Attitude Determines Attitude!

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight.

I have responsibilities to fulfill today.

I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

Have a Great Day … Unless you have other plans.

Author Unknown

Meeting Facilitation: 6 Tips to Conduct Meetings That Don’t Suck

I LOVE this post by my friend Regis, over at Dot Connector.

What is Meeting Facilitation?

Meeting facilitation is the art of conducting successful meetings regardless of the topic, the attendees, or the location.

Successful meetings…

1. Only last as long as absolutely necessary
2. Create a forum for ideas and/or results to be openly discussed
3. End with actionable next steps that everyone agrees on

If the person conducting the meeting is skilled in meeting facilitation, they will be able to effectively achieve each of these three keys to a successful meeting.  Here’s how to do it.      >Finish reading.

Urgent Needs in Utah – Regarding orphans from Haiti

I just received this from my dear friend, Bev at BevsCountryCottage.

Good Evening Everyone! I just received a call from our local church leaders regarding The Christmas Box House in Salt Lake City, they will be receiving orphans from Haiti in the next few days. The children will be arriving to a new climate and without winter items to stay warm. The urgent need is Coats, Boys & Girls, Size 6 & 8. I am sure hats and mittens would be appreciated as well.

The coats will be needed ASAP. If anyone in Utah can help, please let me know. I am working on contact information to see what other needs we can help with.

A Christmas Message

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

By focusing on your loved ones, enjoying or building holiday traditions, and following the Savior’s example of service, you can give yourself and your family true, lasting Christmas gifts.

For more beautiful Christmas messages, go here.

The Turkey Shot Out of the Oven

Jack Prelutsky

The turkey shot out of the oven
and rocketed into the air,
it knocked every plate off the table
and partly demolished a chair.

It ricocheted into a corner
and burst with deafening boom,
then splattered all over the kitchen,
completely obscuring the room.

It stuck to the walls and the windows,
it totally coated the floor,
there was turkey attached to the ceiling,
where there’d never been turkey before.

It blanketed every appliance,
it smeared every saucer and bowl,
there wasn’t a way I could stop it,
that turkey was out of control.

I scraped and I scrubbed with displeasure,
and thought with chagrin as I mopped,
that I’d never again stuff a turkey
with popcorn that hadn’t been popped.

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

Charles Frederick White

Thanksgiving day is coming soon,
That long remembered day
When nature gives her blessed boon
To all America.

On that glad day, in all our land,
The people, in their wake,
Give thanks to God, whose mighty hand
Deals blessings good and great.

The roast goose, steaming on the plate,
The sweet potato cobbler,
The cranberry sauce, the pudding baked,
The seasoned turkey gobbler,­

All these delights and many more,
From north, south, west and east,
Do all the nation keep in store
For this Thanksgiving feast.

Alas, for those who are denied
This blessed boon of God!
May all the needy be supplied
Like Israel by the rod.

1895

Thanksgiving

By: Edgar Albert Guest

Gettin’ together to smile an’ rejoice,
An’ eatin’ an’ laughin’ with folks of your choice;
An’ kissin’ the girls an’ declarin’ that they
Are growin more beautiful day after day;
Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit with the men,
Buildin’ the old family circle again;
Livin’ the wholesome an’ old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.

Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother’s a little bit grayer, that’s all.
Father’s a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an’ to laugh with a will.
Here we are back at the table again
Tellin’ our stories as women an men.

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
Oh, but we’re grateful an’ glad to be there.
Home from the east land an’ home from the west,
Home with the folks that are dearest an’ best.
Out of the sham of the cities afar
We’ve come for a time to be just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves an’ be frank,
Forgettin’ position an’ station an’ rank.

Give me the end of the year an’ its fun
When most of the plannin’ an’ toilin’ is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
Hear the old voices still ringin’ with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An I’ll put soul in my Thanksgivin’ prayers.

Changes

Blessings

I knelt to pray when day was done
And prayed, “O Lord, bless everyone,
Lift from each saddened heart the pain
And let the sick be well again.”
And then I woke another day
And carelessly went on my way,
The whole day long I did not try
To wipe a tear from any eye.
I did not try to share the load
Of any brother on the road.
I did not even go to see
The sick man just next door to me.
Yet once again when day was done
I prayed, “O Lord, bless everyone.”
But as I prayed, into my ear
there came a voice that whispered clear,
“Pause now, my son, before you pray.
Whom have you tried to bless today?
Gods sweetest blessing always go
by hands that serve him here below.”
And then I hid my face and cried,
“Forgive me, God, I have not tried,
But let me live another day
and I will live the way I pray.”

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake in A JAR

Amount Measure Ingredient — Preparation Method——————————–
4 12 oz * BALL — ™ QUILTED CRYSTAL
– JELLY JARS
8 NEW LIDS — (do not use old
– ones)
8 RINGS — (OK to use old ones)
VEGETABLE SHORTENING — (to grease jars)
1 cup YELLOW CORN MEAL
1 cup ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
4 tablespoons GRANULATED SUGAR
1 teaspoon BAKING SODA
2 teaspoons CREAM OF TARTAR
3/4 teaspoon SALT
1 cup SOUR CREAM
1/4 cup BUTTERMILK
2 large EGGS
4 tablespoons BUTTER — melted
Sterilize the jars, lids and rings by boiling them for 15 minutes. Keep the lids and rings in the water until you’re ready to use them. Make sure there are no nicks or cracks in the lips of the jars. Remove the jars from the water and place them on a clean dish towel to air-dry (up, not upside down). Once the jars are cool, using a pastry brush, grease the inside of each jar with shortening (DO NOT use PAM, Baker’s Secret, butter or margarine). Preheat oven to 325-degrees (NO HIGHER!). Place a cookie sheet onto the middle rack of the oven, remove the top rack. Combine the corn meal, flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; mix well. Quickly add the sour cream, milk, eggs and butter. Stir JUST until mixed, don’t over-mix! Divide the batter among the 4 canning jars (should be slightly less than 1/2 full). I’ve never tried this bread in canning jars, so I’m not sure how many you’ll need–4 should be enough. Sterilize a few more just in case. Wipe the sides of the jar off in case you slop or it’ll burn. Place jars onto the cookie sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until bread tests done with a toothpick or cake tester. It should come out clean, not runny. Test it! When the bread tests done, using HEAVY-DUTY MITTS (the jars ARE HOT!) remove them from the oven one-by-one and place the lids and rings on them and screw down tightly. Keep the lids in the hot water until you’re ready to use them. Place the jars on your counter to cool. You’ll be able to tell if they’ve sealed, you should hear a “plinking” sound. If you don’t hear the noise, check the jars once they’ve cooled by pressing down on the lids, they shouldn’t move at all. Store the jars in a cool, dry place, just as you would any canned goods. There’s NO need to refrigerate the breads, they keep in the pantry for about 6 months–maybe longer- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

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