Favorite Music, Movies and Books of 2016

NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK! ENJOY!

One more day and night and 2016 is history! It's always fun to review some of the good things we discovered over the past year. So sit back and compare with what you may have seen, heard, or read yourself. Believe it or not, there is still some good stuff out there to entertain ourselves. So, have fun and a safe New Year's Eve from Fresh Start Momentum. See you in 2017!  



Favorite Music Hits 2016

CLICK AND THEN GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

Becky Kelley: Where's the Line to See Jesus

Lauren Daigle: Trust in You 

Francesca Battistelli: Holy Spirit

Meredith Andrews: Soar


Favorite Movie Hits 2016 

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING VIDEO LINKS TO SEE A TRAILER

Saved by Grace

Eternal Salvation

The Reckoning


Favorite Books 2016

For Such a Time by Kate Breslin
What a clever idea to take the entire book of Esther from the Bible and create a fully exciting and suspenseful fictional novel! This is Breslin's first novel and it’s one that you will find very hard to put down. It's a fascinating story of hope and faith during WWII.

The Undoing of Saint Silvanus by Beth Moore

This is the story of a family member who has literally died from his alcoholism. Now, his daughter has been contacted to attend the funeral. Little does she know things would be quite different upon her arrival. She hadn’t seen her father in years. Nor her grandmother. “She soon discovers there is more at stake than she ever imagined.”

The Wish by Beverly Lewis 
Explores a close friendship between two girls and their families. Leona never had a sister and when she met Gloria, it seemed like fate. Neither ever suspected it would ever be different. Have you ever had a friend and then she and her family suddenly left town and the church where both of you attended? What would have caused this separation? Would you seek her out?


I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:11

Getting the Wheels to Move

We have just about made it through another year intact and with our chins held high. That's reason to celebrate! So while we wait for that very last night of the year, we can glance back for a moment and dream about where we want to go in the coming year. No serious plans right now--that can wait for a few days at least--just a fun peek into the future. 

Wheels of any kind--bicycles, motorcycles, Ferris wheels, roller skates, potters' wheels, and all those planes, trains, and automobiles--have one thing in common and one purpose: momentum. Once they start moving, it's very hard to get them to stop. This is really a semblance of ourselves.     

Maybe we didn't choose it and, we still feel a little shaky, but our single-again lives are moving whether we want them to or not. The questions are which direction, how fast, and who is at the wheel? If 20mph was the speed we couldn't get past this year, then maybe it's time to step on the gas a bit.

Direction
Where do we want to go in the first place? The wheels are moving, so this is no time to let go! Surely there are things we really want to do with our lives. It could be leaving one job and taking a better one that will fit our gifts and talents. It could be finding a better place to live or even moving to a town/city we have always loved. Anything is possible! Just ask God.        

Speed
Is the time now? Or will it take six months for the preparations? We may need to map out how fast we can get to our dream place. Do we need to get a higher degree for that new job? We can take a vacation to that new town and check out a place to live there. That new job could be in that new town. "Two birds with one stone" we might say!  

Control
It's never too late to be what you might have been. T. S. Eliot, American Poet

Maybe we begin a new life by jotting down plans in a journal. When we see it on paper, it becomes real. Attainable. Possible. We register for that college class. We ask for that job promotion. We stick our necks out for our dreams once and for all. We don't look back. 

Being single-again, we are responsible for not only ourselves, but children too, if we have them. No one else is going to do this for us (nor would we want them to). Only when we rely on God and try, are we going to arrive at a point of accomplishment which builds our confidence so we can do even more. 

So, are we ready to have some fun? 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

12 Days of Christmas: Faithfulness and Trust

"Woman's Best Friend"

Many of us are pet lovers. It seems no matter what we do with our animals--like not petting them 24 hrs/day or forgetting to put food out--they remain faithful to us. They come back time and time again for more affection. They wait at the door for us to come home, tails wagging. They willingly play with us indoors and outdoors. Even if they temporarily runaway, they eventually return. 


Surviving a Crash
Oh, if that kind of faithfulness was true of human beings! A famous TV doctor said, "You/we can't change what you/we don't acknowledge." So, here we are to gently say we know it is excruciatingly difficult to speak of faithfulness and trust after the collision we went through in our past relationship. But, for our own nurturing, let's try.

No one goes to the altar expecting anything less than a marital bond that exhibits true and constant support and loyalty. Promises kept. Deserving trust. It's supposed to happen this way. And then it doesn't. Every couple is different and unique in their own way. So, the answers of why it didn't work are as numerous as the stars and requires more professional help than we can offer here. But wait! We can explore where it has taken us and how to advance our future, which is all that's important at this point.      

Danger! 4-Way Intersection Ahead
We have arrived at the intersection of life. We may be stalled there and not know which direction to go. Panic wants to take control of the wheel.

• Left - turn this way and we slam right into Fear. It holds us back from merging onto the highway of life. It keeps us in bed all day. It causes us to avoid people. It justifies our addictions. We stagnate. The engine just stops.

• Right - the opposite turn leads us into a newfound Trust in ourselves and others. We discover new truths and beliefs. We make an effort to connect with people who are encouraging and uplifting. We find our strength and resilience. We believe in our ability to thrive. 

• Behind - turn backwards and we sink into Depression. Our energy disappears. Our spirits fall. The "blues" become our only companion. We wallow in what could have and should have been. Our heart is sick and weighed down. It's an ugly place. 

• Straight Ahead - we have struggled through the storm and arrive at a place called Faith. We suddenly know something, or rather Someone, is waiting for us. Darkness turns to light. Happiness appears and introduces us to its twin, Joy. We learn how to recognize those who are trustworthy, loyal and true. We become optimistic about our futures.

Keeping Our Eyes Open
It's impossible to drive with blinders on our eyes. We will crash into things! And we will never get where we are going. So, we need a Guide, but not just anyone. Someone who IS the definition of true Faithfulness and Trust. He's on that road Straight Ahead. Did you know God never gives up on us? Never. He promises He won't and can be trusted to carry that out. He is faithful in every way and at all times. His love is unconditional. He is the One we have been looking for all along.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Galatians 5:22

12 Days of Christmas: Kindness and Goodness

Rarely do we purchase anything these days without it coming with numerous pages of instructions any six-year-old could follow, but not an adult! Everything from desk chairs, programmable coffee makers, and software programs to bicycles, entertainment centers, and children's swing sets can drive us crazy! Even cars come with a 94-page instruction manual that is quickly filed away in the glove box (when was the last time we ever used this for gloves?) 

This time of year, though, we usually don't need instructions on how to be kind and good to our families and neighbors. In fact, it seems to be quite fashionable to lavish the best of ourselves onto those we care about. We give presents, cook and make special things for our families and friends, and generously do things for others. 

Happiness Doesn't Just Happen
It's not always the best of seasons in some cases. We find out that being kind and good to others takes extraordinary effort, especially if we have just gone through an unpleasant situation. If we have children, small or grown, Christmas is a time when we may run into people we rather avoid, but can not. We find ourselves clenching our teeth in anxiety.

Showing kindness takes every bit of mental strength we have while convincing ourselves (and our children, by the way) we are growing and moving on with our lives. Goodness, also, is a deliberate action meant for our own well-being, as well as for others. It doesn't just happen. It requires resisting our unchristianlike thoughts and attitudes and then having the persistence to do good. Our lives are not going to work if we hide away and just ignore others. We have to begin somewhere to create happiness in our lives. If not now, then when? 

Good of You to Ask
Sure, we have questions now penetrating our brains. Each of us has different issues, too. So, we'll start off here with a few subjects and then feel free to add your own. Then, the hard part is coming up with our own unique answers that fit our individual lives. But we can do it! Yes, we can!

Don't Forget to Smell the Roses!

• What one, small, positive step will make you happier right now?
• What hurtful feeling from your past would you be willing to work through to change? 
• Who can you turn to for support and love?
• What beliefs do you now cherish?
• How can you cultivate (grow) them?
• How is your relationship with God expanding?

We need momentum to create our best lives. Keep searching for ways to put one foot in front of the other and never look back!

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. . . Galatians 5:22   
           

12 Days of Christmas: Peace and Patience

One of the things most treasured, especially during Christmas, is Peace. It is seen on so many Christmas cards we send, spoken in church services, displayed in stores, and printed on wrapping paper. It is something the entire world wants. But it shouldn't just be at this time of year that we seek and enjoy peace. It is important to our well being and happiness all during the year. It continually exhibits the quality of life so many have missed.  

Where exactly is peace found?

All people have to work hard at creating peace in their lives. Single-again women may find it even more difficult in the beginning, but it can be done, so we can’t give up! The rewards are worth it. Let's consider some practical ways to start building our best life now.

• Just like the support groups repeat at each meeting, it's important to take one step at a time. Rushing through this period in our lives will make for a shaky foundation. Start with whatever is most important right this moment. Is it a job? A better or more appropriate place to live? A new hobby? Finding new friends? Tackling one victory at a time will not be so overwhelming.

• Find the positives every day. Go forward, not backwards. Dwelling on all the mess of the past and how hard it is to get out of bed, will not get us anywhere. Before snuggling under the nightly covers, make a small “To-Do” list. Set the alarm, pour the coffee, get moving. If it helps, we can turn on happy music when cleaning the house. There are a million ways to make this happen. Now, things are looking up!

• Build a community of people to depend on. A new single-again life requires single-again friends to do things with and to call on when we need help. They have been in our shoes. They know how to do this thing called "living." Welcome their invitations to go places or to join a club and find a new hobby.

• Mistakes happen. Learn from them or else we risk repeating them and, who wants that? Get on our computers and read up on how to build a positive lives. Try several ways to make this happen. Our confidence will soar!

• No fantasies! They aren't real and will only cause us frustration. If having a large mansion isn't in the budget right now, find something that is beautiful and that we can be proud of showing. Simple is good. Anyway, it's trendy to go "minimalist" in the decorating arena. $250 jeans are not reasonable; only shop the "sale" racks (or better yet, discount stores) for clothes.

• Know that true and lasting peace only comes from God. His intervention in our lives will make everything right in our world. Without Him, difficulties will continue to pile onto each other and we will get lost again. He's there. He has the answers. Let’s not leave Him out of our plans.

Icing on the cake: Patience

None of the above tips will work without Patience as a companion. Take a breath and remember these two truths:

Challenges - we grow and mature through the "ugly stuff" in our lives. Yes, there is a reason for everything we experience; no one is exempt. Even a rose has thorns! We can find our purpose for the thorns in our sides, if only we show a little tenacity and patience. We can do this!

Attitudes - how we react and treat others with patience will amaze them. Break the mold and be willing to display the kind and loving woman inside. It's really contagious!

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace patience. . .Galatians 5:22

If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days. . .Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 1 Peter 3:10-11

I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. Rev 2:2a

No Mess, No Fuss Christmas Pies

Some of us have a "sweet tooth" from way back! With a mother and grandmother who were experts in the kitchen every waking moment, what would Christmas be without a little homemade sweetness in our life, anyway? But if staying in the kitchen for hours and hours isn't what we call our best time ever, we have the perfect solution for all us non-cooks out there! 

Go ahead and collect all the time-saving recipes out there because eventually, someday, we may find ourselves with daughters and daughters-in-love to share something with from our own kitchens. It's a fun, food project to do together, especially around Christmas. 

Easy, No Mess, No Fuss Christmas Pies: 

5-Minute Creamy Coconut Pie
1 TB sugar
1/2 c. milk
1- 3oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1-1/3 c. flaked coconut
1- 8oz container of pre-made whipped cream
1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional, but delicious)
9-inch graham cracker crust

Beat sugar and milk into cream cheese until smooth. Fold in coconut. Fold in whipped cream and extract. Spoon into crust. Freeze about 4 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before cutting. Store leftovers in freezer.

Cherry Cheese Pie

No-Bake Cherry Cheese Pie
1- 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1- 14oz can Eagle brand, sweetened, condensed* milk 
1/3 c. lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 can cherry pie filling
1- 8oz graham cracker crust

Beat cream cheese till light and fluffy. Add condensed milk and blend. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate a minimum of 3-4 hours. Top with chilled cherry pie filling before serving.
*Note: make sure it's not evaporated milk. 


Quick Chocolate Pie
1- 4-1/2 oz pkg of chocolate instant pudding
1 c. milk
1- 8oz container of pre-made whipped cream
1/4 c. chopped nuts (optional)
8-inch pie shell

Prepare instant pudding as directed using only 1 cup of milk. Blend in 1 cup of whipped cream and the nuts. Spoon into cooled, baked pie shell. Garnish with rest of whipped cream and nuts, if desired. Chill at least one hour.


Enjoy all the tastes of Christmas! 

My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste. Proverbs 24:13



   














       

Old-Time Tastes of the Season

Relax and have a cup of Spiced Tea!

It certainly wouldn't be Christmas without all the wonderful cooks in the world! Where would we be without all that tasty food to expand our waistlines? (smiling here!) But, truly, we all grew up with some kind of favorite dishes, maybe made in warm, cozy kitchens of our mothers and grandmothers. And then, as we had families of our own, many, many recipes were invented, experimented with (and maybe failed!), but we eventually started our own cookbooks with our favorite recipes.

Sharing Recipes 
What a great past time! Some of us, though, may only pretend to be cooks and bakers. Or maybe, even never attempt to get dirty in the flour and sugar at all, which is absolutely fine. (Time for a Hahaha! here). So let's start by sharing some really easy food starters today. If we want to try it out and add it to our own pages of recipes, the better for our friends and families. Note: most of these recipes are made quick and simple, not necessarily from scratch, but just a lot of fun and yummy. Adjust to your own liking. 

Old-Time Tastes

Spiced Tea
2 c. orange, powdered drink mix (aka Tang)
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 c. instant tea
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 c. sugar

Mix thoroughly and store in an airtight container. To serve, use 2 heaping teaspoons to one cup of hot water. If desired, garnish with a lemon or orange slice.

Waldorf Salad
2 c. peeled diced apples (6 medium)
1 TB sugar
1/2 tsp lemon juice
Dash salt
1 c. diced celery
1 c. halved red grapes (optional)
1/2 c. nuts
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. whipping cream

Sprinkle apple cubes with sugar, lemon juice and salt. Add celery and nuts and grapes. Fold mayonnaise into whipping cream. Gently fold into apple mixture. Chill. Serves 6.

A version of Cherry Delights

Cherry Delights
1 c. margarine
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. light corn syrup (Karo) 
2 egg yolks (save whites for later)
2-1/2 c. flour
2 c. chopped nuts 
24 Maraschino cherries (cut in half) 

Oven 325 degrees
Mix margarine and sugar. Stir in syrup, egg yolks, and flour. Chill. Roll into 1-inch balls. Dip into slightly beaten egg whites, then in nuts. Place on greased cookie sheet. Place one cherry half into each center. Bake 20 minutes. Makes 4 dozen. 

Stay connected to this blog. We will continue our Christmas celebration!

Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food." Genesis 1:29

Beautiful Crafty Country Gifts to Make

When we were children, some of us may have been kept busy by our mothers during the days leading up to Christmas, just to keep us out of her hair! Making Christmas decorations were a favorite activity for sure! We didn't always have money to go out and buy expensive decorations, so we recycled everything and came up with some very interesting ideas. 

With just a few materials that are laying around the house (or very inexpensive items from the discount store), a homemade Country Christmas is easy. It's also fun and we might even want to keep our own children busy waiting for the big day! So let's start here and see what we can do. Then the momentum will start and we can all come up with decorations that will create some warm memories.

Beautiful Snowball Trees
*Use 19-26 large, baseball-size Styrofoam balls (depending on how tall/large desired). 
*Take regular size, round toothpicks and insert each one about a half-inch, evenly, all the way around each ball. 
*Start at the bottom of a round, Styrofoam base and, sticking each ball into the next one, stack them into the shape of a Christmas tree.
*Coat the entire tree with a heavy layer of spray snow.  
*Sprinkle with glitter.    
(These can be saved from year to year).

Walnut Ornaments

Decorated walnuts!

*Use as many whole walnuts as desired to fill the Christmas tree. 
*Cut string or thin ribbon into 6-inch long strands.
*After carefully opening and removing the contents of each nut, use any liquid glue to permanently put the shell back together inserting the string at the same time as a hanger.
*Use a very thin layer of liquid glue to coat the outside of the nut and roll in colored glitter before it drys or spray paint in your favorite color.

Hang on tree and enjoy!

Popcorn and Cranberry Garland
This is a quick idea from long, long ago, but still fun and makes a beautiful tree. 
*Thread an embroidery needle with twine or thick thread.
*Alternating popcorn and uncooked cranberries, string onto twine.
*Optional: every few feet or so, tie a pretty plaid ribbon onto twine.

Catalog Angels
This one takes a little more searching and time to put together (may even have to start this year and finish for next year depending on your schedule!), but the result is truly beautiful!  

*Use an old, thick catalog (like Sears or a pattern book of some kind) for large angels.
*Use an old, thick smaller catalog (like Reader's Digest) for smaller angels.
*Take the upper, right corner of each and every page, fold down and inward touching spine, and crease.
*Now take bottom right corner, fold inward, touching spine, and crease.
*Do this until the entire catalog is completely folded. It should stand upright by itself.
*Use gold or silver metallic spray paint to completely cover folded angel.
*Buy large and medium wooden balls to glue-gun on top for the head of the angel.
*Shape angel wings out of tin foil or metallic wrapping paper and glue onto back.
*Optional: use white pipe cleaners to create arms and a small folded paper to fashion a hymn book for angel to hold.

Make a family of angels, one for each person in your family!


"Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. Luke 1:30-31