Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. I appreciate your understanding regarding the gap from last week. My mother-in-law of 32 years passed away unexpectedly. To say that it has thrown the family for a loop is an understatement. And here we are on the last weekend in July. Don’t forget to take advantage of tax-free shopping this weekend. Plus, this is the last week we’ll ponder fortune cookie wisdom. Thank you for sticking with me on this one!
Quote of the Week: “The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.” –Martha Washington
Joke of the Week: What do you call a funny fortune cookie? An inside joke
Before we get to the wisdom of fortune cookies, here is a bit of background. My family stopped for dinner after church the night before my mother-in-law passed away. The sayings below were from those cookies.
Fortune (Cookie) of the Week: For everything there is a season. I know what you’re thinking…these are lyrics from the ’60s song by The Birds called “Turn, Turn, Turn.” And they can also be found in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. These words are, of course, true in that whatever we go through in life has its purpose—times of laughter and tears, along with prosperity and grief.
Fortune (Cookie) of the Week: Happiness is not a reward, it’s a consequence. This fortune hit on something I have found to be true, which is that you cannot chase after happiness. As Martha Washington alluded, it is more the result of your outlook on life than of your position in life.
Fortune (Cookie) of the Week: If you want to win anything, you have to go a little berserk. This was the fortune I liked best, as it fits well with who I am. I tend to become a little too focused when trying to achieve my goals, specifically my writing goals. I do wish, however, that I could spread that focus to other areas, such as drinking water or working out. In that area, I can make a healthy change and do the desired behavior consistently for three weeks (the time it is supposed to take to form a new habit), then stop cold turkey the next day. If you have a dream or a practical goal you are shooting for, keep up the laser beam focus and get it done. You’ve got this!
Recipe of the Week: Crockpot Potatoes
What you’ll need:
16 small new red potatoes, washed and unpeeled
3 tbsp. butter, cubed
I tsp. paprika
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. garlic powder
black pepper to taste
Arrange potatoes in a crockpot. Evenly distribute ingredients on top of potatoes. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 7 hours. Serve with butter, sour cream, or salsa. Enjoy!
Shout Out of the Week: This week, I want to shout out to everyone struggling with losing a loved one. This week makes eight years ago that my younger brother died after being struck by a car. Grief never entirely goes away. Let yourself feel how you feel, and don’t try to minimize it. Be sure to reach out to others if it becomes too much to handle alone. Big hugs and much love to you all.
Have a great weekend. Remember, you are most awesome, and YOU ROCK!
Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children’s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.