Recently I was listening to someone on the radio retell a story about a man who was in a deep depression. It was so deep he felt completely hopeless. None of his friends or family could help him or cheer him up. He was practically suicidal. 

Then someone suggested something seemingly out of context for him. They suggested he think about those people who made an impact on his life. Anyone who helped him along life's path. This man started thinking and wrote a letter to one of his elementary teachers. She was special in how she introduced him to the arts and gave him an appreciation for them. He sent that letter off in the mail.

Then he wrote another letter and another. By the time he was done thinking about all the people who had effected his life in some way, shape, or form, he had written 500 letters. That's a lot of letters!

When he was finished writing, guess what?? Not only had he gotten out of the depression, he was also invigorated and full of hope. Another by-product of that was 500 other people were touched too, including the now elderly teacher.

​So the next time you find yourself in a funk or someone you know is in a funk, try a non-medicated answer to the solution. Gratitude. It is better than anything else out there and it has no side effects!

The ancient book and best seller of all time sums it up like this:
"A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing..." Proverbs 17:22

May you be happy and joyful today.

#inafunk #funksstink #depression #writing #letters #angels #goodmedicine #joyfulmind #cheerup #peaceloveangels #elf #happyheart #whereisyourangel #kidsbooks #angelbooks #gifts

That question may send anxiety into your soul or cause you to look longingly at the nearest drive-thru. Fret not dear ones, we have a recipe that is a winner winner cheesy dinner. It's simple to make and delicious to eat. The fun thing about this recipe is that you can customize it to your liking.

This recipe comes from an old Duncan Hines recipe book my grandmother gave me. I have put my own spin on it over the years and when we've served it to guests at dinner they ask for the recipe.

Hats off to Duncan Hines for giving me the idea. It is basically a cheeseburger in a skillet sans the bun. We serve bread and pickles on the side. Personally, I like it as is. You could also add bacon to it or mushrooms or change the cheese to your liking.

Here is how I made it recently:

Cheeseburger Skillet

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Feeds 4.
Double the recipe and get out another skillet if you have a bigger crowd.

1 lb. uncooked ground beef or ground turkey (I didn't have enough beef so I did 1/2 and 1/2.)
1 c. diced onions
1 can diced tomatoes
1 T. fennel seeds
2 T. garlic (we like our garlic!)
1-2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (Measurement depends on how cheesy you like it. Feel free to use colby cheese or similar cheese if you prefer.)

In a mixing bowl combine meat, diced onions, garlic, and fennel. Place evenly in bottom of skillet. The mixture will shrink when it cooks so pack it thick and not too thin.
Pour the can of tomatoes evenly on top of the meat mixture.
Cover and cook for 20-25 mins. or until meat reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
Remove cover and carefully drain at least 1/2 of the fat and juices.
Sprinkle with cheese (or load it on heavy) and put back in oven for 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
Serve with bread, pickles, french fries or onion rings (I cook the fries or rings at the same time the skillet burger is cooking.) You can also serve it with a side of fruit and chips. Think cookout but inside without the bugs and hot weather.

There is one ingredient pictured that did not get used. You can substitute a jar of salsa if you don't have a can of tomatoes and/or time to dice onions. It works well too.

Eat and enjoy!

#keepingitsimple #delicious #dinnersdone #delight #divine #angels #elves #easy #angelbooksforkids #christmasgifts #whereisyourangel #done #kidsloveangel #parentsloveangels #peaceloveangels

You may be up to your eyeballs in candy today. Or your belly is so full of them you don't want to see another piece of candy for at least an hour or two. Have we got a poem for you! Just about every line of this poem references at least one candy. Can you recognize and name all the candies mentioned? Can you count how many candies there are? This is fun to do with your kiddos. Which one line doesn't have any candy in it? This poem and activity may soon be coming to our Kids page. My kids gave this poem a thumbs up. 

So grab a piece of candy or maybe a piece of fruit as you relish in this sweet treat for you. 

Angel Sweets
by Evangeline B. White

A whopper of a story is told,
Of angels on chocolate coins of gold.
From the milky way to earth they come,
Past starbursts, mars, and through chasms.
On their way sno-caps they see,
And Mike and Ike and Oh Henry!
On their spree, they see what we can't;
Jolly ranchers, warheads, and the ants.
They see baby Ruth, a newborn,
And hubba Bubba with candy corn.
On his knees Heath prays a prayer;
For his payday was snatched by a bear.
Who was looking for a bit o honey,
Instead the bear took all Heath's money.
Over the mounds and the rocky road,
Through the pop rocks where the bear abode.
The angel came upon the 100 grand,
Along with blow pops in bear's hand.
Airheads or dum dums, angels are not.
Nor are they nerds or hasty red hots.
This angel was quick and not a slo poke
With a fun dip the bear was knocked broke.
“Take 5,” said the angel to the bear.
Then a crunch sound was heard everywhere.
Like a dove with a branch in its mouth.
Or a life saver when things go south.
This sweet tart angel took the cash,
With answered prayer in its sash.
Heath learned his lesson now and later.
Angels are mint for God's plan is greater.
This is no cow tale or laffy taffy.
God's angel kisses will make you happy.
This story razzles a ring pop song,
As all the sour patch kids sing along.
​
#sweets #angels #poem #candy #prayer #prays #whereisyourangel #fun #angelbooks #booksforkids #elf #shelf #whereisyourangel 

People share with us how much their angel means to them and how their angels are great additions to their families (and classrooms!) In honor and appreciation of your kind words, we created the Angel Scavenger Hunt for you. The fall season is a perfect time to get outside with your angel and go on a scavenger hunt.

You can find the scavenger hunt and a bunch of other activities on the Kids page of our website. I've also included the hunt here too.

What else did you find on your scavenger hunt? An angel shaped cloud, leaf, or rock? Let us know! Tag us with your pictures of being in the great outdoors. 

Remember when you come inside, get a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider. Yum!

#scavengerhunt #angelfinds #fall #season #outside #angels #meaningful #whereisyourangel #elf #angelonthemantle #shelf #classrooms #pictures
​#warmdrink #angelbooksforkids

Yay, today is Wingsday! We were fluttering about around here wondering what we could do to make your Wingsday a little more special. Wanna know what we came up with? Since the holidays are on our heels and everyone knows life is better with an angel, we came up with offering you all a special.

For a limited time, we are offering free shipping on orders UNDER $50. That way you don't have to buy a lot of merchandise to get free shipping. You can buy one book or you can buy the 2 book - 1 angel set and get free shipping on them.

Usually the only time there is free shipping is when we are at a market or community event near you. Now, from the convenience of your home you can start your angel's mission and send it on it's way for FREE. Enter "freeship". Simple as that!

#freeshipping #angelbooks #booksforkids #angel #startmission #elf #angelonthemantle #special #wingsday

Do your kids ever bug you to buy a video game or download an app that ALL the kids in school are playing? As a parent, we need to be vigilant about what our kids are playing, watching, and doing and for how long they are playing, watching, and doing these things. And to add one more to the list- we need to be aware of who they are doing these things with.

Noted psychologist, Dr. James Dobson, whose books on child rearing have impacted how my husband and I raise our kids ("Bringing Up Boys" is a favorite) recently discussed an alarming international survey.

He cautions parents about how much time their kids are on any form of media. This major international study shows a direct correlation between a child's exposure to violent content and his or her aggressive, often violent behavior exhibited later in life.

We all want the best for our kids and sometimes that means saying "no" despite their constant requests. Be firm, be fair, be loving. They may not appreciate it in the right now but it is better for them, and you, in the long run.

To hear the results of this survey (and find other tips on parenting and marriage) on Dr. Dobson's website go to this link:

www.drjamesdobson.org/media/parenting-and-marriage-videos/kids-watching-violence

#drjamesdobson #parenting #sayingno #videos #violence #raisingkids #angelbooksforkids #angelwatchingoverme #angels #peaceloveangels #buyerbeware

For some getting a flu shot is as routine as visiting the dentist. For others they swear the flu shot gave them the flu and they avoid it at all costs. Dr. Deepa Sukumar, our "resident pediatrician," weighs in on the flu shot and kids. 

(Consult a pediatrician from the comfort of your home 24/7. www.gracemdconnect.com)

Flu shot - need to know facts

• The injectable form of the flu vaccine is recommended to all children 6 months or older. Flu shot (not the spray) has provided consistent protection against most strains of flu.
• The flu vaccine your child will receive during this season is against the viruses research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The flu vaccine cannot prevent flu that is caused by a viral strain that is not covered by the vaccine.
• The vaccine is also known to reduce the risk of hospitalizations and flu-related death in children.
• CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine by the end of October because your child needs at least 2 weeks for the antibodies against influenza virus to be developed. 
• Children 6 months to 8 years need 2 doses of flu shots if it is their first time getting the vaccine. Everyone else needs only one dose per season.
• Children with asthma, seizure disorders, chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes or blood disorders have relatively high risk of flu-related complications and will need the flu shot.
• The flu shot is also recommended in pregnant women, and it helps protect the newborn since the antibodies are transferred to the baby in the womb. They can receive the vaccine anytime during pregnancy.
• Children who have had a severe allergic reaction to the flu shot before or, are allergic to the components of the flu shot, should not receive the vaccine. Also if your child has ever had GBS (Guillain Barre - Syndrome), he/she cannot get the flu shot.
• If your child is allergic to eggs, you must talk to your pediatrician and get his/her recommendation regarding receiving the flu vaccine.
• Finally, there is no live virus in the flu shot. So your child cannot get the flu from the flu shot.

(CDC.gov is a good site to get more info regarding the flu vaccine.)
#flushot #pediatrician #kids #healthy #fluvaccine #angels #booksforkids #angelbooks #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #elf #shelf #stayhealthy #divine

Last week we were out in the community sharing all things angels. Kids enjoy the angels, the stories, and the activities. Some of the kids even colored pictures for me. (So sweet!) I told one boy his coloring page was going to be on my fridge. See some of the fun below.

#kidsandangels #angelfun #angelbooks #angelactivities #angelstories #community #kids #coloringpages #fridge #angelwatchingoverme

Isn't apple season great?!? Especially if they are covered in caramel. Yum! In case you happen to have some apples in your kitchen we have a healthy Angel Apple Treat for you to try. Although there is no caramel on this one it is still yummy. One of our sweet angel fans shared it with us and we want to share it with you and your family.

It is just three ingredients: apple slices, pretzel sticks, and a blueberry.

Take two apple slices and use them as your angel wings. (Just like the angel's wings in the Where Is Your Angel?™ series of books.)
Take one pretzel stick and use it as the body.
Take two pretzel sticks and use them as the arms.
Take two pretzel sticks and use them as the legs.
Place the blueberry in the middle of the apple slices for the angel's head.
Viola! You have just made your Angel Apple Treat!

A sweet shout out to Levi for sharing his creation with us! It's simple and prefect!

How about you? Do you or your budding chefs have some angel treat ideas to share? Send them our way and we will pass them along.

#yummy #angelappletreat #apples #easy #harvest #angels #sweettreat #share #fun #angelfan #angelsmakeitbetter #peaceloveangels #angelbooks
​

Don't know about you, but I'm guessing you like free stuff as much as me. Well, there was a decision made without yours or my input that is effecting how much free stuff we get every month. In response, we had to start a petition (or better spelled "petishun") on change.org.

It seems certain bovines (or they are probably chickens) at ChickfilA headquarters think an App is better than a hugely successful much loved Cow Calendar. We strongly disagree and we have drafted a petishun stating same.

We strongly encourage all of you who love free to sign our petishun to keep the calendarz coming. To read, sign, and comment go to the link:

https://www.change.org/p/carol-williams-cfacorp-com-saye-it-aint-sew-cow-calenderz-kant-go-2-pastshure

#savethecalendar #cowcalendarz #muststay #freeeverymonth #savethacows #angels #peaceloveangels #bringemback