We share our thoughts, feelings,............

We share our thoughts, feelings, and ideas on the internet daily but do we think about the messages we see and share. Think for a moment about the last post you shared to a social media sight what was it and what was the intent in sharing it? Yes, I get that we are surrounded on all sides by not so good of things because that is a reality of the world we live in but we need not roll around in the darkness and expect others to join us.

Here are some questions to ask about things as we consider sharing them (many if not all can be found by great advice from inspired people). Is it true? Is it nice? Does it inspire others to be better? Is it informative? Is it positive? Is it humorous without being demeaning to someone? Does it contain inappropriate language and thoughts that someone would be Leary in sharing with a clergyman? If by some means the status, meme, article, picture, etc. really can’t pass at least two of the pointed questions it may well be best to dump it than to post it. “If it is not light, then what is it? – Unknown

May we work to find the good in the world. Some would have ya believe that we should face reality as it is but I submit that we can look for good even at that. There are more than enough places on the internet sharing the depressing put down so called news but let’s be on the other side of the line and go for the good. Live life, breathe, love fiercely, and have fun.

Howdy!

  

Howdy!

Some know me very personally but many just glance in the direction of this page now and again. So here is my run down. I’m a seasoned gent that on occasion has some time on my hands. I’ve been call a bunch of names but Hun, Papa, and Crazy Soul are my favorites. I’m a Christian and love God with most of my heart. The part of my heart that isn’t placed on God is reserved for my wife. So ya do get a dose of I love her and relationship gooey stuff in there. After almost three decades together we are well connected with each other.  I have walked a path with recovery from darkness and addiction. I counsel many in changing their path of life for the better. I have moved around some but at present live in a small house by a Hollar just a short hop from some grand kiddies. I like to spend time in the outdoors and play with the peeps we call the crazies. Yes, I like a good laugh now and then too. Every now and again I post from my blog some thoughts and some stories with maybe just a little bit of McManus style of embellishment. So, enjoy. Feel free to share with those around you.

Forgiveness and Time.

This is a post from a Facebook page in the Cedar City area. I have copied and pasted it with the originators permission. RE: Fire burning in Iron and Garfield counties of Utah. The following post is by a resident of Brian Head, Utah.

Kim Mayne:

I have been out of my home now as an evacuee for a week tomorrow. These are my thoughts, My heart breaks for those who've lost homes, for those who won't enjoy family time in the precious mountains this year, for the firefighters who give there all and the families who go without during that time to support them, for the children who just want to go home and the adults too but mostly my heart breaks for a world with no forgiveness. Yes, there should be consequences, some natural as this person has to live with this, and perhaps monetarily and maybe even lawfully but let me remind everyone that he who is without sin, cast the 1st stone. In no circumstance, is it right for us to be the judge, that is up to the proper authorities and ultimately to our maker. I have never met the person responsible, I do believe that things could have been done by the proper agencies that would have decreased the odds of this disaster and my family is suffering but hate and judgement will not bring back our homes, our forest, our playground. It will not bring peace, but do you know what does? Forgiveness and Time. The land will heal, homes may be rebuilt, and new memories made, it is my prayer that we ALL find this healing.

My Thoughts:

In times of adversity we can become better or bitter. Hopefully we become better people and can put our best foot forward and be kind, understanding, and forgiving. I am saddened by the situation because of the places that will be so ever change that hold memories of myself and many but knowing that we can move forward with hope for better and that we are alive and pray for those effected as well as those that fight the flames and smoke to save what they can. I may add that many walk through more than one crisis in life and yet they have a good outlook of what can be out there for them and others. Often when disasters strike it draws people together in helping others. Forgiveness is not easy and yet it is a part of what makes us better. Be grateful, forgiving, and share good whenever possible because the world needs better not bitter. Choices always have consequences whether they be good or not so good. Yes, there will be a time when justice must be paid but hopefully there will be mercy present to balance justice. Many there are that say “blame this” and “blame that” but there are so many factors that we can best let it go. I am reminded of a situation a few years back with a similar situation. A good person was also engaged in clearing land and the control of the situation was lost. They as with many others could never imagine the extent of the reach of the consequences until later. Bad things happen to good people. My family has at times been displaced for various reasons and it is trying and heart breaking. I thank those that in times of crisis reach out to others with shelter and help.

 Pray for others that they too can find peace in the storm and that the storm may find a calming. Pray for those with broken hearts and lives to heal. Pray for understanding. Pray for those that walk in the fires of life to keep us safe. I have in days past also walked among the smoke and flames and I hope and pray for the souls that work to tame that Beast. I have read of many that have given to others in bad situations, thank you! It shows us all humanity is there. Having life coached people for many years and worked with them to make changes in their life for the better when they have made not so good of choices I leave these thoughts. “God grant me the serenity to except the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” “Joy isn’t found in riches and gold but knowing you have lifted another”- Unknown

*Thanks Kim Mayne for in spite of adversity looking for the silver lining!

Twenty-nine priceless years!

Twenty-nine priceless years!

Three decades ago, I saw this dark-haired and dark-eyed beauty in a large hallway in little old Manti, Utah. Wow has life changed with a six pack of kids and a small band of grand kids. We have now lived in about a dozen places together. We have flown scared, climbed hills, an extended boat trip, dropped into canyons and crags, and fallen ever deeper in love with each other. We have learned a lot about each other over the years but more about ourselves and why we do what we do. Yes, I’m hard to deal with. I’m kind of like a deck of cards with no Aces and a lot of One Eyed jacks. She has put up with me just the same. She’s no quitter and has pushed the limits of life a lot. She pushes me to be better than I see myself. We have been back to the great hall many times since that day and we were married in that fine structure in June of nineteen eighty-eight. One of the girls she worked with a few years ago was helping her try to make a negative type picture of that building for an artistic project. The girl thought for sure it had to be a castle in Europe. When the girl heard we had been married there, she was in shock and thought it must have cost a fortune. I add it was the most priceless place to be married in the world, but there are many of those priceless places in the world that are amazing also.

Many things have changed for me over the years, from less fly-off-the-handle to I say less of what just pops in my head. I have learned that filtering lots of things can end many a bad situation. I have learned to talk to others instead of closing off and bottling things up. I have a soft spot for the underdog and the down trodden. I love adventure as shown by the crazy pack of six kids we have and all the places we have visited. Been many places a cell phone is useless yet unwanted also. The best places I have been are always with my number one Cheerleader (yeppers I found a cheerleader). Yes, I have had her fuming mad at me and love me profusely all in the same day.

She’s like a fine box of chocolates with gold leaf on the box. She is always full of surprises. Every now and then she still manages to scare the critters loose in me. She can best me in so many ways but we have fun just the same. I think she is getting more at ease with the chapter of life we are in now. She likes little hugs and kisses from those little ones that call her Nana. She claims that I didn’t remember that we danced with each other one night not long after we had met first the first time but I was a bit stunned from a lot happening. Then I moved in a few doors down from her and she claims I kind of stalked her some, but I was hooked so what can I say. Secretly at the time, she says now, she was intrigued some.

Some of the super road trips have included stops for some very tasty food in some of the most unique places. You might be surprised the cool places out there that we have visited once or twice. Still many to add to the list of places still to find and dine at.

Lots of adventures in the twenty-nine years we have been married and the plus part of that before we said “I do”. I’m not say’n we are perfect but we are perfect together. We still have a large bucket list of things to do together and yes, I have to get some of the promises in for her before I even think about push’n some daisies up. So, here’s to another basket of fun years of adventure. I’m sure we will think of more to add to the bucket list and maybe we will do a few fun things that we have done many times before again. 

She is the Mama of Six awesome kids!

     Yeppers! She is the Mama of Six awesome kids and many others that see her as Mom. I know she down plays herself but she is like a fine diamond ring. The value is so priceless that it and her cannot be compared to anything else out there because there is nothing that comes even remotely close to her. She has the distinction as a tough one but has had to be at times to keep a few teenagers on a path going forward and uphill. Also, she is very loving and has one of the warmest hearts any mother could ever be given by the Great Creator. For many of the world that have ever crossed life’s path in some way with her they know that she cares a lot about seeing people become what God sees in them. Just like many in the world, we all struggle with beating ourselves up and even down. We too often try to feed ourselves the lie that “I don’t add up.” She more than adds up and stands out. Yes, she isn’t so much a big fan of being in front of a camera but I love to see the smile in her dark and beautiful eyes. I love to see her smile when she is surrounded by her kids and the countless others that bring out the smile in her. Start with the six and add them all up and she has a well-stocked house full of very awesome and special accomplishments. 

     Granted I haven’t been much help in a lot of the training of the kids but I am grateful to have the best of the best in a parenting companion for me. She has so many cool names she is called by the six and a few others. They call her Mother, Mom, Mama, Mamita, Grandma, and Nana. I’m sure Mama and Nana are the names that she hears and loves best, but she has many more that some very dear peeps call her or have called her that listing them is kind of hard. No one affects us in our lives quite as much as the mothers, grandmothers, and aunties in our life. Please friends don’t compare you or yours to any one because God made the women of the world different so we could help each other in so many ways and every one of them are extremely special. This awesome mother of six has so many talents that are not seen by the world and in many ways should be, but the kids in her life know some of those awesome things. She is a diamond in so many ways that to know where to start counting would be hard to do without missing some along the way. So, Happy Mother’s Day to the Mama of Six that has effected not just six and others but me in so many ways. 

*Papa’s cheesy taters*

*Papa’s cheesy taters*

9x13 pan

1 ½ lbs. O’Brian style hash brown potatoes frozen

2 jars GF or Classico alfredo sauce

24 ozs Sour cream 

2 lbs. Colby jack cedar cheese (save ¼ of cheese for toping when nearly done)

½ onion fine diced

2 teaspoons pepper

Sautee the onion. Mix ingredients in large bowl. Spread in pan. Bake at 375 to 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Top with remaining cheese. Continue baking for 10 t0 20 minutes. Best if served with Papa’s favorite meat loaf. If you have family and friends like Papa you should consider an extra pan of taters so that Papa’s first house rule can be adhered too. “If you leave hungry it is your own fault”. You can sub some cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup and a cup of milk rather than the Alfredo sauce. If you’re like Papa and have a Dutch oven or three it is a nice summer classic. Cooking tip: The cheap and easy one use pans and oven liners make cleanup up a cook’n dream. Enjoy!!

What a question!

Some sobering thoughts this morning as I read an article about kid (26 is a kid to me) that left this life from the chains of addictive destruction. It always hits home for me considering the path of addictive chains that held me once. Not too long ago I had the opportunity to speak to a group of teens at a fireside (Church meeting) about life and the choices that we have. I have had many of these opportunities over the years but this time a during a question asking moment a great question was asked. “What is it that keeps you from going back to those destructive things in your life?” How would anyone else answer this question? Because it brings up a hundred more why questions.  

So here it goes. *I didn’t like me. I didn’t like who I was and why I was and I don’t want to live that way anymore. *I didn’t feel free. I didn’t feel free to make good choices and to be able to think freely about those choices. *I though God hated me. I have come to know and feel good about the relationship I have with my Higher Power/God and I now know that he loves me. *I love my life. I love my life and know many persons in the world that also love me. *I did see a purpose in life. I did feel that me being around changed anything for any one. Now I know that even if I change the world for only one person it has meaning and that meaning changes things for me also.

I fully enjoy the opportunity to talk to people that may be in doubt, questioning their purpose in life and hurting in their life. “I’m not interested whether you’ve stood with the great. I’m interested whether you’ve sat with the broken.” Many of the great persons we know in history like Gandhi, Mandela, Christ, and others showed their greatness the most when they sat with the down trodden, the lowly of heart, and those who could in no way repay them. If we lift others where we can the world changes for good. Lift others and spread goodness to the world.

If your one of those chained by things in your life or you know personally someone who is take hope. There is a way to change if there is desire, faith, and a wiliness to do so. Feel free to message me if your one of those people out there. If by chance you’re a person who has broken free from them great. I commend your doing so and if you are willing to share with me your story I would love to hear it. Sharing the victory of breaking those chains with others not to brag by any means but to show others that there is hope and good things can and do happen in the world. God loves us and knows us personally. We need to always remember God is in control, even when we can't see his plan and we should be still and know it will work out. God bless!

Rice Lasagna recipe

For some that already know us we have some family favorites that are on the gluten free side and a few that my family will let me share.

Rice Lasagna

Ingredients:

Servings:
8
Units: US | Metric
3 cups cold cooked rice
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup cottage cheese
8 ounces low-fat ricotta cheese
32 ounces spaghetti sauce
1 cup cooked ground beef
Directions:

1
Add eggs and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese to rice. Set aside.
2
Combine 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and cottage cheese. Set aside.
3
Add sauce to meat mixture, heat.
4
Spoon 1 cup rice mix into pammed glass pan, cover with 1/2 of cottage cheese mix, 1/3 sauce and 1/2 ricotta. Repeat, topping with sauce and 2 tablespoons grated parmesan.
5
Cook 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Cook longer if it is in a dense pan.
6
If desired, you can freeze and bake at a later date.

Iroquois journey in life

 There were five tribes in the original Iroquois: the Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga tribes. Later a sixth nation, the Tuscarora tribe, joined with them. Many other tribes, such as the Huron and the Cherokee, are sometimes called "Iroquoian" tribes. This story I have used for many years for those friends who have walked a path in life in recovery and change for battles with spirts and demons whose mission is to destroy the soul. I wrote this in honor of a friend that lost his soul to the demons. May the great spirit heal him somehow and those that read this who battle for their souls also.

                            Iroquois journey in life

An Iroquois Brave was on a journey down the path of life with the Saunee (Wise elder). He first came to the dark den of the Bear and asked: “what does this mean?”

The Saunee answered him: “this is the Dark times in life (Black bead) where you may feel alone and friend less. Remember that feeling and use it to be a friend to all.”

He trudged on and the path became steep and rugged. He came to a very high, large drop off where the path crossed a ledge near the top. The Saunee said: “you must use caution and be secure.”

“What does this mean?” the Brave asked.

“You must secure (the Knots) your life with strong Braves and Elders around you.”

As he came closer to the top of the mountain, he saw the changing leaves and felt the cool crispness of the air. The Saunee asked him: “do you see the beauty (Red beads) that surrounds us?”

The brave looked and he saw much. The wise one said to him: “you must stop and look often at the beauty around us. You must stop and feel, smell, and view all that is beautiful and good around us each day for then we find our place in life.”

He came to the top of the mountain peak and looked and beheld much good all around him. The Saunee pointed to where he had come from and said: “this is the path of the past (colored bead).”

The brave looked and saw many times he had fallen and stumbled along the way. Then he looked again and saw much that was good and joyful. The wise one said: “you have learned much on the journey so far and it will help you become wise.”

The Saunee pointed where the path lead on to the next deep valley. He said to the brave: “that is the path of the future (Colored bead). Walk carefully and learn much for the path is long and winding.”

The brave asked the Wise one: “does the path end?”

The Saunee pointed toward the sun and said: “the sun rises and sets each day. The path it continues on each day, none can tell if it ends or begins (the loop of the cord). Remember my son you are not alone in your journey, because there are Braves, and others. The Braves and Great Spirit (White cord) will guide your steps.                           

                                      

                                  *Notes form a crazy soul* 

Fire And Ice!

Fire and ice

A number of years ago, some of my family and I spent some time working for a residential treatment center. I happened to work as their recreation and sports director. We came to know the person working as the secretary and my wife and I became friends with her and her family. The owner of the facility was known to be kind of a bully more often than not. I rarely saw any one set him in his place but nearing the end of the whole ta-do with us there, she (Secretary) gave him a whooping of words.

Over the years, the adventures have continued. Runs to the mountain getting fire wood to hiking. We had the opportunity to foster a boy with special needs because of her influence. That was a special time in our lives that we will never forget. A lot of growing for our family as well.

We all have our fears. She was with us once as we visited a promenade recreation spot in southern Utah. After hiking for some time there, we decided to tackle some of the shear crags with a rope or three. Rappelling is an empowering adventure that is great for concurring fear and placing trust in someone else. I learned a new expression or two also, “Brown” and “Good times”. She has a lot of quick wit snap backs that would catch a not so ready person to do battle you would be beaten down faster than a dollar store camp chair.

Mind you not everyone expects a to get blown away by small size packages but that is where ya get some “Fire and Ice”. Powerful stuff in fire and ice. All is good unless you happen to be like some crap stick of wood and stir up things ya shouldn’t. But keep in mind that most fiery people also have a heart of gold and that is why they draw people too them. If by chance you are one of those crap stick peeps, may heaven help you cause you’re on your own. Hopefully you can run fast if not as my friend would say “Sucks to be you!” Fire has a power to create its own weather and still make ashes of things. But with that in mind it has the power to warm body, and soul. When water freezes in hard places like rocks, the rocks break and scar. Cold and full of power to change things. Both fire and ice change and shape the world around us. But even when we change we need to be our selves. Be yourself, an original is worth more than a copy.

Many years have come and gone since we all came to know each other and a lot has changed but the friendship is all good. We are all miles apart but that is how life happens. Kind of reminds me about a song back a few years with words like this.

 “Just yesterday mornin', they let me know you were gone
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
I won't make it any other way
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Been walking…

Friendships last when we understand that we have to dwell on the things we have in common and that we cross paths for a reason. Treat people with kindness and respect. My friends know who they are.