Happy Mother's Day

May 13, 2012

Mother’s Day is an absolutely splendid time of year.  I’m so blessed to have my beautiful mom near me, thriving in her busy retirement years.  She has been a guiding light to me since the day I was born and continues to this day to love me unconditionally despite my crazy wonderful ways.  J  I admire her.  I appreciate her.  And, I love her with all my heart! 

Here’s a delicious Pound Cake recipe to make for your mom.  It’s my favorite and has been a stand-out in my recipe book for years.

Butter Pound Cake

* 3 cups all purpose flour
* 2 cups Sugar
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp salt
* 1/2 tsp baking soda
* 1 cup buttermilk
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 2 tsp vanilla extract
* 4 eggs

Heat oven 325 degrees.  Generously grease and flour 12-cup bundt pan.  Beat sugar, butter, & eggs.  Add remaining cake ingredients and beat 3 minutes on medium speed.  Pour into prepared cake pan.  Bake 55-70 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  DO NOT remove cake from pan.  Cool completely and then remove from pan.  Sprinkle with Powdered Sugar. The butter pound cake recipe is ready to serve...enjoy the cake!

 Please continue to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. No matter what state you live in, YOU can make all the difference in the world to just one child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness. Thank you for being their wind beneath their wings!

UNLIMITED

May 9, 2012

UNLIMITED, My Future is Unlimited!

Many who battle health challenges often feel their lives have limits.  During these tough physical trials, too many of us could abandon hope.  Without the support of family, friends, and modern medicine, lives can be utterly wasted.  It's like throwing away a car because it has a few dings or needs a repair.  By putting "limits" on what might be possible to recover the condition of our bodies, we can also abandon life as "totaled" or hopeless.

If instead we choose to believe we are UNLIMITED in ourselves and our capabilities, anything is possible.  Eventually, we all face some health challenges in our lives.  It's when we understand our UNLIMITED ability to improve or restore our health, that nothing seems too hard to fix!  The battle for our well-being starts in our minds where we are capable of removing fear and negativity that harms faith in ourselves.  By first thinking we have UNLIMITED capacity for healing, we free our minds from boundaries or limits imposed by doubt.  We already have the God given traits to survive and thrive despite occasional bumps, bruises, and even serious medical conditions.

One of my favorite Broadway show tunes that continually sings in my mind regarding this very subject is from the hit show Wicked.  In the "Wizard and I" Elphaba sings about her future being UNLIMITED.  I know personally that we all can be changed For Good by simply being kind to others, supporting one another, allowing each other to grow, and appreciating others for the amazing individuals they are.  May we all practice such kindness and belief in others and by doing so change the way we see our own UNLIMITED potential to cope with whatever challenges come our way!

May God continue to bless your life!

We Are All Champions!

May 3, 2012

The advice that a great champion gives another great champion is usually good advice for all of us.  We can learn from the example of iconic tennis champion Billy Jean King, who gave Maria Sharapova such advice before an important match.  She suggested that, "Champions take chances and pressure is a privilege."  When you think about it life is the greatest "match" of sorts and and the highest privilege imaginable.  Yet life, in all its splendor, presents challenges to us every day; the onset of disease, or the loss of family or friends, or even financial difficulties.  Viewed like a champion, these pressures of life come with the privilege of basic living.  In fact, our challenges are only what we make of them.  Some in life are reluctant to face challenges fearing possible defeat or embarrassment.  Champions, on the other hand, take risks.  Come what may, they take chances and face life's pressures with vigor!

Champions have the ability to cope with all sorts of challenges and become stronger by not letting adversity define or destroy them.   We should ALL learn to work through limitations and the pain imposed by setbacks in our lives.  Depending on how we react, these setbacks can serve as new starting points in life or present new heights to climb and achieve.  The power to face our challenges on this journey of life comes from the cheering we do for ourselves and for others.  May we always be anchored by faith and have the hope to face pressures and challenges befitting the champions we all are!

As a Lupus Champion I'm wearing PURPLE this month in honor of Lupus Awareness Month.

 

As always, please consider supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation where champions are made every day via wish children and volunteers.  Click on the graphic to learn more.

God Bless,