More than a little amazing grace

There are few moments in life that better highlight the unconquerable human spirit than the moment when hearts and hands turn to the task of rebuilding. Although life is basically good, disasters happen most of them minor, but some so devastating that we wonder how we will ever move forward and rebuild. And yet somehow we do. We have done it in the past, we are doing it now, and we will keep doing it in the future. If it's true that to err is human, then it's just as human to muster our strength, pick ourselves up, and carry on. 

Perhaps this explains why we love a comeback story and cheer for the underdog because at one time or another, we're all underdogs, and we all have comebacks to make. Every life needs rebuilding of some kind. It may take longer than we'd like, and the finished product may look quite different from what we expected. The important thing is that we are never satisfied with rubble that we always do what we can to rebuild.

Not long ago, a bomb exploded in a crowded airport. Among the many who were injured was a man who had left his home to serve as a missionary for his church. The injuries were so severe that doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. It seemed he had lost so much, but there was one thing he never lost—the will to rebuild his life. "Fear won't stop me," he says. "I'm going to live my life, and I'm going to teach my children and grandchildren that we put our trust in God." In many ways, he is stronger today than he ever was before.

That is because, as Gandhi said: "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an invincible will."  Indeed, the surest way to find out how strong we are is to stand up when we have been knocked down, to rebuild our lives when all appears hopeless. 

Whether it's a broken body, a strained relationship, a troubled neighborhood, or even a nation facing tragedy, rebuilding takes time and more than a little amazing grace. But we will rebuild, things will get better, and life will go on in new and unexpected ways.

Lloyd D. Newell

The answer is yes

There's something enchanting about butterflies. Even on our busy days, we almost can't help but stop and watch when one flutters by. And most of us know the familiar green chrysalis from which a beautiful monarch butterfly will someday emerge.

But what's happening inside that chrysalis may surprise you. Many of us think a caterpillar is simply hibernating in there, slowly growing wings. But what's actually happening is even more miraculous. Once encased in a chrysalis, the caterpillar releases enzymes that turn its body into liquid. From this watery soup, the entire creature is rebuilt. The muscles, the nervous system, the heart—everything is completely re-created, and the lowly caterpillar transforms into a brilliant butterfly.

And if such a transformation can happen with caterpillars, why not with people? Can we too, regardless of our past, "put off" our old selves and improve our lives? Can we undergo an inner metamorphosis as wondrous as the outward transformations we see in nature? Can a life that has experienced failure become a success story?

The answer is yes—not only can we change, we were meant to change. Just as the caterpillar was not created to remain a caterpillar, we were created to grow, progress, and improve. If we allow it, life's experiences have a way of melting away our stubbornness, our selfishness, and any other weaknesses we might have—changing us, in effect, into a wiser, more generous, and more loving person.

Of course, great change is not immediate, any more than nature's miracle with the caterpillar happens in an instant. Sometimes it may even feel as though we've made a soupy mess of things. There may be days when it seems that "the harder we try, the harder it gets." But if we believe enough to keep trying, we can become more than we have been in the past. Step by step, we can give up bad habits that hold us back, traits that damage relationships, and attitudes that darken our outlook. We can acknowledge our mistakes, apologize to those we've offended, and set a new course toward a brighter future of love, compassion, and humility.

Every caterpillar carries within itself the makings of a beautiful butterfly. And every one of us can remake ourselves into a thing of wonder and, on glorious wings, discover we can fly. 

Lloyd Newell

Gene Wilder 1933-2016

Spinach Artichoke Quiche

1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust, either store-bought or homemade

1 (9-ounce) box frozen spinach, thawed

8 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided

1⁄4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts

2 cups grated Gruyère cheese

1⁄2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

3 large eggs

1 1⁄2 cups half-and-half

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

3⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt

1⁄2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

1⁄2 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place pie crust dough in a 9-inch pie, quiche, or tart pan. If using a pie plate, flute the edges. If using a quiche or tart pan, trim excess dough from edge with a knife. Place a layer of foil over the pie dough, extending over the edges of the pan. Place pie weights or dry beans on top of foil. Bake 15 minutes. Remove weights and foil and use a fork to prick the dough several times. Return to oven and bake 5–10 minutes longer, until set and light golden brown. Remove crust from oven.

2. Squeeze liquid from spinach. Use a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb all excess moisture. Chop spinach and then spread it out on the bottom of the pie crust. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon. Sprinkle remaining bacon and artichoke hearts evenly over the spinach. Top with the grated cheeses.

3. Combine eggs, half-and-half, onion, mustard, salt, pepper, and thyme in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined and then pour into pie crust. Sprinkle reserved bacon on top. Bake 30–40 minutes at 350 degrees F. until set in the middle and light golden brown. Cool at least 15 minutes before slicing. This can be served warm, at room temperature, or cold. 

the right eyes see

Caramel Apple Slices

Ingredients

Apples

White or Wooden Lollipop Sticks

Melting Chocolate

Caramel

Toppings - optional

Instructions

First wash & slice your apples, remove the seeds, insert the stick at the bottom, & pat the apple slices dry.

2 Cover each apple slice in melted chocolate & place on a piece of wax paper to dry. Continue this process until all of your apples are covered in chocolate & have hardened

3 Then drizzle the caramel & other toppings on top of your apple slices.

4 Let harden & enjoy!

Caramel Churro Chex Mix

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups Rice Chex™ cereal

4 1/2 cups Corn Chex™ cereal

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter

1/4 up light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup granulated sugar 

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Place cereal in a large, heat safe bowl. Line a large

baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick baking spray.

2. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

3. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, heat brown sugar, butter, and corn

syrup until the mixture comes to a boil. Let boil for one minute, stirring

constantly, then remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Pour over cereal

and stir until cereal is coated.

4. Spread cereal on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle evenly with

cinnamon/sugar mixture. Bake for about 5 minutes, then flip with a spatula

and bake for 3 more minutes, until cereal turns golden brown. Remove from

oven and let cool completely, then break up and store in an airtight container.

TODAY is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.

Nobody's life is worry free, but that doesn't mean our worries need to run our lives. Learning how to manage our worries can make all the difference in our well-being. This is what a busy young father learned. He had a challenging career and was feeling overwhelmed with his many responsibilities. He would come home from work every night feeling anxious and even physically ill. He found it very difficult to sleep at night. He went to his physician for help; he prayed and pondered about what to do. The man soon realized that he needed to stop worrying so much. But how would he do that?

In time, he was inspired with a simple idea: he got two baskets; one he labeled "worry" and the other "concern." Then he organized all of his challenges and responsibilities into one of the two baskets—even if only mentally. The things he could do nothing about went in the worry basket, and those he had some ability to resolve went in the concern basket.

In this way, he could focus his attention on concerns—issues over which he had some power. He could prioritize these issues and do his best to resolve as many of them as possible, without wasting time on worries that were outside of his control. Of course, just putting something in the worry basket didn't make it go away, but he did find that, if he was patient, solutions emerged—very often with divine help or even just the passage of time. The anxiety didn't vanish all at once, but whenever he felt it stirring inside him, he stopped what he was doing, prayed for support, and said to himself, "I am not going to do another thing until I begin to control my emotions." Over time, as he learned to put worry in its proper place, his health and well-being improved, and what was once a weakness in his life became one of his strengths.

Worry can be disheartening, leading us to feel overwhelmed or powerless. But when we put our worries in their proper place—whether in a basket or simply out of our minds—we can take purposeful action, be resourceful, and tackle the problems within our control. Eventually, instead of being filled with worry, our lives will be filled with patience, perspective, and peace.

Llyod D. Newell

Creamy Broccoli and Mushroom Casserole

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs broccoli florets

2 tablespoons coconut oil (or olive oil)

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb white button mushrooms (or cremini mushrooms), sliced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon fine grain salt

½ teaspoon sweet paprika

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 eggs, at room temperature

1 cup full fat coconut milk 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F  and place a rack in the middle. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish with olive oil.

Place ¾  to 1 inch of water in a saucepan with a steamer and bring to a boil (if you don't have a steamer, you can simply put the broccoli directly into an inch of boiling water.) Add the broccoli to the steamer and cover; reduce heat to medium and let cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender but still firm. Remove from the heat and let cool.

In the meantime, melt coconut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute, until fragrant.

Add mushroom, thyme, salt, paprika, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Sauté until mushrooms have browned a bit, about 8 minutes. 

When broccoli florets have cooled down a little bit, chop the larger ones into bite-sized pieces. 

Add broccoli to the skillet and gently stir until combined.

Pour the broccoli-mushroom mixture into the prepared baking dish.

In a bowl whisk eggs with coconut milk and pour over broccoli mixture.

Bake in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes until golden-brown.

Color me . . .

You are the artist to your life

Chocolate Thin Mint Brownies

Brownies:

1 1/2 cups melted butter

3/4 cup cocoa

3 cups sugar

6 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3/4 tsp salt

2 1/4 cups sifted flour

Mint Frosting Layer:

3/4 cup butter, softened

3 Tablespoons milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract

Green food coloring (optional)

Chocolate layer:

2 1/4 cups semi-sweet OR milk chocolate chips

3/4 cup butter

Directions:

Whisk together melted butter and cocoa. Add sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt. Mix well, then stir in flour by hand. Do not over mix. Spread in greased 12×17-inch cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 25-30 min. Cool and then put in the freezer for 20 minutes. For frosting, mix butter, milk, powdered sugar and extract. If you want to add color, add your food coloring (you could also use red food coloring). Frost brownies and then put in freezer for another 20 minutes. Melt chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler (or in the microwave) and spread on top of the frosting layer. Freeze another 20 minutes to set.

I decided to go with an open mind . . and see what I would learn

In 2012 Emily Harrington 26 years old climbed Mt Everest.

So I grew up in the climbing world and I had this preconceived notion of what Everest was like, people in the core climbing community sort of criticized Everest, they said it is not a mountain for climbers, its not real climbing, even, that its not that hard. So I had this idea yet in my head of what Everest was like, up until I was asked to go on this expedition. I had no idea what to think about it. But I decided to go and I decided to go with an open mind and just see what would happen, see what I would learn out of it, and for me the challenges began instantly as soon as I arrived at base camp.

One of the biggest things that I faced on Everest the whole time was this sort of fear and anticipation and suspense of the unknown, because I did not know what to expect I never really climbed a mountain like this before. So I had no idea as to what I was getting into and then a really interesting thing happened to me it was sort of like all that fear washed a way even though I was in this incredibly dangerous place it was also this beautiful place and this fascinating place and when you are in a situation like that, that's super dangerous there is no control over the bad things that are going to happen to you and so in a way 

I learned to let go.

Another thing I learned about Everest is there is a lot of relief and it comes in these magnified forms camp 2 is a truly special place. I think any one who spends any amount of time there can recognize that you feel closer to the stars, it's that kind of place, it has that kind of power. 

Entering onto the Lhotse Face is where the climbing starts to get a little more real, a little more serious it's steeper more exposed and it was made more intimidating by the really difficult conditions we faced. Nepal had a really dry winter which meant that there was very little snow which meant that the Lhotse Face was a vertical ice rink, instead of boot packing up snow we where ice climbing up blue ice and then you arrive at camp 3 which also was my favorite place on the mountain. 

I remember the one night we got to spend there, it was sunset and there was no wind it was perfectly calm and I had been through a lot at this point on the mountain, emotionally and physically. 

We got to watch the sunset and I just remember thinking to myself this is a rare moment in my life and this is why I am here and this is why it is worth it. I was super grateful at that time and I am really glad I remember those moments because they are super fleeting.

A lot of the time on Everest you are spending in a tent and it can be pretty miserable, but as I got higher on the mountain these sort of highs and lows got more and more intense and I think this attitude right here particularly has to do with the fact that I used oxygen after camp 3 and I felt awesome, I felt stronger and warmer and my mind felt more clear and not only that but your getting closer to the summit, at this point this is camp 4.

It's like being on another planet, it's called the death zone because humans can't exist there for very long and that's why we don't stay there for very long. We left for the summit the night of May 24th at 9:30pm, we all left half hazardly at different times. I was suppose to be climbing with the sherpa Tendi and very early on I get separated from him because there were crowds and I was passing people and he didn't follow me and there was a misunderstanding, so in the end I ended up in this long line of floating head lamps and I did not know any one around me I was not sure if any one would be there to help me so that was one of the most trying moments for me while I was actually climbing. But I swallowed that fear and just kept going. 

The sun came up when I was on the south summit, I instantly felt better, it was like this magical relief that I had. Even though I was on the summit ridge and both sides dropped off 8000 ft on either side of me I just remember feeling safe. 

For some reason I just remembered thinking I am okay now, I am going to be okay. I reached the summit at 6:30 in the morning I took a selfie and after spending 20 minutes there I descend from the summit, 

making my way to camp 2 and then base camp.

I had never been to a place before where I had been completely stripped down to who I was as a person.  I think as humans we sort of live for these moments of lightness and we learn from these intense moments of darkness and I experienced it all on Everest.  In this very true and raw form and that's why I am so grateful that I got to have the experiences I did. That place will always be important to me for those reasons.

Emily Harrington

Tex­Mex Ground Turkey and Rice Skillet

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups uncooked instant brown rice

1 pound Jennie­O Lean Ground Turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 (15 oz) can Ranch Style beans (pinto beans seasoned in tomato sauce ­ you could also use pinto beans),

undrained

1 cup beef broth

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 (10.5 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chilis, drained

1 (15 oz) can corn, drained

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cumin

ground pepper to taste

1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese

Instructions

Cook rice according to package directions.

While the rice cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the ground turkey, onion, and garlic and cook

until the turkey is no longer pink.

Stir in the rice, beans, beef broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, corn, chili powder, salt, cumin, and ground pepper. Let

cook over medium heat for 8­10 minutes to let the flavors really come together.

Top with shredded cheese and let cook for 2­3 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

Garnish with your favorite toppings ­ tomatoes, shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, etc.

You've always had the power

You've always had the power my dear,  

you just had to learn it for yourself. 

- The Wizard of Oz -

Cinnamon Roll French Bread Bake

Ingredients

1 ­2 loaves french bread (depending on how big you get them. mine were pretty skinny so I used 2)

5 eggs

3/4 cup whole milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons nutmeg

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tablespoon cinnnamon

1 cup cream cheese frosting (melted) {you could use any frosting... we are just big fans of cream cheese}

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice the french bread into 1/2­1/3 inch slices and place them in rows in a greased 9x13 pan.

In a bowl, combine the cracked eggs, whole milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined.

Pour the liquid mixture over the slices of bread.

Sprinkle the french toast with brown sugar and cinnamon and place in oven.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, or until all the mixture is absorbed and baked into the bread.

Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 minutes before pouring the melted cream cheese frosting over it. Serve warm and enjoy! 

love this young man the true meaning of integrity

• U.S. Army reservist hears national anthem, stops mid-attemptNBC Sports628,218 views
  

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  0:56

Bronze medal winner United States' Sam Kendricks celebrates after the final of the men's pole vault during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 

Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.

Renewed Hope

Young woman from a disadvantaged background stood on the stage in cap and gown, proudly holding the university diploma she had just been awarded. With perseverance, she had achieved what many thought impossible. When asked how she had done it—how she had managed to pull herself out of such difficult circumstances she replied, "I had hope! I just kept going and never lost hope."

It's helpful to see and hear such examples of hope fulfilled, because all of us, regardless of our background, face challenges. Some struggles are obvious and visible to all, while others are more private, but every life includes circumstances that seem to defy our ability to overcome. We may, often through no fault of our own, find ourselves in situations that make the future look bleak, with little or no promise of happiness or relief from the pain we feel. At such times, when we are drowning in a sea of challenges, when all seems lost, 

hope is sometimes all we have. 

This is why we need occasional reminders that people can, and do, bounce back from almost anything. We cheer for every runner in a marathon, but we cheer a little louder when we realize that one of them is an amputee. Our hearts rejoice when a former addict remains free of his addiction. And we take courage when we meet victims of abuse who courageously define themselves by their future instead of their past. Any of these people could have easily given up, but they kept moving forward, one step, one day at a time. Their victories resonate with all of us, because they  that we too can overcome. When we're struggling and feel our strength weakening, we can listen to the quiet inner voice that says, "Hang on. Things will get better. It won't always be this hard." 

In 1941, England was in the midst of World War II, under the constant threat of attack and invasion. It was in these perilous circumstances that Winston Churchill stood before the students at Harrow School and said these memorable words: "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never." When applied with what Churchill called "good sense," the courage to "never give in" will see us through the toughest times and help us keep "a perfect brightness of hope."

Lloyd D. Newell

Apple pie snickerdoodle cookie bars

1 20 oz. can Apple pie filling
Cinnamon sugar (1/4 cup of granulated sugar & 4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon)
1 16.5 oz tube Pillsbury sugar cookie dough, refrigerated

Instructions

Press 2/3 of the cookie dough into the bottom of an 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan.
Sprinkle with 2/3 of the cinnamon sugar.
Spread the apple pie filling over the cookie base.
Take small amounts of the remaining cookie dough, flatten it slightly and place over the pie filling. It will not cover the pie filling completely.
Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake in a 350* oven until the cookie dough is baked - mine took about 35-40 minutes.

Allow bars to cool and cut into squares.

Not just the Olympic's but life winners and champions just keep trying

It's been said that "life does not determine winners. Winners determine life." Most true winners have "lost" at some point in life. They have been hurt and disappointed; they have experienced setbacks and sorrow, but they do not let these difficulties determine their destiny or define their lives. Instead, they strive to rise above their challenges and keep moving forward one day at a time. In fact, it is very often the defeats, just as much as the victories, that bring out the greatness in a true champion. 

One reason we love sports so much is that they provide countless inspiring examples of this very truth. Grantland Rice, a legendary sportswriter from the previous century, spent more than 50 years observing and writing eloquently about the wins and losses, the triumphs and failures of great athletes. He wrote these words that have been paraphrased by parents and coaches so often that they have become a familiar motto of athletic competition everywhere: 

When the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, 

He writes—not that you won or lost—but how you played the Game.

Every two years the world gathers in celebration of sport to witness world-class athletes compete in the Olympic games. While the medal count is interesting to follow, what really grabs the heart are the personal stories of the athletes—their hard work, persistence, dedication, and teamwork. Every one, it seems, faced challenges that could have tempted them to give up and give in, but they discovered—as we all must—that the key to a winning life is to keep going. 

Every Olympic athlete is a living reminder that if we can rise when we fall, pick ourselves up when life knocks us down, and continue on when it seems easier to quit, we will see in time that winning is not as much about talent or luck as it is about grit and perseverance. Winners and champions just keep trying. This thought is expressed well in the Olympic creed: 

"The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well."

Lloyd D. Newell

It doesn't matter if you try and try and try again, and fail. 

it does matter if you try and fail and fail to try again. 

Charles Kettering

keep trying

Gold Silver Bronze Never lose sight of your dreams!

it knows the way

"Don't limit yourself and don't let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities. You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith."

~ 

"At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." Lao Tzu

US

still small voice

I know it's not easy, press on

It's a mindset

you is loved

expect nothing . . . no no no, expect everything, expect the best to happen

Positive Thinking is not only about expecting the best to happen. But it is also about accepting whatever happens is for THE BEST or making the best of whatever has happened. 

But always expect good things to come your way, we atract what we think, we create what we think, expect the best, appreciate come what may. 

trust

slow down. calm down. don't worry. don't hurry. trust the process.

I think I will be HaPpY toDaY

Count them one by one

You can accomplish anything

when the challenges we face are frightening

More than 150 years ago, thousands of stalwart pioneers fled their comfortable homes into the wilderness in search of freedom from religious persecution. A newspaper headline from 1914 summarized their remarkable westward trek in these words: "Strong Men, Brave Women and Sturdy Children Crossed the Wilderness Afoot."

But if you could talk to some of those men, women, and children, they would probably tell you that they didn't always feel strong, brave, and sturdy. Betsey Smith Goodwin, who pushed and pulled a handcart more than 1,000 miles as a 13-year-old, recalls food rationing and bitter cold weather. "But we never forgot to pray," she said, "and we sang, 'Come, Come, Ye Saints,' with great zeal and fervor. We realized that we needed the help of God to see us through."

Betsey continues, "I will not dwell upon the hardships we endured, nor the hunger and cold, but I like to tell of the goodness of God unto us." She recounts one day that especially stood out in her memory. The wind blew fiercely. The dark clouds were ominous and threatening. The approaching storm was so violent, the thunder and lightning so frightening, that even the ox teams refused to take another step. The group's captain stood in the middle of the road, took off his hat, and bowed his head. Soon other members of the company joined him in bowing their heads and removing their hats, until 100 carts had gathered around the captain, who said, "Let us pray." Betsey remembers that as he poured his heart out in prayer, heaven felt close. The clouds then parted, and the company pressed forward with faith until they reached camp and pitched their tents—just before the storm clouds finally burst open with torrents of rain.

So often, the best thing to do—the only thing to do—is pray and then get to work. That's true whether we're crossing plains in handcarts or facing more modern hardships and difficulties. When our days are daunting, when the challenges we face are frightening even paralyzing for a moment we don't have to rely on our own strength, bravery, or sturdiness. We can seek divine help. As we do, will be able to share with future generations stories of 

"the goodness of God unto us." 

Lloyd D. Newell