simple living lifestyle challenge 8–forgiveness

The change: forgiveness

Hate………..is such a strong word. Whenever you hear someone say I hate this person or that thing it almost always emerges negative images in our brains.

So what if you have someone whom you hate…maybe some who:

has hurt you, physically, emotionally
has deceived you
took a part of your pureness
taken someone away from you

Over the course of my life I have learned that there is no hope or salvation in hatred. Hate will eat you alive. If you expect to be whole you must let go. The energy spent being angry or getting even should be better directed at something useful.

Why make the change:

Forgiveness

is your first step toward a life free of hate.

What does forgiveness mean?

Forgiveness means…….

I hate no more
I can goto sleep at night without worrying about it
I release my stress to someone else
FREEDOM
helping others
a better world
letting go and releasing something powerful
a desire to grow

When you forgive you may never forget but you allow God to heal that wound in your soul.

How to make the change:

Forgiving someone is not easy, it may take a long time to do it but in order for you to be whole again you need to forgive. When you say I forgive you to that person, it still hurts. It does take time but in time, you are the one left not hurting anymore. I have had to endure some painful hurt in my life and one of the best things I did was to tell that person that I forgave them for what they did to me. Years later I do not have to deal with the wound anymore, it has been cleaned up and cauterized and now is gone. I don’t feel the pain I once did, the memories are there but the pain is gone. I have seen friends who have never forgiven for the same pain I endured and I saw how it just ripped apart their life. I didn’t want that, and you DON’T have to have that. Even though we go through bad things in life, doesn’t mean that we have to let it ruin us, let it make you stronger, bolder.

Are there some people in your life whom you have hatred towards? Someone that you need to forgive and move on with your life? Start today by making simple steps towards forgiveness. Forgive God for being angry at Him, forgive yourself for letting things happen, forgive others for doing you harm. Forgive and move on.

snow ice cream recipe

amy / 02/12/2014

This winter has been the coldest and snowiest that I have ever remembered. My children enjoy it because we have had far too many winters where there was just no snow to make snowmen. Well that is not the case this year, we have had multiple batches of snow dumped on us and there isn’t much relief in sight.

One thing that I like to do with my little ones is bring some of that snow inside for them to play with. When you have little ones being outside is not an option. But we can fill up the sink with buckets of snow and give them some kitchen tools and let them play. We make sure to put down a few large towels because it will make a mess. But they will have fun without getting all cold.

Another thing we like to do is make snow ice cream. We have tried different recipes and this one tastes the best we think. First you have a child go out in the snow and collect a big bowl full of clean fresh snow.

Then you gather your ingredients: sugar, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla extract.

First you pour your heavy whipping cream into a bowl.

Then you add your sugar. In this photo it looks like we add by the Tablespoon but actually we added about 1/2 to 1 cup of sugar. Add it to your tasting. Some like it sweeter than others.