Thursday, December 4, 2014

Inner Peace and Snowball Cookies




"Thanksgiving 2014"
Well here we are, another December has come upon us.  Every day brings a reminder of December 2009.  Five years have now passed and yet it seems like yesterday. 

I’ve still been having trouble with anxiety.  Even with medication and meditation I have still had this trouble with anxiety which keeps me from feeling completely “well.”  It’s like there’s just something inside me that just won’t let it go.  I keep expecting “something” to happen.  I hate it!  On some mornings it’s so bad I get nauseous and sick.  On the outside no one sees it…I hide it well.  And on some counts, when I’m busy doing things it’s not so bad.  But Drew sees it.  He knows, and it’s great to know he’s there for me in this very personal matter.

I think I’m starting to do better.  At least that is what I’ve been telling myself the last three days in which my anxiety level hasn’t been that bad.  I took Harley for a walk last nice.  It was so nice!  It was a very cold evening, but the moon was almost full and I could see it’s reflection on the Kalamazoo River as it peacefully rolled along.  I thought to myself “that is beautiful” and then realized I felt at peace inside.  Maybe that’s what I have been lacking.  Maybe it isn’t actually anxiety that I’m having, but inner peace that I’ve been lacking. 

There is an old hymn titled “It Is Well With My Soul.”  I remember singing as a youth in church.  (Remember, my father was a Baptist Minister, so church was our life!)  The first part of the hymn is “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”  I think my walk last night along the river gave me that feeling.  I just may be on to something – I need to have and accept inner peace.  Peace and acceptance of my “lot” – where I am in life right now.

Many times while writing my blog I get an epiphany.  It seems that just writing out my thoughts they sometimes come together as an “ah ha” moment for me.  Today may just be one of those days.

Now on to a recipe!

This weekend “Lakeshore Lodging” is participating in the “Cookie Tour of Inns.”  This event is a fund raiser (this year to purchase a new tree for Saugatuck).  People can buy a ticket and then go from inn to inn or cottage rental or motel, hotel and get a tour and a cookie from a family recipe.  I am making an old traditional cookie that our family always called “Snowball Cookies.”  I think it’s because my grandma only made them at Christmas…and they kind of looked like small snowballs.  They’re also called “Butter Ball Cookies” and other names.  It’s the easiest cooking in the world to make and oh so good!

SNOWBALL COOKIES

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ cups walnuts, chopped
¼ cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1.     Cream butter, sugar, salt and vanilla

2.     Blend in flour and nuts

3.     Scoop and roll into balls

4.     Bake 325° for 22 to 25 minutes

5.     Remove from oven roll into powdered sugar

2 comments:

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  2. Jimmy, what a beautiful blog. As I struggle with the first Christmas without my mom your words give me strength. I love you! <3

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