Thought for Today

“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” — E. Joseph Cossman

Thought for Today

Copyright 2014 by R.A. Robbins

“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness — just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breathe it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom and Virtues

A Lesson in Mindfulness

Bob and I have a very nice laundry room in our home.  I did not realize how spoiled we were until the dryer went out.  We live full-time at a lakeside resort and there is a laundry room on the property.  In fact it is less than a block from our house.  But I quickly learned that dragging hampers full of wet laundry even a short distance in not fun.  The first two times I tried I hurt my back and neck.  After weighing my options I decided to take the laundry into town when I took Bob to the YMCA and dry the clothes at the laundromat while I waited for Bob.  Seemed like a great idea.  In fact earlier this week the laundry was all washed and ready to go when Bob decided he was not up to the Y.  Not wanting to drive into town just to dry clothes I decided to schlep them down to the laundry room.  But this time I did something different.

So what did I do?  The first two times I was trying to dry clothes while also trying to work online and prepare lunch, with frequent trips back and forth between home and laundry room.  It was a mess.  I was a mess.  Everything got done, but not well.  When I was finished I was in pain.

So… this time I decided to devote my full time and attention to the laundry.  I sat down and waited for the clothes to dry.  I read magazines.  I drank a bottle of water and had a nice conversation with a neighbor who came in to wash her clothes.  What I had been seeing as a burdensome chore became a welcome break.  And since I was not worried about getting everything done at once, my muscles did not tense up when I picked up the laundry baskets, and I was not in pain.

Another gentle reminder of how we create our own reality and a good lesson in living in the present moment.

Thought for Today

Copyright 2017 by R.A. Robbins

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”
Joseph Addison

Thought for Today

Copyright 2014 by R.A. Robbins

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”
Joseph Addison

Thought for Today

Copyright 2014 by R.A. Robbins

“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all”. — George Washington
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_faith.html

Thought for Today

Copyright 2016 by R.A. Robbins

Sometimes the Lord rides out the storm with us and other times He calms the restless sea around us. Most of all, He calms the storm inside us in our deepest inner soul. –Lloyd John Ogilvie, minister

Thought for Today

Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins

“We are each made for goodness, love and compassion. Our lives are transformed as much as the world is when we live with these truths.”  – Desmond Tutu –

It’s National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

Copyright 2016 by R.A. Robbins
Copyright 2016 by R.A. Robbins

Oh yes it is.  But at my house every day is cookie day and one of our favorites is chocolate chip.  I live with a Cookie Monster.  Whenever Bob walks by freshly baked c0okies cooling on the counter at least a few get devoured.  I usually have homemade cookies on hand, at least in the freezer.

Of course they are gluten free and I do try to health them up a bit, but we’re not talking about nasty tasting “health cookies” here.  These are real cookies and they taste good.

So in honor of National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day let’s revisit my Chocolate Chip Trail Mix Cookie recipe.  Enjoy!