Thursday, February 26, 2015
Pretty gift from my sister
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Drinking two cups of black tea a day may help cut your ovarian cancer risk by up to 31%,say researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. They looked at the eating habits of women ages 25-55 for more than three decades and discovered that those whose diets were high in cancer-fighting compounds called flavonols (found in tea as well as red wine, apples and grapes) and flavanones (in citrus fruits and juices) were less likely to develop the disease. From Good Housekeeping magazine, March 2015 edition.
So drink your tea!
So drink your tea!
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Hanging Pictures Without Frames
I ENJOY DISPLAYING MY KID'S PHOTOS ON THE WALL HEADING UP MY STAIRCASE. pROBLEM: I KEEP KNOCKING THEM DOWN BECAUSE WHEN CARRYING MY LAUNDRY BASKET DOWNSTAIRS, I HIT THE FRAMES WITH THE BASKET IF I'M NOT CAREFUL. THE PHOTO FALLS DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS ONTO MY WOOD FLOOR, AND THE GLASS FROM THE FRAME SHATTERS, AND I HAVE A MESS. sO I DECIDED I NEEDED TO DISPLAY THE PHOTOES SO THAT THEY ARE TIGHT UP AGAINST THE WALL. wHILE RESEARCING THE INTERNET, I FOUND SOME NICE AND UNIQUE WAYS TO DISPLAY PHOTOS SO THOUGHT i'D SHARE:
Hanging Pictures
without YOUR TYPICAL frames:
v Hang a
clothesline and use clothespins
v Tack to a large
board, either vertically or horizontally AND HANG BOARD ON WALL
v Hang a ladder
from the ceiling and tie string from the rungs; punch hole in top of photo and
tie string through hole AND PHOTOS WILL HANG DOWN NICELY FROM STRINGS ON LADDER RUNGS.
v Washi tape TO CREATE FRAME AROUND PHOTO
v Insert PHOTO onto
clipboard and hang clipboard
v Hang mini
command strips; use hole punch on top of photo, insert string or lace or twine
and tie to photo; HANG PHOTO ON COMMAND STRIP
v Two-sided Velcro--ONE SIDE OF VELCRO ON WALL, ONE ON BACK OF PHOTO
v Magnetic hangers--ONE SIDE ON WALL, ONE ON PHOTO
v Sticky tack or
photo putty ON BACK OF PHOTO
v Use pretty scrapbooking
paper as background and either use stick tack or double sided tape to attach
photo to paper; attach to wall using stick tack.
v Purchase (or
hand paint if talented—lol) a large wall cling in the shape of a tree; sticky
tack photos onto the branches of the tree
v Re-love an old
door or window and use window panes as frames
v Hang pretty
ribbons vertically, either contemporary or traditional looking ribbon, on wall
and hang photos from the ribbon—hole punch photo and just tie ribbon through.
This is how it turned out, folks. I used coordinating scrapbooking papers as frames. Less Bulky. I won't knock down frames when I am carrying the laundry basket down the steps!
This is how it turned out, folks. I used coordinating scrapbooking papers as frames. Less Bulky. I won't knock down frames when I am carrying the laundry basket down the steps!
Thursday, January 8, 2015
The Gift Exchange
The Gift
Exchange
About five
years ago, my sister and I decided to exchange Christmas gifts in January at a
restaurant. We do this in January
because December, as everyone knows, is already busy and filled with gift
exchanges.
We involve
my daughter Julia and my sister’s daughter, my niece Megan in our gift exchange
in January. Cracker Barrel is usually
the restaurant of choice. We all gather
at the restaurant, sit and eat and chat a while, and then it is time to open
our gifts to each other. It is a lot of
fun and something to look forward to after the holidays are over.
Gift
exchanges, especially at Christmastime, are a reminder of the Ultimate Gift
Exchange done between Christ and us. Christ gave His gift to us first: He went to the cross for us and gave His life
in order that we might gain our lives back.
What is our gift to Him? I
believe the gift He most desires from us is our love and devotion.
Christ’s
gift to us: His life.
Our gift to
Him: Our lives – loving and serving with
love with Him.
The Best Gift Exchange Ever!
By Sue Menarchek with inspiration from His Spirit
Friday, October 10, 2014
Good Day
People often say to each other upon departing ways, "Have a good day!" Being a positive-thinking person, I came up with an acronym for each of the letters in GOOD DAY, kind of detailing ways we can work toward having a good day every day! Here goes:
G is for Get with God
O is for Other people are important, too
O is for Order your priorities.
D is for Decide to slow down.
D is for Do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is for crazy people!
A is for Always count your blessings!
Y is for Yield your plans to God's will!
Get with God! Start each day in prayer and Bible study. It will set your course on a positive path for that day!
Other people are important, too. Selfishness leads to unhappiness. If we are constantly thinking about ourselves, we will be miserable. When we get our minds on other people and their needs, we stop focusing on our own needs. When we reach out to help others, we end up helping ourselves.
Order your priorities. Once we get overwhelmed with our To-Do lists, we tend to forget what's really important. We should not lose sight that people are more important than things. Slow down enough throughout each day to think about what is truly important and how you can be a blessing to someone. Think about what you would regret in the future if you did not do it today. Would you regret not cleaning the toilet or would you regret not sending that birthday card? Prioritize!
Decide to slow down. The word "busy" used to be synonymous with "important." I believe that people used to say how busy they were so that others would think they were important. However, I believe the meaning has changed. Busy now means "crazy." We have been so busy trying to be busy that we have succeeded! Our society is now so busy that we have lost track of what it means to relax. We no longer are able to relax; we have forgotten how. Therefore, we are always stressed, and our bodies no longer get sanity time. Make a conscious decision to cross some things off your To-Do list. The world won't end if you slow down. And your heart might last a lot longer if you gain some peace by taking time to relax and just be.
Do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is for crazy people! Lately, I have begun the practice of really focusing on the task I am undertaking at any given time. If I am washing the dishes, I don't race through it to get to the next task. I slow down, realize what I am doing, and I wash the dishes at a normal (or should I say godly) pace. I remind myself that life is not an emergency. Since I have begun this practice of focusing on what I am doing, I enjoy the moments of the day more. It takes practice, but it is so worth it!
Always count your blessings! Always! Even when you are feeling down, and especially if you are feeling down! We tend to easily forget how blessed we are. Did you wake up today? (and I think you did if you are reading this) = blessed. Do you have food in your cupboard? = blessed. Do you have clothes to wear? = blessed. Do you have someone who loves you? = blessed. Do you have a job? = blessed. I am sure your list goes on and on in regards to your blessings. Focus on your blessings. It's a reminder that things could be a whole lot worse!
Yield your plans to God's will. Ever hear the saying, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans?" I'm sure we have all experienced changed plans. When making our plans, we should always consult The One who knows the outcomes of all our best-laid plans. God gave us the gift of His Spirit so that we have Someone who is very willing to help guide us. If you were lost and someone gave you a road map or a GPS, would you toss it out the window or refuse the help? So why do we refuse to consult God before forging ahead with "our" plans? Make it a habit to begin each day by asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in accomplishing His will for you that day. And so we come full circle - G is for Get with God! Now, my friends, go forth and have a good day!
P.S. A few other tips:
~ Smiling when we are down helps us feel better--try it, it really does work! You might end up making someone else's day better by smiling at them, too!
~Unconditional love is almost unheard of today, but we can at least shoot for getting closer to striving for it. By that I mean striving to give it, not get it. Instead of getting instantly angry at someone, take a step back, realize they probably have reasons for what they did or said, give them the benefit of the doubt, and think about the many times we disappoint God and he loves us anyway. God's love for us is unconditional--meaning no conditions. He may not always like what we do or say, but He never stops loving us.
~Judgmental people are ignorant people. This is so true. Which of us truly knows what is going on in someone else's life. Yet we judge them so quickly, without knowing what is really going on with them. That's called being ignorant (lacking in knowledge). Only God has total knowledge of what is going on in someone's life, so only God should be judging. And I'll bet God is oftentimes an easier judge than we are!
~A new cuss word for society today should be "busy." Instead of always saying
"I am busy", we should respond "I am blessed!
Sue Menarchek
G is for Get with God
O is for Other people are important, too
O is for Order your priorities.
D is for Decide to slow down.
D is for Do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is for crazy people!
A is for Always count your blessings!
Y is for Yield your plans to God's will!
Get with God! Start each day in prayer and Bible study. It will set your course on a positive path for that day!
Other people are important, too. Selfishness leads to unhappiness. If we are constantly thinking about ourselves, we will be miserable. When we get our minds on other people and their needs, we stop focusing on our own needs. When we reach out to help others, we end up helping ourselves.
Order your priorities. Once we get overwhelmed with our To-Do lists, we tend to forget what's really important. We should not lose sight that people are more important than things. Slow down enough throughout each day to think about what is truly important and how you can be a blessing to someone. Think about what you would regret in the future if you did not do it today. Would you regret not cleaning the toilet or would you regret not sending that birthday card? Prioritize!
Decide to slow down. The word "busy" used to be synonymous with "important." I believe that people used to say how busy they were so that others would think they were important. However, I believe the meaning has changed. Busy now means "crazy." We have been so busy trying to be busy that we have succeeded! Our society is now so busy that we have lost track of what it means to relax. We no longer are able to relax; we have forgotten how. Therefore, we are always stressed, and our bodies no longer get sanity time. Make a conscious decision to cross some things off your To-Do list. The world won't end if you slow down. And your heart might last a lot longer if you gain some peace by taking time to relax and just be.
Do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is for crazy people! Lately, I have begun the practice of really focusing on the task I am undertaking at any given time. If I am washing the dishes, I don't race through it to get to the next task. I slow down, realize what I am doing, and I wash the dishes at a normal (or should I say godly) pace. I remind myself that life is not an emergency. Since I have begun this practice of focusing on what I am doing, I enjoy the moments of the day more. It takes practice, but it is so worth it!
Always count your blessings! Always! Even when you are feeling down, and especially if you are feeling down! We tend to easily forget how blessed we are. Did you wake up today? (and I think you did if you are reading this) = blessed. Do you have food in your cupboard? = blessed. Do you have clothes to wear? = blessed. Do you have someone who loves you? = blessed. Do you have a job? = blessed. I am sure your list goes on and on in regards to your blessings. Focus on your blessings. It's a reminder that things could be a whole lot worse!
Yield your plans to God's will. Ever hear the saying, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans?" I'm sure we have all experienced changed plans. When making our plans, we should always consult The One who knows the outcomes of all our best-laid plans. God gave us the gift of His Spirit so that we have Someone who is very willing to help guide us. If you were lost and someone gave you a road map or a GPS, would you toss it out the window or refuse the help? So why do we refuse to consult God before forging ahead with "our" plans? Make it a habit to begin each day by asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in accomplishing His will for you that day. And so we come full circle - G is for Get with God! Now, my friends, go forth and have a good day!
P.S. A few other tips:
~ Smiling when we are down helps us feel better--try it, it really does work! You might end up making someone else's day better by smiling at them, too!
~Unconditional love is almost unheard of today, but we can at least shoot for getting closer to striving for it. By that I mean striving to give it, not get it. Instead of getting instantly angry at someone, take a step back, realize they probably have reasons for what they did or said, give them the benefit of the doubt, and think about the many times we disappoint God and he loves us anyway. God's love for us is unconditional--meaning no conditions. He may not always like what we do or say, but He never stops loving us.
~Judgmental people are ignorant people. This is so true. Which of us truly knows what is going on in someone else's life. Yet we judge them so quickly, without knowing what is really going on with them. That's called being ignorant (lacking in knowledge). Only God has total knowledge of what is going on in someone's life, so only God should be judging. And I'll bet God is oftentimes an easier judge than we are!
~A new cuss word for society today should be "busy." Instead of always saying
"I am busy", we should respond "I am blessed!
Sue Menarchek
Saturday, September 20, 2014
17th Century Nun's Prayer
I love, love, love this book, which I found at St. Vincent DePaul's Thrift store near my home. It is written by Philip M. Kanfush, O.S.B. The book is titled "Renewed Each Morning." Which one of us does not need renewed each morning? I believe we all need to start the day on a positive note, then when difficult circumstances confront us, we have some positive perspective on which we can rely to get us through without falling apart.
I am not Catholic, so I wondered if the book would be difficult for me to relate to. However, the title and picture on the front captured my attention. I perused the book while in the thrift store, and it looked like some good and positive reading, so I purchased it. When I am reading books about how to act and react to life, I keep a highlighter close by, so I can highlight passages or sentences that really impact my perspective. Then, in a notebook, I write down those positive passages/sentences so I can run across them again and be positively influenced by them again and again! Some books I pass along after I have highlighted and written things down from them, but some books, like this one, I will keep for a second reading.
Here is a prayer that Mr. Kanfush shares in his book. I think it is pretty cool that it was written so long ago but is so timely for today!
Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself, that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends in the end.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.
I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others' pains, but help me to endure them with patience. I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint - some of them are so hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And, give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. AMEN.
I am not Catholic, so I wondered if the book would be difficult for me to relate to. However, the title and picture on the front captured my attention. I perused the book while in the thrift store, and it looked like some good and positive reading, so I purchased it. When I am reading books about how to act and react to life, I keep a highlighter close by, so I can highlight passages or sentences that really impact my perspective. Then, in a notebook, I write down those positive passages/sentences so I can run across them again and be positively influenced by them again and again! Some books I pass along after I have highlighted and written things down from them, but some books, like this one, I will keep for a second reading.
Here is a prayer that Mr. Kanfush shares in his book. I think it is pretty cool that it was written so long ago but is so timely for today!
Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself, that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends in the end.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.
I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others' pains, but help me to endure them with patience. I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint - some of them are so hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And, give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. AMEN.
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