Melva Gifford

I saw delightful comment on Facebook that says that every time you face a challenge. Think of it as a plot twist. As a writer, I very much like that idea. Authors love writing characters and have them face challenges but it’s not so fun for for us to face challenges ourselves. In our favorite book or movie, we can see characters grow and learn as they face challenges and usually they eventually win. We don’t often realize that we as individuals can do the same.

I hope the following can be of use to youth ministries, family councils, family devotionals and family home evenings. Today I’m going to talk about points of transition.

Four and object lesson, get two center blocks and separate them by about 2 feet and get a board and place it on the center blocks so that people can walk across as if it’s a bridge. Younger children may need some help holding their hand to maintain balance the walk across the bridge. The bridge can represent points of transition of going from one point to another. Sometimes crossing a bridge of uncertainty can be scary. Especially, when we don’t know what to expect on the other side. So it is for real life.

We need to consider that often times we may find a better situation than the one we left. Point of transitions can also mean a mindset. For people who don’t have a relationship with Christ, it might mean establishing a relationship with Christ and seeing how his influence can help us in our lives. The transition might be to separate oneself from relationship that is harmful or to strengthen a new relationship that is beneficial to all involved.

One thing that may help us in our transition is to make a list of pros and cons before making a decision. We would not only want to consider how each choice affects us as individuals but also how our decisions can influence our future as well as other people in our lives.

Another thing to consider in making a change is if our decision will help us improve ourselves.

I remember years ago I had a friend who is very allergic to materials around her, including the building she used to work in. A second friend of mine could not relate or understand how my first friend could be sick. Later, my second friend got mono and now sleeps two days out of three. It taught her a very valuable lesson on perspective. She couldn’t understand how someone could be so set until after experiencing her own illness.

A transition can even include our viewpoint on different principles. For example, there is a video that I watched of where someone was in the grocery store. The person didn’t have enough money to buy food. It was a fake scenario where the filmmakers wanted to see what people would do for this person. Again and again, people stepped up and paid for this person’s food and to provide support. The filmmaker arranged for some actors to ridicule the compassionate person. The generous person responded that she been in that position of needing help and she could appreciate the importance of compassion. Her own personal experience of hardship softened her heart to be more compassionate toward others hardship.

My invitation, is that when we each face a point of transition. We see how we can learn from the change in that we try to make the best of whatever challenges we face. When we persevere, there’s a good chance that the change can help us or can build a character as well as broaden our  perspective.

If you have ideas to provide this topic, please feel free to share it in the comment section this blog. Thanks

I keep seeing these wonderful recipes on face book and thought I’d share some.

 Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

 Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 medium onion minced

2 gloves garlic minced

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1 1/4 teaspoons table salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 1/2lbs russet potatoes peeled and sliced into about 1/8″ thick rounds

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

2 bay leaves

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 425F

Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until the foaming subsides.

Add onion and cook while stirring occasionally until lightly browned and soft (about 4 minutes).

Add garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for about another 30 seconds.

Add potatoes, chicken broth, cream, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer.

Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 10 minutes. discard bay leaves.

Transfer the mixture to an 8″x8″ baking dish and press into an even layer.

Sprinkle the top evenly with cheese.

Bake in oven about 16 minutes until the cream is bubbling around the edges and the top is golden brown.

Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Chicken Alfredo Pot Pies

Ingredients

1/2 15  ounce package (1 crust)  rolled refrigerated unbaked piecrust

3  cups  frozen vegetable blend (any combination)

3  cups  cubed cooked chicken or turkey

1 10  ounce container  refrigerated Alfredo pasta sauce

1  teaspoon  dried thyme, marjoram, or sage, crushed

Fresh thyme or marjoram sprigs (optional)

Directions

1. Let piecrust stand according to package directions. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a large skillet, cook frozen vegetables in a small amount of boiling water for 5 minutes; drain. Return to skillet. Stir in chicken, Alfredo sauce, and the dried thyme. Cook and stir until bubbly. Divide mixture among four ungreased 10-ounce individual casseroles or custard cups.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll pie crust into a 13-inch circle. Cut four 5-inch circles and place on top of casseroles. Press edges of pastry firmly against sides of casseroles. Cut slits in tops for steam to escape.*

3. Place casseroles in a foil-lined shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, for 12 to 15 minutes or until mixture is heated through and pastry is golden. If desired, garnish with fresh thyme. Makes 4 servings.

from the test kitchen

*Test Kitchen Tip:

Instead of cutting slits for steam to escape, use a small cookie cutter to cut shapes from pastry. Brush pastry with a little milk or water and top with pastry cutouts.

Lasagna Recipe

 Ingredients

1lb sweet Italian sausage, casing removed

3/4 lb lean ground beef

1/2 cup minced yellow onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

28oz crushed tomatoes no salt added

12oz tomato paste

13oz tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 tablespoon salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

12 lasagna noodles

16oz ricotta cheese

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4lb mozzarella cheese, sliced

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a Dutch oven, cook the sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until the meat is well browned.

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water.

Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, 2 tablespoons parsley.

Let the mixture simmer for about 1 1/2 hours, covered, stirring occasionally.

Bring a large pot of slightly salted water to a boil.

Cook noodles in the boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes.

Drain and rinse the noodles.

In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Preheat the oven to 375F

In a 9″x13″ basking dish, spread 1 1/2 cups of the meat sauce on the bottom. Arrange half the noodles lengthwise over the meat sauce. Spread half the ricotta cheeze mixture over the noodles, then add a third of the mozzarella cheese slices. Top with another 1 1/2 cups of the meat sauce, then add 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients, then top it all with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil, then bake for 25 minutes.

Remove the foil, then bake an additional 25 minutes.

Let cool 15 minutes before serving.

My friend Cara made a wonderful observation that even people’s PhD’s don’t know the difference between the two words ensure and assure. Being inspired by her comments, I thought I would present these two words in my next spellerBeezy blog.

Assure: I interpret this word as provided in the attitude of confidence. I assure someone to trust my opinion. The word Attitude and Assure with A.

Ensure: I interpret this word as an effort to make sure that everything meets what is expected. Such as to ensure the quality of the product. To Ensure the quality of a product I make an Extra effort in quality. Effort and Ensure both start with E.

If you have other ideas on how to remember these words accurately, please feel free to share them in the comment section this blog. Thanks

I have always wanted to get this list. If you want to have clarity in communication and you want to confirm if you’re saying an F was S then, using the word in conjunction with the letter can confirm what alphabet you trying to use.. I thought was a bit nice item to add to the book of lists.

A Alpha
B Bravo
C Charlie
D Delta
E Echo
F Foxtrot
G Golf
H Hotel
I India
J Juliet
K Kilo
L Lima
M Mike
N November
O Oscar
P Papa
Q Quebec
R Romeo
S Sierra
T Tango
U Uniform
V Victor
W Whiskey
X X-Ray
Y Yankee
Z Zulu

Many of us have had the experience of working in the garden or at least familiar with what’s involved. There’s a variety of tools that we can use to accomplish different purposes and toiling of the land. If I was to deposit a handful of tools in front of each of what would you chose to represent you?

I thought I would use this speech to provide a moment of self-reflection.  My question for myself and for each of you is what kind of tool or message do you want to share?

I ask this question in relationship to our personal goals and our desires to become better communicators. Many of us join organizations for self-improvement or to contribute to the community. I joined a speech organization due to my communication challenges. But as I learn how to communicate more effectively I wonder what is my message?

There are four areas I would like to touch upon of how we as individuals communicate and how our intent in our communication has the potential of providing a positive force upon our lives as well as the lives of others. I like to touch upon: 1.ourselves, 2. at home, 3. our community, and 4.our nation. Our motivations and actions defined to the type of message we share in each of these areas.

Self:

We only have to think of each January 1st and each of us think of creating new goals to understand that we all have a natural inclination of self-improvement. The fact that we leave the comfort of our homes to meet once a week to hear each other give presentations is yet another indication.

Our personal motivations and actions power our achievements. the direction of our success will be influenced by what message you want to communicate.

I have always liked musicals one of my top favorite musicals is the 1776 musical, which is a humorous musical about the writing of Constitution. Though the movie depicts humorous moments, it also helped me see the men who contributed to the creation of a nation as individuals. One particular Individual is labeled as obnoxious and disliked. But ironically, in spite of those traits, John Adams was a key contributor to the creation of our nation. One only needs to read the correspondence between him and Abigail to better understand what kind of individual he was what his personal motivations were.

By way of action, I say that I really really want to eat better. I pick up this piece of marshmallow spread. Here is the spoon. Can’t you see how my actions support my intent? What is my real intent?

Home

The message we share at home can influence future generations. Our parents raised us in their homes and as we become became adults, we have the chance to raise our own children. Our personal attitudes, biases and preferences are transferred by what we teach our children.

I learned of one storyteller who used her skills of communications to solve a personal family problem. She has a special needs child that the children of the neighborhood were afraid of. To address this problem, this mother started having story telling concerts at her home and invited children to come over and listen fun stories. This gave a chance for the children of the neighborhood to meet and become comfortable with her special needs child.

I remember one year my sister and her family were building their own home. I know nothing about construction, but I had two hands. My sister’s family had the ability to spread a bunch of grey good on cinderblock. Our family’s actions illustrated our message to my sister and her family.

Community: Am I being played?

Of recent years, I’ve come to really distrust politicians. I had a very interesting experience in a city hall meeting that I attended. There is one particular city Councilman that I’ve liked. At the meeting a business wanted to accomplish a certain task in the community and gave presentation to city government for them to agree. The City Councilman, I liked stood up and excuse himself from the final decision  because he accepted money from this business for his campaign. As the Councilman left the stage, The businessman stated that he was not aware that his company had contributed and expressed worry that the city Council might alter the acceptance of his proposal because his business’ involvement with the Councilman. He feared he was being used.

This event made me realize that maybe the Councilman was being sincere and excuse himself, but it also made me realize that there was the possibility I was being played. At the moment I don’t know which. But as I become more familiar with political games and how they use words to flatter the citizens. I realize that I must be on my constant guard even on politicians I like. This event makes this Councilman’s actions suspect? I realize I need to monitor other behavior to see if I can find him to be a person of integrity.

The actions of others in the community illustrate a more clear message. People give their time to contribute good in good ways to or the community, not just through the theater, sports programs or social events, but also help in building homes for the needy, staffing food banks and literacy programs .

Country:

At the national level, there is so much name-calling and accusations that sometimes it becomes quite clear what people’s motives are. They are displayed by their actions. One small example is how the left and the right slandered the vice presidents during the last national election. That Sarah Palin is so stupid, populate that with the media that wants  a certain individual to win, and the message gets repeated over and over and over again. citizens listening to a repeat message over and over again who have not made their own decision may simply follow the dictations of the media. As a counterpoint, people who are in the opposite boat talk about how Joe Biden is an idiot. And then certain parts of the media will give examples of things he said. Many of us as lazy citizens listen and believe. We don’t bother to do own research. We swallow the propaganda of the left or the right, whole.

If you want to determine the actions of our country of decades past or in the present. Let’s evaluate what our intent by our actions and not just our words. How we interact with our allies or opponents dictates the type of integrity we possess as a nation.

The left may accuse some of nation building. the right will accuse some of turning the country to communism. The name-calling continues to escalate. Accusations are often made without adequate support. Such circumstances gives us an opportunity to evaluate which messengers earn our trust. Do you like them because they say the words that we like hearing? A city councilman gave me flattering words. Politicians of our nation use the same tools and messaging to influence the citizenry.

Chief politicians come and go. We would be fools to think that things will change when one leader leaves and another comes in. It’s the people behind the figurehead but also influence policy and action.

The overall idea is that we as members of a speech organization make efforts to become better communicators. We should also consider what type of message we want to share.

Part of America’s success, was because of our individualism. Immigrants left their nations of origin to populate and build a new world. We employed sweat, courage, and ingenuity to accomplish our goals. Our accomplishments range from the continental railway to man reaching the moon. We as leaders are improving communicators skills. We can share a message that will build or destroy.

My invitation is that we share a message that will build. Thank you.

I thought I would present some great examples of the successful implementation humor that I got from a panel about comedy.

Distractions: during a movie scene can add humor. One example is in galaxy quest when the character Guy is choking on spaghetti during a serious discussion.

Exaggeration: Jerry Lewis being extremely clumsy.

Understatement: in the movie might have python and the Holy Grail when King Arthur is fighting the black night, the black night is severely wounded and responds “it’s only a flesh wound?”

Using opposites effectively: such as in the movie title, Buffy, the vampire slayer or Jerry Lewis’ funny being paired with a serious Dean Martin

Non-sequester: Johnny Depp in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean being seen as standing on the deck of a ship until the camera expands down and we see that he is holding on to the poll of a ship that has sunk underwater.

There are some great examples of humor? Please feel free to share them in the comment section this blog. Thanks.

Further as in distance: Here is a way to remember. When you go on a long trip you may eventually hit a piece of road that has a bunch of switch backs or U turns. Thus I may remember going fUrther with a U.

Farther as in moving fArther as in from point A and Advancing to part B. The A in Advance  partners with the A of fAther.

If you have an alternative way to remember the spelling on this word, please share it in the comment section this blog. Thanks.

Addition:

Further can also mean additional. Envision the u in the word as a cup. You use a cup to add further flour when making bread.

Last week I presented some ideas on how to be a better evaluators. The ideas I shared were specifically for speeches, but many the principles could also be implemented for storytelling, or to review a manuscript.

I want to present some websites for other people’s ideas on the same topic.

http://www.toastmasters.org/toastmastersmagazine/toastmasterarchive/2007/november/the3rs.aspx
http://www.keystonemedia.net/about/annie-gets-it-done/?p=26
http://www.wikihow.com/Evaluate-a-Speech
http://webuser.bus.umich.edu/Organizations/umbstoastmasters/evaluationanalysis.htm
http://www.natcom.org/uploadedFiles/Teaching_and_Learning/Assessment_Resources/PDF-Competent_Speaker_Speech_Evaluation_Form_2ndEd.pdf
http://www.rbtoastmasters.com/doc/EffectiveSpeechEvalTips.pdf’

Evaluation winners:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh0VRk-kt74
http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-evaluation-5-toastmasters-contests/
http://9032.toastmastersclubs.org/Evaluation_Contest_Rules.html

If yes, my distant share, or some links to provide, please share them in the comment section this blog. Thanks.