The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class

And had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again
If the jar was full.. 


They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand

And poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced Two cups of coffee from under the table
And poured the entire contents Into the jar, effectively
Filling the Empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, As the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions –

Things that if everything else was lost

And only they remained, Your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter Like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --
The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
'there is no room for The pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time And energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for The things that are
Important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things That are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
There will always be time
To clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand
And inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.

T-minus 3 days - Constant learning/growing

As surgery is nearing I wanted to document what I've learned so far along this journey.

What I am getting/learning is:

• to listen to myself - what is my body, heart, mind, high intention trying to tell me?
• to take time for Casondra - When I am tired I rest. 
• to change the negative phrases I used to have on repeat in my brain to positive ones - they can only help me! I start the day by being thankful for everything, next saying that 'This is going to be the best day ever!!', next setting my intention for how I would like to deal with myself, others and situations in the day. At first this felt weird but I soon got into it.
• to laugh at things more and to see the light and positive side of everything. This take only about 5-10 mins.
• to live in the moment - it is all I have.
• to respect everyone...as I do myself.
• to love everyone .....as I do myself.
• to be grateful for everything before I try to start my list of moans. I have so much! I always start with 'Thank you that I am just alive....'
• that I am am more that just my physical body. I have discovered where my authentic power lies: inside, my spirit!
• to accept compassion. I have to understand what it is to receive compassion first before I can fully give it.
• to stand in someone else's shoes and realise I am not not alone nor am I special.
• a desire to want to help others in a similar situation or to play a part in helping people prevent breast cancer.

I hope you have the BEST DAY EVER today!!

Muffin Melts - the recipe in pictures

Lisa and Bryon came up Saturday for a visit, and we started discussing the recipe portion of my blog.  Apparently, it's a big hit in her office!  :)

Lisa, I'm working on the weekly menu today, so I'll post it for you tomorrow or Wednesday.

It takes A LOT of planning, you know!  lol

Anyways,  one recipe she wanted pictures of was the Muffin Melts.  I have posted the recipe before sans pictures.  So, when I made them for breakfast this morning, I took the step-by-step pictures for her....and all of you!

I'm not forgetting about all my other 'followers'.

The exact ingredients to make 6 muffins (12 since you technically use each side of the muffin for one) is on the previous post I posted.

When I cook I only use my measuring utensils the first time I make a new recipe...after that I take away and add things to tweak it to my own liking.

General rule of thumb:  Boil one egg for each half of an English Muffin

Cool and peel hard boiled eggs

Turn your broiler on...and let preheat!

Dice up eggs

In a small mixing bowl combine diced eggs, Worcestershire, mayo, and these three *key* ingredients....

You MUST use Dijon Mustard, and you MUST add in both Garlic and Onion Powder or you shouldn't even bother with making this recipe!

I'm not kidding!

They are KEY ingredients!!!

Cook up some bacon slices.  I use the pre-cooked bacon you can buy and heat up for 1 minute.  I crumbles really well.

Add the bacon and some shredded cheese to your mixture and stir.

If you taste it right now....it taste very similar to a deviled egg, and you might be tempted to eat it as is right then and there.

Top your muffin halves with egg mixture.

I wrap my baking sheet with aluminum foil because I tend to drop egg and cheese, and it makes for an easier clean up!

Top with a little more shredded cheese.

Boil for 3-4 minutes. Until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.

YUMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one of those foods that falls in my 'Comfort Food' category.

They are the perfect start to any morning.

And if you are an 'egg white' only kind of person, these are still F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S made with egg whites only!

                                                                                                                                                                          

He IS in Control

At church we are doing a series called  FEAR NOT

As does most often the case, the sermon hit home.

It was titled Power Over the Physical.

Darrell read Luke 8:40-56.  If you are unfamiliar with the story, it's about a woman who had been bleeding for TWELVE years.  She touched Jesus' robe and was instantly healed.  Then Jairus's child passed and Jesus brought her back from the dead.

Psalm 34:18 says The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and he saves those who are crushed in spirit.

With surgery getting near, I've been feeling particularly stressed.  I hate feeling like I am burdening people, and knowing that over the next several months I am going to need help isn't sitting well with me.

I needed to be reminded today that this is out of my control and that I just need to put all my trust in Him.  I may not understand this, but He does!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  

Proverbs 3:5-6

Faith is not in the belief that He will do what we think is right immediately, but that He will do what is right ULTIMATELY!

Mom and I went up front and Darrell and the congregation prayed for my surgery this week.  It's amazing how strongly you feel His presence when that many people pull together and pray.

All is Restored in the Land of Chaos

I previously wrote this week that I have been avoiding housework like the plague.

When I would ask them if they straightened up their rooms this week, I'd get ALMOST!  KIND OF for answers. Is it the way Mommy likes it clean? NOT EXACTLY!   At least they were being honest but, I knew it was bound to be bad.

The decision to not add to my stress level by venturing up there nearly gave me a heart-attack when I visited the Land of Chaos this morning...a.k.a... the upstairs of my house...a.k.a..my children's bedrooms and bathroom.

I kept trying to convince myself I was having a nightmare.

But sadly enough this is really what I saw....

And of course, as I am taking pictures Miss Ava is making a mad dash from Breanna's room to hide the toys she just stole from her.

This room has actually been like this for a WEEK, because this is how Big A left it last Sunday!

If you look closely enough you might see the toothpaste smeared all over the top of the cabinet.  I really don't understand why my kids find smearing toothpaste so fun.

I was sucked into the abyss of the Land of Chaos right then and there.

I feared no return.

Surprisingly enough, and with only ONE melt-down (not on my behalf) the girls and I managed to turn it around.

Sheets got washed and beds even got made!  

YES!!! There is a missing drawer front on Ava's bed.  During the whole two months M occupied this room, it managed to get broken.  

Oh yes, I even tackled this messy room!

Now that is how Mommy likes it done!