“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air…”

Why do we love the sea? Is it because it stirs up so many powerful emotions within us? Is it because of it's unlimited power and extreme vastness or simply because of it's incredible beauty? I love the sea for all these reasons.When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused.
I'm so lucky to live in Naples, Fl is such a beautiful place. No matter what's going on in my life, walking by the beach makes me feel better. I try to get there even on my busy days it gives me such delight each day.

I am inspired, I'm happy, I am blessed !!!!!!

Hope

Hope is a powerful thing, giving us strength at times when nothing else can. I am convinced that hope, more than any other, can change lives and provide a sense of meaning in this world. The prophet Isaiah wrote (Isaiah 40:31) “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” . Almost three thousand years later, it's still true. Hope is happiness, harmony, joy, and peace of mind. It is a belief that things will get better, that good will prevail.

I Shall Be Glad

by Grace Noll Crowell

If I can put new hope within the heart

Of one who has lost hope,

If I can help a brother up

Some difficult long slope

That seems too steep for tired feet to go,

If I can help him climb

In to the light upon the hill's far crest,

I shall begrudge no time

Or strength that I spend, for well I know

How great may be his need.

If I can help through any darkened hour,

I shall be glad indeed.
For I recall how often I have been

Distressed, distraught, dismayed,

And hands have reached to help, and voices called

That kept me unafraid.

If I can share this help that I have had,

God knows I shall be glad.

Ms Cromwell's poem reminds us that we all need a helping hand at times in our life. The feeling of hopefulness sometimes comes from someone helping us.

Monday Blessings

I wish for all of you a week ahead that is blessed in every way. May each step down the path of life bring all of you beautiful friends, peace and much love.

Pink Saturday!

I haven't participated in Pink Saturday in a while but this photo caught my eye for its pretty pink color. Then the recipe sounded just as good as it looked. What a great punch to serve during summer! The recipe includes instructions for both non-alcoholic and alcoholic versions so you can please everyone. This would also be great for wedding and baby showers (especially if mom is having a girl!)

Sparkling Punch
Yield
Makes about 9 cups
Ingredients
1 (12-oz.) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
4 cups white cranberry juice cocktail
1 qt. club soda, chilled
Garnish: fresh mint sprigs
Preparation
1. Stir together lemonade concentrate and cranberry juice cocktail in a large pitcher. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Stir in club soda just before serving. Garnish, if desired.
Champagne Punch: Substitute 1 (750-milliliter) bottle extra-dry Champagne or sparkling wine and 1/4 cup orange liqueur for club soda; proceed with recipe as directed
(photo from southernliving.com)

I hope everybody have a Wonderful and Happy Pink Saturday !Now go visit Beverly http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/.

and enjoy all the fun and beautiful Pink from all the participants.

Loving The Unlovable.

'To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless."



It is easy to love those who love us., anybody can do that. What is hard is to love the unlovable .Despite the fact that they are rude, insensitive, self-centered, annoying and downright exasperating, God’s word challenges us to love those we view as unlovable.Love has the power to transform, not just the person being loved, but the person doing the loving as well. When we love the unlovable, when we begin to love our enemies ( start by praying for them), we find that our own lives are changed for the better. It is we who are enriched, we who are improved, we who begin to feel more at peace with ourselves and with others.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” - Matthew 5:43-48

'You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.'

Blessed Be All The Mother's of The World !

Appreciation. The word seems too benign and insignificant to describe how I feel towards all the love and devotion my mother has shown me throughout the years of my life. My mother is the drive within me that pushes me to be the best I can possibly be. She cares for me even when I am at fault. It is the loving bond we share that keeps me striving to make her proud. I am forever grateful and loving to she who raised me.

God must have known
there would be times
We’d need a gentle touch,
A tender, understanding heart
To love us very much.
He must have known
We’d need someone
To listen to our cares,
To comfort and remember us,
In loving thoughts and prayers.
So in his boundless wisdom,
He sent us from above
The dearest blessing in the world
A mother’s precious love.

To all the moms, moms to be and grandmothers, my Very Best Wishes for a very Beautiful Mother's Day and May God Bless You All!!!

Virginia xoxoxoxx

Embracing God’s Blessings

Sunday is a day to reflect on all our blessings, take 5 minutes and sit quietly and reflect on all the blessings in your life. You be surprised of how many we have, we are surrounded by plenty of unseen blessings that we are not even aware of .

GOD'S BLESSINGS
The man whispered "God, speak to me" And a meadowlark sang. But the man did not hear.So the man yelled "God speak to me!" And the thunder rolled across the sky. But the man did not listen.The man looked around and said "God let me see you" And a star shone brightly. But the man did not notice.And the man shouted "God show me a miracle" And a life was born. But the man did not know.So, the man cried out in despair. "Touch me God and let me know that you are here!" Whereupon God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

Author Unknown

Moral: Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way you expect.

Letting Go And Letting God

Have you ever been in the mood to let go of worry, fear and doubt? Ever wonder what that would be like?
This issue has been on my mind a long time ,I struggle with it , in fact I don’t think it's possible to be in this world and not have to deal with it. But there is an answer and its a simple one, stop trying with your own strength to get rid of those emotions and instead ignore them and seek God instead. Don't just seek God but rather seek Gods presence, take each day, and each moment one at a time.
Jesus tells us “can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” Of course not.
God intended us to trust Him. Worry is the opposite of faith & trust. When we learn to give our problems, needs, so forth to God, we're allowing Him to be in control, allowing ourselves the liberty, the freedom to enjoy what He has given us. Some of us by nature worry more than others. We should pray, giving whatever is bothering us to God, then going forth doing our best to enjoy life as it happens. And when the uncertainty of life takes hold of us, remember, God is still on the throne, He is still there, able to hear our heart's cries, always waiting to comfort & restore. It takes practice to let go of worry, fear and doubt, this doesn't mean we're to not be responsible but rather learn to enjoy the love & beauty in our lives. Whatever we feed within ourselves is what grows. Feed doubt, fear, & worry....they increase. Feed trust, faith, joy, & peace; they grow. So take each day, and each moment one at a time and let go.

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.? - Leo Buscaglia

Some people think it’s holding on that makes one strong- sometimes it’s letting go.- Author

Unknown

"Don't be afraid of the day you have never seen." English Proverb

Happy Easter Blessings Everyone!

Easter is the season of the mystery of the Resurrection. It is a time when we open our eyes to the knowledge of God's love for us.
It is the season of new life, when we pray for our families, community and for God's world. At this time in the world, when the wounds of terror and conflict are so apparent, we pray especially for peace for the human family on earth.
Let the resurrection of our Lord lift us with strength , beauty and happiness and most of all Love…..

"God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have Eternal Life." John 3:16

Spring

It's time to pause and say a word of thanks for signs of new beginnings .
A new beginning is a beautiful idea. It suggests that we have infinite possibilities. Just as spring begins the new growth of a year, so should we begin again with a fresh new start.

An optimist is the human personification of spring. — Susan J. Bissonette

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.— Anne Bradstreet

It's a new beginning!

Happy spring!
Enjoy

Every Day Is A Lesson

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there...to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be but, when you lock eyes with them, you know that every moment they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair but, upon reflection, you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart.
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.
If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart to. If someone loves you, love them back, unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high.

MY FAMILY FAVORED DESSERT

Flan is one of the most traditional desserts in the entire Hispanic-influenced world—from Spain and Portugal to Cuba and Puerto Rico, all the way to Mexico and Central and South America. It comes in a variety of flavors and textures, depending on the local tastes and agricultural products of each different region.


This is a recipe I made often so I can truthfully say that it is delicious.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar 2 to 3 drops water
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 can sweetened, condensed milk 1 can evaporated milk 1 can regular milk (measure from evaporated milk can)

Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place oven rack in middle position. Put sugar in a round cake pan. Using a heavy oven mitt or tongs, place the pan directly over medium heat to caramelize the sugar. Heat until the sugar liquefies, about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Do not touch the melted sugar it will cause serious burns. When the hot liquid in the pan is a golden brown color, remove from heat and set aside on a rack to cool and harden.
In a blender, combine the evaporate milk, condensed milk, whole milk, eggs, yolks, and vanilla. Process on medium speed until well blended. Pour custard mixture over the prepared caramel. Place the cake pan in a larger, deeper pan and pour about an inch of hot water around the cake pan to make a water bath. Cover the flan loosely with a foil tent and place the larger pan on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until flan is set in the center (it will no longer jiggle). Remove from the oven and cool on a rack at room temperature. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.

To serve, run a knife or thin spatula around the edge of the flan to release it from the sides of the pan. Place a 10-inch (or larger) serving platter on top of the pan. Turn the platter over and gently remove the cake pan, leaving flan on the serving platter. Using a flexible spatula, scrape up as much of the caramel as possible from the bottom of the pan and pour over the flan. Cut into triangular wedges and serve.

ENJOY!!!

TWELVE WONDERFUL COMMANDMENTS

And don't forget to always be THANKFUL!

RECIPE TO LIVE BY

GREAT RECIPE to live by

Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'
Try to make at least three people smile each day.

Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

Forgive everyone for everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.

Garage Sales

Ahhh...garage sales. Don't you just love them! If you're like me you probably get excited just seeing a garage sale sign. There's something magical about driving up to a sale and seeing all those goodies up for grab at great prices. It's the "thrill of the hunt" and getting a great deal. I've always loved to shop and I've always loved a bargain.
These are a couple of my newest addition to my home from garage sale finds.
This adorable rabbit lamp.....so cute!

And this teacup display rack, for my teacup collection.

Everything in this corner is from garage sales..... chair, desk, plates, etc.

Pink Saturday

I love pink so much I not only surround myself at home with pink but also at work.
Here are some of my pink items I use at work.






I hope everybody have a Wonderful and Happy Pink Saturday !Now go visit Beverly http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/. and enjoy all the fun and beautiful Pink from all the participants.

Hopeful Friday

Today is Hopeful Friday hosted by http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/ please go and visit Cielo and all the participants. Their beautiful post will uplift and inspire you.

In our story of Creation, we talk about each one of us having our own path to travel, and our own gift to give and to share. You see, what we say is that God gave us all special gifts. Each one of us is special, and each one of us is a special gift to each other because we've got something to share.
My God, today, let me use the gifts You have given me. Let me use them wisely.

Laundry Room

Don't you think that the laundry room is one of the least decorated or neglected room in the house? My was and it was not very inviting. It had an ugly breaker box that was always staring at me. I hated the breaker box so I decided to paint a bird house to conceal it and I also painted the opening to the attic and a few other little details. And now my laundry room looks more sunny and cheerful.
Here are some pictures of the finish room.