When I'm trying to catch up on writing actually love the gray skies and sounds of the cars passing by in the rain. Peaceful day today. Tuesdays are usually the days I catch up on food blogs.
The post tomorrow will be Paprikás Csirke better known around here as Chicken Paprikash. A lovely stew of chicken, onions and of course paprika. It's the kind of dish that when it's simmering on the stove takes me back to childhood. Very much a simple to make dinner that's a real family favorite.
Paprikás Csirke on a bed of egg noodles
The rain also will often take me back and have me reflecting on life too. The one thing we never have enough of is time. Every day take the time to appreciate the little things. Yes, even when the kids are driving you bats, arguing and running around the house. You'll miss that when they're all grown and on their own! (You will have to take my word on that!) Or, you might want to read this blog Never Forget the Love and the Laughter I wrote earlier this month.
One of my favorite things when they were still at home and creating havoc, arguing like crazy I would say, "Hey let's use that energy and make some pizza." My kids love pizza! Instead of arguing still they would get out the recipe and start making the dough from scratch by hand. It never failed to distract them from whatever silliness they had been fighting over. Instead, they started cooperating with each other and looking forward to that pizza! Actually, we did too because they made a darn good pizza!
homemade pizza always good and fun to make!
Don't they look like they never argued in this picture?
One of my Favorite trips with the cherubs!
Enjoy every day and never fail to let the people you cherish in your life know they are important to you, and they are loved. If something ever happened to you or them, wouldn't you want them to know the final words between you are "I love you"?
+Yoko Ono has a very ambitious project in the works. You can join in too! I originally heard about this when I got a note from the project on +Instagram.
What could be better than the entire world in #smilesfilm!
We need more #smiles in this world and why not? They are free and unlimited supply....so start sharing smiles with our fellow humans. They will make a difference in the world.
So get ready....set....#smile!!! Pass it on! Free smiles right here!!
We are in the heart of the holiday season and nearing the
end of 2013. It's a perfect time to reflect on our lives, our loves and
our futures as we are considering our Resolutions for 2014.
One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth
of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes
there isn't "anymore". No more hugs, no more special moments to
celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one
minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes
away, never to return before we can say good-bye or say "I love
you."
So while we have our relationships and life, it's best we love, care, fix it
when it's broken and heal it when it's sick.. This is true for marriage.....old
cars...children with bad report cards, dogs with bad hips, and aging parents
and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth
it. Life and death is important...the rest is just details.
Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a nieces and
nephews after divorce. There may be relatives not at the top of your list, but
love them also and if not love, than at least like them for who they are.
They may be having problems or low self esteem so cut them some slack!
There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what and no matter
when. Teaching a child something new, helping people especially the
elderly, volunteering some time and not just at the holiday times.
Practice random acts of kindness. Both you and the persons you help will
feel amazing. Have you considered that just maybe they have no one left in
their life right now? Be a good human!
There really is just one race....the human race! Society needs to get
back to the Golden Rule we used to teach our children....Do Unto Others as We
Would Have them Do Unto Us. Can you imagine how just that one rule in
your life could change this world for the better??
Smile....just because you can! I have learned that giving smiles away,
(they are free and in unlimited supply) may just may make
someone's day who is having problems. Positive attitude matters in
life. If you don't believe that, just try it for a month, or even a few
weeks and see if your life doesn't change change for the better. If you
want more people in your life, be pleasant! No one really wants to hang
around with a person always saying "woe is me"! Snap out of it!
Here is just one more good reason to smile...have you ever noticed how as
people age if they are always unhappy that frown becomes their wrinkly frown
face? To age gracefully remember to smile.
Life is important. Work on your connections with the people in your life.
In our crazy too fast paced world we need to remember the most important
thing you can spend on someone is your time. That time spent is especially is
important with children. In a blink of an eye they are grown and on
their own. There are no do overs in life! Jackie Kennedy had the
correct perspective on this matter, "If you bungle raising your children,
I don't think whatever else you do matters very much."
Sometimes you think you have a "keeper" and you find out you do not.
Now it's your turn to share this with all those people who are
"keepers" in your life if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you
never wake up, do all your friends know you love them? What will be their
last memory of you? Today is the perfect time to let them know. Tomorrow
may be too late.
I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I
had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or
three words needing to be said. Don't be afraid to let people know how you
really feel about them.
Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't
love you back, you will be amazed at what those three little words and a smile
can do. Make peace with your enemies......and just in case I'm gone tomorrow
share this. We need to make this world a better place and as Michael
Jackson sang make the change first with the man in the mirror....yourself.
Remember always that tomorrow is Promised to no one. Appreciate your
life and everyone in it because it could be a lot worse. Be grateful and
appreciate not the trinkets and gadgets in your life but the people in your and
today is the perfect day to do just that and change your life and this world
for the better.
2014 the beginning of a better future for all of us!! I wish you all
Peace, love, prosperity and gratitude!!
