EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN

I've always loved the book of Ecclesiastes. Some think it's depressing. I wouldn't call it that. I would just call it true. It is a picture of life. How everything seems "meaningless". How life is not fair. How life is monotonous. Solomon asked God for wisdom. And he got it (along with power and riches which he didn't ask for)! And in what seems like a "woe is life" book there are tidbits in it like "We should rejoice in or works"; "We should eat, drink and be merry", "Enjoy your days of youthfulness". And in conclusion of a man that understood LIFE he says this: "In conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." My conclusion of Ecclesiastes is this: Enjoy the life that God has given you; do what is right is God's eyes; Don't take things for granted; Remember that He is God and you are man.

A FEW IDEAS TO ENJOY LIFE

1. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS EVERY MORNING AND THANK GOD FOR THEM ALL!

2. MAKE A CUP OF COFFEE AND SIT OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING WHILE THE SUN IS COMING UP AND THE BIRDS ARE SINGING.

3. FIND YOUR CALLING (i know that's not easy but look at your gifts, talents and abilities and start there)

4. FIND SOMETHING YOU ENJOY DOING AND DO IT!!!!!

5. GIVE LOTS OF HUGS SO YOU CAN GET SOME BACK!

6. FIND A DAY AND DECIDE TO ENJOY ALL THE SIMPLY THINGS IN LIFE!

TOMORROW! It's a New Day!!!

I remember my days as a teenager thinking many a day "I wish I could start over". "I wish I could move to another school and start over." How many times in our lives have we either thought that or said that? For me it has been more times than I can count. Most of the time it had to do with bad decisions and regret. Now I say "I'll start my diet tomorrow." Or "I'll be a better wife and mother tomorrow." Or "I'll eat healthier tomorrow." Or "I'll get going with that budget tomorrow." Aren't you glad for tomorrows? What would we do without them? I think God knew we would need tomorrows. That's why He says "My mercies are new every morning." Lamentations 3:22-23 and "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5. You don't have to wait until New Year's Day either. Tomorrow is a new day. God has made it possible to Start Over!

Taco Salad Recipe:

1/2 head of lettuce, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 # ground beef, browned w/ a half pack taco season, cool
1/2 c. crushed Doritos
1/4 c. Catalina French Dressing

Mix all together and refrigerate.

THE UNFINISHED CHALLENGE

This weekend I was looking around the house and noticed all of my unfinished projects. So I decided to make a list and challenge myself to finish one a week. So now I am going to challenge you to do the same. We can make it a game. Make a list TODAY! Then when you complete one of your unfinished projects post it as a comment to my blog "The Unfinished Challenge". Maybe this encouragement will help move us to get some things done that we have been putting off. My goal this week is to finish a chair I had re-covered but never finished. What it your unfinished project? Let me know! We are all busy. We can always make an excuse that we don't have time. But this week lets make time, okay? Okay! Best Wishes!!! I will post a picture of the finished project later in the week when I finish it. :)

Easy and Healthy:

Take any boxed rice or pasta meal and add vegies. You can add flavor and nutritional value this way. Example: To chicken rice-a-roni you can add broccoli or sweet peas. To red beand and rice you can add onions and peppers. To Hamburger helper you can add corn, carrots and peas.