Who are you "validating" today? ...

I looked up the word "validation" on Wikipedia, and there it says;

"Validation is the reciprocated communication of respect which communicates that the other's opinions are acknowledged, respected, heard, and that they are being treated with genuine respect as a legitimate expression of their feelings, rather than marginalized or dismissed."

I think that our words to others and our ability to listen generously (that's another topic, from a great podcast I recently heard) can have a huge impact on those around us.

We all have value, God is very clear on this. So I wanted to share with you this great video clip by Viktor Emil Frankl M.D., Ph.D. He was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a Holocaust survivor and you'll get a good reminder of how we can make such an significant impact on the lives of others by how we treat them.

It also goes hand in hand with this great quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.

Another movie I need to watch this year ...

This looks like a great movie that has some star power behind it; Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd & Ray Liotta. Coming out in August 2009.

"Crossing Over" is about immigrants of different nationalities struggling to achieve legal status in Los Angeles. The film addresses the issue from the point of view of the immigrants, as well as the immigration authorities tasked with enforcing the nation’s immigration laws. I'm hoping that it lives up to the trailer.


Crossing Over - Theatrical Trailer

***If you are reading this on facebook; you'll need to watch the video on my blog by clicking here

Changes ...

I haven't posted a thing for a few weeks, but you probably weren't online much either, right?

During this past holiday break I've had a chance to slow down and think about the present and future. The move to Golden Hill has been good, I seem to be doing good with urban living. The pace here is definitely different, faster in some areas and slower in most. This slower rhythm & pace has been good. Since moving here in October '08, I've taken more walks and read more books then I did in the entire past 2 years. I seem to be adapting to the move to SD in a positive way. Jon said to me the other day "you're in your element." I suppose he's glad that I transplanted well.

So for me the New Year brings reflection and a little bit of dreaming. I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. But I do believe in change. I came across this great quote and I'm going to memorize it and maybe even post it on my wall. Maybe you'll like it too.

We are all too much inclined to walk through life with our eyes shut. There are things all around us, and right at our very feet, that we have never seen; because we have never really looked. ~ Alexander Graham Bell

I think that my eyes are starting to see a little more clearly than years gone by. So as we enter this new year of change for us as a family, you as my fellow bloggers, us as a country, all of us as God's kingdom ... my wish for you is to look and see, and become what you were created for.

Also, today I was listening to this song by Finger Eleven entitled "Falling On" from a couple years back and thought it timely to share with you. One of the lines in the song is;

You've got to try to find what's right before your eyes

Now that's something to ponder. Hope you enjoy the video!




ps. They are the group that did the catchy song "One Thing" that got a lot of air time back in '03 - it's also a great song.

We made some cookies today ...

The girls had a cookie exchange today with our new home school group. Every Christmas we try and make these cookies. You need very few ingredients and they practically melt in your mouth. But don't take my word for it ... you'll just have to try it out yourself.

So, consider this recipe my little Christmas gift to you =)



Traditional Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

Makes 36 cookies

* 1 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 1/4 cups sifted flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup chopped pecans
* powdered sugar (for rolling baked cookies in)

Cream together butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy; stir in vanilla.

Whisk together flour and salt; add gradually to butter mixture; stir in chopped nuts.

Chill dough if it seems too soft.

Form dough into 1" balls and place onto parchment-lined or ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 400° for 10-12 minutes or just until the cookies start to turn light golden-brown; remove from oven and allow to cool slightly; while cookies are still warm (but NOT hot) remove them from baking sheets and roll, a few at a time, in powdered sugar until evenly coated; then let them cool - and try not to eat them all at once =)


Enjoy!

The show ...

Last weekend's Holiday Trunk Show was so fun! I didn't sell as much as I usually do, but had a great time hanging out with some other wonderfully crafty girls!

Here's some pictures of my table and goods. I made some men's & women's coffee bag wallets, embellished shirts, purses and accessories. The wallets are a new thing that I'm making. Since coffee bags are not recycleable I made sure to use every last bit in the process. Also, the picture at the top is a closeup of the little birds for my necklaces that Jon hand painted, they turned out great!

We'll I'm off to make some muffins for "my little muffins". It's a rainy day and it's almost Christmas, I'm going to relish these last few days of the holiday season with my family and friends I hope you'll do the same.

The Walrus ...

I watched this today, it's a pretty cool animated version of a 30-year-old interview with John Lennon. It was produced recently by Jerry Levitan, who back in 1969, when he was 14 years old, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview. This is during the time of John & Yoko's "bed-in" for peace. It's a great message even for us today.

***If you are trying to watch this via Facebook, you have to go to my blog to watch it***

Good In The Hood ...

I hope your Thanksgiving was great! Here's a couple of pictures from our day. Natalie & Stefani made place cards for the table, Mimi made the napkin rings, Emily set the table and we all helped with the Thankful Tree. It was a very good day.