♥ WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD ♥: ♥ - WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD 03/25/2013

Today I will make a difference.

I will begin by

controlling my thoughts.

A person is the product

of his thoughts.

I want to be happy and hopeful.

Therefore,

I will have thoughts

that are happy and hopeful.

I refuse to be victimized

by my circumstances.

I will not let petty inconveniences

such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters.

I will avoid negativism and gossip.

Optimism will be my companion,

and victory will be my hallmark.

Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for

the twenty-four hours

that are before me.

Time is a precious commodity.

I refuse to allow what

little time I have

to be contaminated by self-pity,

anxiety, or boredom.

I will face this day with the joy

of a child

and the courage of a giant.

I will drink each minute

as though it is my last.

When tomorrow comes,

today will be gone forever.

While it is here,

I will use it for loving and giving.

Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me.

Even though my life

is scarred with mistakes,

I refuse to rummage

through my trash heap of failures.

I will admit them.

I will correct them.

I will press on. Victoriously.

No failure is fatal.

It's OK to stumble...

I will get up.

It's OK to fail...

I will rise again.

Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love.

My spouse,

my children,

my family.

A man can own the world

but be poor

for the lack of love.

A man can own nothing

and yet be wealthy

in relationships.

Today I will spend

at least five minutes

with the significant people

in my world.

Five quality minutes

of talking or hugging

or thanking or listening.

Five undiluted minutes

with my mate,

children,

and friends.

Today I will make

a difference.

~~ Max Lucado

It wasn't the reward

that mattered

or the recognition

you might harvest.

It was your depth

of commitment,

your quality of service,

the product of your devotion --

these were the things

that counted in life.

When you gave purely,

the honor in giving,

and that

was honor enough.

--Captain Scott O'Grady

As an actor,

what's interesting

is what's hidden away

beneath the surface.

You want to be like

a duck on a pond -

very calm on the surface

but paddling away

like crazy

underneath.

~~ Alexander Skarsgard

Every adversity,

every failure,

every heartache

carries with it the seed

of an equal or greater

benefit.

~ Napoleon Hill

For the human heart

is the mirror of the things

that are near and far;
like the wave

that reflects

in its bosom
the flower

and

the distant star.

~ Alice Cary

In the effort

to give good

and comforting answers
to the young questioners

whom we love,

we may very often

arrive at good

and comforting answers

for ourselves.

~ Ruth Goode

- Road To Success -

The road to success is not straight.

There is a CURVE called FAILURE

A LOOP called CONFUSION

SPEED BUMPS called FRIENDS

RED LIGHTS called ENEMIES

CAUTION LIGHTS called FAMILY

You will have FLATS called JOBS

BUT

If you have a SPARE called DETERMINATION

An ENGINE called PERSEVERANCE

INSURANCE called FAITH

A DRIVER called JESUS

YOU WILL MAKE IT TO A PLACE CALLED SUCCESS.

-- Author Unknown

- Spinach Alfredo Lasagna -

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 package (8 ounces) no-cook lasagna noodles
1 carton (15 ounces) ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 cups (32 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 jar (15 ounces) Alfredo sauce

In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce.
Spread 1 cup meat sauce in an un-greased 5- or 6-qt. Slow cooker. Arrange four noodles over sauce, breaking noodles to fit if necessary. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley and pepper; spread half over noodles. Layer with 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1 cup meat sauce.
Top with four noodles, spinach, Alfredo sauce, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, four noodles and remaining ricotta mixture. Layer with 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1 cup meat mixture and remaining noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.