Shiny, happy girl

Daily Gratitude

• Over the past few months several of my long-term dreams have started forming in reality. Graduate school. Moving from my home to a new place. A couple of new jobs. And, more... I am thrilled. I am blessed. I am Shiny and Happy! 
• The snow has started to make its way to my lake community. It's cold and wet. Yet, I like it. This change in seasons is why I love living here. Welcome, Winter! 
• Loved ones continue to bless me. How can I say to each of you how much my life is colored by your generous gestures. 

I'm feeling shiny. I'm feeling happy! 

Though skies are dark and stormy, my heart is bright with joy! I am bursting with light and I'm going to let it burn full power. Look out, it's brilliant in here!

Sweet treats

Daily Gratitude

Today I'm shining because I'm thankful for:

• A job well done. Doesn't it feel great when you have a daunting project that you've taken head on. You work hard, maybe harder than you thought you'd have to. Then, it's finished. And, you're pleased with the results. Well, that's how I feel about a writing job I just completed. It feels great. 
• My best friend's dog, Willie. Debbie's dog was a delightful friend to my family. He'd bound to the door when I arrived, carrying one of his precious toys as an offering. He'd bark for treats. He'd bark for a pat on the head. Willie's old body became too tired to stand on his long legs. He couldn't see well. His teeth were falling out. Other failures where happening as well. Yesterday, Willie went to sleep a sweet, happy dog. He will be missed for a very long time.
• Bright colors. Yesterday I noticed people were wearing lively shades of green, blue, yellow and other colors. It's spring! And, we're wearing it well. 

Sweet Treats for my Kiddos

As a regular pinner to Pinterest, I see some pretty amazing things. Even though I don't have kids at home these days, I have a Kids Only board that I pin to. Weeks ago I saw a great treat called Trix Krispies and have thought about making them ever since. But, goodness, I couldn't justify making a whole batch of these goodies for myself! So, when Easter plans were being made, I jumped on the opportunity to try the recipe! They were super easy and quite delightful.

Trix Krispies

4 tablespoons butter

4.4 oz. bag mini marshmallows
10 cups Trix cereal

Place the butter and marshmallows in a large glass bowl and pop in the microwave for about 2 to 3 minutes to melt. Stir well. Mix in your Trix cereal and stir. Pour into a large greased pan (9 x 13 or 11 x 11) and press down with a spoon. Cut into squares. Serve with a colorful smile!

***

As I perused the posting for Easter treats, I saw several versions of Easter Bunny Bark. Ok, I had to make that as well. It was even easier than the Trix Krispies! This is my version of the recipe.

Easter Bunny Bark

1 pound white chocolate melting wafers
1 cup thin pretzel sticks, broken in half
1 cup M&M’s in pastel colors
1 cup salted peanuts
Sprinkles

Line a cookie sheet pan with waxed paper. Melt the white chocolate wafers over a pot of simmering water, whisking frequently until melted. Pour the melted chocolate over the prepared sheet pan. Sprinkle the pretzel sticks, M&M's, and peanuts over the chocolate. Mix in with a spatula. Then, spread evenly over the pan. Sprinkle with sprinkles. Let set at room temperature about 1 hour. Cut the bark at room temperature with a sturdy sharp knife. Yummy!

I think my family will gobble up these sweet treats quick like a bunny!

Looking ahead

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• My local library. Right down the road from me is the greatest little library! It's a treasure I use often. 
• Positive and generous friends! Yes, I know I say this often. To have such an abundance of lovely people in my life is a blessing I'm grateful for every single day. May I be an enriching force in their lives in return!
• Pinterest. Isn't it the coolest? My eyes can't get enough of the interesting things there. I've made some great Pin friends as well. Love it! Check out my boards: Shelley Hepler

Looking ahead

Contemplating the blank canvas of the 12 months before me, I remember some of the things I keep thinking I'll do. This year I'm committing to knocking three of the items off my "someday" list. I've actually already started on them. They are:

Start a Book Club

After several years of talking about starting a reading group, I've decided to jump in. Without out much ado, I invited a few of my book-loving friends to join me in reading and discussing Tracy Chevalier's newest book, "The Last Runaway." Chevalier is one of my favorite authors, writing about women and issues specific to historical periods. Now that I've set this in motion, I'd like to share a book each month. I think it will be fun to together decide what we'll read and why. Maybe we'll rotate who takes the lead on the discussion. I'm excited!

 

Find and attend unique conferences, seminars, workshops, and other learning opportunities

Just as I set this as a true intention for this year, my friend Amy invited me to a women's retreat at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center. I've wanted to go to this retreat center for some time and now I'm going this weekend. This is an excellent start for moving on my goal. Super cool! 

         Register with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) 

Next week I'm going to visit my Aunt Kathy. She is the family historian on my mom's side of the family. Years ago she combined her interest in the Civil War with her love of traveling to track down documents and information about our family ancestry  The wealth of information she's gathered is amazing. A couple of years ago she completed enough information to quality as a DAR member. Because she has documentation that proves she is a descendant from a Revolutionary war veteran, I now can piggyback on her paper trail. When I see Kathy, I'm going to ask what I need to do to get it done this year. Yup, I'm just going to do it.

Hey, if I get these three things going right way this year, I might even get to a few more items on that "someday" list! 

In the waiting

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• Beautiful, crystalline sunshine. The air is crackling with frigid energy today. Add a little coffee, and we have the perfect morning!
• My sister, Leslie. What an amazing woman! She has creative talent like an artesian spring, endless generosity of heart for her family and community, and a bright mischievousness in her eyes that delights. I'm so blessed to have her as my dear friend.
• Dreams of inspiration. I love nighttime and daytime dreams. Do you journal them? I do!

A thought or two about waiting...

Time is very slow for those who wait

Very fast for those who are scared

Very long for those who lament 

Very short for those who celebrate

But for those who love time is eternal

~William Shakespeare

Being the action-oriented person that I am, waiting doesn't come naturally to me. It's been an uncomfortable place, making me feel passive and inept. I've felt much like this definition of waiting:

intransitive verb do nothing expecting something to happen: to stay in one place or do nothing for a period of time until something happens or in the expectation or hope that something will happen

There was too much of this kind of waiting in my life in last year. The pining, anxious, worrisome type. When will work come? How will I honor my financial commitments? What will happen to the goals and dreams I believe are right? Who will come to love and cherish me? There's nothing wrong or bad about these questions, rather it's the attitude or place from where I asked them.

Crazy! I am a woman of alacrity, meeting the world with an eager smile and a ready attitude! What happened to the bright, shiny girl who loves challenges and change? Waiting. Waiting did it. Yet, upon contemplation, I remembered that there are different kinds of waiting. 

In the new year, I am going to honor the every-ready quality of temperament that God gave me. There's still some waiting ahead. However, I've decided to embrace this version of waiting:

intransitive verb be ready or available: to be ready or available for somebody to take or use

Yes! I can turn a heavy, burdensome thing into something good, something powerful. And, as an added measure, I'm committing to an extra dose of love. Loving the place I am in, being in the ready for challenge and change.

I'm thinking this new year is gonna be amazing!