MINDFUL MOMENTS

                                          Stille-Nacht -Kapelle, Oberndorf bei Salzburg                             2019 is over and I'm so joyful that my two Christmas wishes were fulfilled in December. Although I didn't make it to Austria for Christmas as I had hoped, I was able to bring a bit of Austria to where I live in the U.S.A. In the town of Frankenmuth, Michigan, United States is the exact replica of the famous "Stille Nacht" chapel located in Obendorf bei Salzburg in beautiful AUSTRIA. I was able to spend a half hour in that chapel in Frankenmuth, praying, and thanking the LORD for my blessings as I listened to the famous Christmas carol being sung in several languages in mid December. A week later on Christmas Eve I sat at the piano and sang "Stille Nacht" next to the glowing Christmas tree wi...

I miss living in an environment where I can bicycle, walk, or take public transportation. Not that I can't do those things where I currently live, I can but it's a lot more challenging in the winter months when there's no walkway and the conditions are icy, snowy, and cold. We're in the shortest days of the year in North America and any sunlight is truly appreciated. This morning after taking care of 25 children for "Mother's in Christ" at the local church, I walked on a highway with no sidewalks to get some groceries. Let me tell you, when I first began walking I thought it would be easy but as each step turned into another step it became challenging. There were ice patches all over and I had to do most of my walking on snowbanks. When I finally made it to the supermarket I was thrilled. I took my time shopping and than I had to return back home in the same conditions but now it was getting colder and the traffic was getting heavier. It was a miracle ...

This time of year SANTA CLAUS certainly has a long list of things to do and having a "to-do" list is a very good idea because CHRISTMAS is a busy time of year. Today, I had a list of things to do and I've only checked a few off my list but thankfully the day isn't over yet. When you find yourself overwhelmed with things you have to do just write a to-list. It's amazing how good it feels to cross off the things that you did accomplish on the list. 1)  ballet class 2)  cross country skiing                                                                                     3)  pay the bills that are due 4)  sort out paperwork 5)  clean and tidy 6)  choir practice 7)  work on my play and short stories 8)  a few minutes playi...

Poor Woman's Crepes Came home after work yesterday and wanted to make something simple. Crepes entered my mind but I had no eggs or milk. Amazing what you can do with a traditional recipe when you have to alter the ingredients. My creation is "poor woman's crepes" which in my opinion is just as good if not better. Can't always get to the store to buy things and it's one way of saving money and compromising.The result yesterday evening and this morning were poor woman's crepes.A friend of mine owns an apple orchard and a couple of months ago she invited me to pick some apples off the trees. It was a blessing to have some left because an apple was what glorified my crepes. An apple a day keeps the doctor away and one of those apples went into my crepes. So, if one day you find yourself hungry and having to create a dish in a hurry with whatever's left in your cupboard or fridge, create your own recipe and delight your taste buds. We ...

Even though I'm not a kid I wanted to get into the Halloween spirit when I came home from work last night. What a night too. Dark, dreary, chilly, rainy, and sidewalks full of puddles. I took a walk in the woods and than sat in front of my computer to watch a Halloween episode of "The Addams Family." What a treat it was to be entertained by such a terrific episode with an entertaining cast and awesome storyline. Sitting there in front of the screen and eating some of my homemade chocolate chip cookies was all I needed to brighten my Halloween evening. Sometimes it's the simplest of things in life that brighten our moments. How was your HALLOWEEN?                                                                                               ...

Some of us like change and some of us don't. It's easy to get into a routine that makes us comfortable but is it good to be too comfortable? I use to be very adventurous but lately I've been shy and timid not taking many chances. I had to make a change soon to feel satisfied so yesterday I drove myself to the city of Charlevoix and took a ferry ride across Lake Michigan to the enchanting emerald isle named BEAVER ISLAND.  I was alone on this trip and yet I kept drawing people who reached out and brightened my day. I chatted with amazing people on the ferry ride to BEAVER ISLAND and when I got to the island I immediately felt at home. After settling in at at a cozy family run motel  I began exploring the island by foot. About twenty minutes later a man offered to give me a ride (this is the norm on Beaver Island where it's common to leave your car and house unlocked and get rides from strangers). His name was Brian and he was born and raised on Beaver Island. Not only ...

This morning I went to church and prayed on bended knees for strength because I'm tiered of being a failure in society's eyes. Usually I drive to work but today I took the bus and after work I didn't have a way to get home so my co-worker Judy offered me a ride. Judy is a strong Christian woman who never seems to be doubtful or insecure but today she opened up about her pain and struggles. She told me that recently she was really feeling sorrowful and just as she was ready to burst out crying somebody approached her and said, "Be happy and joyful because you are loved by God." Judy said that those simple words of hope kept her smiling all day and she felt that God was watching over her. We both agreed that life is easier to cope with when we have faith and trust in the LORD almighty. Since I wanted to walk the rest of the way home, Judy dropped me off on the Tart trail which is perfect for bicycling and walking. There are trees and streams all around and...

The American Red Cross staff in the town I live in has invited me time and time again to help out with the fire disaster team. There's nothing more fulfilling then helping others, especially with the prevention of fires. This past Thursday I spent most of the day helping install smoke alarms in people's homes and informing them of ways to prevent fires in their homes. It was my training day and I had the wonderful guidance of a staff member named Maya. Things were running smoothly until we got locked out of the SUV. I had pressed the lock button as I walked out of the SUV, the engine was still running and Maya closed the door with the engine still running not realizing I had pressed the lock button. We were stranded on somebody's driveway with all of our belongings in the SUV. Fortunately another staff member was in a separate vehicle. Since we had to wait over an hour for somebody to come and open the door, we all decided to go get something to eat.       ...

Ever lose something and think you'd never find it again? Materialistic things can be replaced  but some items we own are dear to our heart. For me it's a savings bond my mother gave me years ago as a graduation present. She told me to hold onto it and cash it when I needed money. Well now I need some money. The bills are piling up and I don't have a very good income. Something told me to go to the bank in early August to cash that savings bond but I procrastinated and put my focus on my job and other projects. Then there was a five day trip to Canada which was my mini summer vacation. When I returned home from Canada I couldn't remember where I put that savings bond. I spent hours looking for it, I prayed and prayed that I would find it. I was in tears. My inner voice told me that I would find it. "Have Faith" kept repeating in my head. My miracle happened yesterday evening. It was a rainy and stormy day. The rain just wouldn't stop and shortly after...

A Beef Burger: We humans aren't perfect. I make mistakes all the time. When I make up my mind to be a vegetarian, I stick to it for several months but than I end up eating a piece of salmon or meatball and I feel guilty afterwards. My motivation is declining and that's bad. I really blew my vegetarian diet on Sunday and I'm feeling very guilty. I've been eating veggie burgers all summer long but on Sunday there were $1.00 beef cheeseburgers on a pretzel bun at a market close to where I live. For five minutes I stood in front of the counter contemplating          should I or I shouldn't I get that $1.00 cheeseburger. Well....I got the cheeseburger and ate half of it on the waterfront next to a market called "Leland Mercantile." Did it taste good? Not really. Lesson to be learned: When we have a few moments to make a decision we have to think about the final result. Just because the cheeseburger was only a $1.00 didn't give me the right to blo...

Sometimes you really get what you wish for. On Sunday's I take care of my mother who has Alzheimers. We had a frustrating morning and by early afternoon I wanted to take her and her friend Arch to the beach so that we could all have a change of scenery. As much as I wanted to take them to the beach, I dreaded driving there. "I wish someone could drive us there," I thought to myself. Seconds later there was a knock on the door. It was Arch's son Chip. He came to visit his father and wanted to take him on a drive. My mother and I were welcome to come. Ten minutes later we were in Chip's car heading to Leland, otherwise known as Fishtown. The sun was shining and the one lane country road to Leland had a hint of changing leaves on the trees. We passed by cow and turkey farms and finally landed in Leland. Tourists flock to this picturesque town nestled between Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan. It's a walking around town with a lovely harbor and a fishing vill...

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong and you can't wait for the day to end? How about a day filled with such extraordinary moments that you wish the day would never end?                               The best of days in lovely Empire, Michigan. "MY NORTH" image Yesterday was the worst of days. I could hardly breathe because of an allergy and asthma attack. I was suppose to go to work but I couldn't even get out of bed. My head was spinning in circles, my throat was sore, my eyes were tearing, and my nose was clogged. There were so many things I wish I could have accomplished yesterday but aside from walking to the nearby church to say a prayer and making a salad and eating it outdoors at a picnic table the rest of the day was spent sleeping in bed and watching a few very old television shows on "You Tube."  I felt miserable. I spent the entire day by myself not commun...

She just couldn't stop bragging about herself and her life. The middle- aged woman carried on and on about how charmed her family's life was. I listened to her and confirmed to her how wonderful her life is. I don't know the woman's name, I met her early last month when I was sampling cookies at a market I work at. I'll refer to her as "Ms. JOY" Ms. JOY and I started chatting about her cookie business  She was spending the summer away from her big family home in the city and summering at her lakeside cottage. Since her daughters are now at prestigious universities she has plenty of time to bake cookies at her summer cottage. Oh....I should mention that Ms. JOY is the ultimate cookie baker and has a special art of baking like nobody else. When she's not relaxing at the private beach, golfing at the country club, or on her yacht she likes to make cookies and sell them at the farmer's market for $2.00 each (for some pocket change). Ms. JO...

I really envy the people that get a care-free summer. I had a few of them myself and I know how good it feels to free oneself from major responsibilities. Yesterday was one of those rare days that I had the almost perfect day. I had the day off and said "the heck with my piles of work, I'm having fun." With no planned itinerary I drove to a idyllic small town that felt like a dream; gingerbread cottages dotted along a crystal lake with a bicycle trail, a public beach with powdery sand, a lush green park with outdoor games, and a quaint Main Street with non pretentious shops and restaurants.                                     Summer Fun on Crystal Lake! The whole place was as sweet as summer lemonade. Strangers smiling and saying hello, the sound of church bells in the distance, a band playing music in the town square, and a cloudless blue sky up above.  People were enjoying life ...

TEN YEARS AGO: I heard a story about two young African sisters who shared the same pair of shoes. Each would take turns walking barefoot to school and back so that the other could wear the shoes. The parents were just too poor to afford shoes for both daughters. Time went on.....then one day a wealthy American woman was visiting the village where the girls lived. By chance the three of them met and talked. This American woman was enchanted by the sweet girls and told them she would like to give them a gift.....whatever they felt would make them happy. She expected them to ask for something like a mobile phone but no....all these sisters asked for was a pair of shoes so that they wouldn't have to share the same pair anymore. The American woman was so humbled by their simple request that she said to them "Girls....I'm going to give you enough money so that each of you can afford a pair of shoes for the rest of your lives." YESTERDAY: I went to the shoe aisle at a...

December 17, 1903 was the first controlled, sustained flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina by the Wright Brothers, Orville & Wilbur. Aviation has come a long way since then. Today there are an average of 100,000 flights per day, globally. Every few minutes a plane is taking off somewhere in the world and never has flying around the globe become so advanced. Do you like to fly? Do you have a fear of flying? Have you been able to fly to different places? I love to travel but I also have a fear of flying. You never know what can happen once you're up in the air but flying is the safest mode of transportation and that's why airplane pilots are my heroes. Airplane pilots are my heroes because without them I wouldn't be able to fly to different countries around the globe. Airplane pilots log in lots of flying hours, they have to get us safely to our destination and know hot to handle emergency situations. Every time I get off an airplane safely I'm forever grate...