Free to give!

My last job was as a cashier in a drugstore. It was boring and tedious work. The only thing that made it bearable (besides the paycheck,LOL) was the occasional customer with a friendly, smiling,"Hi, How are you, today?!"

Don't underestimate a smile and/or happy greeting given to the service worker you encounter. I'm referring to the bank teller, meter reader, mail carrier, etc. The favorable support does wonders for the recipient and costs you, the giver, nothing!

Bright.

Getting OUT was all I wanted to do!

I forget the details now, whether it was  a distressing telephone call, an upsetting news broadcast, but I ran out of my apartment and down the stairs. Before I hit the last step on the last flight, I saw him, standing and lit! Father had just given Mike to me as a brother in Christ.

                                                                    "Happy New Year", he extended his hand....Later on that afternoon

                                                                     

"because i was able to re: read

the day

and remember Heavenly light

reflecting off your face-

Mercy and Grace....

i was saved.

Father will always send help..sometimes it's only steps away...

Only thing that's missing is a spoon.......

Nothing warms your insides, on a cold winter's night, more than a bowl of Ham and Bean Soup. Although, I haven't tried this particular recipe, it sounds absolutely delicious. Try it and leave your comments below...should I even bother? (LOL) Happy Eating! (via Allrecipes.com)

Ham and Bean Soup
Prep time= 20 mins.
Cook Time== 3 hours, 10 mins.
Ready In= 3hours, 30 mins.

Ingredients

• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 2 smoked ham hocks
• 3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 stalks celery, chopped, with leaves
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 3 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cloves crushed garlic

Directions

1. Boil sausage to remove excess fat, and cut into bite-size pieces.
2. Skin ham hocks, and remove excess fat. In a large pot, brown sausage and ham hocks over medium heat. Drain off excess fat.
3. Add potatoes, celery, parsley, beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes, salt, pepper, chili sauce, bay leaves, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce to the meat; add just enough water to cover. Bring to boil, then reduce to simmer. Cover, and continue to cook for 2-3 hours.
4. Remove ham hocks and cut meat into bite-size pieces. Return meat to pot. Serve!

TipTell #2

Show me a child that loves vegetables and I'll show you a rare specimen. Most frown and turn up their noses at the green stuff. Fool them! Puree vegetables in a blender or Cuisinart and bake them into other foods they do like. They won't even detect the spinach in the meatballs or the stained zucchini in the loaf "cake".

TipTell #1

No need to throw out those soap slivers that linger in the shower. Collect them in an old jelly jar, until it's full. Fill the jar with warm water. In a couple of days, you'll have a gooey mush. Put it in a stocking (a leg of an old pair of pantyhose will do) and you'll have yourself an exfoliating soap ball! LATHER UP!

Luxury, with a warm and toasty price tag!

After a long work day, you come running home to a wonderful soak in your bath tub. What would be more  luxurious than to have your towels and loungewear waiting for you in/on your towel warmer when you got out? You have several types of models. Choose towel bar, bucket-style, or a multi-railed warmer. The portable, bucket-style model can be rolled from the bedroom to the bathroom  making your bathroom an instant spa!

Warmers range in price from $50.00 to $150.00. Find a price that fits your budget. Using your clothes dryer as a towel warmer is very pricey as it uses a lot of energy. A towel warmer uses less power than a regular light bulb.

Splurge, gals AND guys; pick a model that fits your lifestyle and go for it! Keep the "brrrrrrr" away and get that EXTRA warm on a cold winter's night!

Negative seeds vs. Positive Seeds

Talking to our teens can really try our patience sometimes. But let's check what we say and how we say it to them. Remember your own teen years; it was not an easy time. I'm not saying "baby" them...just add extra helpings of understanding and respect!Promote good feelings instead of negative ones. For example:

Instead of saying, "What are you going to do with your life?" SAY "Here's a website I came across that features some of the best opportunities of 2012. Take a look at it this evening."

Instead of saying, :Don't stay up watching TV all night...you won't be able to get up in the morning! SAY, "For a change, try turning in early...a good night's sleep makes the next day's vision so clear!"

Instead of saying, "Your diet's lousy..must you drink so much soda? SAY  "Brought a juicer today and a bunch of carrots. How does a carrot/banana shake sound?"

Instead of saying, "You leave the kitchen a mess after you make your sandwich, why can't you clean up after yourself?" SAY "So far, so good, no bugs! Clean up after yourself and I guarantee we'll never have to deal with pests. One less problem for us."

Instead of saying,"Does_______always have to hang around here? Doesn't he have a home?" SAY, "I would like to get to know_______ a little better. This weekend, let's plan an outing to the movies and dinner afterwards...my treat!

You get the idea. What other scenarios can you come up with? I look forward to seeing your positive comments. Put it into play...it will work.