Refreshing reflections

Good Afternoon,

Back sooner to the post, than I thought I would be! However, had to take a couple of tid photos of our veggie / herb garden. We are going to enjoy a few more ripened cherry tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, garlic chives, sweet basil, and lettuce tonight with our barbecued burgers. Alan has already made up the burgers; so it is just a simple matter of taking them out from our freezer and 'throwing' them on the barbecue. A glass of red vino (South African!) and we are set for a lovely evening in our 'green thumb' garden! We also will barbecue fresh corn from the local produce store! Have to admit, as June was so dry, that boosted our flowers, plants, and fresh produce to a healthier head start!

We attended to a tidbitz task that we had hoped would have tied into another bittidz matter; however, the other project will have to be completed tomorrow or on Saturday. When you cheerfully make the most of the 'best laid plans of mice and men'; you can breath a 'sigh of relief' at the end of the day, knowing that you have accomplished a rather unexciting 'chore'.

We also will be heading back to Costco with our growing list; most likely, Saturday morning, before the temperatures soar. We take our calculator (a large one!) with us; which helps minimize our spending to a pleasurable and managable tally. The calculator is like a 'thermostat!' LOL!

Tidbit - 'Cash by preference' helps one handle their finances better. If you can not afford to buy something, do not buy it; unless you know you can LITERALLY pay for it. If you pay in cash, you are less tempted to fall into debt. Simply ask yourself, 'Do we really NEED this item at this time?' When the time is more ideal, then 'treat' yourself to a 'little something'; and it will be appreciated ALL THE MORE, because you have gone without the immediate 'fluff'.

Bittid - There are times, when 'LESS IS BEST'. 'Keep it Simple'; and RELY upon Him to Guide you. Leaving it all to Him, He KNOWS of your needs and will PROVIDE! Very often, in a much better way than you ever thought possible! That is what we have been / are experiencing in our DAILY WALK with Him.

With all the financial 'meltdown' / domino effect in the world, we have re evaluated our finances; and we agree that 'Cash by preference' is a GOOD PLAN.

We watched the thought provoking movie, 'The International' last night, starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. They were making the movie in 2008, while the whole world was in a massive meltdown, because of the obvious massive greed, incompetence, and avarice of various banks / financial companies of the world; 'blindsighting' most of us; with asset devaluations and higher costs of credit. The movie is well worth seeing and highly educational / informative methinks.

Eventhough, we have wonderful air conditioning in our car, the dashboard still registered at 35 degrees Celsius or 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures are still going up (just under a 100 degrees in the shade); and I am grateful for the readily availability of tap water. Blue (our Blueheeler), likes ice cubes; so that is cooling him down a bittid.

We are appreciative of our Blessings; and we are simply leaving everything up to Him to handle. We are 'in the Hands of the Lord' - that inspirational 'tidbit thought' came to me, as we were driving into our complex, a short wee while ago.

Once again, 'Praise Him In ALL Things!'

Peace and God Bless.

Uplifting others!

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

We have had a heat wave these past few days; and it is supposed to continue hot til Sunday. Yesterday was 37 degrees Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. We are so thankful we have a large fan; which helps us sleep; as it has been approx 84 to 88 degrees F at night. It is 88 degrees and rising, as we speak.

Had mentioned in the previous post, that I was going to watch / listen to 'Hour of Power' (Dr. Robert Schuller - www.hourofpower.org)- well, I am grateful I could access the wonderful messages online! Will share a couple of tidbits; yet I encourage you to tune into the website; as the guest speakers are very uplifting with their experiences and interesting stories.

Dr. Robert Schuller (Snr) introduced Pastor Dan Chun, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Honolulu. ie at the Ko'olan Golf Course! His insights and sharing of the message ('The God Who Knows Your Name'), is enlightening; as is his sense of humour. For those who play golf and say they would like to attend Church; but can not, because of their golf; Pastor Dan Chun comes joyfully back with ('quips' comes playfully to my mind), that he provides both - a Golf Course (18 holes) and a Church! To me, that is awesome; beautiful lush surroundings; 'the whole nine yards!'

Dr. Shelia Coleman (nee Schuller), introduced Reverend Hananiah Zoe, from Liberia (means 'Land of the Free'); who is also President of 'Ministry of Hope'. The bittids of history / events he shares is amazing.

Tidbit - Blessed are those who enjoy and appreciate their 'Blessings'. When one is indwelt with the Holy Spirit, one is able to 'bring a bit more to the table' to joyfully encourage and uplift others.

Bittid - Be genuinely grateful for your Blessings each and every day! He wants us to have a 'Thankful' heart; and to 'Praise Him In ALL Things' - during the good and the not so good times. When things are going well, there can be the tendency to 'forget' to Rely upon Him and / or Thank Him for our Blessings. Even in tough and discouraging moments, it can take a tid of courage to 'reach out' to Him, and ASK Him to 'carry our burdens'. As I have mentioned before, He does 'carry your burdens'; all you need to do, is ASK. 'Seek and Ye Shall Find'.

We have had an interesting few weeks; and had some favourable tidbitz news yesterday. However, we will know more early next week; and, at the same time, we are taking a bittidz of a holiday 'at home'; inasmuch as it is a 'long weekend' coming up (B.C. Day). Also, 'Keeping Things Simple' works the best for us, as it helps us FOCUS all the more upon Him for HIS Guidance, Understanding, Grace, and Favour etc.

Here is wishing you a great day! Until later! Love the above photo image!

Peace and God Bless.

Thriving Blessings!

Good Evening, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

It is currently 92 degrees in the shade; and our plants, flowers, and veggies are thriving in these warm temperatures! We will be enjoying some of the fresh produce in tonight's meal. ie Cucumber, parsley, garlic chives, and one ripe cherry tomato (which we will divide between us!). There are more tomatoes appearing on the vine; and methinks within the next day or two, we will have at least twenty to enjoy! Just took these tid photos! Mmmmm. Love the smell of the fresh garden herbs!

Today has been a rather 'quiet' day; and at the same time, we were able to get a number of tidbitz things done. We have made our calls; and now it is a bittidz matter of simply 'waiting'. We have our Plan A, a Plan B, and a Plan C 'ready'; and we are hopeful that it will be the Plan A that we can implement. Eventhough, the journey towards 'fruition' has taken us longer than anticipated; we know that it has all been well worth it, as it is a noble endeavour. When we know more, you will know more.

The 'waiting' (the patience to wait) at times can be very challenging. However, we have placed a calm and confident TRUST in Christ to Provide us Guidance and Understanding in Accordance with His Will. Thus, we are 'set free', because we are leaving / surrendering all our burdens up to Him to work out the Solutions for us. He has a Purpose for each and every one of us.

We have been reflecting gratefully upon the experiences / epifanies gained from our efforts; and we are thankful for our Blessings, which are in abundance!

Tidbit - Have the 'PATIENCE' to 'wait' upon the Lord; and He will SHOW you the way! 'He IS the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIGHT'.

Bittid - Also, when 'one door closes, another door opens'. We take heart in knowing that HE is always Directing our path.

Am looking forward to sharing some bittids from 'Hour of Power' (Dr. Robert Schuller - www.hourofpower.org), after I have listened to his program online. However, for your own knowledge, and / or others you know of, who may be appreciative for a bit of an uplift, it is still better if you check into his encouraging website for your own tidbits first hand.

Here is wishing you a nice evening.

Peace and God Bless.

Heavenly Skies and Blessings!

Good Afternoon, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

You may wish to read my two posts of yesterday for a bittidz of background. The thunder and lightning continued into many hours of the morning; and the pouring rain of overnight, was a wonderfully refreshing reprieve!

We slept in this morning to approx 9:15 am; and missed 'The Hour of Power' (Dr. Robert Schuller - wwww.hourofpower.org); however, I look forward to 'getting caught up' online on his encouraging messages and will share some tidbit thoughts at a later time.

Watched 'Enjoying Everyday Life' (Joyce Meyer - www.joycemeyer.org) and for those of you, who have financial concerns, please tune into her insights, helpful resources, and the Biblical teachings on the subject of money. She shares this sensitive topic in today's message; and it is both empowering and reassuring! Money is not necessarily the root of all evil; it is the LOVE of money that is. Joyce had her share of challenges; and I really admire her for her steadfastedness and her unfailing belief, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ to provide Solution. Appreciated her enlightening stories about being extra economically 'prudent', not wasteful; and yet 'giving' at the same time. The calculator really helps keep one on track, I might add! LOL! We use it at Costco; and it has been extremely beneficial!

It is about 'stewardship' of how is money handled and more importantly how you deal with 'circumstances'. ie Those with no money and also those that have it in abundance. Are you a good 'steward'; and do you 'give' to others? Are you a 'Blessing' to others? We are all 'tested' many times re: 'things' and 'stuff'. What is important is NEVER to lose sight of Him. As it is said: "We come into this world with nothing; and we leave with nothing". Can you be content with knowing that He IS your Guide and that if you turn to Him, He will Direct you. Regardless of how tough a spot you have been and / or currently are in. In other words, 'He does not want us to Rely upon our own understanding'. He wants us to Depend upon Him for our Daily Bread, and in Accordance with His Will. 'He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Light'. 'Seek and Ye Shall Find'.

Have shared a tidbitz or few today; and I hope you will check these International Bible Teachers out; as they share the 'Message of the Good News' so simply, yet so powerfully.

Last but not least, Alan and I enjoyed watching 'Living Truth' (Charles Price - www.livingtruth.ca); and the subject matter was about Parenting and genuine Christian values. I heartily recommend tuning into 'Living Truth' for further wisdom!

Charles' message today was so helpful to me, as I was a single parent, with two children; and I saw and lived how my children were affected by this. I was very fortunate later in life, after my children had left the nest, that when I asked the Father for His help, he sent me a Christian warrior (Alan) in His Service, who has helped me more fully understand the importance of the Christian message and Christ's teachings. This has allowed me to grow in my walk. I am constantly refreshed and learning new things, each and every day, as I Seek Him out. It is amazing now what occurs - ie Discernment and understanding, compassion, and a growing knowledge. The MORE I seek Him, the MORE I find!

The next four paragraphs I have asked Alan for his eloquence to share what Charles was sharing with us today; as I feel that this is too important a topic to miss. Perhaps there are those of you who are struggling or having a lament with what could have / should have been etc. It is NEVER TOO LATE!

"If you choose to turn to Jesus Christ, He has PROMISED that if you "INVITE HIM IN, HE WILL COME IN, AND WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU". The essence of Charles' message, was that there is a great responsibility placed upon the parents to guide and instruct their children. Lest we forget, the parents have created a child / children that has / have a soul(s) and that they are obligated to rear the child / children in Accordance with Christ's teachings. If the parents do a poor job in rearing their children, the child may become 'embittered', that will be carried by him his entire life. And may subsquently do harm (discouragement / frustrations / low self esteem) to his own children.

Also, there is a responsibility on the child's part. There is an ongoing growth between the two, and it is incumbent on the parents to fully appreciate the gift of the child. Who subsequently will grow as he is taught and guided. The parents must be wary of not misusing their station, so that the child can grow in an unfettered and responsible way, in a loving and encouraging environment. So that, the child will do likewise in his life. At the end of the day, when the child leaves the mother and the father, the parents' teachings and guidance will hold the child in good stead. So that he can embrace the tenets of Christ.

It is critically important to understand it is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that interfaces with both parties; which allows them both to grow in their personal and spiritual walk. We must always remember that Christ's message was to "LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"; and, "TO DO UNTO OTHERS, AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU". We also must have a FORGIVING HEART. Our children are our most precious gift; so can we do any less than He Asks!

In each of our lives, we have become aware of family disappointments, grievances, and / or misunderstandings. Christ wishes us all to be on the same page; so that there can be loving communication to resolve all issues in life".

The photo is of the lush hanging basket in front our house. Also, perhaps you will find the beautiful white butterfly, with mauve wings, sitting on the flowers of the hanging basket in yesterday's picture. I took that bittid picture, because the butterfly is such an exquisite Blessing! Another one of His magnificently unique creations!

The other two pictures show the glorious skies of last night; taken from our upstairs tid balcony. Incredible, methinks, as the whole sky was lit up with that 'special' colour! If you wish, you can refer to yesterday's post, and to the Ted Harrison painting, which also illustrates a majestic apricot hue. Alan and I gave each other the painting as a 'Wedding Gift'; and we were Blessed that the Gallery gave us a fair and reasonable 'lay away plan' to pay for it, over time. Eventhough, it took some doing and there was a wee bit of a wait, Alan and I were all the more appreciative when it finally graced our walls.

Hope you are enjoying today. This is a rather long post; however, I hope it genuinely helps and uplifts all those who read it. Best if you do your due diligence, and tune into the Biblical teachings of these three International Bible teachers. You may know of other people, who would appreciate some insightful illumination, particularly if they are experiencing tough times and / or simply have the sincere desire to embrace more knowledge of Christ.

Peace and God Bless.

A colourful 'P.S'.

Good Evening again!

We appreciated a wonderful barbecued supper (by Alan) outdoors; albeit amongst flashes of thunder and lightning! We were protected somewhat under our patio umbrella; and our Blue was curled up on his mat, under my chair. All in all, it was quite a stormy sight; and we ended up enhaling our corn on the cob and the chicken, before moving indoors. We also enjoyed a couple of glasses of South African red wine; along with sugared donuts for dessert.

Tomorrow, we will savour the tidbit leftovers, along with baby red potatoes, a salad etc. The thunder is quite menacing now; so indoors is definitely our port of call! Blue is much relieved!

Also, in my earlier post, I 'repaired' an incomplete sentence re: 'Tid the Season'. Just noticed it now, when I referred to my earlier post about the meal.

Am going to join Alan on our covered bittid upstairs balcony; despite the roaring sounds of thunder and lightning flashes. Eventhough it is mightily teeming with rain, there is a magnificent sunset; almost as if 'on fire'. A beautifully rich 'apricot' coloured sky!

The above picture is a painting by well known Canadian painter, Ted Harrison. The painting was / is a 'wedding gift' to outselves. The deep apricot colour you see in this painting, is the colour of the whole sky, that we are seeing presently. The rain is much needed and is a Blessing!

Here is wishing you a nice weekend.

Peace and God Bless.

Peaceful and joyful thoughts!

Good Evening, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

It has been a really nice day; have enjoyed it immensely. Inasmuch as we watched a couple of movies into the wee hours of the morning, we 'slept in' til 9:30! Even our Blue slept in! We are totally relieved it is Saturday; and, that it is the weekend; and we are simply 'chilling out'. As mentioned in previous posts, it has been a rather 'gruelling' few weeks; however, we have Relied upon Him to Guide us through the various tidbitz challenges. Today, we are giving Him Thanks for having Helped us through the bittidz obstacles.

In yesterday's post, I wrote of 'uncluttering' thoughts etc. Well, this morning, I puttzed about with my cup of coffee (my morning elixir!) and, 'rearranged' our bookshelf in our den / TV / family room a bittid; and it is far less cluttered. We had to go out to do some tidbit errands; and now we are home to enjoy the rest of the weekend. I had written sometime ago, about a couple of 'consignment' shops. Well, I received a bit of money for a couple of tid cosmetic jewellry ensembles that sold (not much money; but $15.00 is $15.00). I also had a 'tulip' delicate white necklace; which I retrieved; thinking I will enjoy that piece. I guess when I went through all the pieces, I was 'on a roll'; and that unique item 'somehow' found its way into the merchandise to be sold. I have a pair of earrings that match it; and they just need a simple repair.

Our digital camera's memory stick was 'full'; so when I took our camera in to London Drug's Photo Centre, I learned a bittid more how to operate the technology. The young man who helped me was very pleasant; and his name was also 'Alan'. He is of Chinese descent; and he is delighted with the spelling of his name; ie the one 'L'. I jokingly suggested that he might have a Scottish ancestor! He laughed and we had a good kibitz. Plus, I picked up Manila legal size file folders (100 in bulk; a more economical buy); which will greatly assist us in 'decluttering' piled up paperwork.

Also, went to the Dollar Store; and they offer such wonderful prices. Found a bunch of vividly coloured serviettes; which will 'dress up' our patio placemats / plates. Last but not least, we visited the Liquor store; and came home with some Rum. Alan has just made me a 'Margarita' and it is hitting the spot! Depending on how many you wish to enjoy and per measuring instructions, simply add your Rum, Tequila, and the Margarita Mix, chopped ice, and throw it all in the blender. It is very tasty; particularly on a warm day and when one is 'on holiday'. We are taking a 'mini vacation' in our garden; and getting into practice for 'Zihua!'- which we hope to be later this year; once we have certain matters behind us.

We are not able to get away this summer; as we have had / have still some major matters to attend to. But, that is fine; because, we are appreciating our fresh home grown produce and beautiful flowers all the more! We are not generally here for parts of the summer; so we tend to miss out on the beginning yield of the 'fruits of the harvest'; so this is an extra 'treat' to our spirits! All that I have just shared, are 'Blessings', and I am grateful for them all and then some!

Tonight, we will enjoy barbecued corn (barbecue 15 - 20 minutes approx with husks on; let them soak in water for about 10 minutes, trim the edges, and voila!) and chicken. The chicken pieces have been marinating in a honey barbecue sauce (from Costco). Plus some roasted baby red potatoes (seasoned with thriving dill from our garden); and a green salad (Boston butter lettuce, cucumber, parsley, garlic chives, also from our garden). Now that I think about it, we purchased a 'family pack' of chicken breasts from Costco; and they are very handy to freeze in pairs, pull / thaw out when needed for meals. We will barbecue four pieces; and that will 'stretch' our repas; as I can toss the leftovers into a scrumptious Caesar salad for tomorrow's dinner. Also, 'red' potatoes are healthier than white potatoes re: cholestorol, so it is said. We will also savour a glass (or two!) of South African red wine (very good for the arteries!). The day has been gorgeous; so our dinner will be a relaxing ambience; spent in our garden retreat! My July 20th post, 'Tid the Season', shares an appealing recipe for 'Leftovers'; so methinks that would also be a good choice recipe to turn to!

Tomorrow, I look forward to watching the Vision Channel. ie 'Hour of Power' (Cr. Robert Schuller - www. hourofpower.org); 'Enjoying Everyday Life' (Joyce Meyer - www.joycemeyer.org); and 'Living Truth' (www.livingtruth.ca). All being well, we would LOVE to visit the Holy Land in November, 2010, with Charles Price's Ministry. The magnificent trip is being advertised presently to all those interested. We are! However we currently have pressing matters / priorities at home; before we can book such an awesome and breathtaking trip! To both Alan and I, this would be a FANTASTIC journey; from a historical and a spiritual perspective. Will keep you posted!

Tidbit - 'Best laid plans of mice and men'. It is HOW positively proactive you are, when handling disappointments / unexpected bittid moments that come your way. If you CHEERFULLY 'make the best of things', to turn the situation into an upbeat scenario, (Relying totally Upon Him), the lesson / outcome is always a better one. In our case, we are happily and peacefully taking the 'time out' to reflect upon all that has occured; and we THANKFULLY TRUST His Purpose; which is always for the best!

Bittid - ENJOY each day! SMILE more often! My Dad always said, 'Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and You Weep alone'. (He was right!) In a closing tidbit, 'Be of CONFIDENCE, of COURAGE, and of GOOD CHEER'; KNOWING, that Jesus Christ is your strongest ADVOCATE in EVERYTHING! He LOVES us all.

The two photos are of our lush Queen Elizabeth Climbing Pink Rose; and of our hanging basket (Fuchsia Begonia, Orange Trailing Mimulus, 2 geraniums, and tiny white flowering lovely Bacopa) If you wish, a tidbit of info, you can refer to my post of 'Garden Blessings!' of May 18/09.. Will share a bittid picture of our front door hanging basket some other time; as it has more robust foliage, than the identical one shown, which is from our back patio.

Peace and God Bless.




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Uncluttered thoughts!

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

It is Friday again! Eventhough, we do our best to appreciate each and every tidbit day, there is something extra 'special' about 'Friday'. Methinks, being the start of another weekend! LOL!

Am thoroughly enjoying my morning elixir - coffee, whilst I write this post. Various neighbours were up very early this am; maybe they were getting their 'house in order', should they be going away for a bit of a summer holiday. It is reassuring to hear such joyful banter amongst our fellow neighbours / friends. As mentioned in yesterday's post, we will remain in town, as we have a number of projects to attend to. When things work out, we may go away for a few days; failing that, we are looking to a later date in the year, when 'timing' is a bittid better.

Apart from dealing with some major matters, we will also tackle some 'in house' clutter. This also includes our 'groaning' garage, which is over subscribed with stored items, that are almost touching the ceiling. The garage needs a solid tidbitz tidy-up; as there has been such an accumulation of 'stuff' over the years. Perhaps if we do a bittidz each day, our garage will be 'ship shape', by the time Fall rolls around. We may not notice much of a difference when we first begin, but over time, we will! We will also enjoy our home and our thriving garden life / produce this summer!

Tidbit - When there is less 'clutter', your mind works better. This also includes thoughts of worry, fear, doubts, etc. Just Ask Him to carry your burdens, and to Guide your daily path; as 'He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Light'.

Bittid - When you think / follow positive thoughts; and expect 'good things to happen', they do. ie. Blessings. Even during challenging moments, just 'leave it to Him' to fight your battles; as He wants us 'not to rely upon our own understandings'. He says, 'Fear Not, For I have Overcome the World'. Things become a lot more clear and simpler; when we full heartedly depend upon Him. 'Praise Him In ALL Things', always comes to heart, mind, and soul!

Have to go for now. May be back a tid later. Here is wishing you a great Friday! The photo is also of our 'happy' garden!

Peace and God Bless.

Being genuinely THANKFUL

Good Afternoon, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Am on the mend (a mini flu bug - not the Swine Flu); and eventhough we have recently been 'laying low', we have taken care of a few bittidz matters. Our tidbitz garden of colourful flowers and fresh produce are healthily thriving! Plus, there are hummingbirds, finches, chickadees, robins, bluejays,(& other bird species), dragonflies, beautiful butterflies, bumble bees, etc that are partaking in the garden festivities as well.

We are usually in and out of town for a good part of the summer. However, we will not be going away this summer, as we have a number of priorities / projects to attend to. That being said, we are appreciating our home all the more; as well as enjoying all the blooms and the 'fruits of our garden'. At the appropriate time, when there is something to 'celebrate', we will reward ourselves with a wonderful vacation in a warm and sunny clime!

Today is cooler and overcast; looks as if it might even rain. It has been a very dry June and July; and there have been a number of forest fires throughout our province. No complaints about the gorgeous weather we have been receiving; however, a good dose of rain would certainly go a long way.

Also today is an extra special day for us. Our 'pup' Blue is five years young (35 years for a dog); my daughter and her husband met on this day, and a year later, her husband proposed; and last but not least, my niece & nephew are twelve years old today as well.

Received in the mail (no coincidences here, folks), a letter from Joyce Meyer's Ministry, which says, "Never Give Up". That is an endorsing 'tidbit' to us all, methinks. Alan and I have been working on various projects and on our journey, we have experienced many delays, disappointments, obstacles, etc; yet we believe (as per Joyce's comments) that 'He's promised that He'll NEVER GIVE UP on us'. Also, as Joyce says, "The truth is that you are never a failure...unless you give up". Here is her encouraging 'Enjoying Everyday Life' website - www.joycemeyer.org for those of you who would like a tid of 'Never Give Up' enlightenment today and for all other days. Or, you may know of others who would be a bittid appreciative of her insights and uplifting messages.

The photos are of our actual barbecue (you can refer to 'Tis the Season' post of July 20th for a bit of info, if you wish); and a tidbit of our garden herbs & veggie patch.

Tidbit - There is ALWAYS a way! - No matter what! ASK Him to carry your burdens. He DOES. Simply INVITE Him into your heart; and He will NEVER leave you. Best you check into Joyce's website; she is right 'bittid' on! A big thank you to Him and to Joyce! Her letter was / is a major Blessing to us today! THANK YOU!

Bittid - Best to be genuinely appreciative of your Blessings; and, to be joyfully confident in Him to Guide your way and Provide all Solutions. 'Praise Him In ALL Things'.

Peace and God Bless.

Tis the Season!

Greetings again!

Here are 3 tid recipes that may add a bit of 'splash and dash' to enjoying summer / barbecues.

Recipe One!

"Steak with Tomato Salsa & Chevre"

6 steaks (6 oz or 180 grams) each
4 tomatoes (preferably different colours)
1/2 small red onion
1/2 cup shredded fresh Basil or chopped parsley
1 TBSP each olive oil & red wine vinegar
pinch of granulated sugar
1/2 of 130 gram package goat cheese (or use Blue Cheese instead - that sounds delicious to me!)

Steaks at room temperature
Oil, grill and heat barbecue
Lightly rub steaks with oil and place on grill
Barbecue uncovered for 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium rare; if the steaks are 1 inch thick.
Meanwhile slice tomatoes into thin wedges or rounds. Slice onion into very thin rounds, then separate into rings. Shred Basil (combine all in a medium bowl). Drizzle with oil & vinegar, then sprinkle with pinches of sugar, salt, & pepper. Stir to coat. Taste & add more vinegar, if needed.
Remove steaks to plates. Sprinkle both sides with salt & pepper. Let stand 5 minutes, then top each with a round of goat cheese (or Blue Cheese). Spoon the tomato salsa alongside.

Recipe Two!

"Left overs"

Cube left over potatoes (from last night's dinner). Moisten with a flavourful vinagrette or creamy salad dressing; spiked with Dijon & generous sprinkles of Italian seasonings. Then add slices of leftover barbecued steak or chicken. Consider tossing in shredded fresh Basil, snipped chives, chopped olives, and diced sweet or hot peppers.

Recipe Three!

"Barbecued Eggplant Parmesan"

1 large eggplant
2 TBSPs vegetable or olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp salt & freshly round pepper
4 ripe but firm tomatoes
1 cup coarsely grated Asiago or Swiss Cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup shredded Basil

Oil, Grill, and heat barbecue to medium oven.
Thickly slice unpeeled eggplant lengthwise. Brush both sides with oil, then sprinkle with seasonings, salt & pepper. Place on grill. Cover and barbecue until grill marks form on one side, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut tomatoes into thick slices, and brush with oil. Place on grill with eggplant, after it has cooked 5 minutes. Then turn eggplant and continue barbecuing both, until tomatoes are warm and eggplant is tender; 5 to 8 more minutes. Turn occasionally, keeping an eye on tomatoes, as they cook quickly. Remove each to a baking sheet as soon as it is done. Meanwhile, prepare remaining ingredients.
To layer, place a piece of eggplant on each dinner plate. Top with a couple of tomatoe slices. Sprinkle with a quarter of the cheese, and Basil. Complete layering, finishing with Basil. (Can also add a dash of Tabasco, if you wish).

These tidbitz recipes sound so 'scrummy'; as wonderful 'summery' dishes for the barbecue! I like the 'International Italian' touch, as well as the options to substitute meat, veggies, whatever you have in your larder. Also, if you have a thriving garden producing a fresh bittidz of herbs and veggies; ie Sweet Basil, parsley, eggplants, tomatoes, what an extra special treat to savour!

Hope you enjoy! I am looking forward to barbecuing / cooking these delectable, easy, healthy, and economical recipes! The above photo image, is very similar to our bittid barbecue. Ours is not 'fancy'; however, as long as it does the job! Methinks, 'Keeping Things Simple' is a good tidbit!

Peace and God Bless.

'Reflective' morning bittids

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Another beautiful sunny Summer morning! We have so much to be thankful for - many Blessings; and in abundance! 'Praise Him In ALL Things'. Each morning I say that before I get up out of our bed; plus I ask Him for His Holy Spirit to Guide me through the day. You can refer to my post of July 17th, for further tidbitz, if you wish.

It was a quiet weekend; we had some out of town friends come over for a barbecue on Friday night; and the hamburgers were awesome! Alan uses a tid of Quaker Oats, along wtih an egg, and whatever bittidz seasonings are available to make up the composition of the burgers. We also enjoyed fresh corn on the cob; cooked in its leaves on the barbecue; followed with a delicious dessert of fresh raspberries, blueberries, and bananas, mixed with a bit of Grand Marnier, sugar, and lime juice. The following evening, my son popped in for a surprise visit and we appreciated a leftover meal of barbecued burgers, corn, and the same dessert. 'Keeping Things Simple' works best, methinks!

On Sunday morning, I embraced the teachings of 'Hour of Power', 'Enjoying Everyday Life', and 'Living Truth'. My suggestion is to check out these empowering programs; as they offer such enlightening encouragement and invaluable daily insights. You can refer to 'Garden Tidbits' of July 17th for the bittids of info.

Went to bed last night with a very sore throat; and thus am not feeling my best today. Alan has had a nasty head cold for a week; and perhaps it has now passed on to me. However, it shall pass. So, forgive me if I am brief today.

Once again though, for those of you that are wishing to 'Seek and Ye Shall Find' mode, the websites provide wonderful uplift and illuminating knowledge. Perhaps you know of someone who needs a helping hand, to get their life back on track; as they may have experienced some misfortune, drug abuse, or whatever sadness is in their life.

It is a bit of a quiet hush this morning; methinks a lot of people are on vacation; so am appreciative for the extra peace. Am going to listen to the body, and just rest today; so as, to be on the mend before too long.

Love the above photo image! Should also add, that when I was at the hairdresser on Friday, I wrote down some recipes (can not remember the name of the magazine; guess my head is a tid fuzzy too) and not only did these recipes sound mouth watering, they were easy and affordable etc. The hair appointment was long overdue; and you always feel a bit better, don't you, when you have a 'good hair day'. Plus, appreciating new tasty recipes; which I will share with you, at a later time.

Peace and God Bless.

'Garden' tidbits

Good Afternoon, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world.

It is a gorgeous summer day and we are very Thankful for our Blessings. We have much to be thankful for and when there are challenging circumstances, just remember to "Praise Him In ALL Things'. Also being genuinely grateful for whatever Blessings are bestowed upon you. We are appreciative too, that it is the weekend again; and we are going to simply enjoy being at home and in our tidbit 'garden'.

The last few weeks have been 'a slice' shall we say; yet we have experienced many ephifanies and have reflected upon their positive outcomes. Very recently, we had a situation that needed a decision; and it would have been so easy to have gone 'tit for tat'. We would have been totally 'justified' had we reacted the way we wished; however, in our hearts of hearts, we knew that we had to do our best to be proactive, instead of reactive. I 'called upon' Him for His Guidance and Direction and the Solution was SIMPLE. 'Act swiftly with Grace, Honour, and Truth'. It is said, that the 'Truth Sets You Free' - well, it does, indeed. At the same time, the other individuals are doing themselves more of a disservice; and it is not for us to 'Judge' them or their behaviour. Best to leave it ALL to Him (Jesus Christ) as, 'He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Light'.

Have been fighting a wee bit of a bug; however, it will soon pass. Alan is starting to feel a tid better; he has had a nasty head cold for about a week.

Our veggies in our bittid garden / patio, are thriving! We are really delighting in our fresh produce this summer; and herbs add such a tasty zest to one's meal. There is nothing nicer than fresh grown home produce!

Once again, the Vision Channel will be beckoning to us on Sunday morning. ie. The 'Hour of Power' (Dr. Robert Schuller - www.hourofpower.org or wwww.hourofpower.ca); 'Enjoying Everyday Life' (Joyce Meyer - www.joycemeyer.org); and 'Living Truth' (Charles Price - www.livingtruth.ca). For those of you who wish to 'Seek and Ye Shall Find', you can tune into these wonderful International Bible Teachers. You, like us, may find their teachings / messages to be both enlightening and encouraging in your daily walk.

It is amazing what happens when you genuinely 'Let Him into your Heart'. By simply inviting Him in, He will NEVER leave you. Each morning, before I get up out of our bed, I ask for the Holy Spirit to indwell within me and to be my Guide and Solace. I Pray for Understanding, GOOD things to happen, for Blessings in Abundance, His Protection (ie the Full Armour of God); and also to help uplift whomever I meet in the course of a day. Be it by a smile, a gentle word, and / or a random act of kindness. You feel much more alive, when you Pray for a positive outlook and place / focus your Trust upon Him.

Tidbit - An upbeat tidbitz thought just hit me! When there is upheaval, uproar, and / or you feel as if you are being 'upchucked on'; just turn to Him to uplift your spirits; and ask Him to carry your burdens. He does!

Bittid - 'Laugh and the world laughs with you'. Weep and you weep alone'. My Dad used to share those bittidz words with me; and it is true.

Love the vivacious photo image! Pretty soon, we will be enjoying bittids of fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet basil, and other veggies / garden herbs from our garden. When the temperatures are warm, salads, cold soups, etc. taste all the more delicious! Plus, you feel that much healthier!

Here is wishing you a nice Friday and upcoming weekend.

Peace and God Bless.

On Cloud Nine!

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

It is the wee bittidz hours of the morning. Just wanted to share that yesterday was a great day; inasmuch as we simply 'chilled out' from all our tidbitz efforts from the previous weeks. We still had various tid tasks to accomplish; yet a lot of loose ends 'dovetailed'; making us all the more appreciative of our Blessings from Him. Yes, there were obstacles. However, armed with Hope, Faith, and TRUST in Him, we were Guided calmly and confidently throughout the day.

We also had the good fortune to connect with some like-minded positive people; and they have expressed a genuine interest to work with us. We believe that everything is turning out for the best; and we are simply leaving everything to Him. That includes any burdens, fears, worries, etc. A tidbit, He never gives you more burdens than you can carry at any one time. That has been a continual reassuring encouragement to us. A further bittid, He wants us to RELY upon Him; NOT upon our own understandings. We still have challenges; however, we know that He has a magnificent Purpose and a Good Plan for us (for all of us); so best to always 'keep on trekking, like the energizer bunny'.

Am still on a bit of a 'cloud nine'; reflecting joyfully about all our recent experiences and enlightening epifanies! Shortly I will enjoy a sound sleep; as well as being Prayful for another good day of Blessings in Abundance! 'Praise Him In ALL Things'.

Love the above photo image!

Peace and God Bless.

Evening Blessings!

Good Evening, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Whew! It has been a full day and we are now relieved it is evening. Will be seeing our bed early tonight, that is a tidbit for sure!

We have had some major obstacles to deal with, and it was as if they were all stacked up for today. From 7:30 am til 3:00 pm today, we have been like 'speedy gonzalez' non - stop. Various tidbitz matters were resolved; and we are so thankful. We know He (Jesus Christ) wonderfully Guided our Path! We Prayed earnestly for His Help; asked Him for His Holy Spirit to indwell within us; and to just simply lead us to Solution (according to His Will). My head, heart, and soul were totally positive; and any negative bittidz thoughts / fears / doubts/ worries etc that appeared, were instantly repelled and gone; in a bittid of a second! I was 'expecting GOOD things to happen; with Blessings in ABUNDANCE. That is exactly what took place! We were given FAVOUR and GRACE!

Am going to call it a night; and eventhough it has been a challenging full tid day, it has also been a rewarding one! We have been uplifted and encouraged by many 'epifanies'; as well as appreciating enlightening experiences. We give Him Joyful Thanks!

Love the above bit photo image; that will be Alan and I before too long.

Here is wishing you Peace.

Good Night and God Bless.

We all have Blessings to be Thankful for!

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

It is in the wee bit hours of the morning; however, thought I would write a wee tid post, since I am semi awake. I have not forgotten you, or to write a post; however, we have had our hands full this past week. Could write a book called 'The Week'. We are also thankful that it is the weekend.

Eventhough, there has been some tidbitz progress made; we will know more bittidz tomorrow and / or Monday. Plus, Alan has come down with a nasty head cold, a very sore throat, irritating headache, and sneezing a bunch. Have been 'fighting' something as well; so we are staying close to home this weekend. My daughter and her husband are hosting a birthday party / barbecue for our wee grandsons who will be turning three! We had been looking so forward to attending the Sunday park event; however, we thought it best to give our regrets. Methinks, 'things have just simply caught up with us'; as it has been rather hectic time.

For our dinner on Saturday, we enjoyed a delicious, flavourful repas of scrambled eggs and toast. Easy to prepare; and mixed in with the scrambled eggs, we included some fresh grown produce from our garden! ie garlic chives, parsley, and cilantro. Along with a store bought green pepper (we are also growing green and red peppers; but they are not ready yet) and some grated white Cracker Barrel aged cheese (from Costco). Will post some photos of our thriving tidbit 'veggie garden', before too long.

At any rate, in the morning, I will be like a bittid 'sponge', appreciative of the wonderful teachings from the 'Hour of Power', 'Enjoying Everyday Life', and 'Living Truth' on the Vision Channel. If you wish to check out those enlightenig websites, please refer to my post of July 8th for further info.

The above photo is of the beautiful climbing Queen Elizabeth Rose; we have some growing in our garden. We have many Blessings to be thankful for. 'Praise Him In ALL Things'. Am now going for some shut eye.

Peace and God Bless.

Peace of mind and tranquility

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Today is the 8th of July; it seems like ages ago, since I last wrote a post (July 3rd). My apologies.

We have had our bittidz challenges - but then, who doesn't, particularly during these tough tidbitz times. We have been 'in battle', putting out various 'brush fires' if you will.

However, we did watch the Vision Channel this past Sunday; and all I can suggest is that if any of you are feeling a bit discouraged, weary, wishing more knowledge etc, then here are some wonderful websites you can tune into! ie. www.hourofpower.org (Dr. Robert Schuller of 'Hour of Power'); www.joycemeyer.org (Joyce Meyer of 'Enjoying Everyday Life'); and www.livingtruth.ca (Charles Price of 'Living Truth').

Would like to share with you a couple of insightful and joyful tidbits that I found when I was reading Joyce Meyer online. You may know of others who would be needful and appreciative for the afore mentioned websites. 'Pay It Forward' comes to mind! ('Pay It Forward' was such an awesome movie!)

Proverbs 3:25 (Amplified Bible)
"For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught (in a trap or some hidden danger)".

2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control".

Find these bittids to be a wonderful wealth and stealth of enlightenment and encouragement. Perhaps your spirits will be uplifted a tid too! I like that: 'Wealth and Stealth'.

Love the above lush photo image; it looks so peaceful and beautiful; methinks, a 'mini vacation' for a few seconds, as in being 'away from it all!' Be of good cheer! Cheers later with a glass of wine!

Will be back before too long. We have much to be thankful for; even the simple 'little things' are Blessings!

Peace and God Bless.

A special 'Good Morning!'

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

My apologies that I have not written a post since June 29th; seems so long ago! A lot has been 'crammed in'; and we have quite literally had our 'nose to the grindstone'. We have had various bittidz brushfires to put out, as well as experiencing unexpected 'out of left field' challenges. What we appreciate most, is Him (Jesus Christ) and how He Prevails in trying circumstances. What were obstacles, have / are falling by the wayside.

Tidbit - Apart from having daily FAITH, have TRUST, and be of GOOD CHEER, and when you TRUST in Him TOTALLY, He Provides what you need!

Bittid - When you RELY UPON HIM (and NOT upon your own understanding), and when you ASK Him to carry your burdens, He does. He does not give you more than you can carry at any one time.

In difficult moments, when everything appears overwhelming; quite literally throw it al upon Him. You become immediately uplifted; as if a huge weight has been removed from your heart. Keep things simple.

We have experienced a few tidbitz 'doozers' as of late; however, we 'Praise Him in ALL Things' and we simply 'leave everything up to Him' to 'work out and put right'. We daily thank Him for our Blessings; of which there are many! Even just enjoying the peace and beauty of one's garden gives one a reassuring comfort!

Regardless of your situation, 'keep your chin up', be of confident and joyful calm that He has a Purpose for you; and it is just a matter of 'timing' (His); and that He will Step in and take care of your needs, according to His Will. Anticipate and expect good things from Him - ie Blessings. Any negative thoughts you may have, imeediately 'throw them out the window'; 'switch' your thinking over to a positive outlook. Amazing what transpires!

Love the above photo image; have appreciated my elixir of coffee this am; and we are about to go out and tackle some tidbit tasks. Hope to be back in a bittid.

Glad it is Friday and the weekend! Again! We just celebrated Canada Day on July 1st; and here is wishing good wishes to all those of you, who are celebrating July 4th, American Independence Day. My Mum passed away on July 2nd, 2005; and if you wish, you can refer to 'The Three Generations' post of July 3/07 for a tid of bit background.

Peace and God Bless.