Just Be Silly

Do something silly today. Seriously. For no reason at all.
The simple act of letting go and having fun — even for 30 seconds — can work wonders on your entire being. No planning. No permission. Just let go.

I have six kids, and they will happily testify that I am extremely silly. Case in point: spontaneous, off-key singing at the absolute top of my lungs. Is it musical? No. Is it loud? Yes. Does it instantly raise the household silliness level? Also yes. Science probably supports this.

Silly games help too. Nothing fancy. Just a dash of imagination and a willingness to abandon dignity.

I tend to have a dark, dry sense of humor, but I’ve somehow been gifted with the ability to make people laugh. I consider it part of my life’s mission to catch someone completely off guard — stop them mid-stride, confuse them slightly, and then boom… laughter. Attitude shift achieved.

So whether it’s a 42-year-old mom of six skipping to the mailbox with her four-year-old (neighbors judging quietly), an awkward hopscotch attempt, or a sudden hand-slap challenge, it only takes a moment. And that smile? It has magical, forget-your-problems-for-a-minute powers.

Tonight, make a silly dinner. Watch a ridiculous movie. Play hide-and-seek. Capture the Flag (elite game, by the way). Have a scavenger hunt for the remote or gaming controller — because chaos is character-building.

Whatever it takes… just do it. Life is heavy enough. Add some silly.

Our Current Homestead in the spring - 2

Our current homestead - 1

Our Kittens - My Photo Subjects

Okay, now that you are all awing.....

WHO WANTS ONE (in about five weeks)?

ps. Not easy subjects these fellas, those little guys are QUICK!

Compassion

After I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, compassion took root in me in a way it never had before. Suddenly, instead of getting irritated with the person slowing me down or triggering my frustration, I found myself wondering what they might be carrying beneath the surface.

That person zoning out at a red light may have just learned their father is terminally ill.
The angry customer at work may be grieving a recent loss.
That “scatterbrained” woman might be coming off chemo or living with an illness you can’t see.

We rarely know the full story.

So when the urge to judge or criticize starts to rise, let it pass right through you. Release it. Because the grace we offer others has a way of finding its way back to us. As we judge, so shall we be judged — but the same is true of compassion.

Choose it freely.

TGIF Recipes

Source

Red Sangria

1 1/2 ounce red wine
1 1/2 ounce triple sec
1/4 ounce pineapple juice
1/4 ounce orange juice
Mix well with ice, pour into glass with ice
Top with Sprite if desired
Lemon squeeze, lime squeeze, orange squeeze

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic (or to taste)
• 1 (9-ounce) package artichoke hearts, defrosted, rinsed, dried & quartered
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted, excess liquid squeezed out.
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) Neufchatel (reduced-fat cream cheese)
• 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Saute onions in olive oil stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until onions are light golden. Remove from heat and cool.

In a food processor combine and blend until smooth spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise, cream cheese or Neufchatel, mozzarella and salt and pepper. Handstir in the cooled onion-garlic mixture and artichokes. Transfer mixture into an 8-inch glass square baking dish or 9-inch glass pie plate which has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with crudités, tortilla chips, fresh vegetable or pita wedges.