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Summer Creations: Strawberry Salad with Mint and Feta
I’m trying to eat healthier this summer, but I don’t want to give up even a little flavor. This was a perfect solution. I adapted this recipe from a local restaurant, and it turned out so well, I had it for dinner one night and lunch the next day.
Fill a bowl with a dark-green lettuce blend.
Mix in chopped fresh mint.
Cover with strawberry halves.
Sprinkle with reduced fat feta cheese.
Top the salad with a baked chicken breast.
I’ve eaten this without chicken, with cold chicken, and with chicken warm from the oven. Each combination was wonderful.
Enjoy,
Christina
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Embracing Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and for too many women this isn’t a day they want to celebrate. We’re bombarded with commercials portraying the perfect image of a mother, but what about the women who deal with infertility, or the women whose mothers abandon or abused them, or the women who grieve the loss of a child, or the women whose children have walked out of their lives. For these women, Mother’s Day hurts.
I was once told that a day would come when I would be thankful for my infertility. The words sounded crass and out of place, but then it happened. Infertility brought me three of the four greatest blessings. Infertility moved us toward adoption and the children God always knew were meant for our family. I’m made a mother through my infertility and my fertility, but mostly by love.
Mother’s Day is about celebrating the nurturing nature in women. It’s about the woman who teaches Sunday School, the one who holds the premature babies in the hospital nursery, the one who reads to children at her local elementary school, and the one who puts aside her freedom to encourage, buildup, or support another person, no matter the age. It’s about compassion and being a shoulder to cry on, but also celebrating good times and laughter.
This year I honor not only my mother, but the step-mother who worked hard to keep a father in my life. And my Granny, who wasn’t biologically related to me, but chose to love me with her whole heart, and with that love, changed my course. And the mother-in-law who encourages me to keep moving toward my dreams. And the sweet woman from my church who disciples me and loves my children like they’re her grandkids. And the birthmothers who put themselves last and my sweet children first.
So, women, can we make this Mother’s Day not about posturing and comparison? Can we honor all mothers, the moms who are still waiting, the moms who are mourning, the moms who made mistakes, and those who did their best? Can we stand beside our sisters who are hurting and love without exception? I think we can.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you!
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The Procrastination List
I have a problem. I’d love to tell you about it…another time.
Okay, here the thing, I procrastinate. There are just some things I do NOT want to do. Eventually they pile up, and I have to suffer through Procrastination Catch-up Day. Today is that day.
I started by making a list. After all, why not start by doing a task other than one of those pesky put off chores. So, I made my list and quickly came up with twenty-two items I’ve been avoiding. I’m sure I missed quite a few, but we’re not going to worry about that.
The list gives me an interesting picture. There’s nothing about writing, or reading, or exercising. I do those without being told. Many of the things revolve around communications, like letters that need writing, or phone calls that need making. Introvert to the end!
I can’t avoid the list any longer, even by writing this post, so off I go. I’ll start with number one then work my way down.
Maybe not. Number two doesn’t excite me. I can do that later.
What about you? Do you put off tasks? How do you catch up?
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Taming the Dragon – Tips for Dragon Naturally Speaking
I use Grammarly for proofreading because my wrist is broken and sometimes Dragon Naturally Speaking listens as well as a four year-old boy.
Whether you are using Dragon Naturally Speaking out of choice, or due to circumstances, there are a few simple steps you can take to make your experience better.
1. Take time for training. Under audio, you will find a section called, “read text to improve accuracy.” The selections me feel long, but over time the improvement in Dragon’s ability to dictate your words is worth the investment. Take time each day to read one of the selections. When you complete the reading, Dragon will make changes to your profile. This takes some time, but the patient.
The alternative to training could be sentences like this: Where is the mother this little one Russian Mark are they running some kind of Dickerson in here?
I have no idea what I was really trying to say.
2. Create a list of your commonly used command. Learning Dragon is similar to learning another dialect. I want to say, “strike that,” but what I need to say is, “scratch that.” I can’t tell you how many times I saw strike that, strike that, strike that, typed across the page. Here’s a link to common commands.
3. Start with one paragraph at a time. You’re most likely going to end up with a few sentences like my example above. If you wait too long, you won’t have a clue what your original thought was. I know this isn’t the best way to write, but if you take the time now, eventually you’ll be freed, and you’ll be able to go for a page at a time without checking Dragon’s dictation. Be patient, time now will save you from much hair-pulling later.
After a couple of weeks using Dragon Naturally Speaking, I assure you, the program is another valuable tool for writers. It’s just not an instant solution to being one-handed.
Any other suggestions? Are you using Dragon? Have you considered starting?
