Throughout time, mankind has felt the need to form alliances. Even at the very beginning, when Satan knew Cain was angry with his brother Abel, Cain was enticed by Satan to become a partner in an unholy alliance. His anger and disappointment that God had accepted Abel's sacrifice, but not his, put him in a state of mind where he could easily align himself with someone or something that fed off of his anger, and validated it. And Satan was more than happy to do that. The thing about Satan though, is that he will goad you on in your negative thoughts and actions, but when it comes time to face the consequences, he abandons you.
Countries form alliances purportedly to benefit all involved. These too can become evil in that the few at the top make the decisions that adversely affect the rest. It's interesting that at the time this country's freedom was fought for and won, a stern warning was given to form alliances with no one. Too bad that wasn't followed. Now, as a country, we are strapped in many different alliances with other countries. As part of these alliances, our freedoms are affected. Not only our freedoms, but our commerce and trade. As a result of this and other unholy alliances, our country is on the verge of collapse. We witness on the news, that other countries are already collapsing because of these wicked things. We can see now, why this stern warning was given. Too late.
Each one of us, if we are lucky, are born into a family that loves and cares for us. I know this is not always the case. My heart breaks for those who have not been blessed with a loving family. This alliance, called family, is the most important alliance we should be part of. Two adults, parents, joined together to create a functioning unit of society whose purpose is to work together to create a safe environment of children to learn and grow.
What happens to turn family members against each other? Why would family turn on family? I would think it would have to be something pretty horrible. It would have to be, for there to be no forgiveness. It would have to be acts of complete depravity. Or would it?
Anger breeds anger. And when we hold on to that anger as tightly as we can, and it is part of every breath we take, and conversation we have.....it multiples and intensifies until it consumes us. Health problems, the world over, are caused because of hate and anger being harbored in the soul. It doesn't hurt the person that the feelings are for.....it poisons the person who is harboring the feelings. Forgiveness is an amazing thing. Whether someone has repented of their wrongdoing or not, by us learning to truly forgive, and letting go of the pain and anger, we receive an amazing gift. I don't want to poison myself with negative feelings. Life is too short. I want to feel peace and love in my life. Peace and love, and hate and anger cannot coexist within the same being. I refuse to harbor the negative feelings. I will not form an unholy alliance, where in I become a partner with the adversary to advance hate and anger. Nope. Won't do it. I don't see myself as being "holier than thou" because I've made that choice. It's simply something that I had to work on in my earlier years. Having learned the secret, I want to keep the peace and love...it feels so much better.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Four months into My Weight Loss Journey
Total lost as of today: 64 pounds. Dropped from size 24 to size 16. Feeling absolutely great. Lots of energy. Pain in hips and knees is gone. I am thankful I made the choice I did.
Am continuing on this journey, loving it, embracing it and looking forward to a much smaller me.
Am continuing on this journey, loving it, embracing it and looking forward to a much smaller me.
Surprise Party
Wow!! I managed to pull off a surprise party for my sisters 70th birthday. I started planning this clear back in September 2011. I am grateful to my brothers who assisted financially with this, and to the Wilson family in Rock Springs Wyoming, who opened their home to about 50 people to celebrate this momentous occasion. My sister in laws assisted me in food prep as did my daughters. Thanks to all. It was such a success. It meant so much to see the big smile on my sister's face as she was greeted by all who came to celebrate with her.
I've also been asked by several people in attendance for the recipes for the crock pot dishes I prepared for that evening. I am attempting to add them here.
Little Smokies
Ingredients:
1 18 oz bottle barbeque sauce
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 16 oz packages little wieners
Directions:
1. Stir together barbeque sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, onion, and wieners in the bowl of a slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 2 hours, or until ready to serve.
Slow Cooker Chicken Wings
Ingredients:
5 1/2 pounds chicken wings, split and tips discarded
1 12 oz can or bottle chili sauce
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 drops Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon salsa
2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
Directions:
1. Place chicken in slow cooker. In a medium bowl combine the chile sauce, lemon juice, molasses, Worcestershire sauce Tabasco sauce, salsa, chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Mix together and pour mixture over chicken.
2. Cook in slow cooker on Medium Low setting for 5 hours.
Cranberry Chipotle Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 16 oz package frozen cooked meatballs, thawed
1 16 oz can jellied cranberry sauce
1 15 oz can pineapple chunks, drained
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 chipotle chile.....from a can of chipotle chili in adobo sauce, chopped.
I used 2 chile's when the recipe was X 4, so use what suits you. The chile is hot so be cautious unless you really like it hot.
Directions:
1. Place the meatballs into a slow cooker. In a bowl, mash the cranberry sauce roughly, and mix with the pineapple chunks, brown sugar, and chipotle chile. Pour the sauce over the meatballs, and stir to combine. Cover the cooker, set to Low setting, and cook until the sauce is thickened and the meatballs have absorbed the sauce flavors. 4-5 hours.
Warm Chicken Nacho Dip
Ingredients:
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers (ROTEL), drained
1 1 pound loaf processed cheese food such as Velveeta), cubed
2 large cooked skinless, boneless, chicken breast halves, shredded
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup diced green onion
1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
Directions:
1. Place the diced tomatoes, processed cheese, chicken meat, sour cream, green onion, and taco seasoning into a slow cooker. Cook on HIGH, stirring occasionally until the cheese has melted and the dip is hot, 1-2 hours. Stir in the black beans and cook 15 more minutes to reheat.
I've also been asked by several people in attendance for the recipes for the crock pot dishes I prepared for that evening. I am attempting to add them here.
Little Smokies
Ingredients:
1 18 oz bottle barbeque sauce
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 16 oz packages little wieners
Directions:
1. Stir together barbeque sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, onion, and wieners in the bowl of a slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 2 hours, or until ready to serve.
Slow Cooker Chicken Wings
Ingredients:
5 1/2 pounds chicken wings, split and tips discarded
1 12 oz can or bottle chili sauce
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 drops Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon salsa
2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
Directions:
1. Place chicken in slow cooker. In a medium bowl combine the chile sauce, lemon juice, molasses, Worcestershire sauce Tabasco sauce, salsa, chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Mix together and pour mixture over chicken.
2. Cook in slow cooker on Medium Low setting for 5 hours.
Cranberry Chipotle Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 16 oz package frozen cooked meatballs, thawed
1 16 oz can jellied cranberry sauce
1 15 oz can pineapple chunks, drained
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 chipotle chile.....from a can of chipotle chili in adobo sauce, chopped.
I used 2 chile's when the recipe was X 4, so use what suits you. The chile is hot so be cautious unless you really like it hot.
Directions:
1. Place the meatballs into a slow cooker. In a bowl, mash the cranberry sauce roughly, and mix with the pineapple chunks, brown sugar, and chipotle chile. Pour the sauce over the meatballs, and stir to combine. Cover the cooker, set to Low setting, and cook until the sauce is thickened and the meatballs have absorbed the sauce flavors. 4-5 hours.
Warm Chicken Nacho Dip
Ingredients:
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers (ROTEL), drained
1 1 pound loaf processed cheese food such as Velveeta), cubed
2 large cooked skinless, boneless, chicken breast halves, shredded
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup diced green onion
1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
Directions:
1. Place the diced tomatoes, processed cheese, chicken meat, sour cream, green onion, and taco seasoning into a slow cooker. Cook on HIGH, stirring occasionally until the cheese has melted and the dip is hot, 1-2 hours. Stir in the black beans and cook 15 more minutes to reheat.
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