On My Mind Today

Easter - for some it signals the beginning of spring. For others it brings visions of the Easter bunny, Easter eggs and candy. Although it's wonderful to share the fairy tale of the Easter bunny and carry on traditions like coloring eggs and the egg hunt, we also should teach our children the true meaning of Easter. It can sometimes be more difficult to teach the meaning of Easter than a holiday like Christmas. It is easy for children to understand that Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Teaching them about the resurrection of Christ is not as simple for them to grasp. So, below I have tried to put in simple terms the true meaning of Easter. Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus (when he rose from the grave). No man had taken his life. He had given it freely for us - to restore our fellowship with God. He had been crucified and was buried for three days. All his disciples had believed tha...

Wake up members of the human race! There is a negative force in play that is working overtime to turn us all against one another, and the sad part is many don't even realize it. Open your eyes to what is happening in our world: We have become a society of I, me and my, and have lost the we, us and our that hold us together. People who feel their opportunities have been taken away are being drawn into messages of hatred and fear that separate us. The negative forces have cunningly pitted us against each other along religious, political and ethnic lines, magnifying our differences. We have "leaders" who are not leading to unify, but to divide. In that division they become more powerful because nobody is paying attention. Those who swore to serve and represent us no longer do so. Afraid to go against their "party" they are not standing up to the false leaders. The messages of hatred and fear are fueling hate groups making them feel empowered; with that false power ...

We love burritos, so when I saw this recipe, I knew we needed to give it a try. From Jamie McKinney at  justapinch.com , this can be ready for your dinner table in about an hour. Filled with an abundance of flavor, and you can use mild or hot chili to suit your taste. Good for a larger group as it will serve 8-10. Serve with a tossed salad. Chili Cheese Burritos 1 lb ground beef 1 pkg taco seasoning mix 3/4 c water 10 burrito-sized flour tortillas 24 oz canned chili with no beans 1 pkg Mexican blend shredded cheese (16 oz) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook ground beef until brown. Drain, rinse, and return to skillet. Add taco seasoning and water to the meat. Let meat and taco seasoning simmer on low heat while you heat the tortillas. Add 2-3 spoonfuls of meat to the tortilla. Top with 1 Tbsp of cheese. Roll the tortilla and put it into a 13x9 pan seam side down. Once all 10 tortillas are added to the 13x9 pan, top with the can of chili. Add the remaining cheese to the top of the ch...

We all are born with the great gift, of spreading kindness through our day. Early on it comes with great ease, no thought required to pass it on. As children we have a pure heart, that only sees the best in those we meet. We chatter, smile and share goodwill, never conceiving of an unkind world. Life brings to us many twists and turns, some that can scar our innocent soul. Our kindness that once came easily, now at times is a struggle to bring forth. There are days we are faced with troubles, where our kindness sits deep in the shadows. Hard as we try to rise up and do good deeds, our heart seems to remain rooted in sorrow. Perhaps the hard days we should dig deeper, to push through what is holding us back. Any kindness we find to share with others, will bring riches we could never foresee. Make time each day to spread a little kindness, to those whose lives seem filled with worry. A day will come when the tables are turned, and their kindness will come back to you. It really is a very...

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 everybod...

We have all watched the news media sensationalizing the cost of living today. It seems as if they are trying to create havoc and fear. Although the price of the things we purchase have risen, the truth is we do have some control over how it effects our budget. We need to remember that the pandemic played a large role in the exorbitant increases we have seen on everyday items. The shortages that were created during this time allowed companies to charge much higher prices for what little was produced compared to normal manufacturing quantities. Plus, those who were out purchasing more than they needed and hoarding it also contributed to higher prices. If we listen to all the gloom and doom on our evening news, we will believe there is nothing we can do to ease the strain on our daily cost of living. The truth is, we do have some control on how we spend our money and how to save on everyday items. First of all, I am no different than millions of other people. There have been many times in...

This easy recipe comes from Tonia Larson at the gunnysack.com . It takes very little time to prepare, and they are ready to eat in no time at all. They have a texture similar to peanut butter cups and the flavor is decadent! I used chocolate graham crackers which gave it an extra kick of chocolate flavor. These will be a big hit with your family. No-Bake Nutella Bars 1 sleeve graham crackers, crumbled 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 cup powdered sugar 1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons Nutella, about 1/2 of a 13 oz. container, divided 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Mix together crushed graham crackers, melted butter, powdered sugar and 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons Nutella. Press into a foil-lined, greased 8x8-inch pan. Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave. Stir in 4 tablespoons of Nutella. Spread over the bars. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

There are many issues that have weighed heavily on my mind over the last several years. I had hoped that with time things would improve, but as we all know that is not the case. If anything, there has been more of a downhill slide which has left me deeply concerned for the future; especially what will be left for our children and grandchildren. Over the next several weeks I will be sharing a few blogs that I previously wrote hoping they would make people think about where things were headed. Here is the first one; perhaps it will hit home as we face even more volatile times.    I try to stay away from certain subjects, but as I watch things transpiring in the world it tends to stir up many emotions. With these emotions come observations and opinions that I find hard to keep to myself. So....forgive me while I share what has been on my mind. Megalomaniac: A person who is obsessed with their own power. A person who suffers delusions of their own power or importance (grandiose de...

One thing has become increasingly clear to me, and that is the need to sort through what we have gathered over the years. There are two reasons to embark on this endeavor: one, we don't want to leave a mess behind for our loved ones, and two, it leaves us with a great sense of accomplishment lifting a weight off our shoulders. I have always found it interesting how much we "save" thinking we will use it again, or that one of our children will want it when we are gone. The reality is we will never use it, and more than likely will forget we have it. And as I have been told by my children, they do not want our things. They do not hold the sentimental value we thought they did. Every couple of years I start the whole process of cleaning out closets and cupboards. The closets are full of clothes that I saved the last cleaning, and they still have not been worn. It is not that they do not fit, but they are things that are no longer suited to the stage of life I am in. As I get...

This gluten-free potato recipe is filled with a delicious mix of rosemary and parmesan flavors. With little prep this dish can be ready for your table in about an hour. If making for a large group, you will want to double the recipe. I served these potatoes at our family holiday dinner, and they disappeared quickly. A great side dish for your family meal or gatherings with friends. Rosemary Parmesan Roasted Potatoes 1 lb. red potatoes 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil  2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 2/3 teaspoon dried) 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese 1 tsp. garlic salt Preheat oven to 400℉. Cut potatoes into 1-inch pieces. Place in a plastic bag and drizzle with olive oil. Mince rosemary if using fresh. In a medium bowl, combine the parmesan cheese and the teaspoon of garlic salt. Put cheese and salt mixture in the bag with the potatoes and shake to combine thoroughly. Spread on a baking sheet pan in a single layer. Bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes, until the potatoes are crispy on the ...