Author Archives

Norma L. Brumbaugh

Inspirational Writer, Author, and Speaker

PO Box 6432, Chico, CA 95927
nlbrumbaugh@gmail.com

Keep a smile in your heart.

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Nothing Speaks LOVE Like CHOCOLATE

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

Everything is Better with Chocolate

Life is like a box of chocolates …

Do you gravitate to Chocolate?

I was asked which kind of chocolate I prefer; white, dark, or bitter-sweet? I answered, “All of the above.” Having a down day? Buy some chocolate. Better yet, share some chocolate with a friend.

I think chocolate products are one of those foods people hide from others to save for themselves. I’ve known a few people who hide the chocolate and portion it out according to when they want to eat it. There’s something about biting into a luscious chocolate, letting it melt in the mouth, savoring its flavor, oh baby, yeah.

Chocolate helps elevate your mood; at least, in theory it does. For many years at Christmastime I’d get a box of chocolates in the mail, See’s Candies: Nuts & Chews, from a business associate. My family looked forward to its arrival, and its chocolatey contents didn’t last long.

A cup of hot chocolate is welcome on a cold winter’s night. Sometimes I make it from scratch by combining cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, and a touch of water (mixed together), add milk and a dash of salt, all warmed in a saucepan or microwave.*

Hot cocoa is yummy to the tummy.

My Grandma Weigold made us hot chocolate to go with our breakfasts. First, Grandma put Nestle Quick chocolate instant mix in our coffee cups. She warmed the milk in a saucepan; then poured the steaming milk in our mugs, a little at first to stir with the cocoa; she’d add a large marshmallow; and then poured in the warm milk to the brim. So good. We loved it!

Need some love, you be the initiator: take some chocolates to someone, or bake some chocolate chip cookies, or buy some flowers, or light a candle; or watch a romantic movie; you get the idea. When we give, we receive. I haven’t particularly liked Valentine’s Day as a single, something about being alone stings (stinks, is more like it). But I can make it better by being more engaged with others or doing something I enjoy.

And that I will do. I’m going out for dessert with a friend, and later I’m going to a musical venue with my Dad. All good.

Share the love.

Have a GREAT day! It is what you make it.

Hey, give someone a box of chocolates.

*recipe is on the Hershey’s cocoa can (100% cacao, natural unsweetened)

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WHAT IS IT ABOUT ‘GAIN’?

GAIN THE ‘GAIN’

I coined a particular usage of the word ‘gain’ back in 2014 while thinking about gems of wisdom I’ve learned over the years. I think I wrote about it here on this blog one time. I’m going to reach back and share the concept again. I’m revisiting my writings from 2014. As I read them I can see where I’ve ‘gained’ some growth in areas I hadn’t realized. Pretty amazing stuff. I’ve had many experiences with ‘gain’ in my pursuit of healing, Presence, wholeness, Father God and the Christ life. Learning is a part of life that particularly enlivens me.  Without the Lord, though, it would only be wood, hay, and stubble. Gain is when it sticks and makes a difference. Hope this makes sense. Blessings to all.

Gain is self regenerating.

An element in life that is useful is something I call ‘gain.’ Remember the saying, ‘no pain, no gain’? Gain is what we ‘gain’ from the experience. Almost every day we gain something or other.

I know of no equivalent for gain. We gain from lessons learned. Gain is something to strive for and earn. It gives us something we didn’t have before. Gain is in areas of personal betterment.

What you hope to gain that is positive and health-building, becomes the focus of your energies. Gain is a mission tied to personal growth, practical knowledge, and applicable experiences.

The spirit of gain is at work every time you access a new skill. We gain through a multiplicity of varied avenues. But mostly we gain whenever we apply an indomitable spirit to diligent effort.

At times we gain from others that give that something extra to us. They give out of their multiplied gains’ reservoir filled with practical, beneficial, incredible, life-building resources.

From excess amounts of ‘gain’ in their reserve supply, these mentors share from what they’ve internalized over years of searching, learning, and applying. They know small ‘gain’ reaps big ‘gain.’

Most of all, you gain much when you realize that ‘more is less’ and ‘gain is more,’ though not in reference to material and financial considerations, true ‘gain’ is attributes of wholeness in one’s being.

Emotional factors as well as physical, spiritual, and mental factors are particular areas where gain becomes especially meaningful, or even critical to whole health. It’s best to gain in quiet fullness.

Gain becomes peaceful joy.

Seek worthwhile and lasting gain.

Then There’s This

P.S. This blog post is an entry from a book I’m planning to publish this spring: COUNTRY WISDOM FOR LIFE AND SOUL: The Secret of Loving, Living, and Learning. I’d appreciate any feedback. Thanks.