Thanks Be to God!

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

~ 1 Corinthians 15:57

1. Journal Fatigue -- This one paper crafter I listened to today on YouTube was talking about journal fatigue. She said that people tie themselves up in knots and get anxious if they skip a day to write or create in their journals, when it should be a relaxing, meditative time to reflect on the goodness that comes your way and record little snapshots of that. For instance, if you are recording your gratitude's or documenting your relationship with Jesus, what would you like to read about in five years time?  You know, if you have followed me for any length of time, I have struggled with writing something every week on this blog, but I see I can give myself permission to not get anxious about it, if it doesn't happen. While I enjoy it and get satisfaction from writing, the creative spark or inspiration can be blocked by unplanned things, like sickness or unforgiving people. (The devil likes to try to derail you if he can.) There's something though, to be said about the process of working through the struggles. I, in the past, have given myself a time limit, or as the case may be, the limit of completing one project, then after finishing it, if I don't want to do it anymore, I can walk away with a clear conscience that I gave it my best and actually completed it. Hallelujah! ADD people are notorious for undone projects which can lead to inward failure guilt. Been there, done that! 😀 


2. Happy Mail -- I Love Happy Mail and today I received some lovely happy mail from my friend, Joan, from across the pond. Sounds like she is settling into her new-to-her home. Her husband retired and they moved to be closer to their daughter. I so thankful for Joan!


3. Catch Them Being Good! -- I believe in rewarding good manners and kindness with praise! 👼


4. I am so thankful for music! --- Sure helps me feel better when I'm feeling blue. 


5. DIE-T Appetite DELIGHT!-- Did you know that J.T. Stinson, a well-regarded fruit specialist, introduced the phrase, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" (at a lecture during the 1904 St. Louis World Fair)? A church friend gave me this recipe for fruit-sweetened apple pie. My hubbin said it's fit to eat! 

 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 

Sugar-less Apple Pie

6 medium red Delicious apples, peeled and sliced (we use one of those new-fangled apple wedge knives - cores and wedges apples in one push)

1 can (6 ounces) frozen apple juice (without sugar), thawed

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pastry for 9-inch double crust pie

3 tablespoons margarine

Place apples and undiluted apple juice into a large pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 5 minutes. Dissolve cornstarch in water. Gently stir cornstarch into apple mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered, for 10 to 15 minutes or until apples begin to soften. Stir in cinnamon. Fill pastry shell with apples and cover with top crust.

Bake at 350 F. for 45 minutes. Baste with melted margarine after baking. Yum! 

🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏 

I'm thankful I found two pre-made products at the grocery store this week that I can eat! 
One is Smucker's Organic Peanut Butter (no sugar added) and Smucker's Fruit Spread sweetened with Honey. Both are yummy!  And I just learned that Russell Stover  has stevia-sweetened chocolate candy. Yay!