Kindness Hugs

Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me to recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life. Sometimes it's hard to limit my post to just one, but just one is my goal.

 

There have been so many kindness shown to us this past week that it's hard to limit to just one.  So I will not attempt to limit to one specific kindness, but instead I will just say how grateful I am for all the kindnesses shown to us and other members of our family this past couple weeks.

This one mention of kindnesses includes cards, words, foods, and deeds, all kindnesses that have touched our hearts and made us smile as we travel though these tough times. 
These kindnesses are like warm hugs that help us feel loved. 
These kindnesses are surely inspired by a loving Father in Heaven who loves each and every one of us - those of us receiving the kindness and those giving them, because in every case of a kindness performed, both are blessed.

I know I've used this image before (here), but it is just so perfect for what I need.

Kindness Hugs to Everyone!
We are grateful for those sent our way!  They are touching our hearts with great force.

 

A Terrible Warning!

 

I thought this was cute - found on pinterest 

 

"If you can't be a good example you'll just have to be a terrible warning."

 

 Did it make you smile? 

 



Tags in Bags

 

These tags in bags in a box (or a drawer) are really cute.  They could make a great advent calendar.  Find it here, at Loveology.

 

 

 



Awesome Family Tree

 

I happily pinned this awesome family tree found here.

I'm getting more familiar with Pinterest and enjoying it.

Isn't it lovely!
It's just missing some names and dates.

It could make a lovely Thanksgiving or Christmas gift.

 

 

Revenge vs Forgiveness

"Hello, My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!"

Have you watched Princess Bride?  It's one of our family favorites!  There are several lines from that movie that our family loves to quote, and that line is one of our favorites to repeat, especially when we see Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya) on another show.  It's so fun to say, though it really doesn't mean anything to us personally. It doesn't ever bring out the evil in us, instead it brings a laugh and fun moments to share together once again.

Because we like this character and that quote so well, we checked out the interview that was found on the Yahoo Home Page the other day. (HERE)

It was well worth the time.  We got to hear him say his line again, but we heard something else that was important and profound.

There is another line in the movie, that may not be as fun to say, (though I think we've quoted it a time or two too) but the message behind it is important to learn.

 "I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it is over, I do not know what to do with the rest of my life."

The actor expounded a bit more, saying (if I heard him correctly) "the purpose of revenge ... is completely worthless and pointless, and the purpose of existence is to embrace our fellow human beings, not be revengeful, and turn our darkness into light."

It is always awesome to hear good things from actors and actresses that we enjoy so much.  This is a good message to remember, and now maybe we will be able to recall that message and quote another line when we think about the movie Princess Bride.

Maybe we can become more aware of what business we are in and make sure it is something that we want to do with the rest of our lives.
It would be best if revenge had no part in it.

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"When we are out for revenge we blame, accuse, and provoke others to wrath and then we blame them for it."  
This quote from A Change of Heart.

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Revenge is returning sin for sin!


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“We need to recognize and acknowledge angry feelings. It will take humility to do this, but if we will get on our knees and ask Heavenly Father for a feeling of forgiveness, He will help us. The Lord requires us ‘to forgive all men’ [D&C 64:10] for our own good because ‘hatred retards spiritual growth’ [Orson F. Whitney, Gospel Themes (1914), 144]. Only as we rid ourselves of hatred and bitterness can the Lord put comfort into our hearts. …

“… When tragedy strikes, we should not respond by seeking personal revenge but rather let justice take its course and then let go. It is not easy to let go and empty our hearts of festering resentment. The Savior has offered to all of us a precious peace through His Atonement, but this can come only as we are willing to cast out negative feelings of anger, spite, or revenge. For all of us who forgive ‘those who trespass against us’ [Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 6:13], even those who have committed serious crimes, the Atonement brings a measure of peace and comfort”
(“The Healing Power of Forgiveness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 69).

Complete message found here.

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Lovely Flowers and More

This lovely bouquet from Style Me Pretty is beautiful by itself, but has strands of pink beads laying beside it that adds so much more loveliness.

Aren't the colors so beautiful - soft and lovely pinks and whites.

I found some more lovely flower arrangements at Green Wedding Shoes
I love the addition of fruits (figs, pomegranates, pears, peaches, and the berries of course).  I Really Do Love This Look!

These colors are awesome, the place setting is wonderful ...

Of course I love the bottles ...

The drinks are even lovely aren't they!!!
I don't know what their drink is, but I would love this look with a Cran-Raspberry juice.  I'd love the look and the taste with those fresh berries.

And the cake is great ...

And this swing is awesome too ...

 Gorgeous!!!

I've pinned a few other bouquets and arrangements on my Pinterest Board - Flowers, Bouquets ..., - take a look if you'd like.

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Double Belgian-Waffle Maker

This is not a paid advertisement - it's just a review of one of my favorite things.
This is one of those things that I'm grateful for, because it makes life a bit easier in simple ways.

 This is something new to me, but it only took one use to find that it was a favorite.  I've always been intrigued with the waffle irons at motels that rotate to cook.  I don't know why, but I've always wanted one, but because they only cook one at a time it just wasn't ever a good purchase for me, with such a large family.

Well, times are changing, my family is shrinking when it comes to breakfast time, and hubby and I are on our own for a few months for a stem cell transplant and we need to stock a kitchen with things to help us cook good food.  We still have children at home to use what we have there, so I have to purchase a few things that I don't have two or more of so I can have one too.  Setting up a second kitchen can be expensive, but it's so fun. (well, fun for me, not so much for hubby)

 I bought us one of these ...

Waring Pro Double Belgian-Waffle Maker

I am loving it. 
I haven't used it enough and I look forward to using it over and over again with different recipes.  It is a favorite new toy of mine.
If you have a favorite waffle recipe you'd like to share, please send it my way.

FYI - I ordered mine from Amazon, which is also the image source.

 More FYI because I don't want to send out the wrong impression -
Our second kitchen is partially stocked, but not completely.  And, some of the items it does have are just not working correctly or aren't clean enough or the right kind of item that I like to use. Lucky for me, there was no waffle iron.  I'm smiling!

We had waffles here before I purchased this maker, but they were the frozen waffles that we pop in the toaster, and I must say that we do like those, and they smell so yummy while they are toasting.

We've even used them as a bun when we didn't have a bun in the house, and they weren't too bad that way.

 



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Home!

Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life.

 

After a couple weeks away we were traveling home, anxious to get to the house, when just a few miles away we saw one of our fields and noticed it was over half harvested. 

That was a wonderful sight to see.  Our boys are being good stewards and we are grateful for their good efforts.

 



 

Home is where our heart is

and home includes all that is ours.

 

We are so happy to have it.


 Happy Halloween!

 

 

Celebrate November!

While cleaning my files I found a folder full of fun and silly reasons to make your day a special day ... things to celebrate ... every day ... any day. I remember having some fun with these years ago, using some of these ideas for a while before forgetting about them. I've found a few more and thought they'd be a fun addition to the blog. Some of these are quite ridiculous, but several are great for family fun, for preschool fun, for party fun, or just for fun!

Happy Celebrating!

November

 

 

Birthstone is Topaz, Citrine or Aquamarine (meaning Fidelity)

Flower of the month is Chrysanthemum

 

- Nat'l Pomegranate Month

- Nat'l Adoption Month

- Nat'l Novel Writing Month

- Peanut Butter Lovers Month

- Aviation History Month

 

- 3rd week is Game and Puzzle Week

 

- 1st Tuesday after the first Monday is Election Day

- 1st Saturday is Book Lovers Day 

- 4th Thursday is Thanksgiving

- Black Friday is day after Thanksgiving

- Cyber Monday is Monday after Thanksgiving

 

 

1

- All Saint's Day

 

2

- Deviled Egg Day

- Look for Circles Day

 

3

- Housewife's Day

- Sandwich Day

 

4

- Candy Day

 

5

 

6

- Marooned without a Compass Day

- Nat'l Saxophone Day

 

7

- Hug a Bear Day 

- Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

 

8

 

9

 

10

- Forget-Me-Not Day 

 

11

- Veteran's Day 

 

12

- Chicken Soup For the Soul Day

 

13

- Nat'l Indian Pudding Day

 

14

- Nat'l Guacamole Day

 

15

- Clean Your Refrigerator Day

- America Recycles Day

 

16

- Button Day

- Have a Party With Your Bear Day

 

17

- Homemade Bread Day

- Take a Hike Day

 

18

 

19

- Have a Bad Day Day (really?)

 

20

- Beautiful Day

 

21

- World Hello Day

 

22

- Go For A Ride Day

 

23

- Eat a Cranberry Day

- Nat'l Cashew Day

 

24

 

25

- Nat'l Parfait Day

 

26

 

27

- Pins and Needles Day

 

28

 

29

- Square Dance Day

 

30

- Stay At Home Because You Are Well Day

 

 

Homemade Paper Envelopes

Here is a tutorial showing how to make these cute envelopes.

Imagine them with cute Halloween paper ...

or beautiful fall Thanksgiving paper ...

or sparkling Christmas paper ...

great treat or favor bags or even for little note cards or tags ...

 

This comes from Poppytalk

 

 

 

 

 



Mini Desserts

Taste of Home has a post with some Favorite Mini Desserts that look great.

 

Here are a few I really would like to try -

 

 

Jam Topped Mini Cheesecakes

 

 

..

 

Mini Key Lime and Coconut Pies

 

 

..

 

Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

 

 

..

 

Mini Caramel Cheesecakes

 

...

And from Cooking Classy comes this  

No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes with Caramel Sauce




Aren't these some fine looking fall desserts?

 

 

... we need more women ...

I appreciate this quote about women and had this waiting in my box to post someday,

 

image from here

 It was great to hear it mentioned by
D. Todd Christofferson in his message titled The Moral Force of Women, given at LDS General Conference, Oct. 2013.


Here is one quote from his message -

"... it is your relationship with God, your Heavenly Father, who is the source of your moral power, that you must always put first in your life."

 

 

 

A Lovely Tier and A Lovely Site

I found this lovely idea

 

DIY Easy Pedestal Stand

 

 

 

 

and it led me to a new site that is different than many others I've seen. The Graphics Fairy has some wonderful ideas and some clip art and prints that can be freely used.

 

Like this Botanical Almond Flower Print

 

 

..

 

and this Free Antique Clip Art – Pink Map of France

 

 

..

 

and this Antique Sheet Music – Thanksgiving

 

 

..

 

She also has some great DIY Tutorials

 

like how to Make Painted Doily Plates

 

 

 

I can't show everything she has, so go ahead and check it out! 

You just might get smitten!

 

 

 

 

(above - Vintage Valentine’s Day Clip Art – Sweetest Heart Frame  - in 4 colors)

 

It's definitely a place I'd like to remember when I'm in a creating mood and have some creating time.

 

 

Single Bed Room = Tender Mercy

Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life.


My husband had to spend the night in the hospital after a sinus surgery.  They had warned me that the hospital didn't allow people to stay the night with the patients unless they were in a single bed room, but they didn't have very many single rooms, so I was concerned ..., all day long ....

 

They called me back to walk to his room with him after surgery and they took us into a single bed room. I could have cheered right then and there, but I resisted the urge.

 

I even had a chair that pulled out into a bed for the evening.  It was hard but better than just a chair. They gave me a pillow, a sheet and a few blankets, so that was very nice.

 

 

 

We walked around the hall of that wing for his exercise several times and were able to see the other rooms.  Many had four beds, many had two, but as we think back on it we cannot think of any other single bed rooms on that wing, but there were a couple rooms with closed doors, maybe those were single bed.  But we got one! 

 

This room was a Tender Mercy for sure!

I am so grateful for it. 

 

This ended up being a really tough day for other reasons I cannot explain and I really needed to be with Terry to visit about some things and just be together.  This room helped make things better.

Being with my husband is always a blessing.  So ..., TWO BLESSINGS IN ONE DAY!  ;)

 

 

Always find a reason ...

Always find a reason to SMILE!

 

image from here

 

 

Always!

Here's a little extra something I found this morning and wanted to share.  Click the link for "Best Coin Ever Spent" - it's awesome to see people blessing lives is such grand yet simple ways.  Watch and listen and it will surely bring a smile to your face and your heart.

 



Blue Jean Pumpkin

awesome jeans ... or, I mean awesome pumpkin

 

denim pumpkin from Denim Do Over

 

 

 

If pumpkins aren't your thing, but jeans are, then check out Denim Do Over for more ways to repurpose your jeans.

 

 

Blue Beverage

I was looking for a blue punch a while ago and found a few recipes, (see Turquoise Lemonade) but here is one I just saw - from Toni Spilsbury that looks good.

 

It might not be the perfect time of year for blue punch, but if you do a blue Christmas, it might be just right.

 

 

 

When I was wanting the blue lemonade a while ago I was looking for the little packages of Kool-Aid powder in blue and couldn't find it, even online.  This recipe uses the premixed gallon of juice - maybe I can find that easier!?!?!?!

 

 

 

I think I'll try this someday!

 

 

Using all of our strength.

This is a story a friend sent to me thru an email a few weeks ago.  I thought it would make a good post so I copied and saved it. 

Using All Your Strength

A young boy was walking with his father along a country road. When they came across a very large tree branch the boy asked, “Do you think I could move that branch?”

His father answered, “If you use all your strength, I’m sure you can.”

So the boy tried mightily to lift, pull and push the branch but he couldn’t move it. Discouraged he said, “Dad, you were wrong. I can’t do it.”

His dad said, “Try again.” This time, as the boy struggled with the branch his father joined him and together they pushed the branch aside.
 
“Son,” the father said, “the first time you didn’t use all your strength. You didn’t ask me to help.”

image here

This is an important lesson. There are many things we can’t do alone, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get them done. We all are surrounded by resources that can be mobilized to help us achieve our goals including family, friends and faith. Sometimes we fail to ask for help because of pride or stubbornness. Sometimes we think it’s a sign of weakness to admit we need a hand. And sometimes we don’t even think about asking for help. Whatever the reason, it’s a waste.

It’s important that we learn to use all our strength; this includes inner resources such as discipline, courage and even love. But it also includes outer resources. Just as we should be willing to help others we should be willing to ask the help of others. It’s one of the great things about being human.

— Michael Josephson

I heard this story again (or a story quite similar) as I was listen to Terrence M. Vinson speak at General Conference the first weekend of October. It's a very good principle to remember. You can find his complete message HERE. 

Here is just one paragraph from that message he gave -

"The Lord gives us ways to help remember Him and His sustaining powers. One way is through that common lot we all share—adversity (see Alma 32:6).  As I look back at the trials I have faced, it is clear that they have resulted in my growth, understanding, and empathy. They have drawn me closer to my Heavenly Father and His Son with experiences and refining engraved into my heart."

"Our Savior wants us to really love Him to the point that we want to align our will with His. We can then feel His love and know His glory. Then He can bless us as He wants to."

It's almost a duh! thing, but we must remember that using ALL of our strength makes us stronger! and we must remember where we gain all of our strength.  The Lord is my strength.  And sometimes I see good people become His Hands giving me strength. Sometimes I can be His hands helping others. I must be ready and willing at all times to be that person, that helping hand. I must also remember to use all of my strength as I become that helping hand.

Yummy Mummies and Ghost Pinatas

 

Here are a couple fun things for Halloween this year -

Mummy Cans from Family Fun October 2005

 

 

 

Ghost Piñatas from Oh Happy Day




Fun times for Halloween!
 

 

got candy?

 

I love the "Got Candy?" saying on a treat bag.

 

 

 

This fun look comes from Whisker Graphics

 

The witch legs are cute, but that saying could go with any fun design to help make a Happy Halloween for sure!