Tuesday, January 28, 2014

When Calls the Heart. Sharing good TV!


Picture from When Calls the Heart Facebook Page

I am here to express my joy after watching a TV series that is on Hallmark channel called "When Calls the Heart" .  My faith in humanity has been restored!

The show is based on a Canadian West book series by Jannette Oke and produced by Michael Landon, Jr.,   - Son of late television producer Michael Landon who produced Little House on the Prairie all those years ago.  Isn't that interesting?

It is a story about a young girl venturing out of the comforts of the city and her wealthy upbringing to find her way in the wild, untamed mountains of a far away land in the early frontier days. She goes to a mining town called Coaltown where the majority of the people are miners and miner's families.  They are fairly poor but Salt of the Earth.  They needed a schoolteacher but have no school.  What the main character, Elizabeth, notices is the strong sense of community where everyone helps each other, supports each other in times of need and hardship. It is not every man for himself.  It is every person dropping whatever they are doing to help their neighbor.

After watching 3 episodes I sighed a sigh of relief and could feel a calmness and I will say;
It was a breath of fresh air!

It was so nice to see a people who are generally good, believe in being of service to others, go to church with the entire family, love their neighbor.
The people of this town show immense courage and faith in times of adversity.  There is no emphasis on wickedness.
It is about struggle and tragedy and perseverance and hope for a better future.
It is about hard work and about sacrifice.

I saw a theme which is mentioned in one of the episodes.  It is a very strong emphasis on the realization that Most Good Things Come with a Price.

I relate to the women on this show.  The characters are pioneers. Some are single mothers who do anything to keep a roof over their children's heads.  But they do it with grace.  I admire them greatly.


Picture from When Calls the Heart Facebook Page

I may not have been born of that time and have much more comforts than they had but I had to endure much struggle, tragedy and personal hardship.  I worked tirelessly trying to keep our home and my child safe.  I wish I could say I did it with much grace.  But that would be a lie.  I felt sorry for myself.  I cried a lot but I persevered.  I worked 3 jobs.  I sacrificed.  I sometimes didn't eat so my boy could.  That is what we do.  It makes us strong and it draws us closer to God.  Without Him I could not have done all that I did.

I am so happy and overflowing with joy to see a television series that lifts up people like me without having to put into the show things that they think will raise ratings like sex, foul language, everything goes.  I know it seems that is what is happening to the majority of our world.  So I just wanted to give kudos to Hallmark for their integrity.                                          
 I give this show an A+++

PS  I am not affiliated with any of the links I have posted.  I wanted to give you a small tour of the show and where you can get the author's books

Friday, January 17, 2014

Dessert...... Shot Glass Size - What an Idea!

Peppermint Bark Brownie Shots

Image from Yoplait Website.

I just had to share this absolutely divine dessert in a shot glass idea and recipe, I just saw on Yoplait's Website and the link is broken since this post is from a while back.

It is so hard for many of us trying to keep our figure as we age or if we have a slow metabolism.  

You know. If you're thin and you already have a healthy lifestyle someone inevitably says.... Why are you passing up dessert?   
I say..... That's how I keep my figure!  I know when to say no.
(Yes.  sometimes I drool at the chocolate cheesecake everyone else is diving into).  But I stand firm.

If you struggle with your weight you still haven't found what works for you....what foods, how much of a particular food and when you say no and when you say yes, you can still learn how.  Pay attention every day to what changes your weight either way, up or down.  And adjust accordingly.  

I know it isn't as easy as it sounds but when you do figure it out it's like a light bulb goes off and you just adapt to a healthier lifestyle. Before you know it you have more energy and you want to get out and walk and be active.  

It becomes a lifestyle!
  
The key to maintain a healthy lifestyle involves eating what you want but in proportion to how much you exercise, how many calories you burn.  As long as you are active you can eat more. 

You do not have to starve yourself.  You can have dessert.  And small portions is one way to do that.

These shot size desserts are GENIUS!!  Thank you Yoplait! 

Yummy! 

Not to mention yogurt (any kind of yogurt) is a great way to keep your digestive bacteria healthy which in turn keeps your whole body healthy.  

I stand by this and believe it from experience.  Yoplait has in no way asked me to say these things.