Ahhhh...I have a birthday coming up and I always try to reflect on my life so far and both honor my acomplishments as well as my tribulations. 
      I have had an intereting life so far and feel grateful for the things that have I have touched and that have touched me.  In my time I have:
1) lost a son, yet gained a beautiful daughter; 2) moved 700 miles away from my family, yet am closer to them then I have ever been; 3) had cancer, yet have been healthy and well for over almost two years now; 4) been fired from a job, yet have been able to advance my career and now have the best job I've ever had; 5) been married and divorced (twice), yet  still am able to see love and receive it without resentment or fear. 
  I am not a person who is bothered by age or growing older. It does not offend me to be asked "how old are you."   I embrace the wisdom and the joy that we gain and get to experience.  I am in love with the life the Universe has given to me  and I hope that it resonates with anyone who comes into contact with me. I sing a bit louder every year. I also give myself flowers! LOL!  
  I am at peace today.  I am also very excited because my brother and sister are coming in from Colorado to spend the weekend with me, Yay!! 
  I am truly, truly blessed.  I am grateful.
  Namaste'
  Dre

This is one of my favorite songs (from the Princess Bride). What can I say...I'm a sappy hopeless romantic!  It's what's being a Pisces is all about!  Much love!!!
Dre

Me and my daughter watched/tried this!! I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face!!  Good times!!  Takes me back....am feelin' some Rob Bass comin on...

           It didn't seem that long ago that I was listening to a fantastic interview with this amazing woman and I was deeply saddened by the news of her death.  It came to me full circle with a story this evening on NPR from a long time friend, Mike Siegel who had received an email from Bhutto this past October and stated it should be released only if she was dead, holding the current politians reponsible for their lack of compliance with rigid security requests. Cryptic.        
         Perhaps she knew as many others that I've observed, that her time in this form was coming to an end soon.  She was described as one of "bravest people on Earth" and had stated that if it wasn't her mission to bring democracy to Pakistan, than she trusted she was in God's hands.  
      I believe I heard correctly that she has had 19 other attempts to assasinate her.  I can't even imagine the strength she must have summoned every day to walk in her shoes.  I think it's a great loss to the human race and it makes me shake my head questioning not only the things that are worth dying for, but also killing for.  There is now more anger and violence. 
    I wish peace to all hearts.
    Namaste'

Hey gang!!
Yule is one of me and my daughter's favorite holidays!  We wanted to share a couple of recipes for everyone to enjoy!  Note that you can make any of them vegie friendly by swaping out some ingredients! 
HAVE FUN!!
**hugs**
Andrea & Makenna
 

Morning Julegroed - Yule Porridge (Our FAV Year Round)

                                                                                                       
4 cups milk
A couple of almonds, finely chopped **
1 rounded teaspoon of butter/margarine
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup washed white rice
A pinch of cinnamon powder
1/2 cup thick cream

In a large saucepan, heat the milk until boiling. Add butter/margarine, then add the rice and turn down the heat. Cover with lid, and let rice simmer slowly for about one hour or until the milk is absorbed. Transfer to a non-metal bowl and fold in the cream and almonds. Serve in small bowls with sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

**Traditionally, Icelandic housewives placed a whole almond in one bowl and served the porridge, who ever found the almond, received a special prize! 

 

Sun Up Egg Squares

1 pound pork sausage (we use soy), cooked & drained
1 1/4 cups bisquick
4 ounces mushrooms, sliced
12 eggs
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 cup milk
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon each; pepper, oregano

Layer the sausage, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and cheese in a well greased 13"x9"x2" baking dish. Beat together the remaining ingredients in a non-metal bowl and pour over sausage mixture. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree oven until golden brown and set (about 30 minutes). Cut into 12 3-inch squares. Serves 12, can be halved.

I can't believe that next week is Christmas! Ahhhhh!!  Then the question that has been sprung upon millions of people, myself included, will be over..."What do you want for Chrismas??" 

So what do I want for Christmas???

I have been thinking...how about you give me  friendship, laughter and/or love.  I want you to have my back for Christmas and I promise that I'll have yours.  Like the "accountabilibuddy" system!  Things just fade away, but good memories last and last.  Sounds cheesy? Maybe, but that is truly what would make me happy.  I trust that the big J.C. has my back as well as the Universe.  How great is that!?

I hope everyone, regardless of your beliefs has a happy December and new year.  I wish you all peace and love!!  May you manifest your greatest desires!

**hugs**
Namaste'
Dre

There is finally power back in most of the city.  There were no cold goods at the grocery store, which was a bit creepy to walk around with people guiding us with flashlights.  Schools and my office have been closed all week.  It's a bit creepy, but cool at the same time.  There were about 600,000 people without power and I think almost all of them were at the same restaurant as were were seeking heat and food. 

We were blessed to have power all but about 7 hours.  Also a wood burning fireplace and plenty of wood. 

Reminds me of how dependent we are on electricity and our comfy lifestyle.  The forecast today...sunny and 45. 

Yes, it's true.  Things are always not so good or how we intend them.  But I am finally (after much time) able to truly  move on with my life.  I hope only that I have gained wisdom and that peace comes to all involved.  This is a great thing for me.  I am very happy and grateful that it is now over.  Sad? Maybe, but I think something has to be said when I walk out of court and feel like a giant cloud has been lifted.  The sun was shining, everything clicked. I found unbelievablely close parking (which is near impossible), was the first on the docket, all went smoothly and without effort.  I have peace in my heart, even more, peace of mind. 
Happiness Matters People!!  Don't let yours escape. 
Be blessed!
I am on my way to Colorado to see my family.  I can't wait!  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
**hugs**
Dre

This looks great!! Check out the trailer...

http://www.wwjbmovie.com/

Christ Getting In Shape For Second Coming

HEAVEN-Emerging from a grueling 90 minutes of cardiovascular exercise and light lifting for tone, Son of God Jesus Christ said Monday that He is "definitely on track" to achieve peak fitness condition for the Second Coming. 

 

The Son of God spends each morning trying to attain perfect abdominal definition.

"If every eye is going to see Me, and all the tribes of earth are going to wail on account of  Me, I think I owe it to them and to Myself to be in the best shape of My life," Christ said. "Right now I'm up to 35 minutes at seven [miles per hour] on the treadmill and benching about 165 [pounds]."

"I'm really starting to feel like I'll have the strength and endurance to move every mountain and island from its place," Christ added.

Since His birthday last Dec. 25, Christ has committed Himself to a demanding daily regimen of exercise and prophecy fulfillment. Each of His workouts, Christ said, starts with an hour of cardio, after which He focuses on two muscle groups, replacing conventional free weights with the Rod of Iron with which He intends to rule all nations.

On Mondays, Christ works His chest and biceps and completes three sets of 10 transfigurations. On Tuesdays, He switches to triceps and abdominals, and passes as many sets of Last Judgments as He can in a minute. Wednesdays are devoted to the back and legs, and Thursdays and Fridays are for core and flexibility. 

Even Sabbaths are spent doing yoga, swimming, and basic strength-training isometrics such as push-ups, leg lifts, and chin-ups. 

"There can be no day of rest,"  said Christ, His eyes filled with flaming fire. "Rest is for mortals."

The determined Savior has also forsworn His favorite high-calorie, high-carb foods such as fatted calf, loaves, and even His own body and blood, instead embracing muscle-building high-protein shakes and electrolyte-replacing sports drinks. And when temptation calls, Christ need only look at two pictures taped to His refrigerator: an icon of Himself prior to starting His regimen and a reproduction of Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" fresco torn from a magazine.

 

"The thought of being unable to seize the seven-headed serpent and hurl it into the abyss really keeps Me motivated," Christ said.

The Lamb of God said He made the decision to get in shape late last year when, after two millennia of relative inactivity, He realized that at His age there was "no way" He could return to Earth, judge the souls of the innocent and wicked alike, and reign over the Kingdom of God for 1,000 years without prior conditioning.

"The Second Coming isn't just Me sitting on a great white throne and judging away," Christ said. "I also have to make all of the stars fall and shake all the powers in Heaven. That's why I've been working a lot with the medicine ball."

Christ, however, admitted that centuries of heavenly grace had enabled Him to "really let [Himself] go."

"I can't lead the armies of Heaven looking like some flabby slob," said Christ, who declined to disclose His "before" weight. "That guy can't be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The faithful want a Messiah they can truly fear, not someone who's afraid to take off His shirt in public."

At first, Christ said He thought such a physical transformation would "take a miracle." During the first couple weeks of His exercise program, He couldn't work out on the treadmill for more than 10 minutes without gasping for breath and aggravating the old spear-point injury in His side. Now that He can deftly complete 20 ab-bench push-ups on the highest incline and almost as many chin-ups, Christ said, He feels more energetic than He has since His early 30s.

And not only has frequent exercise made Christ feel more healthy and confident, it's "cleared [His] head, which will really help [Him] deal with the massive amount of smiting and condemning."

Encouraged by His progress, particularly the increased definition in His pectoral and abdominal muscles, Christ is focusing all of His attention on visualizing the success of His Second Coming.

"Right now, it's all about Aug. 2," the goal-oriented Savior said. "And no matter how I look, there's no going back on this one like I did seven years ago."