Mom's Red Book

This morning I am inspired to bake. I ponder hmm....and I start to look through the beautiful red binder our mother made for each of her 9 children.  A wonderful gift so many years ago. The red book is filled with recipes, ideas for living, even the beatitudes for being a good housewife. It includes how to host a carnival party, a halloween party and ideas for Christmas Eve program and even prayers and poems. Our family every year did a beautiful and cherished Christmas Eve program and party.  I cherish this red book as in every recipe and prayer and clipping I recall our beautiful lives we shared. Our mother created our family culture filled with creativity, adventure, warmth, inspiration, hospitality and love.  She and my father shared a deep love and modeled that love as parents, spouses, neighbors and Christians.  I am forever grateful to have been born into this family and to have this red book filled with memories that inspire me this early morning  to bake the famous Plain Cookies, a recipe passed down from Grandma Van and tucked safely in the sleeve of mom's red book. #culture #family #baking

My Yardstick for Life

 So many stories about how to live fully and successfully. Often the measurement of successful and full living is based on money in the bank, the neighborhood you live, clothing you wear, who you know, what you have accomplished in your career and other outward signs of financial success. Others have written that being  successful is having happy children, finding calm amidst life's pain and struggle and still others write about success as a measured by enlightenment.  All of these seem  valid ways to measure success.   Beyond these measurements of success, I developed some thoughts around another idea or theme for myself.  My yardstick is one that measures moments of presence. Moments that I am here and now, and in this moment, touching my keyboard, looking at the letters that become words, stopping to breathe and then a blog post.  PS writing this blog about presence takes my mind that is worried about our broader world's turmoil and brings me back to this moment. 

The JOYFUL Use of the famous Ginsu Knife…

 

The JOYFUL Use of the famous Ginsu Knife…

Bridget Lott, my beloved sister, used my Ginsu knife about 30 years ago to cut some wooden dowels as she was building a doll house. After a successful cut, she then tested it to see if it would still cut tomatoes with ease. Yes, to our great delight, the Ginsu worked well for both sawing through the wooden dowels and slicing tomatoes with ease.  Here we are 30 years later, using the same Ginsu knife, my beloved husband Joseph Romano needed to do a quick project. Joe needed to trim a wooden drawer that was not quite fitting into a new bathroom vanity due to the configuration of the plumbing pipes.  Following the quick trimming of the wooden drawer using the great Ginsu, we then cleaned the Ginsu and used it to slice some crusty french bread.  I don’t usually write about products, however, the Ginsu was a gift from my beloved brother Patrick Lott who had bought it at the LA County Fair in  Pomona, CA circa 1985.  It has been the most useful gift I have ever received and has brought much joy to our family since we often test it’s touted benefits. “But wait! There’s more!” This expression “But wait! There’s more,” was introduced as part of the Ginsu marketing campaign.   First ever product recommendation from me - YES buy the Ginsu, But wait! There's more.... you will be able to use it forever and in many practical ways and find joy in the use. #ginsu #barrybecher #butwaittheresmore

God wants to pamper us

 God wants to pamper us. Are we open to God's JOY, ABUNDANCE and LOVE?  2022, a new year, a new beginning and a clean slate for JOY, ABUNDANCE and LOVE.  Say YES, accept invitations, live fully, and discover how God pampers our very existence. Life has struggles and disappointments and grief.  Do we remain in those struggles, disappointments and grief or do we allow our neighbors, friends, family, our God to heal.  What we resist persists. What we say no to, closes doors.  When we open our hearts and minds, life opens doors unimaginable.  I have never been the martyr type, more of the taker type and yet.....in accepting the gifts of humanity and of God and Nature, the gifts of JOY, ABUNDANCE and LOVE multiply!!!! Let God pamper you this year for in God's softness, generosity and love, we gain wisdom, understanding and courage to pamper others.