Enjoy Your Life!

My husband called me from work yesterday and read the quote below to me over the phone. He had received an e-mail from a co-worker in another state, and this was below his signature, I suppose it is his favorite saying. The words touched me so that I asked hubby to forward the e-mail to me. These words pretty much say it all:

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Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,

so love the people who treat you right,

{pray for and then . . . } forget about the ones who don’t,

and believe that everything happens for a reason.

If you get a chance, take it.

If it changes your life, let it.

Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

'Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.

Speak kindly. And enjoy your life.'

{Note, I added the 'pray for and then . . .' before 'forget those who don't', because I believe we should pray for them.}

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Enjoy your life. How can you enjoy your life if you aren't forgiving and hold onto hurt and anger and grudges for far too long. How can you enjoy your life if you never take a chance, never allow change to happen in you, and never try anything new.

Some people never let go of a grudge. My mother is one of those. She is still angry with a friend over something the friend did more than 40 years ago. What she did was wrong, but I'm sure she's forgotten all about it. Holding onto this isn't hurting the friend, it's only hurting my mother, but I can't make her understand that. She is stealing her own joy - and how sad is that!

I am not a grudge holder, it's just not who I am. When something keeps swirling in my head that bothers me - things like hurt, anger or regrets - I lift up a prayer and ask God to take that away from me, and replace it with peace. And do you know what??? He does! Our Father doesn't like to see us hurting or stewing over something like hurt feelings, and all we have to do is ask sincerely and He will take it from us and cast it away where it belongs - into the sea of forgetfulness. God wants us to live a joyful life, and even with trials, there are still so many things that can show us glimpses of JOY.

Today I am finding JOY in the little things. Things like the chilly rain that is making the birds work like beavers at my feeders. I've had two Downy Woodpeckers and a Carolina Wren fighting over one suet cake - so much fun! Things like finishing up my simple decorations, and maybe making a batch of ginger cookies later today. I'm also finding JOY in remembering why we celebrate this season.

So, where are you finding your JOY today??? Blessings, Becky

Twenty Six Christmases

This Christmas will be the twenty sixth that I've shared with this man . . .


We started dating in April of 1984, and I wasn't sure what Christmas would hold. I had moved home with my parents in very early 1984 because my dad was having major surgery and Mama needed a helping hand. Let's be real, here. I could always do more with Daddy than Mama could, and she needed someone there he would listen to! All my furniture and such were stowed away in a storage unit until the time when I cold once again move out on my own. I was, after all, almost 32 years old!

Anyway, my now hubby and I had been dating a while, and were talking about the future, and I was spending much more time at his condo than I was at home. But when Christmas started approaching, he wouldn't talk about decorating his condo. He just didn't see the point.



A couple of weeks before Christmas I left work early, went to the storage unit and dug out my Christmas decorations, went and bought a tree, took it all to his condo and started decorating. He came home and started helping me. I created a monster! The next Christmas we were married, and he was the first one to bring up the decorating topic. And the gift giving topic. Man, is he a great Christmas gift-giver!

You see, we don't do a lot most of the year. Usually there's something small for birthdays, and we'll do something special for our anniversary, but Christmas is when we really do it up. I have a wonderful husband in many ways - but I can honestly say he is one in a bazillion when it comes to Christmas.

He starts asking for ideas in, oooohhhh, August or September. And he shops, and looks around, asks for updates on the list of ideas, and he really puts a lot of thought and effort into the process. And then he saves a day of vacation, and about 10 days to 2 weeks before Christmas he stays home, runs me out of the house, and wraps each and every gift himself, using lots and lots of tape! He also fills my stocking and fills the top with tissue paper so I can't peek. Most years I have between 7 and 12 gifts to open. I try to compete with him, but it's hard to keep up!

A few years ago I could tell he was more excited than usual. I had a feeling he'd gotten me a new laptop PC because mine was dying a slow and unnatural death, but would that make him that excited??? On Christmas morning we take turns opening gifts. Whoever has the most packages starts first, then the other opens and so forth. My next to last gift was the laptop. But there was still one box for me to open.

He made me open a card first. It was so sweet, and it said "I've never found anything that sparkles as much as you do, until now. I love you," I started crying. I mean, how romantic is that?!? I opened the box, and it was a gorgeous white gold and diamond ring, and man, did that ring sparkle! Of all the wonderful Christmases we've shared, I'll probably remember that one most because of how much thought and love he put into that gift. He used the little bit of money he got after his dad died to buy a ring for me. {sigh}

This year is much the same, except on a smaller budget. We have gone in 'together' and gotten a Wii and a couple of games for us both, but it's packed up and we can't open it until Christmas morning. I've got him shoes, clothes, oldies CD's, and a few 'toys'. He's got me a Cricut (so excited!) and a few things I won't know about until Christmas morning. But, do you know that after 26 Christmases together, I can honestly say that he, this dude in the funky pictures above, is the most incredible gift of them all. I am one blessed and grateful woman.

Merry Christmas, friends! Becky

Comfort Foods = Joy

I just took one of my favoite holiday treats out of the oven - cranberry shortbread! Yesterday I made a pot of spiced cider. Hot Spiced Cider plus Cranberry Shortbread equals a joyful mouth and tummy! At least for me they do, since one of my favorite treats is a cup of one and a chunk of the other, enjoyed while blog-hopping in the morning.

The cider is easy. I simply take a gallon of the clear cider - I find it works better than the fresher stuff - and pour it into a large pot - my 5 quart one works great. I add about 3/4 to 1 cup brown sugar, a few cinnamon sticks, a bunch (tablespoon or so) of whole cloves, a few strips of orange peel (without the white part) and simmer it all on the stove for a while, testing occasionally until it tastes spicy enough for me. Then I strain the spice pieces out of it and pour it back into the jug it came in from the store, and keep it in the fridge. Bear in mind, as it simmers, it also evaporates, so you won't have a gallon when you are done. When I want a cup, I simply pour it into a cup and zap for about 1 min. 20 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes, and voila! It's ready to drink.

The cranberry shortbread is easy, too! I've been making this recipe about 3 - 4 years, and originally got it from HERE on the Martha Stewart website. I have made this same recipe with mini chocolate chips, nuts, etc. and each one is delicious! Anyway, Martha baked hers in a cake pan and cut the pieces out with heart shaped cookie cutters, but I have this >>>

>>> handy dandy Nordic Ware Shortbread Pan. You can find more info about it here, just bear in mind I didn't buy it from there, and didn't pay that much for it, either. Anyway, it is perfect for baking the shortbread, as you can see here >>>

>>> and it makes nine 3 inch squares of shortbread, which is a nice sized piece for washing down with hot spiced cider, lol! Each square has different design on the top, including a pineapple, a butterfly, a stem of two cherries, etc.

The recipe for this is very easy - just remember to take the butter out of the fridge so it can come to room temperature ahead of time.

Cranberry Shortbread

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature (I've used salted and it's okay, too, just reduce your salt in the recipe a little)

3/4 cup sifted confectioners (powdered) sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups sifted all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt (or less if using salted butter)

1/2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries (craisins) or cherries (or nuts or mini chocolate chips)

Heat oven to 325 degres.

Combine first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat until combined, but not too creamy. Stir in last ingredient (dried fruit, nuts, etc.)

Pat dough evenly into an 8 or 9 inch square baking pan. Bake until just beginning to turn golden - about 20 minutes. (Note, in my heavy pan it takes closer to 30 minutes, so check it often, and bake until it's just getting golden) Place pan on cooling rack until cool enough to touch, turn out and cut into squares, or if desired, into shapes with cookie cutters.

Cookies will keep for 5 days at room temperature in an airtight container.

Here are a couple of pictures of my finished product >>>

Doesn't that look delicious! Very pretty sprinkled lightly with sifted powdered sugar, too!

Well, we got the tree put up and all the decorations out of the attic today, but that naked tree in the living room isn't decorating itself, so I guess I'd better go help it out some. Have a great evening! Blessings y'all! Becky

Christmas Verses

I have a very special friend named Teresa. She lives hundreds of miles from here, and we met through an online recipe forum. I've not yet met her in person, but hope to meet her someday here on earth. But I feel sure if that doesn't happen, we'll meet in heaven one day, and we'll know each other instantly! She's such a sweetie, and is frequently sending me a prayer or poem she found somewhere. Following are two such poems she shared with me today. Blessings T, and thank you!

The Sights And Sounds Of Christmas

The sound of joyful church bells

Heard from a distant hill,

A warm and cozy fireside

To chase the winter's chill.

The jingle of the sleigh bells,

A Christmas candle's glow,

The cherished celebrations

Each heart has come to know.

A child's anticipation

As he peers beneath the tree,

And finds the gift he asked for

When he sat on Santa's knee.

The sights and sounds of Christmas

Woefully will depart,

But the wondrous love of Jesus

Can remain within each heart.

—Catherine Janssen Irwin

Everywhere Christmas

Peace on earth—

It's Christmas;

Silent is the night.

All about

the beauty—

Earth is dressed in white.

Listen;

Hear the angels—

Songs are in the air.

Wide eyes shine in wonder—

It's Christmas everywhere.

—Joan Stephen

One more thing - I resisted addng music to my blog for a long time, but decided to add some Chrstmas music. How do you like it? Had you rather have music, or not have music? Please let me know what YOU think! I'd really like t know. Blessings friends! Becky