Hot Chocolate Lessons

This has been around the web because I received this in an e mail from my daughter, whose friend sent it to her. On the chance it has not reached you, it is a perfectly wonderful message to share on New Years' Day.

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were discussing their lives at a class reunion. They decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them.

During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives, and relationships. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups. Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He invited each to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor shared his thoughts.

“Notice that all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate. You did not want the cup…but you consciously went for the best cups, and soon you began to eye on another’s cups.

Now friends, please consider this….Life is the hot chocolate…your job, money, and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor does it change, the quality of life you are living. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us.

Always remember this…God brews the hot chocolate, but He does not choose the cup. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.”

Live simply…love generously….care deeply….speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

And remember…the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

Enjoy your hot chocolate!

More Goodies From Grandma's

This is too good to keep!! Almost any flavor imaginable can be made using the Easiest Fudge recipe from yesterday's post. Coconut pecan frosting with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting are a few that come to mind right off the bat!! Almost anything from nuts, chopped candies like Butterfinger, to chopped candied cherries can be added. The variety is endless. Just think, next Christmas everyone will think we are quite the cook, and we will never tell a soul our little secret. I wish I had known how simple and easy this candy is to make before the holidays this year. Oh well, I didn't but next fall I'll be stocking my pantry with all kinds of chips and eagerly awaiting another trip to the grocery store to look at the baking aisle and check out the newest flavor of frosting!! It takes so little to make me happy! Be sweet and be good!

Easy Fudge Recipe

I am so excited!! I found a recipe for fudge that I have to share with you. There are only a few ingredients and it is sooo easy to make. So here it is.

Easiest Fudge

12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
1 tub chocolate frosting(Betty Crocker is best)
dash of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup pecans or walnuts (optional)

Butter pan while chocolate chips melt in microwave. When melted mix in frosting
then salt, vanilla and nuts. Pour into pan and refrigerate till firm (at least half an
hour). Cut into squares and serve. Delicious!! TNT recipe!!

Be sweet and be good.

A Childhood to Die For

Hi everyone! The holidays are almost over---only a few days till New Year's Day and 2009. I just now got used to writing 2008! I have lovely pictures of Brittany and Logan, Debye's children, and will post them soon. I would look at my pictures all day if I could. I want to share them with all of you

My brothers and I had a childhood to die for!! If angels had come to our house they would have felt right at home, for surely my mother was one of them! Our dad had a great big heart with a bear hug to match! We listened to "Stella Dallas" on the radio, played kick the can, let our imaginations run wild, trying to fly and hypnotize each other and whatever else we could think of! It was such a magical time. That is the only word that describes it. I will put some of Mom,s recipes in a post soon. She rarely used recipes---it was "a handful of this and a pinch of that". Somehow it all tasted so good. After I was married I went to Mom and Dad's almost every day and I always had to eat something she had made, even if it was just a cold biscuit. All my life I wanted to be just like my mother and, trying as hard as I could to be like her, I turned out exactly like my dad!!

The Reason For The Season

Homemade Happiness

           I must be getting lazy since I have retired!! So long since I have posted....
I can hardly believe it is almost 2009. It seems like not long ago, my kids were all home. Then I could tell them to go in their room and stay there and they would!! Time sure changes things. Change is good, but I miss those days and wish I could go back there. I go often in my thoughts and dreams. When my head touches the pillow at night I think of each of my children and hope they are safe and at peace with themselves and the world. I have been so blessed!! I have the most beautiful grandchildren and three of the prettiest great granddaughters you ever saw. I am very grateful this holiday season and try always to remember...........

contentment is not found in having everything, but in being satisfied with everything you have!

Debye

This is a couple of pictures on a scrapbook page of my oldest daughter, Debye. She was the one who saw "the little bitty puppy running real hard". Debye has two children, Logan and Brittany and one grandaughter, Abigail, one of the little cuties on the left side a little farther down.

Anna's Scrapbook Page---Keith & Carol

This is Keith and his sweet little wife, Carol. Brooke, Kristi and Eric are their children and Anna and Carlee, their grandchildren. I guess that makes me a great grandmother!! I have three of the sweetest, prettiest little great grandaughters. The three of them are pictured along the side. They are angels and I love them soooo much!! Anna calls Carol "Nan" and Keith "Papa". Carlee isn't talking much yet. When I was there this summer, both girls gave poor Bailey (Keith & Carol's cocker spaniel) a hard time. They laid on him, pulled his hair, kissed him and whatever else they could think of. Bailey just lets them do whatever they want, but he probably wonders when they will take naps so he can rest too!! Later!! Stay sweet and good.