Thursday, April 27, 2017

CAKE BOSS PROTÉGÉ

Image result

by Danna Shirley

Emma has always liked to watch cooking shows and when she discovered Cake Boss, she was in seventh heaven. Buddy, from Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken, NJ was on her regular diet of television watching.   
Displaying .facebook_1493306518175.jpg

When she was ten, she asked for a pink Kitchen Aid mixer! Now Kitchen Aid’s cost about $300 so her parents suggested that if she would save her money and pay half, they would pay the rest. It wasn’t long before a pink appliance was sitting on the kitchen counter.
Displaying .facebook_1493306538994.jpg

Emma and family took a vacation in 2015 to NY and other parts northeast. Dad arranged for her to visit Carlo's Bake Shop and sit in on a cake decorating class.                                                →    Here she is posed with Buddy's brother-in-law, Mauro.       

Emma loved her mixer and made a few recipes along the way, especially the family’s famous Griswood cake, but with each new year in school, her studies and sports took up most of her time. 

At the beginning of eighth grade, her teacher asked everyone to tell what they wanted to accomplish by the end of the school year. Emma wanted to bake and decorate a "professional" cake, like the Cake Boss.  

Displaying 20170418_075854_000001.jpgWhen April arrived and there was only a month left of school, Emma began her project. In the process, the kitchen counter was piled high with all of her cooking utensils, cake crumbs, and icing. Finally, at ten-thirty that night, the challenge was complete; however, Mom had to sweep and mop the kitchen floor before going to bed.
Displaying 20170418_075914_004.jpg
Emma has her head thrown back and is laughing the hardest. "It's not as easy as it looks on Cake Boss!"  
←                              

The cake was taken to school the next morning in a laundry basket. I'm so proud of Emma for not being embarrassed or frustrated with the results. She laughed at herself right along with everyone else, which is a wonderful character trait! Everyone had a piece of cake and all said it was delicious. 😊

     

Sunday, April 16, 2017

IT’S TOO LATE . . . IT’S NEVER TOO LATE

by Danna Shirley

Thoughts and phrases swirl around in my head and snippets of ideas come and go.
Just such a phrase popped this morning and then another one right behind it.

IT’S TOO LATE . . .
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!

One might reach middle-age after leading a hum-drum life,
not accomplishing much or contributing much, and think,
“It’s too late to change; my life is half gone!”

Or one might have made some wrong turns and wrong decisions
that led down some very wrong paths and think,
“It’s too late now; I’ve ruined my life; how can I recover?”

Or one might still be living with their past mistakes
and feel they can’t escape for they haunt and hound them continually.

There are two camps in life where we can set up our tent and hang up our hat:
The I CAN camp and the I CAN’T camp.
What path do you tend to take; where do you tend to live?

IF YOU THINK IT’S TOO LATE . . .
BE ASSURED, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!


Tuesday, April 4, 2017

THE DOGWOOD LEGEND

Centuries ago, the stately Dogwood tree proudly reached toward heaven in praise and in supplication. The cross . . . that which bore Christ's body, was hewn from this proud Dogwood tree.

So great was the tree's humility that it grew twisted in agony, gnarled with disgrace, bent and slender in meekness. Its true grain was stained by Christ's blood, forever to remain a living symbol of His pain and suffering. 

On Easter morning the Dogwood tree caught the radiance of New Life and Reawakened Hope, and burst forth in an array of soft white splendor. Four delicate petals in each bloom formed a cross--each edge marked with brown nail prints. A crown of thorns, as He wore, formed the center of each blossom. 

And down through the long centuries of time, the Dogwood tree, with its downy white petals, vividly reminds us of the precious gift He gave on Calvary, and of His promises, which were fulfilled on the first Easter Morning.

FACE TO THE SON

by Joyce Doolittle

I've come to believe that the happiest ones
The Light of Christ Crucifixmust be those who view life
with their face to the SON.

Not allowing dark shadows to mar their view
but always plodding onward
peaceful dreams they pursue.

Not tossed or plundered by life's troubled seas
but facing each problem
with dignity and ease.

And when they look back from whence they begun
they'll have no regrets
with their face to the SON.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Dangers of the Drug CIPRO

Dated March 22, 2017

My friend, Connie, who is 74, was given Cipro for what the doctor thought was a minor infection. I believe she took two (maybe three) pills and her feet began to burn. She couldn't walk w/o pain or even touch her feet. Now it is weeks later and she is still suffering. She looked up the side effects of Cipro and found that it should not be given to anyone over 60.

I went to the doctor recently for a UTI and he asked if I had ever taken Cipro. OMG! I am so thankful I was aware of Connie's experience. I told him Cipro should not be given to anyone over 60. He looked at me strangely and I told him I was 68. Then I told him about Connie's burning feet. He gave me something else. He was clueless about Cipro. We have to be our own best advocate for our own health! 

Please read the following website: 
https://mountainsandmustardseedssite.wordpress.com/2017/03/18/this-antibiotic-will-ruin-you/

From: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD 20857 
WARNING: Fluoroquinolones, including CIPRO®, are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all agesThis risk is further increased in older patients usually over 60 years of age, in patients taking corticosteroid drugs, and in patients with kidney, heart or lung transplants (See WARNINGS). Fluoroquinolones, including CIPRO®, may exacerbate muscle weakness in persons with myasthenia gravis. Avoid CIPRO® in patients with known history of myasthenia gravis (See Warnings). 
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/appletter/2011/019537s075,019847s047,019857s054,020780s033,021473s028ltr.pdf

Since I was aware of Connie's horrible experience, I was able to avoid taking Cipro myself. I pass this information on to you in hopes you will take every precaution against this drug.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

GOD’S WORD IS ACCURATE FOR ALL PEOPLES FOR ALL TIME. . .

EPHESIANS 2:14-18 (TLB)
Image result for clipart of christ
EPHESIANS 2:14-18 (TLB)
“For Christ Himself is our way of PEACE. He has made PEACE between us JEWS and you GENTILES by making us all ONE FAMILY, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. By His death He ended the angry resentment between us, caused by the Jewish laws which favored the Jews and excluded the Gentiles, for He died to annul that whole system of Jewish laws. Then He took the two groups that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of Himself; thus He FUSED US together to become one new person, and at last there was PEACE. As parts of the same body, our anger against each other has disappeared, for both of us have been reconciled to God. And so the FEUD ENDED at last at the cross. And He has brought this GOOD NEWS OF PEACE to you Gentiles who were very far away from Him, and to us Jews who were near. Now all of us, whether JEWS or GENTILES, may come to God the Father with the Holy Spirit’s help because of what Christ has done for us.”

For Christ Himself is our way of PEACE. He has made PEACE between us CHILDREN and PARENTS by making us all ONE FAMILY, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. By His death He ended the angry resentment between us, caused by [misunderstandings] which favored [one sibling over another], for He died to annul that whole system of [jealousy and unforgiveness]. Then He took the two groups that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of Himself; thus He FUSED US together to become one new person, and at last there was PEACE. As parts of the same body, our anger against each other has disappeared, for both of us have been reconciled to God. And so the FEUD ENDED at last at the cross. And He has brought this GOOD NEWS OF PEACE to us… Now all of us, whether CHILDREN or PARENTS, may come to God the Father with the Holy Spirit’s help because of what Christ has done for us.

For Christ Himself is our way of PEACE. He has made PEACE between WHITESBLACKS, ASIANS, INDIANS, ALL, by making us all ONE FAMILY, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. By His death He ended the angry resentment between us, caused by the [hate] which favored [one race over another], for He died to annul that whole system of [racism]. Then He took the two groups that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of Himself; thus He FUSED US together to become one new person, and at last there was PEACE. As parts of the same body, our anger against each other has disappeared, for both of us have been reconciled to God. And so the FEUD ENDED at last at the cross. And He has brought this GOOD NEWS OF PEACE to you . . . who were very far away from Him, and to us . . . who were near. Now all of us, whether WHITE, BLACK, ASIAN, INDIAN ALL, may come to God the Father with the Holy Spirit's help because of what Christ has done for us. 

For Christ Himself is our way of PEACE. He has made PEACE between us CHRISTIANS and MUSLIMS by making us all ONE FAMILY, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. By His death He ended the angry resentment between us, caused by the [hate] which favored [one religion over another], for He died to annul that whole system of [religion]. Then He took the two groups that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of Himself; thus He FUSED US together to become one new person, and at last there was PEACE. As parts of the same body, our anger against each other has disappeared, for both of us have been reconciled to God. And so the FEUD ENDED at last at the cross. And He has brought this GOOD NEWS OF PEACE to us…Now all of us, whether CHRISTIAN or MUSLIM, may come to God the Father with the Holy Spirit’s help because of what Christ has done for us.

For Christ Himself is our way of PEACE. He has made PEACE between us MEN and WOMEN by making us all ONE FAMILY, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. By His death He ended the angry resentment between us, caused by [sexism] which favored [one sex over another], for He died to annul that whole system of [discrimination]. Then He took the two groups that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of Himself; thus He FUSED US together to become one new person, and at last there was PEACE. As parts of the same body, our anger against each other has disappeared, for both of us have been reconciled to God. And so the FEUD ENDED at last at the cross. And He has brought this GOOD NEWS OF PEACE to us… Now all of us, whether MEN or WOMEN, may come to God the Father with the Holy Spirit’s help because of what Christ has done for us.

For Christ Himself is our way of PEACE. He has made PEACE between the REPUBLICANS and the DEMOCRATS by making us all ONE FAMILY, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. By His death He ended the angry resentment between us, caused by [viewpoints] which favored [one platform over another], for He died to annul that whole system of [opposition]. Then He took the two groups that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of Himself; thus He FUSED US together to become one new person, and at last there was PEACE. As parts of the same body, our anger against each other has disappeared, for both of us have been reconciled to God. And so the FEUD ENDED at last at the cross. And He has brought this GOOD NEWS OF PEACE to us… Now all of us, whether REPUBLICAN or DEMOCRAT, may come to God the Father with the Holy Spirit’s help because of what Christ has done for us.

MY SILENT WORLD

by Danna Shirley

I am a ninety-seven-year-old widow and I’m totally deaf without my hearing aids. My auditory professional says that in the most quiet surroundings I can hear approximately forty words out of one hundred. With slight background noise, it reduces to only twenty words out of one hundred. I cannot hear television or radio or conversation unless the person is right in front of me and speaks slowly and distinctly, and then must repeat themselves often.

When I fell and hit my face on the edge of the countertop, I became totally blind in my right eye. Emergency surgery reattached my retina but my sight was lost. That was my good eye which allowed me to read large print books; my only joy in life. My left eye was already designated as legally blind; which does, however, allow me to walk through my home without bumping into walls and furniture. My days consist of drops and ointment to keep my eyes moist and batteries to keep my hearing aids operable. My 24/7 caregivers get me up in the morning and put me to bed at night. They prepare my food and administer my meds throughout the day, walk me to the bathroom, and help in the shower.

A seizure at age ninety-five affected my memory and I lived for several months trapped in my childhood years, not remembering my siblings born after my tenth birthday nor remembering my own husband because we had met as teenagers. Slowly I advanced through my life and began to ask questions about this brother or that sister until I finally remembered them . . . and the love of my life, Howard, who passed away when I was ninety and he was eighty-nine. We shared sixty-eight wonderful years together, three daughters, seven grandchildren, and six great-grands.

We always thought I would go first because of my health issues while he was still strong and healthy and sharp of mind. Alas, prostate cancer took him just a few days after his birthday. I could not live without him for he was my ears and my eyes; my chauffeur to the hair dresser, the grocery store, the post office, visiting family and friends. Everyone thought I would go shortly after his passing but I am still here, seven years later and approaching my ninety-eighth birthday soon. I miss him every day.

I can’t see to read or watch television or crochet afghans. I can’t hear the news or listen to music. I just sit every day in my recliner with a blanket over my feet and legs and let the caregivers do their job. When the weather is nice, I walk around my backyard for exercise. I tell people I twiddle my thumbs and wait for the clock to move so I can retire for the night. I sleep but never peacefully, getting up a few times (or more) for the bathroom, a drink of water, or a throat lozenge when my mouth is too dry.

Is this a life? My inside mind is still young and active and healthy. It’s not fair to live in MY SILENT WORLD!