bit more eccentric like touching a door handle ...