Tina's Words
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Meaningful and Relational Living
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Calmed and Quieted
My inner world swirls like a dark storm. Yet I have calmed & quieted myself. I am able to calm myself because I was calmed by others first. (my version of Psalm 131:2) We learn or don’t learn this self-soothing skill as our youngest selves when we cry to be heard. We cry to be seen in order to receive both physical needs and emotional needs. When the physical is met and the emotional is left unattended, it is both ineffective and confusing. We move into our adult lives with...
Tina’s Wine Cookies – Almond Biscotti
I grew up calling them Wine Cookies. I didn't know that most of the world called them biscotti until I was an adult. Family lore has it that my great grandfather enjoyed them in his basement with the Priest after Mass. Dipped in Vin Santo ("holy wine"), of course, which is likely why we called them Wine Cookies. The smell of anise in the house meant the holiday was just around the corner. They existed only once a year. And they lived in a glass cookie jar with a noisy lid. My sister and I...
The Power of Group
Do you feel like you are alone? Like you don’t belong or that you are not good enough?Does loneliness overwhelm you even when you are surrounded by people?Our lives look so great on the outside that we even might think, how can I complain? I am the lucky one who has good health, a job, and beautiful friends and family. Even so, deep down, we simply and deeply and secretly....feel lonely. Do you know who some of the most un-alone people are? The many beautiful souls who are in recovery groups...
Tina Cookies
These are tradition. I have been making them for years. Particularly for Halloween neighbors & friends. They call them "Tina Cookies". Enjoy!Combine together in a mixer until fluffy: 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 cubes softened butter teaspoon vanilla 1 eggAdd: 2 cups flour 1/2 cup rolled oats 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon saltFor one version, add: grated organic coconut pecans chocolate chipsOr....for the other version, add: cranberries white chocolate slivered...
Triggers in Relationships
Healthy people are aware of their emotions regarding current happenings in their lives. Have you ever been walking along doing just fine and then all of the sudden you get triggered? During what seems to be a rather normal event or conversation, emotions are suddenly VERY big! Ouch. Where did THAT come from, you wonder. This recently happened to me when I walked into the kitchen and saw my husband oiling our artisan table. We have a dining table made of reclaimed wood from old boats. It dries...
It’s that time of year again!
It’s that time of year again! Being a homeschooling mom for nearly 30 years, Fall has always been my “New Year”. Even though my children are all grown and homeschooling is no longer my world, Summer's end remains my time to reset everything; holding on to what I love, and letting go of what isn’t beneficial. It is a time to begin some things fresh and move deeper into others. This year in particular holds even more potential growth as we are all figuring out the new way of living in this...