On My Mind Today

It has become abundantly clear that the adults in our world have lost their way. So filled with hatred and envy over what they see as an injustice blocking the way to what they want, that their eyes are closed to what could be. Consumed by a fire that is intentionally fueled by those who want a line drawn in the sand to divide us. What could transpire from all of this is frightening to me. Then there are the children; born into the world filled with love and not tainted by hate. That is something misguided adults teach. And yet, as I look at children today, I believe there is hope. More and more of them are trying to do good things to help those around them. They look at one another and see how much they are alike, and the love that is in their hearts. They do not see differences and are questioning why adults can't be more like them. As technology has opened up the world for all to see, these children have openly accepted a more global community. They see children in other countri...

Life changes as the years go by, at times subtly and unnoticed. What once we thought important quietly transforms with the passing of time. In youth we dream of everything new, searching for ways to possess it all. We earn, we spend, and once it is old, move on to the next new fad. Adulthood ushers in new desires, and our wants become more grandiose. Although we may not fall prey to the latest craze, we still desire to own more. So much to obtain, how do we decide, and where do we put it all? As time passes, we eventually discover, so much has never have used. And then we reach the golden years, and time slows to a quieter pace. We find the things we use every day,  are far fewer than in the past. This is when the realization hits us,  that we truly want less and not more. Time to clear it out, and let the new we once dreamed of,  fade away like the setting sun.

From kimscravings.com , this delicious, decadent dessert is a layered pudding dessert that looks impressive but is so easy to whip up. Made with a pecan cookie crust that's topped with layers of cheesecake filling, pudding, and Cool Whip, this chocolate layered dessert is perfect for all of the chocolate lovers in your life! Chocolate Delight FOR THE CRUST: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup butter, melted 1 cup pecans, finely chopped FOR THE FIRST LAYER: 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, room temperature for easier mixing 1 cup confectioners' powdered sugar 1 cup Cool Whip FOR THE SECOND LAYER:1 (3.4 oz) package vanilla instant pudding 1 (3.4 oz) package chocolate instant pudding 3 cups whole milk FOR THE TOP: remainder of Cool Whip Optional: grated chocolate sprinkled over the top Crust layer: Mix flour, butter and pecans and press into the bottom of a 9 X 13-inch dish or pan. Bake at 325°F for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. For the bottom layer over crust, ...

I live with a first-generation American Italian (Sicilian) man. He and his brother are identical twins, born to their mother when she was forty-five. Being her only children, you can imagine how they were coddled,  and their heads filled until they believed they were the best thing put on God’s earth. Even as adults they have big, yet fragile, egos. Egos that send them from telling anyone who will listen how wonderful they are, to needing constant stroking to reaffirm that belief. They can be kind and giving, but at the same time demanding. Although they don’t think they require a lot of attention, they always feel the need to be the center of attention. Living with him can take my emotions from being thankful for having him in my life, to wanting to scream with frustration. When I said I was going to write about living with an Italian man, I was corrected by our good friend who is Italian. He told me I live with a Sicilian man, which is very different from a typical Italian ma...

Recently it seems to have been more difficult to find faith in many aspects of my life. Life changes, among other things, have left me with little energy to stay the course and believe all will work out as it should. This led me to visit my Faith Box to take stock of the worries I placed in there, and to see what should remain. A few have been resolved, however, I left them there for good measure. Others are still in need of resolution. A few new ones have been added today.  This seemed like a good time to once again share this blog about the Faith Box. Perhaps it will help some of you with your own struggles, and hopefully will lead me back to finding faith once again. Each one of us have burdens we carry with us every day. Most people shoulder them well and live their daily life so that others would never suspect what they might be burdened with. Regardless of what we carry with us, we all do the best we can to persevere and push through to better days. Often, we spend too much t...

Not only is this pork tenderloin delicious, but also a heart healthy choice for dinner. From the American Heart association, this elegant main dish will impress your guests when the pork is sliced open to reveal its beautiful, bright filling. It may look complicated, but it’s simple to prepare. Sweet sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and crunchy pine nuts provide a wonderful contrast to rosemary-scented pork. Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Spinach, Pine Nuts and Sun-Dried Tomatoes 1/2 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes Cooking spray 1 pound pork tenderloin, all visible fat discarded, butterflied and flattened to 1-inch thickness 2 tablespoons pine nuts, dry-roasted 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, divided use 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, divided use 4 cups loosely packed baby spinach Bring 1 cup water to a boil. Put the tomatoes in a small bowl. Pour in the boiling water. Let stand for 10 minutes, or until softened. ...

We all have our own reality - the life we live every day, and depending on what is happening it can be wonderful, or it can be extremely difficult. As we go through each day doing the best we can, nothing can crush us more than what we see from other people on social media. While we struggle, nothing is worse than seeing the endless posts of how great someone's life is, or the constant affirmations telling us if we just think positive everything will be wonderful. It is not that simple. Having said this, please know that I think it is great for those who are living the life they imagined. They are fortunate that what they have done in life has put them on the path to good things. For others it is not that they have taken the wrong path, it may be the path they were given has created struggles they had not imagined. Not everyone has the opportunity to make choices - sometimes they are made for them. Social media can bring people together who may live far apart. Having the opportunit...

When we think of Guardian Angels, visions of cherub like figures with wings come to mind. Angels from Heaven that watch out for us, and swoop down to help during times of need. I do believe that these angels exist, and for the most part think they are loved ones who are no longer with us. Always observing to ensure we are safe. It can be just a simple thing to guide us. Many years ago, I knew that something was off with my car but kept putting off a trip to the repair shop. As more time passed, I kept getting the brief smell of oil and gas (my father was a mechanic), and it hit me. I said, "okay Dad, I'll bring the car in". There are many Guardian Angels we encounter throughout our lives; seemingly ordinary people who appear when we need them. It may be a friend we have not seen in a long time who brightens a difficult day. Perhaps a stranger that we are not aware of their purpose or wonder why they are interacting with us. Some of these angels may even come and go withou...