Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. As we come to the end of March, I’m amazed that we are already one-fourth of the way through 2024. With the long weekend to celebrate Easter, I hope you will have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Quote of the Week: “The deep roots never doubt spring will come.” –Marty Rubin
Movie of the Week: I want to recommend an unusual movie for Easter weekend: The Rise of the Guardians, from 2012. If you’re thinking, “Isn’t this the film centered around Jack Frost?” the answer is yes, but…the character lineup for this movie also includes Santa Claus (often called “North” in this film), the Sand Man, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny. All of them must fight against the Boogeyman as he tries to cause children to lose faith in the Guardians. Aside from many one-liner jokes, it is satisfying to see how they all put their specific holidays behind them to help each other against their common enemy. One of my favorite quotes is from Santa: “Still waiting for cookies.”
Joke of the Week: What happens if you tell a duck an Easter joke? He’ll quack up.
Nugget of Wisdom of the Week: While scrolling through Facebook a few days ago, I came across a picture of a shark in a fishbowl. The explanation that went along with the photo stated that a shark in a fish tank will grow according to its environment. If it’s in a small tank, it will stay small. Goldfish are the same way, staying a small size in its comfort zone. But when you put that shark or goldfish into a larger body of water, it will continue to grow.
This idea can be transferred to us. If we keep ourselves in an enclosed environment, we will never know our true capabilities. Sometimes this is referred to as being a “big fish in a little sea.”
I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t that better than being a little fish in a big sea? You will never find the answer until you “jump the pond.” I can tell you about a few experiences I had when I stepped outside of my comfort zone. One of them was when I became the president of the Tennessee Foster Adoptive Care Association (TFACA). I had never been a president for a nonprofit organization before. The most I had ever done was act as secretary for the Vocational Opportunities Club of America (VOCA) in technical school. Being a person who prefers to work in the shadows, I had to moderate the program at the state foster parent conference in Nashville. I was scared to death…but I did it.
Just this week, I finished filling in for a teacher in a seventh-grade English Language Arts (ELA) class. I had always told myself that I am not a teacher, but I feel good about the job I did for these students.
Don’t let the fear of being in a “bigger” situation keep you from trying something new. You may be just the person needed for the job. You’ve got this!
Recipe of the Week: Fruit Pizza
What you’ll need:
2 rolls of sugar cookie dough, either the 12 or 24 count
1 package cream cheese, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
kiwi, peeled and sliced
blueberries
On a pizza pan, arrange the cookie slices close together and press them down until they make one continuous layer of dough, to resemble a pizza crust. Bake to the desired hardness, according to cookie dough instructions. Let cool. Mix the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together, then spread over the dough as if it were pizza sauce. Arrange the sliced kiwi on the dough, then sprinkle the blueberries. The tanginess of the fruit will mix well with the sweetness of the cookie. Enjoy!
Shout-Out of the Week: This week, I want to give a shout-out to everyone who is traveling over this holiday weekend. I wish you much fun and happiness, but most of all, safe travels as you return home.
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.
