Category: Food

7 August 2023 Happiness

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Health, Leading Life by Example, Music, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

List 30 things that make you happy.

Hello to you. How are you? Todays prompt is tough for me as I think it’s been since before my divorce I’ve been truly happy. Last night I dreamt about being with my ex and we were so happy in the dream he suggested we put our wedding rings back on- talk about my brain manufacturing wishful thinking! Yet it was so vivid and romantic! Truth be told though that ship has definitely sailed. As the years pass since the divorce the more I have come to believe that Kyle was it for me. I always said if I couldn’t make things work with him I would end up alone. Being Bipolar 1 has been a marriage/relationship killer for me.

So what makes me happy? Let’s see – food like desserts, Link, my family, a good movie or television show, a good song, nature (especially flowers and clouds), Jesus – experiencing him at Church and in the world, helping others and that’s about it. Can’t come up with 30!

Something I want to mention happened this past Sunday at church both moved me and made me happy. We were singing and I stopped to look around and I almost started to cry. I thought what if this is like heaven? The song we were singing was Blessed Assurance. One of the reasons I almost cried too was hearing a little girl behind me singing her little heart out! So sweet! I just got to thinking about what heaven might be like. A place where there is peace – no fighting – and a lot of beautiful music all day long every day. I miss singing next to my Mom and Dad at church. The Catholic Church has such beautiful hyms,

https://youtu.be/Bsdl8DSZfRo – Elevation Worship Blessed Assurance (lyric video)

Blessed Assurance

Lyrics

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Praising my Savior all the day long

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Don Wyrtzen / Fanny Crosby / Phoebe Knapp

Blessed Assurance lyrics © Word Music Llc, Integrity Music, Word Music, Llc, Curb Word Music

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NIV12

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil-this is the gift of God.

23 July 2023 Comfort Food

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Food, Home, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Hello to you. How are you? Just back from church and some errands. I locked myself out last night and didn’t have a spare key. Thank God my Aunt had a spare! I have mentioned this before but I’ll say it again – her and my Uncle John are my earth angels. When I need help or just some company they are there. We had a nice meal together yesterday with my cousin Tony. I’m so grateful for my family here. They are such a great support system.

“Are you getting up?!”
This treat has been with me most of my life. I used to eat them for lunch at school

My comfort food is peanut butter and chocolate. I enjoy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Little Debbie’s Nutty Bars. Neither of these are low calorie so they have to be eaten in moderation! When I was a teenager I was hungry all the time and would eat semi-sweet chocolate chips in peanut butter as a snack.

Todays psalm at church is a well known favorite. It was nice to have Pastor Jayson Boyd and his wife Becky back today:

Psalm 23New International Version

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

24 June 2023 Food and Childhood

by saymber, posted in Food, history, Home, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

Hello to you. How are you doing? It’s Saturday as I write to you. It’s about 84 degrees and sunny out.

Todays prompt is a tough one for me as I’m kinda of a foodie. Many foods transport me to different parts of my life. I would have to say my moms chocolate pudding dessert is a big one. I can’t remember when she first made it or when I started wanting that dessert in place of a birthday cake. I just know that whenever I have it I think of my Mom and Dad. Dad and I both like it for our birthday! We would joke about getting up in the middle of the night to sneak a piece or who got a bigger piece. It’s one of those desserts you can only make for special occasions as it’s pretty rich. My family here in Idaho loves it too. My Aunt made it for my cousin and my birthday this year and everybody loved it.

Instant chocolate pudding – you can use other flavors if you don’t like chocolate

Recipe: Moms Chocolate Pudding Dessert

Crust: 1/2 cup melted butter , 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Bake above in 9×13 pan at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool then add:

2nd layer: 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 cup Cool Whip, 8 oz cream cheese

3rd layer: 2 pckgs instant chocolate pudding, 3 cups milk, 1 tsp vanilla

Top last layer with remaining cool whip and nuts if desired and chill.

John 6:27New International Version

27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

20 June 2023 Back Pain and Volunteering

by saymber, posted in Food, Health, Home, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? I was supposed to start volunteering today but couldn’t do it. I moved the wrong way a couple days ago and even with a back brace could hardly walk without pain. I don’t like to take Tylenol or other pain medication because a lot of times it doesn’t work for me and it’s hard on the liver over time. I’m already taking medications that are tough on my liver.

The gal I’ve been communicating with at the Food Pantry said she has Tuesdays covered now but would let me know if anything opens up. This is a case of my spirit being stronger than my body! I’m kind of disappointed in myself but I think it was the right thing to do. If I am supposed to volunteer at the pantry I feel another opportunity will present itself.

Psalm 73:26New International Version

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

15 June 2023 Passion

by saymber, posted in Food, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What are you passionate about?

Hello there, how are you? I’m just back from our Thursday prayer meeting for our church, it was Pastor Jayson, Lois and me today. There may only be a couple of us but it matters! I walked over and back. I picked up a breakfast burrito on the way home from Tacos El Rancho – they are so filling. I was only able to eat half of it – eat the rest when I get hungry again!

Some lovely blooms from the walk this morning.

Todays prompt asks what am I passionate about and I have to say the controversial – gun control. I don’t like guns! I feel like being able to own a gun should be as tough if not tougher than being able to drive a car. I have always been passionate about this topic as I lost my birth mother and a cousin to guns. I don’t have a problem with responsible gun owners – I have several in my family. The main thing I focus on is keeping guns from those who would harm themselves or others. I don’t have all the answers but putting more guns in the world doesn’t make sense to me.

Matthew 18:20New International Version

20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

13 June 2023 Food Pantry

by saymber, posted in Food, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How is your week going so far? I went over and helped a tiny bit at the Middleton Food Pantry this morning. The two gals there were really nice and the place seemed really well organized. I dated some items expiration dates. My lower back wasn’t happy but I wanted to help. They need help on Saturdays also – that’s the day they give out food but I didn’t commit to that – at least not yet! It’s so easy to get over committed to these places – that’s what happened to me before and I ended up quitting. I will pray about this.

I am trying out volunteering at our local Food Pantry
Stopped at the Sunrise Diner on the way home

Proverbs 22:9New International Version

9 The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.

8 June 2023 Dreamy Chocolate

by saymber, posted in Food, history, Home, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Describe your dream chocolate bar.

Hello there! How are you? Todays prompt is about describing my dream chocolate bar and that’s hard because so many chocolatiers have already come up with dreamy concoctions! One of my favorite combinations is chocolate and peanut butter – Reese’s Peanut butter Cup. Other favorites are Cherry Mash and Heath Toffee Candy bars and of course Snickers!

I think this is kind of funny – they have a buy new category! I sure wouldn’t want a used one Lool!
These used to be one of my favorites. The Vermont Country store is where I got them from.

Proverbs 25:16New International Version

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.

6 June 2023 Blooming Where Your Planted

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well as you visit me here today. I just finished an intake appt for behavioral health through the VA. Fun! Fun! So many questions!

Today my mind turns to thinking about finding happiness where you find yourself living. Blooming where your planted. This is something I’ve tried to do most of my life. Next week I’m going to see about a volunteer opportunity at the local Food Pantry here in town. I have been praying about an opportunity to serve my community that wasn’t politics and this showed up on Facebook. What’s pretty cool is the gal I talked to is medically disabled too . She said she really likes helping out at the pantry. Like her I need a purpose in life – a reason to get up in the morning!

Plants and Trees bloom where they are planted and so can we!

Hosea 14:5

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;

15 April 2023 Happiness

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Food, history, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?

Hello to you. How are you? I hope your doing ok. The world is kind of crazy! Todays prompt is a good one. When the world around you is seeming kind of chaotic a good way to get grounded is to focus thoughts on what’s good in your life – gratitude. Something I’ve done ever since I was in rehab many years ago was a mental gratitude list. Rather than sit and complain pull out your gratitude list. What’s fun about doing it is how quickly you go from just one thing your grateful for to a whole bunch of things.

I have many things that make me happy and that I’m grateful for. At the top of my list is family and friends. My family and friends have gotten me to this day! True examples of unconditional love. Next is of course Link. I love waking up to his sweet smile and wagging tail. Number three is good food – I enjoy food too much lol! Number four is my connection to God – having a church home has really been helpful to keeping that connection strong. Number five is nature – seeing nature wake up this spring just really makes me happy! The best florist in the world is momma nature!

My Uncle Bill shared a couple pictures this morning of a beautiful California poppy bloom. The rains made it happen! Something good out of something that has caused a lot of people trouble:

Poppy bloom picture from my Uncle Bill- what a beautiful sight. I can remember last year asking God about orange flowers and the first ones he showed me were these types of flowers growing here!

15 March 2023 Belonging

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. I’m just home from joining my Aunt and Uncle at Golden Corral in Nampa ID and members of their life group from church (Grace Bible Church Nampa). I never eat my moneys worth at buffet restaurants but it was nice and the food was decent. I quit eating when I was full which can be hard at such a place with its endless supply for you to gorge yourself on!

It was nice to meet some more people – all older than me. Most of the people my age are still working so I don’t see them except like Tuesday’s Women’s Bible study I’ve been going to and church services when I go. I am wanting to have a sense of belonging and my Aunt tries to help me with that. It doesn’t help that I get tired so easily – the Mal de barque syndrome – all my movements are exaggerated and I feel like I’m lugging around so much extra weight ( which I am!) I feel so out of shape and sluggish. Even after a month using the Steve Harvey drink powder (L’elevate you) I still don’t feel much different.