This has been a busy week!  I worked at a flower shop to help with the Valentine rush, and  sure enough, we had a lot of guys come in at the last minute to get flowers just like we always do every year.  Some would come in wanting a particular color of roses or maybe tulips or some special flower.  Others would come in and haven’t a clue as to what they wanted.  In either case, it was fun helping them get something they were proud to give.  My favorite customer that I helped this week was a sweet elderly lady.  She wanted to wire flowers to her only daughter out-of-state, and she had waited till the last minute, also.  We had already cut off taking new delivery orders for Valentine’s Day because all our delivery trucks were full.  Most shops were in the same situation, so I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find a florist in the other city who could deliver flowers for her.  But I did, and she was so thrilled that her daughter was going to get flowers from her on Valentine’s Day.  I told my co-worker how much I enjoyed doing that, and she said, “That’s what we’re here for…to make people happy!”   And that’s what made the job so enjoyable.

Anyone who is doing their own remodeling knows how important it is to have the right tools and maybe even machinery for the tasks they have to do. Some people make and design their own kitchen cabinetry. They might need something like Delta machinery for the detailed job they have. Burns Tools has been serving woodworkers and contractors since 1934. They have all the tools and machinery needed to get the job done right, and they have low, discount prices. So if you have a job to do then check out their website.

I’ve been hearing and reading a lot recently how artificial sweeteners can cause weight gain, especially diet sodas. There’s something in the chemical make-up of the sweeteners that alters brain chemistry. They can change metabolic limit.

A long time ago, my doctor took me off all artificial sweeteners. They’re not natural, even Splenda is from chemically altered sugar. There are studies on aspartame and safety issues, and there’s been a significant increase in common malignant brain cancers since aspartame was first licensed to use in sodas, etc.

So, considering all of the possible health issues and possible weight gain, there’s no way I want to use artificial sweeteners.

I’m working at a flower shop this week for the Valentine’s Day rush. I’ve done this for several years now, and every year we always have guys that wait too late to order and the delivery truck is full. Or we’re out of roses and they really want roses. And there are some guys who come in and haven’t a clue what they want, so we have to help them with their choice. It will be interesting to see what happens this week!

Since Christmas, a lot of people are thinking about how to lose weight. There are a lot of different diets and methods to choose from. For me, eating healthy is a good choice. Since our daughter had Baby J, she has been doing Weight Watchers which encourages healthy eating and getting fiber in the diet, etc. Whenever anyone starts a diet or using supplements, they should contact their physician to make sure what they are doing is healthy for them.

I just saw a recipe at “Fun, Crafts, and Recipes” that looks good for crock pot broccoli soup. My husband and I really like broccoli cheese soup a lot, so I’ll have to try it. This recipe makes a lot and would be great to take to a pot luck.

Another quick and easy recipe for low-fat broccoli soup is to add a cup of cooked broccoli florets to a can of Campbells 98%Fat Free Broccoli Cheese Soup and low-fat milk.

Everybody needs it, everybody wants it whether they realize it or not, and it’s the kind of love that lasts…unconditional love. It’s the kind of love that says, “I love you no matter what.” This kind of love is crucial for a marriage. Marriage is not always easy, but it’s definitely worth the effort put into it. As parents, we must have that unconditional love for our kids, especially during the teenage years when peer pressure is so intense and maybe on some days self-esteem is low. If a teenager knows that mom and dad will always be there and value them, always love them even though they don’t like their action sometimes, then that gives a sense of stability. And unconditional love gives just that…a sense of stability…no matter what happens!