Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Gratitude

Begin your day by feeling grateful. Be grateful for the bed you just slept in, the roof over your head, the carpet or floor under your feet, the running water, the soap, your shower, your toothbrush, your clothes, your shoes, the refrigerator that keeps your food cold, the car that you drive, your job, your friends. Be grateful for the stores that make it so easy to buy the things you need, the restaurants, the utilities, services, and electrical appliances that make your life effortless. Be grateful for the magazines and the books that you read. Be grateful for the chair that you sit on, and the pavement that you walk on. Be grateful for the weather, the sun, the sky, the birds, the trees, the grass, the rain, and the flowers.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!


May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

Monday, March 19, 2012

YUMMMMM, YUMMMM, oh yeah Yummmmm!!!

So I found this recipe on Pinterest this past week & brought it to a family get together & let me tell you it went over amazing!!! Escpecially by the kids!!!!!!

Funfetti Cake Dip
(serves 1-2)
3 tablespoons funfetti cake mix powder
2 tablespoons yogurt, plain or vanilla flavor
1 tablespoon whipped cream (cool whip works too)

1. In a small bowl mix together the cake mix and yogurt until smooth.
2. Gently fold in the whipped cream until combined.
3. Serve with fruit, graham crackers, or animal crackers to dip and enjoy your party in a bowl. :)

Now this recipe only makes 1-2 servings as you'll see above - I just kept adding until my bowl had about as much as I wanted & I served this with animal crackers - it was AMAZING!!!  Oh & amazingly easy to make!!!!!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

50 questions that will free your mind!

From: HereBecause sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

1.How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
2.Which is worse, failing or never trying?

3.If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

4.When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

5.What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

6.If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

7.Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

8.If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

9.To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

10.Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

11.You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?

12.If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

13.Would you break the law to save a loved one?

14.Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

15.What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

16.How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?

17.What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?

18.Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

19.If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

20.Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

21.Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

22.Why are you, you?

23.Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

24.Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

25.What are you most grateful for?

26.Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

27.Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

28.Has your greatest fear ever come true?

29.Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?

30.What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?

31.At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

32.If not now, then when?

33.If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?

34.Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

35.Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

36.Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

37.If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

38.Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

39.Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?

40.When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

41.If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
42.Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
43.What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

44.When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

45.If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

46.What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

47.When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

48.What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

49.In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?

50.Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Monday, February 13, 2012

LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND!

Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine and was originally observed as a day on which lovers expressed love for each other.
Presenting flowers or sending greeting cards became known as "valentines." Some like to refer to this day as "love day"- a time to show any all of your loved ones how much you care for them.
 

Monday, February 6, 2012

BE GRATEFUL!

Today, be grateful. Be grateful for your favorite music, for movies that make you feel good, for your phone that connects you with people, for your computer, and for the electricity that lights up your life. Be grateful for air travel that flies you everywhere. Be grateful for the roads and traffic lights that keep the traffic in order. Be grateful to those who built our bridges. Be grateful for your pet, for your child, for your loved ones, for your eyes that enable you to read this. Be grateful for your imagination. Be grateful that you can think. Be grateful that you can speak. Be grateful that you can laugh and smile. Be grateful that you can breathe. Be grateful that you are alive! Be grateful that you are You!
Be grateful that there are two words that can change your life.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 
Rhonda Byrne

Friday, February 3, 2012

I think we can all use this once in awhile!


The Optimist Creed reads....

I promise myself...
to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
to talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person i meet.
to make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
to wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
to give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry,
too noble for anger,
too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
~Chistian D. Larson

Monday, January 30, 2012

Heaven Is For Real

I just read Heaven Is For Real For Kids by Todd & Brenda Burpo as told by Colton Burpo!  I had read 3/4 of the adult version on my sisters nook while on vacation and couldn't put that book down!  I still can't wait to finish the adult book!  So I was thrilled to see that I could read this book for children.

I think this book is beautifully written for kids from a child!  I think it had beautiful picutres and kept it to the point not making it scary for kids either.  I think this is a great book to introduce kids to heaven and hopefully be able to answer their questions. 

I thought it was great that the book had a bible passage also with each story to pull the bible into it and keep things even more real as well!

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am under no obligation to write a positive or negative review of this book. The opinions expressed are exclusively my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.


Why Men Hate Going To Church!

I just read Why Men Hate Going To Church By David Murrow! 

This book has a lot of great points in it and I think hits the nail right on the head with the concerns issues that are going on in the church.  I think church can mean different things to different people and everyone is unique.  That being said - church can be unique to everyone - men or women.  I do think that church's will need to change as society changes to more spirituality vs religion.  I think we will see this. 

I do think the author does bring up some valid points regarding relevant issues that maybe all pastors might not be aware of - and just need brought to their attention. 

I think some of his metaphors for describing the Christina life were helpful and could be helpful to others as well.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am under no obligation to write a positive or negative review of this book. The opinions expressed are exclusively my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Monday, January 23, 2012

You Invited How Many?!

So I thought I had our guest list under control, thought I was doing well!  I had the wedding guest list typed up all nicely in an Xcel Spreadsheet and I had the Dance guest list in another spreadsheet!  I was feeling VERY good about it!  Dave & I both had agreed we'd like the wedding/meal guest list to be around 100-120. 

So Friday night we sat down to go over the list & now we have a problem! 

 I had right over 100 people that we would be inviting to the dance and after talking with Dave we are now up near 160!!!!!!!!!!!! Now what?!  I gave in and said we could go up to 125 - but do you know how much it will cost to feed 125 people?!  

Yeah, I know you have some idea!

So somehow now Dave needs to cut 40 people from our guest list and move them over to the dance list.  I printed the list off for him & he is going to try to work on it during the week - so we'll see where that gets us!

Wish us luck on this one!!!!!!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

We Did It!

What you ask?!


I have a dress!


The Pastor is lined up!!


I have chosen my colors!!!


We set a date!!!!!!!!! 

&

We have a venue!!!!!!!!



Finally!



Here it is:
10-12-12

At:
Crow River Golf Course in Hutchinson

Wedding & Ceremony both at the same place!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Wedding Update

So - who knew wedding planning would be SO stressful and who knew Dave would have SOOO many opinions! 

However, in the past few days I have:

Found my dress - check

Confirmed that the Pastor we want can/will marry us - check

Decided on a venue - check

Bought wedding shoes - check

Decided on a cake situation - check

Decided approximately when the wedding will be - check
(waiting to hear from a couple people to make sure there are no conflicts)

Decided Colors - check

Decided on tablecloths - check

Decided on punch bowl situation - check
(There won't be any!  We will have something else instead)

Writing these all out make me feel better about where we are at - just need to get some things actually lined up now!!!!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Great Quote

This was in my inbox this morning & thought it was worth passing along:

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."


Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx

Monday, January 2, 2012

Whoa!!

Happy New Year to everyone!!!  I know I haven't blogged a lot lately but things have been crazy with Christmas, wedding planning, New Years & regular life!

I didn't realize that wedding planning would be so difficult! 

 I have also been shocked at all of the opinions and am learning a lot about how to act towards others with this entire process!  I might learn more about myself and who I want to be more than anything! 

Everyone & I mean everyone you talk to feels fee to share their opinions!

  I want opinions and help but I don't want it shoved down my throat either! 

My goal was to have our date & venue picked out by the first of the year & by the afternoon of Thursday December 29th we were sure we had!!!!!  We were so excited and ready to call the Pastor to see what dates worked for her. 

 We sat down that night and were just reviewing some costs when we came across two HUGE shockers that weren't mentioned to us at the appointment earlier that day!  So back to square one we went.  We had visited another venue on Thursday as well & were able to eliminate that one as soon as we walked in as it was SO outdated - I mean pink chairs and old floral carpet. 

So then on Friday we went & met with another venue in St Cloud that we like - much more Dave's style then mine, but again after we ran the numbers it was still higher than we want to be. 

 We were told about one other place in St Cloud so we headed over there for drinks and appetizers to find out that venue is just screened in and has no indoor plumbing - another no!

Saturday morning we met with another venue & really like that one and appears so far to be much closer to our budget.  We feel like we are at least getting closer - but this is a lot of work just to find the venue!

Not to mention we had already taken an entire day & drove to a ton of other venues because either Dave hadn't seen it or I hadn't or we both hadn't so we had already  eliminated a bunch. 

I really want to get a date & venue narrowed down so we can start on the other details & start enjoying the process more! 

I have to say I have fun when we are at the venues but then you leave and run numbers and are a bit let down! 

 I knew things would be expensive but have been surprised at all of these additional costs that are involved in just the venue!

So if anyone has any wedding tips/advice please feel free to send it my way!!!!!!!!!