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*