Breathing--In and Out

I have come to really appreciate the little things in life that I have been taking for granted. For the past three weeks I have felt like my body has been drug through the sludges of poor health and care beginning with a fall on the ice landing on my tailbone and then the back of my head. Then, through a virus I couldn't get rid of or get medication for. And while still coping with those two, having chest X-rays with the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia!

But, the good news is that my perception of life’s daily miracles has heightened and awareness that had lain dormant, almost, for many years is now in place. Of course, I would rattle off these as some of life’s blessings but the happiness that they can bring to someone just wasn’t there for me until now.

Some of these daily happiness-inducing things are:
1. Breathing—in and out, deeply and without pain. When one thinks about the marvels of our bodies I think breathing is really taken for granted. Not any more, here at this house, though.
2. Warmth—a warm bed and house is wonderful. After spending hours, days on the couch under a warm blanket, they were my home, my nesting place. So nice.
3. Modern medicine—Antibiotics are a miracle. We are so lucky to live at this time in history to have so many medicines to cure so many ills-and so quickly.
4. Food—Simple nourishing Chicken Soup, milk/ muffins. Nothing tastes as good as the warm nourishing soup when one is sick.
5. Friends and family—Sympathetic and willing to bring anything and do what they can to comfort and relieve.
6. Laughter—Little children’s, even adult’s. The sound of happiness is affirming to the soul.
And last but not least,
7. Did I mention-Breathing deeply, in and out, without pain!

Oh, to be alive, what joy!

Chicken Soup and Quilts

There has been a lot of this in my family so far this year-hanging around with coughs, colds and strep throat.

We have been using a lot of these products as a result.

So today I decided to make Chicken Soup to help. This is the best Chicken Soup that I have tasted. It is fast and simple to make and just what the doctor ordered (well, at least I think he should have.)

Quick Chicken Noodle Soup

4 Chicken Breasts

Boil water, put in chicken breasts. Bring water to boil again then turn off stove and leave for 20 mins. Take out breast and cool enough to handle then cut up or shred.

5 carrots, sliced

1 stalk celery, sliced

1 onion, chopped

2 qt. water

4 chicken bouillon cubes (or use 2 qts chicken broth instead of water and bouillon.)

Boil veggies, bouillon and water together for 15-20 minutes. Add cup up chicken.

1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup

1 tsp basil

pepper to taste

1 c. frozen peas

1/2 (ll oz.) pkg Grandma's homemade noodles, thawed

Add cream of chicken soup,basil, and pepper and bring to boil again before adding defrosted noodles and peas. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Enjoy! Yumm!