Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Yesterday was my boys’ last day of school and we’re in full summer mode at last. Rebecca, Meseidy, and Lynne arrive tomorrow for our first visit since Christmas before last – I can hardly contain my excitement! (Christi, you will be missed so very much!!)
And next weekend, I’ll be writing to you from Kansas! Rebecca and I are headed back to Debbie’s cattle ranch and we’re taking a few friends with us this time. I can hardly wait for all the delicious eats and the opportunity to learn more about everything that the beef industry continues to do to ensure sustainability.
ON THE BLOG this week: Pulled pork, steak bites, and chicken come together in the fried rice skillet of every meat lover’s dreams. My guys went crazy over this dinner. Meat Lover’s Fried Rice is the ultimate meal for leftovers, as you can easily adapt it for whatever meats you have on hand.
Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten has been delivered by friends and strangers in a time of sickness or exhaustion. A meal brought to your door on a night when you have no energy to cook says that someone is thinking of you. It’s the best kind of gift.
This week I shared our favorite meals to deliver, from soups and stews to crock-pot meals, pasta, salads, and casseroles. (I’m including tips for transporting each one as well!) Hopefully, this collection of The Best Meals To Take To Friends will inspire others to step outside their comfort zone and take a meal to someone near them in a time of need.
What I’m CRAVING: I’ve had this mouthwatering Lemon Mousse Cake on my “I really really want to eat this!” list for several years now. While it’s a great deal more involved than most of the baking I do (and definitely more so than the recipes I typically share here) this cake always looks and sounds so heavenly, maybe I’ll set aside some time and finally make it for my birthday this fall. It really looks incredible!
What I’m WATCHING: The Two Towers. We’re introducing our youngest son to The Lord of the Rings series for the first time and it’s been awesome to see it all through his eyes. We watched the second movie in the trilogy last weekend and we’re planning to watch The Return of the King tonight. Have I mentioned lately how much I love having older kids now? It’s so much fun!
What I’m READING: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I heard from my mom almost immediately after I sent out last week’s newsletter. She told me that my grandmother loved this book 70 years ago and that she (my mother) loved it as well. I’m proud to say that I’m the third generation to dearly love this book.
I can not recommend this book highly enough. So, I’m going to give away 5 copies of this book this week. Leave a comment on this post telling me the last book you read that really stuck with you.
Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the U.S to enter. (Unfortunately, this is the law for international giveaways, not something that is in my control.) Five winners will be randomly selected from the comments and notified via email on Tuesday, June 8th.
ALSO – if you left a comment last week, you might want to take a peek at last week’s newsletter. (I’ve added the winning comments to the bottom of the post.) There are still a couple of the 5 Kindle winners who haven’t replied to their winning email!
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor E. Frankl
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
Congratulations to the lucky winners! I hope you love the book.
Denise Tyrrell - Magnoliaverandah says
Mary I have not heard of this book and you have intrigued me. My last book was a book my sister sent me from the UK to Melbourne AUS called the whitstable high tide swimming club by Katie May. It’s an easy read about women who have come together from different backgrounds to swim at high tide in the sea. This is where we always holidayed as children so I could imagine the attractions around the little town of whitstable. A nice story too.
Carol G says
I just wanted to say that the last book that resonated with me is The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason. It is a short book and describes the secrets to success of ancient generations. My girls read it first and recommended it to me. I hope you enjoy it too if you decide to read it. 😊
Ricki Aiello says
The last book I read, which led me to a renewed sense of a spiritual connection to God was “Intimate Conversations with the Divine: Prayer, Guidance and Grace” by Caroline Myss.”
Love the recipes! Thanks
Jean says
“Hillbilly Elegy” stuck with me most recently!
-Jean
❤️
Judi says
I am reading Joshua Becker’s “The More of Less.” I have a wish to become more minimalist – too much stuff!! Baby steps, baby steps —
Nancy says
Little Fires Everywhere. Our book club read it last summer. Loved the writing and the interplay among the characters.
Annette Kovar says
I’m ashamed to say, I cannot remember the last book I read. I did, however, look this book up on Amazon and it sounds like a book that would help me. We’re empty-nesters and I’m wondering, what is my purpose now.
Sharon Wolfe says
Hi Mary,
Man’s search for meaning was my Psych 101 professor’s favorite book. We would discuss it during office hours instead of the actual classwork as I usually turned in the assignments early. My high school class president just launched a book part journal and part thought provoking scenarios. It’s called “The choice is yours” which has been a lifelong saying of his. I bring this up because I know it will stick with me for a long time. I read a book called the love code 2 years ago and it just woke my brain up to self-awareness again. I think about some of the authors stories or wisdom almost weekly now.
Sharon Wolfe
PS I enjoyed your “best meals to deliver” an experience I have had twice in the last 10 days. First, my coworker’s fiancee had a baby. And this week, one of my senior resident’s lost her sister to cancer. She was beside herself and food and prayer were the only things I could think of to help her get through this time.
Cherie says
The last book I read was “The Last Thing He Told Me”, it keeps you thinking.
Ellen McKinley says
I recently read The Girl with the Louding Voice and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a wonderful story of a bright, passionate young girl with a strong spirit who is trying to make something of herself in the face of tragedy and extreme poverty. The novel takes place in Nigeria and life there is also an eye opener.
Sherry Robinson says
The last book I’ve read that is sticking with me is Eve in Exile by Rebekah Merkle. She does an excellent job in examining the roots and fruit of radical feminism and gives the hope of how God actually designed women to be.
Gretchen McQuown says
Destiny of The Republic – I love historical fiction – very interesting period of time to learn about!
Annette says
I just finished reading “The Shepherds Wife” by Angela Hunt. An excellent historical fiction book about Jesus’ family while he walked the earth.
Jan says
The last book I read was The Journey Home by Kryon.
Lauren S says
Hi Mary!
I’ve read the book Man’s Search for Meaning but do not own it. It’s a wonderful book that everyone should read. Great idea to share it with others!
Well, I have to say the book that has and is sticking with me right now is…The Bible! I’ve been listening to a wonderful new podcast called Bible in a Year by Fr Mike Schmitz and he has me reading along with him every day. He’s a campus priest who is very enthusiastic and it’s been a real joy to read along with him.
Tara Kramer says
A Woman in Berlin, anonymous. A diary account of the Russians moving in to occupy what would become East Berlin as WWII ended. It is written by a woman who was a journalist. Fascinating look into humans and society, and how that changes.
Judy says
I.would.love.to.win.this.book.Sounds.interesting.(Space.bar.does.not,Work.Sorry)
Bonnie says
I really liked The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. She is a very good writer .
Monica Archer says
I enjoyed Flooded by Nicki Koziarz.
Shari Kelley says
The last book that really impacted me was The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. I couldn’t put it down!