Heart Hope by Olga

“Nobody is my boss” were the words that my grandson declared from the backseat of the car. It wasn’t really out of defiance so much as just a statement of fact. My husband and I just looked at each other and laughed.  At the age of six you may think you control your world but you really cannot have any real understanding that throughout your lifetime, you will have many people in authority over you, starting with your parents and teachers. The perception of the government being your boss by telling you things like you must pay taxes and how fast to drive is not something that I could effectively describe to the young boy, but I knew that one day in the future he would grasp the concept. Someday when he enters the workplace, he will learn quickly that not only is he not his own boss, but that there are many types of people with power, some that are honest, fair and easy to work for, while others are mean, harsh and unreasonable.  All of these bosses will be a part of his g...

I found this recipe in Readers Digest and it has a great blend of sweet and spicy. Try it before the corn is gone until next year. 3 T canola oil 3 c fresh corn cut off the cob 2 ½ T minced fresh ginger (I grated mine) 2 T mince jalapeno chile seeded and minced 4 cloves of garlic minced Salt and pepper to taste Heat skillet over high heat until smoking. Add oil and heat briefly. Toss in corn spreading evenly, do not crowd it. Let sit for 1 minute to allow it to severely char and pop. Stir in ginger and chile, again allowing corn to char with very little stirring about 1 minute. The corn is done when one-fourth to a third of the kernels are flecked with brown. Stir in garlic and remove from heat. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately. www.hearthope.org

A couple of months off from working out...it shouldn’t make that big of a difference should it? It’s not that I was being lazy; during four of those weeks I had friends and family visiting, I was out of town for 10 days and after all I do work full time too.  Before my hiatus I was riding my bike to work, walking during lunch, attending spin classes and working out at the gym. However, during the interruption in my exercise regimen, I wasn’t just sitting around eating bon bons, but I wasn’t in my regular workout mode.  So when I checked out the weather report and realized that it was going to be beautiful blue skies and mild temperatures all week long I was motivated to begin putting forth effort once again toward my heath and fitness. With the leaves beginning to change colors all around me, I wouldn’t have many more opportunities to enjoy the fresh breeze outdoors before being locked inside for the long winter. That’s why I decided to get back into my workout regime by ...

Molly’s birthday was last week. Her party was fun-filled with unicorn rides, rainbows and lots of sweet treats. As a four year old, she has definitely gotten the concept of birthdays down. Throughout the year she has seen many of her friends experience their birthday and so she knows that she should be put on a pedestal for the day and that everyone pays special attention to the birthday girl--her wants and desires which for her includes pink, sparkly and anything princess.  Now I want Molly to feel loved and special in every way, but I do not want her to think that the world revolves around her, because that is false thinking. There is a fine line between my granddaughter being stuck on herself and thinking that everyone else should be too and her feeling valued and realizing that all people are valued. My mother used to say that my grandmother would tell her that “no one was better than she was and she was not better than anyone.” I think that is exactly what I want Molly to...

6 slices of bread made into crumbs--I make them in the food processor 1 lb hot sausage 8 oz of cheddar cheese 5 eggs 3/4 c milk 1/4 t salt 1/8 t pepper 1/2 t mustard Spray 9x13 inch casserole with nonstick spray. Put bread crumbs in bottom of baking dish. Layer cooked meat on top of crumbs. Sprinkle cheese evenly on top of sausage. Mix eggs, milk, salt, pepper and mustard well before pouring over layered ingredients. Refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes until browned and set. www.hearthope.org