Find Your Strongest Life

In the January-February issue, I reviewed Marcus Buckingham's Find Your Strongest Life. In the article I promised to share links to online resources to give you more information on the Strong Life concept.

Marcus Buckingham on YouTube.

Buckingham's site.

Take the Strong Life test at www.stronglifetest.com.

Index of all articles about Strong Life concept on Oprah.com.

Index of all articles about Buckingham on Oprah.com.

Year-End Gratitude

In the November-December, 2009, issue of Hometown, the article entitled "Gratitude Adjustment" described the process of keeping a gratitude journal. See page 11 of the current issue if you haven't read the article.

The concept is not new. Remember the hymn, "Count Your Blessings?" The language is a bit dated, but the message is perennial.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
[And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.] Alternate 4th line for refrain.

We invite you to share your gratitude list for 2009 by commenting on this blog.

Take a look at Ehow article on how to keep a gratitude journal.

Celebration of Freedom

In the July-August (2009) issue, I quoted several presidents in the "Celebration of Freedom" article. Well, Mark Twain wasn't a president, but he was a great commentator on American life. Below are the links to the Web sites where I found those quotes.

Mark Twain:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marktwain386139.html

Dwight D. Eisenhower: http://www.quotegarden.com/freedom.html

John F. Kennedy: http://www.usa-patriotism.com/quotes/kennedy.htm

Thomas Jefferson: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/liberty.html

Patrick Henry: http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_freedom.html


Also mentioned in the article was the Web site of the national archives, where you can find the text of the Declaration of Independence. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

The quote sites all have search features where you can search for other "freedom" quotes.

Hometown Wedding Stories

In the May/June issue, which will hit the streets in the KenTenn area during the first week of May, the Senior Grapevine section includes an article on weddings. We invite you to share your wedding story with us by commenting briefly on this post. Or, if you know of someone who has an interesting wedding story, please e-mail us at hometownkytn(a)gmail.com.

PS---we listed our e-mail with (a) where the @ should be in order to frustrate spammers. Please change the (a) to @ when you e-mail us. Thanks.

Come Again? Hearing Loss Resources

In my article on hearing loss in the November-December Hometown, I promised to post some resources for people who are hearing-impaired and those who care about them.

General information on hearing loss and and older adults

Dealing with denial

Solutions

Other sensory disabilities

Information on miscellaneous ear problems

Please feel free to comment on this or any other post on this blog. We hope that it will help us build the Hometown community and keep you updated on your favorite stories in the magazine.

If you have questions, please e-mail me.

Emily Akin
Senior Grapevine Editor

Okay, I'm through with the whining. (See whining in my article "From Natural Gray to Irish Red" in the November/December 2008 issue of Hometown magazine at http://www.hometownkentenn.com/). The aging process is natural, I know, and I really think it is about living a positive Christian life no matter your age. I think it's also about learning or doing something new every day to keep you motivated and active. I love all the senior citizens in my life, maybe even more than I love the Irish! Seniors have so much gusto, life, history, and wisdom to share. Share your wisdom and your thoughts with Hometown readers by leaving a comment on the blog. You can start by answering the question "Should Nelda dye her hair Irish Red or stay natural gray?"

Nelda Rachels
Hometown contributor

Overflow Recipes from July/August Issue

The theme of July/August Hometown is food, a popular subject with everyone. Our recipe section is a favorite with our readers, so our food issue contains extra helpings of recipes.

Hattie Lou Brown of Union City, a native of South Fulton, submitted some of her grandmother's recipes. Here's one that we didn't have room for in the magazine.

Molasses Cookies

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons molasses
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 egg
2 1/4 cups plain flour
Pinch salt
3 teaspoons spices -choice as in cabinet, cloves, cinnamon , ginger

Mix and make small flat patty. Bake on well-greased cookie sheet about 10 minutes.
Extra good if added black walnuts or hickory nuts. Note: the recipe doesn't say how hot to set the oven, but most cookies are baked at 350 degrees.

If you have a family recipe to share, post it as a comment on the blog.