You Too can be a Lighthouse Keeper

Lighthouses are fun to visit.  They give you a sense of history and romance and are great places to relax and enjoy the views, but did you ever consider what it would be like to be a lighthouse keeper?

With modern technology most lighthouses are a thing of the past and are mainly restored and used for tourists.  There are a still a few working lighthouses around, but even those are automated and do not have a need for a daily lighthouse keeper.

This past week I went on a tour of one lighthouse where you can stay the night and imagine what it would be like to be a lighthouse keeper.  Rose Island lighthouse, pictured above, is on an 18 acre island just off the coast of Newport Rhode Island.  Guests can spend a week or a night and the island can also be rented for weddings and special events.  I was only there for an hour but I think it would be cool to stay in the lighthouse and experience it during the night.  

During past trips I have had the privilege of staying overnight in lighthouses in both Michigan and Minnesota.  I loved being able to climb the towers in the middle of the night and looking out to the ocean.  It was also a great way to capture photographs at all hours of the day and night. The photo below is from Big Bay Lighthouse in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  It is a Bed and Breakfast we stayed in for two nights.

The other lighthouse bed and breakfast we stayed at was in Two Harbors Minnesota.  We just stayed there one night but it was a great experience.   In the early morning I got out of bed and wandered onto the lighthouse grounds to take this photo just before sunrise.

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October is National Cookbook Month

Dust off your cookbooks and get ready for the baking season

In the 1950s, one of the more popular gifts for the new bride was a copy of the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. My mother was one of those lucky brides. This became her favorite cookbook and one of the few cookbooks in her kitchen while I was growing up. I learned how to cook, grocery shop, and eat healthy from this one book.

Yes, I learned all that from a cookbook. That cookbook taught me how to plan meals, frost a cake with flair, sear a roast beef, substitute for ingredients not on hand, find nutrition information for the foods we ate, and get creative in the kitchen.

Cookbooks aren't boring. Cookbooks are fun and I love to collect cookbooks. Just look inside my kitchen bookshelf and you'll only see the half of it. There are cookbooks for most any occasion. All-purpose cookbooks. Beverage guides. Bread baking recipes. Vegetarian dishes. And more.

What Makes a Cookbook Worth Having? 

A good cookbook is any cookbook that helps you prepare delicious and nutritious meals that you can reasonably re-create in your kitchen. Here are a few guidelines to help you choose a cookbook that is right for you.

• Does the cookbook appeal to you? Choose a cookbook that serves up recipes that you and your family will enjoy eating. 
• Are the recipe instructions easy to follow? Read a few of the recipes. Directions that are split into numbered steps are easier to follow than directions that are grouped into paragraphs. 
• Is the cookbook organized so that recipes are easy to find? Most cookbooks are organized into sections whether it be by type of food (meat, fish, poultry), cooking method (baking, broiling, boiling), or by the dish (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
• Is the cookbook easy to work with in the kitchen? Does it lay flat? If it doesn't, buy a cookbook holder that not only keeps the book open but also keeps food from splattering on the book pages.
• Did the cookbook teach you any new tricks? Look for cookbooks that share a few tricks of the cooking trade. A cookbook should make cooking an adventure that is enjoyed and savored.

My Favorite All Purpose Cookbook

My all time favorite cookbook is still the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. I don't have my mom's old ring binder version, although I did tell her to leave it to me in her will, but I do have a fat and dog eared paperback version that is my go-to guide in the kitchen.

The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book has been updated consistently since 1930. I have the 10th Edition and the 16th Edition was just published in September, 2014. Inside this cookbook you'll find:

• Over 1200 recipes and 1000 color photos.
• Suggestions on how to make the same dish in different ways.
• Chapters on holiday meals and home canning.
• A fruit and vegetable guide with photos.

A Cookbook That Makes Me Feel Good

My second favorite cookbook is one that I've recently acquired, Kitchen Confidence by Kelsey Nixon. I love this book and you won't guess why. I love this book because it makes me smile. It's one of those books that gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Why does this book make me smile? Kelsey Nixon's sunny personality just shines off the pages. Learning new things is so much easier when you have a friendly person standing by your side. I absolutely adore this book and you can read more about my ravings in my book review, Food Makes the Love Go Round.

What Are Your Favorite Cookbooks?

There's no right or wrong when it comes to cookbooks. I have a shelf full of recipes and other foodie concoctions. Even though many of these books are only opened on rare occasions, each of my cookbooks has a special purpose in my kitchen.

Tell me about your favorite cookbook in the comments below. And, if you don't have a favorite, take a look at my selections and add some spice to your cooking routine.

Bon appétite!

Posted by Coletta Teske

About This Contributor

Coletta Teske writes reviews on books, business management, writing, crafting, cooking, and gardening. She is also an avid recycler and shares her tips on recycling. She delights in upcycling an old object, recycling or transforming discarded items into a new treasure.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Sometimes it is really hard to find the right Gift!

Picture by Earthfeeler 

I'm sure we have all been in that position, where someone we care for and we've known for a long time, has a birthday or special occasion and we are looking for that perfect gift!

No, I'm not talking about a gift that is going to put you in the poor house, or something extravagant that shows everyone how magnanimous you are,  I'm talking about that gift that both the giver and the receiver are going to look at each other, and without words, say, "This is the most perfect gift, ever!"

I have one of these gifts in my possession.  Every time I get down or the whimsy fairy comes out, when the melancholy and uncertainy seems to take over my life, I will gather my arms around my middle, find my "safe" spot and after some time in thought, will pull out the words that will undoubtedly bring me back out of my "funk" and set me on the road to right, again.

What makes this book so special?

I first came across this book when I was a teenager, full of angst and not really sure of my place in the world.  I can remember feeling like the world was a quagmire and I was sinking..........One of my teachers understood where I was and rescued me with the help of some of the most profound words ever spoken or written.  It has become my lifeline!  Especially when things are in control and sometimes when they are out of control, I know I can find the words to help me through.  One thing is certain, the words contained in this book will help many people, through many periods of their lives, just having the words available there and opened, to read,  in a moment of uncertainty.

That is what I call a gift!  It will last for a long, long time without gathering too much dust.  It will never be too big or too small, it won't wear out and it will be meaningful all through life.  It is one of my favorite gifts to give, especially when I love the person who is the receiver.  It will not only give when given, but will come back to give again and again.

Please let me introduce you to The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran



This copy of my book, is the one that I like to give as a gift.  It is a beautiful book and the pages feel wonderful under your fingers.  The ecru paper is thick and can stand being handled.  I love the fact that when I am done pondering the words,  the book slips into it's cover and is safe again, until I need it's words to soothe my troubled spirit.  

picture: www.hdwallpaper.co.uk

The other gift that goes hand in hand with this one is the Desiderata !

I love this beautifully done written in calligraphy poster.  Framed it will become a lovely gift that makes everyone who reads it feel special.   If this one doesn't fit your style, there are many others available.  The words are the same and will resonate with the reader regardless of the style of poster.
For anyone who is needing a little reaffirmation, these two choices for gifts, will  give more than anyone ever expected.  And hopefully, these will be the gifts that becomes a favorite with that person for a long, long time, delivering a smile over and over again through life.



You are a child of the Universe, pass it on to someone you love too!

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Mid-Atlantic Fall Foliage

I love the mid-Atlantic region during every season of each year. As summer comes to a close, I am a bit sad that the window of opportunity for hiking, camping, swimming, and fishing is coming to a close.  I feel a rush to cram in as much outdoor activity as possible, before the snow flies.  And yet, the gorgeous color palette of autumn in this area more than makes up for having to put shoes back on my feet.

I am a little far-reaching in what I consider the mid-Atlantic. Therefore, from as far north as the Adirondacks in New York, as far west Central West Virginia, as far south as the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, and everywhere in between the fall foliage viewing reigns supreme.  

Let me try to show you why I believe this.

Blue Heron photograph by Nancy Rotenberg

Adirondack Park, New York --  The Adirondack Park was established in 1892 in New York and is the largest park in the lower 48 states.  I have spent some time in the Adirondacks during one summer (July) and it was a wonderful experience.  I dream of returning during the autumn. I would love to sit lakeside, in the peaceful setting, and watch the autumn colors of the Adirondack Mountains dancing on the smooth lake water.

Gauley River Photograph by Raymond Gehman

Fayette, West Virginia -- West Virginia is a magical state in regards to flora and fauna.  I have made many Sunday drives through portions of the state but I haven't seen half as much as I have wanted to.  I want to spend a length of time in Central West Virginia.  It turns out that my oldest son beat me to it.  Through work, he went to the Fayette area and rafted the white water of the Gauley River.  The rafting adventure was amazing and he encourages me to go.  I will at some point. Can you imagine seeing the fall foliage from rafts in the river? Breath-taking.  If you look closely, you can see the shapes of the rafts in the photograph.  

Linn Cove Viaduct, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC photograph by Panoramic Images

Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia and North Carolina) -- I've driven down a good portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We went at a leisurely pace and stopped at many of the over overlooks just to look and breathe.  Again, I went during the summer or late summer months.  I intend on making the drive again, with some overnight stops, during the autumn.  I can't even imagine the blues of the mountains (for which they were named) in combination with the firey colors of falling leaves.  I want to drive every mile of the 469 mile mountain top miracle. 

The beauty of the mid-Atlantic is that I don't have to drive that far to find beauty.  I can find it within minutes of my own home.  

Written by Dawn Rae

Disclosure: In affiliation with AllPosters.com, Dawn Rae is a blogger and content writer who may earn compensation from the sale of AllPosters products.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Here's to the Sun Shining on the Inside

Hope in Front of Me -  on Amazon

Another Sunday, the day you'll find me here writing about one of life's experiences found in a country song.

With a tired but always light-filled heart, today's theme in the song takes the challenges of another week and packages them in a pretty box called Hope. 

Hope in Front of Me, by Danny Gokey

 (Lyrics) I've been running through rain
That I thought would never end
Trying to make it on faith
In a struggle against the wind
I've seen the dark and the broken places
But I know in my soul
No matter how bad it gets
I'll be alright

It doesn't matter if we're blessed with a cosmic understanding of life or even if God personally whispered the secret to life in our ea; the fact remains, we still have to 'live this life.' Yep, there is no escaping that part. We're not alone in our tribulations.

We're all joined by one common goal; to get to the finish line as unscathed as possible, with lessons learned. No one gets out alive. As the insightful story-telling lyrics in another Carrie Underwood song beautifully express, this is our Temporary Home.

If you're thinking, 'I'm probably writing this because I must be sitting perched safely at a distance from life's trials or that things must be easy for me since I'm able to write about hope', well let's just say you wouldn't pass go or collect $200 on that thought :) 

Without getting into a long list of my troubles, I've had more than a few people admit they couldn't have survived my path. But, knowing them, I'm sure they could have. Reading other people's stories of hardship, I'm guilty of thinking the same thing...'I couldn't have survived that!' 

So, what's our common denominator?

When we have friends who help us, we have hope
 
When we pray, we have hope
 
When we laugh at our difficult circumstances, we have hope
 
When we've worked on something for years to have it fall apart in a day, and still find the strength to move on and continue, we have hope

When we reach out to hold someone who hurt us, we have hope
 
When a part of ourselves dies as our loved one passes away, and still wake up the next day to put one foot in front of the other, we have hope
 
When someone we love with all of our being goes through and then breaks free from addiction, we have hope
 
When we lose a home, and move on from that, we have hope
 
When our baby is born still, and we find a way to understand this immeasurable, seemingly pointless pain, we have hope

When our trust has been violated, but have the courage to let it go, we have hope

There isn't anything else that comes before Hope. Healing begins with Hope

If you're struggling and wondering how in the world you're going to get through this storm, may the lyrics of this song remind you, as it does me, that 'this too shall pass' and 'we'll be alright.'

Here's to the sun shining on the inside.

If you enjoy Danny Gokey's Music, you can find more about this 3rd place American Idol Finalist from Season 8 on his Website, DannyGokey.com.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Reviewing Bats in Time for Halloween

Not-So-Scary Side of Bats

Bats and Halloween just seem to go nicely together. Those wonderful mammals are associated with the spooky side of Halloween. From fright night activities to Dracula's alter ego, bats just lend themselves to the spooky. But are they really so bad? It's time to review the world of bats.

Yes, I am an animal lover and an animal rescuer. Well, you have to love animals to be able to rescue them as a professional. But my passion for animals goes beyond the sweet fluffy ones. All wildlife plays it's part in keeping our entire world in check. That includes those so-called spooky bats.

Can you imagine how hard it would be for you to enjoy a warm summer evening without the benefit of bats? You would be over run with flying insects, literally. Bats have a voracious appetite when it comes to those pesky and biting insects. Enjoying bats in your neighborhood means you don't need to use chemicals to keep mosquitoes away.

Bat Lover Design Mugs by BuckHawk
Browse Bat Mugs online at Zazzle.com

We can also thank bats for helping to keep the destructive insects out of our farms. Which translates into less chemical sprays on our food supplies, higher yields and lower prices in the grocery store.

OK, so now you've gotten just a few of those great reasons to love bats. Well, you don't have to actually love them, but you can tolerate and support them in your world. There are plenty of ways to support the efforts of those saving the bat population. The Not-So-Scary Side of Bats gives you lots of ways along with videos of some adorable orphaned baby bats and how bats use echolocation to find their food source.

Bats for Halloween are fun, but bats in real life more fun. Time to review your own attitude about bats. 

 


Posted by: BuckHawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Halloween Crafts

Little Pumpkin Held by Fleece Ghost Below

Halloween is the perfect month to get creative!   

Halloween crafts can range from really cute to down right scary.  There is definitely plenty of  room to play when crafting for Halloween.  

Some kits and crafts featured here today are easy enough for children to make.  Some were created with the elderly in mind, but all of these Halloween crafts are designed to be a lot of fun to make and display for Halloween.  

I feel certain there is a Halloween craft here for a crafter of any age.

Halloween Crafts for Kids

Halloween Perler Bead Kits

Perler Bead kits are designed for children to make a fast and fun craft.  They do require a parents supervision so this is a great Halloween project for a parent and child to make together.  

There truly are a variety of Halloween Perler Bead kits available.  You will find my instructions for how to make  Halloween Perler Bead kits, as well as a selection of kits in my article,  Halloween Perler Bead Kits.  If you haven't worked with Perler Beads before, you will be surprised at how easy it is to make an awesome design.  

Here are a few more great Halloween craft projects for anyone published by a fellow contributor, The Savvy Age!
  

 Cute Halloween Walnut Shell Crafts For Kids - Instructions On "The Savvy Age" Easy Halloween Craft: Googly Eye Bats - Instructions On "The Savvy Age" Halloween Mason Jar Craft – Googly Eye Vase - Instructions On "The Savvy Age"

Halloween Crafts for the Elderly

Photo by mbgphoto

Mbgphoto has been kind enough to share some easy craft ideas in her article Halloween Crafts for the Elderly.  

With several years of volunteer experience to rely on, she offers her favorite suggestions for crafts that are easy for the elderly to make.  

Intricate patterns or small piece projects are often too tedious for an elderly patient, but they still love to create and craft.  It really is imperative to select craft projects and kits that are appropriate for their limitations.  You will want these projects to be fun for them, not taxing or upsetting because the selected craft emphasizes their reduced skills.

Many of Mary Beth's (mbgphoto) Halloween crafts would also be fun for children.



Halloween Crafts for the Crafter 

How to Make a Halloween Ghost with Fleece

A great project for any age, or even skill level, is to make a Halloween Ghost with Fleece.  

This is also a great family project.  While a parent would need to handle the glue gun, a child could easily cover the Styrofoam with the fleece and also design the face of the ghost.  

This article is an actually step by step tutorial for How to Make a Halloween Ghost with Fleece.  It also includes plenty of pictures of the creation process.

Here are a few more crafty ideas for Halloween offered on Review This Reviews or by a fellow contributor, Jade, on her website.

 Cheesecloth Ghosts and Spooky Shirts on Handmade by Jade Make Halloween Ornaments With Easy Craft Kits Reviewed on ReviewThisReviews.com Cute Candy Corn Cans on
Handmade by Jade

Halloween Beaded Cross Stitch Kits

How to Make a Halloween Beaded Cross Stitch Pin 

My personal favorite Halloween craft has to be the beaded cross stitch ghost pin.  I made this little ghost pin several years ago as a special Halloween treat for my favorite trick-or-treater.

This particular project is easy for someone with cross stitch experience and it is a great introduction to adding beads to your cross stitch projects.  It would also be an excellent cross stitch beginner project simply because of it's smaller size.  

Click the image or link to find a step by step tutorial for How to Make a Halloween Beaded Cross Stitch Pin.  

The tutorial features the ghost pin, but the basic instructions would be applicable to any beaded cross stitch pin kit. 

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Share Your Halloween Crafts

DIY Creepy Candelabra by Mandee

We are always searching for great Halloween crafts and I invite you to share the link for your published online article for your favorite Halloween craft.  Please leave your link in the guestbook below.

Happy Halloween! 

 

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Discount Halloween Costumes

Cowgirl Poster, carpidiem, Zazzle.com

Simple, Inexpensive Halloween Costumes

What is the best Halloween costume? Well I hate waste so to me the best costume is one that can be worn again for other things, or at least some of the parts can be worn again. And I really don't like the ones at the big box stores because they fall apart so quickly and really look cheap too. (But they aren't really cheap if you look at the prices for what you are getting.)

So my kids and myself always make costumes from stuff we already have and just buy masks and cute Halloween bags.

No Sew Cowgirl Costume

This year I moved to Texas so the clothing I see when I walk around town is quite different than the clothing I was seeing in California where I lived for many years. This state is very proud of its Western/Cowboy heritage and people still revel in all things cowboy and horse related, including their clothing.

So it was an easy choice for me to make a no sew cowgirl costume  this year for Halloween, as I can buy all the parts locally and more important, I can wear all the clothes after Halloween is long gone, especially the boots. I love boots! Long skirts, boots, vests, scarves, all can be worn again in different styles of clothing, so your costume will not be a money waster. And bonus, if you don't sew, you can make it without sewing.

No Sew Ballerina Costume

Now if cowboys and cowgirls are not your thing, you can still make a Halloween costume that you will be able to wear again and not waste all that money. Some great choices include, a ballerina costume for a dancer, or even a "Cats" dancer. I did that one when the play was popular, and got to wear the tights and the bathing suit afterward for years. Even if you or your child are not a ballerina, the tights and leotards are reusable for other outfits.

No Sew Cheerleader Costume

A  cheerleader costume is also one that can be worn again. A gymnast can use that cute outfit, and so can a skater. And your child can pretend to be a cheerleader any time, and get exercise in a fun way.  

Use Pajamas for a No Sew Halloween Costume

Of course if your little one is under the age of 10, you can also use pajamas as the base of your costume and then you will definitely get wear from them. That's my best hint in the money saving department. I discovered this when my son wanted to be Luke Skywalker for Halloween. I made him a costume from a pajama pattern and he wore that thing for 5 years straight, I kid you not. I had to wash it while he was at school so he could put it on the minute he got home. As he grew I let out the hems of the pants, so it lasted for those 5 years. Now that was a budget costume!

So if you want to save money on Halloween costumes, make a costume that will be reusable. Just say no to wasteful big box flimsy ones! Use your imagination instead. Happy Halloween!

Ballerina and Cheerleader Photos are courtesy of Amazon.com

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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A Day of Paying Attention

“It is quite possible that an animal has spoken to me and that I didn't catch the remark because I wasn't paying attention.”   ― E.B White, Charlotte's Web      

Last week, on Review This! I wrote about the Shawan Downs Legacy Chase annual benefit steeplechase in Maryland.  I love going to watch the horses race around the course, jumping over a variety of fences.  It is an amazing, good time.

I made it a point to go again this year.  The weather Saturday was perfect. Following days of cold and rain, Saturday was a sunny, clear-skied day in the 70's.

Moving from one spot, to the next, finally settling on the deserted back fence. I sat in the long grass along the very old fence. Between races I admire the lichen on some of the ancient wooden rails.  Then I realized, despite my best efforts to find privacy, I was not alone.

Dancing spiders

There were spiders moving and dancing along these flat old hardwood boards.  I wasn't sure if they were marking their territories or trying to mate. Perhaps they were warning me to leave. Every few inches there was one of these thumbnail sized spiders. They slowly moved along, back and forth, lifting their hind ends high then dropping them, like hydraulics on a car in a parade. Up and down, up and down, while moving back and forth.

At first I nearly squealed. I'm not extremely afraid of spiders, but I do hate walking into webs when I hike and I'm afraid of the ones that jump.  Initially, I thought these would jump. They looked aggressive. I thought they would move up and down, up and down, side to side, then jump on me.  But they never jumped.

As I watched, mesmerized, I began to notice the webs spitting out of the spider's caboose.  I could see it with my naked eye, spurt, shooting off into the wind, iridescent in the sun.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Look closely, see the web?

I watched and tried to photograph the dances and web spurting, being very careful not to rest my elbows on the top board again in lieu of a tripod.  I was vaguely aware of people walking by, probably wondering what in the world the crazy lady was doing.  Why bursts of shutter clicking while no horses were running?

But I remained focused on the spiders. And their dances. Amazed at how relatively thick and how long the webs were. String after string, like invisible kites being guided by the spider's hiney. Not forming a cobweb, but streamers of spider string blowing to the sky.

The spiders had begun to look less ominous.  In fact, I began to think of one of my very favorite books of all time. Charlotte's Web.  What a great story.  And something was scratching away at the back of my brain.  I knew I had read a fun review about Charlotte's Web. Now just who wrote that thing, I asked myself over and over.

Charlotte's Web

I returned home and found it, the reviewer of Charlotte's Web was Mary Beth's granddaughter.  That explains why the review stuck in my head. Do you want to read a cute and insightful review from the perspective of a little girl? I am five times Rachel's age of 10 but I still love Charlotte. Isn't it amazing how a good story can stick with us for our entire life?

And that was how I spent my Saturday at Shawan Downs, watching horses fly and spiders dance.  

Written by Dawn Rae
Images of spiders by Dawn Rae

Disclosure: In affiliation with AllPosters.com, Dawn Rae is a blogger and content writer who may earn compensation from the sale of AllPosters products.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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A Country Song About Angels Quietly Lifting Us During Troubled Times

It's Sunday today. The day I post here on the 'Review It' blog. Since times aren't easy for many who are struggling right now, a country song about the guiding hand of angels seemed like an ideal selection for today. We can't erase all the problems out there, but the healing message of a song can help us find a tiny spark to light our candle with.

"Oh I believe there are, angels among us, Sent down to us, from somewhere up above, They come to you and me, in our darkest hours, To show us how to live, To teach us how to give, To guide us with the light of love" Angels Among Us, by Alabama

Do you believe in Angels? Have you ever had what you believed to be an encounter with an Angel? Perhaps you were saved from a situation that you shouldn't have survived? 

I've had my own odd happenings for sure. One such time was a lady who gently bumped into me in a mall like I knew her...I had been going through a rough patch. While picking something up for my son, I had been quietly praying to myself for guidance and had asked for a sign that my prayers were heard...that's when she brushed by me ever so gently, and the next thing you know, I turned to see her, and she's walking away from me and just fades away into the distance. I have no idea where this mall-visiting angel disappeared, but it was enough for me to call my best friend and tell her the story. The known or unknown gift was delivered; I felt calmer afterward.

A Beautiful Angel Spirit Guide Statue - Via Amazon

Another encounter I had was during a prayer in Church; I asked for a sign to help me know the answer to my question. Then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, right in the middle of the service, this lady comes over and kneels beside me. I glanced at her and smiled; she smiled back. She stayed momentarily, prayed beside me, then got up and left. Again, I have yet to find out where she went, and I've never seen her again. Whatever that moment was, I've never forgotten it. It lives inside me as a gift, a small gift that no matter what, there's always hope.

In a complex, sometimes unfair world, faith keeps us going: faith in ourselves and each other. As cliche as it sounds, we are all part of the same light. Whether your belief is in science or a higher power, it's still energy; it's light. If you're struggling, I hope you find the light today and are gifted with an inner knowingness that you'll get through it. I'll be sure to look for it today as well.

I hope you enjoy Angels Among Us by Alabama - A beautiful song.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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