Cookies Extravaganza 2015

One of my favorite Christmas family traditions is our yearly Christmas  Cookies Extravaganza, where the kids and I make batches and batches of delicious cookies.  This year, we added two goodies (triple chocolate covered strawberries and Christmas triple chocolate covered pretzels) to the bunch.  Why so much?  Well, there are lots of parties to go to; neighbors who became friends; and teachers who needed that extra yumminess to enjoy their holiday break.  And these homemade cookies and goodies are just the perfect gifts for special people that took care of my family and I this year.  We spent 3 days of baking, starting on December 15 every year,  then we packaged it beautifully, and ready to be delivered on the 18th, which is our twin boys' birthday. So today, we delivered to our family doctors, dentists, hairdresser and barber, our sweet mailman, my mani-pedi ladies, Soup Kitchen Co-Volunteers, Catholic Women’s Group ladies, town Firemen, post office workers, and of course, our Soldiers guarding the gates of Fort Stewart Military Base.  For some, these might just be a bunch of cookies and goodies, but NOT THESE…..these are long family traditions made by KitchenElla’s and her kids...these are homemade Christmas cookies and goodies ~ made with LOVE and GRATITUDE!

Be Kind

How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? 

Let today be the day. Look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.  

BE KIND

Lift Others

Offer that possibility to another human being -- that they are beings of such great worth -- and you will not only have helped them, you will have offered them the possibility of a life as good as possible on this Earth. And as you rise up and bring out the best in yourself, consider lifting someone else because loving human relationship is the heart of everything good and everything that heals in our lives.

~ Blessed Monday to you ~

Thank You Message

To all my wonderful friends and families,

Your messages, texts, calls, and gifts were the perfect embellishment on my birthday.

 Honestly speaking, your wishes have just blown me away, and that no matter how hard I 

try on my own, I will never be able to replicate the warmth and love you have shown. I love 

you all and THANK YOU for loving me. 

~ Ella

Be Kind

What goes around comes around - and with kindness it really does. Research shows that being kind to others increases our own levels of happiness as well as theirs. What's more it has a knock-on effect --kindness is contagious, so it makes our communities nicer places to be.

Recent research into brain functioning has confirmed that we are hard-wired for love and compassion. So it's not all chasing about individual success - our communities and society flourish when people look out for each other.

When we're kind to people we know it strengthens our connections with them and provides a source of support. Research shows that we may benefit from giving support more than those receiving it - and we're also more likely get support in return when we need it. This may not be like-for-like support, or even from the same person, but being kind to others builds a wider support network which increases well being all round.

Doing kind things for strangers helps build cooperation, trust and a sense of safety in our communities. It also helps us to see others more positively and empathize with them. These are the foundations of a thriving local community and a flourishing society!

Here's a list of suggested acts of kindness to get you started:

Give up your seat


Hold a door open for someone


Give a (sincere) compliment


Make someone laugh


 Give someone a hug


 Take time to really listen to someone

Make peace (you know who they are)

Make someone new feel welcome


Help someone who's lost

Have a conversation with a stranger


Pick up litter as you walk


Let someone in front of you in the queue


Read a story with a child


Tell someone they mean a lot to you


Let someone have your parking spot


Offer your change to someone struggling to find the right amount


Treat a loved one to breakfast in bed


Buy cakes or fruit for your colleagues


Invite your neighbor for a drink and a chat


Offer to help with someone's shopping

Tell someone if you notice they're doing a good job


Pass on a book you've enjoyed


Say sorry (you know who to)


Forgive someone for what they've done


Visit a sick friend, relative or neighbor


Buy an unexpected gift for someone


Bake something for a neighbor


Pay for someone in the queue behind


Do a chore that you don't normally do

Help out someone in need


Offer to look after a friend's children


Offer to mow your neighbor's lawn


Donate your old things to charity


Give food to a homeless person and take time to talk with them


Visit someone who may be lonely


Give blood


Get back in contact with someone you've lost touch with


Organize a fundraising event


Volunteer your time for a charity


Plan a street party

The lists can go on…think about it!

Shot of Love ~ 16 Feb 2014

When one loves,

one does not calculate.

~ Saint Therese of Lisieux

Shot of Love ~ 15 Feb 2014

We love because.....

Love is Love

L O V E   is   L O V E

Let's celebrate  L O V E everyday

....not just today.

Love Day

Let us love one another,

for love is from God,

and whoever loves

has been born of God and knows God.

Happy LOVE Day! 

~ 1 John 4:7

Shot of Love ~ 14 Feb 2014

Love one another,

but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea

between the shores of your souls.

~ Kahlil Gibran

Shot of Love ~ 13 Feb 2014

A very small degree of hope 

is sufficient to cause

the birth of love.

~ Stendahl

Shot of Love ~ 12 Feb 2014

The best thing 

to hold on to 

in life

is

each other.

~ Audrey Hepburn