Simple Home and Happiness

Earlier this year I spoke at a conference. I talked about gratitude, grace and joy. I was fully immersed in it and felt it down to my toes. Then life got turned upside down and busy and somehow I forgot everything. The last month or so has been a mess. I hate the rush of summer and the vortex that results and sucks up every minute and shreds my plans. I have let it consume me. I have been wallowing in self pity. It all bubbled up and exploded last week when I threw a tantrum and in an attempt to keep from yelling I kicked the wall. My house that I love, that I built with my hands, that I poured myself into; I kicked it and put a hole in the wall and injured my foot. It was stupid. The tantrum was stupid. I feel stupid. But even more than that, I am angry at myself. I am angry that I allowed myself to get to the point that I would act that way. I wasn't being grateful, I wasn't practicing grace and I certainly was no where near feeling joy. I wanted my children and

Today the weather is cool and there is a breeze, so my windows are open and I am breathing it all in. I started my morning off right and today feels good. Good enough to sit down and catch you up on what I've been cooking on these busy summer days. I would be lying if I told you its all home cooked goodness everyday, last week there was hot pockets, a frozen pizza (or three), and a lot of sandwiches. But for the most part, I've been sticking to my go-to's. The ones I can throw together in a hurry. So search no more. Here are your simple summer meals. Anytime Bagels  Slice a bagel and put it in the toaster. Fry an egg in olive oil. Lay a couple slices of deli meat in the same pan. When you flip the egg, flip the meat and top with shredded cheese or sliced cheese. When bagel is done and the egg is cooked to your liking, assemble it like a sandwich.  Now.... there is room to work with whatever you have. No bagel, use regular bread; no deli meat, use bacon; if you lik

We live in a hurting world. There is so much hate, and violence in the world. It seems to be escalating and intensifying. It can be easy to feel like it is out of control and beyond help. We shake our heads. We grumble about what the world is coming to. We let fear creep in.  We give up, because it all seems too far gone. And yet, I keep coming back to same thing in my head, over and over; we have the power to stop the violence, the hate, the abuse. Every single one of us, has the power. We have turned a blind eye. We ignored all the warning signs, we were busy with our own problems, and didn't take the time to see what was right in front of us. Every offender was once a child , more than likely a hurting child.  What if you were the one to make all the difference? What if you smiled at that child, and told him it was ok he was late for school and offered him a granola bar before he joined his class. What if you saw her waiting for her bus every morning w