There are small slivers of time in our lives where one can see so many arrows pointing towards the same direction. I experienced such a sliver when writing my last Neighborlies piece. I felt a mere co-writer, with the real Author giving me a special opportunity to share His message.

During the past few weeks I've been reading a book that is resonating and rocking the foundation of my faith. It's called "The Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller. The message in this book dovetails so beautifully with what I wrote of our daughter, Hope, and I felt nudged to share just a small portion of it with you here:

"Jesus, unlike the founder of any other major faith, holds out hope for ordinary human life. Our future is not an ethereal, impersonal form of consciousness. We will not float through the air, but rather will eat, embrace, sing, laugh, and dance in the kingdom of God, in degrees of power, glory, and joy that we can't at present imagine.

Jesus will make the world our perfect home again. We will no longer by living "east of Eden", always wandering and never arriving. We will come, and the father will meet us and embrace us, and we will be brought into the feast."

You can buy The Prodigal God book HERE.

You can read "Hope That Floats" right HERE.

Here's to bright (and actual!) hope for tomorrow, my friend. May today you experience a sense that truly, the best is yet to come.

Love,
Jeane`

What's this depression thing all about? Just people in a bad mood, right? You can just shovel yourself out. Right?  

One of our contributors learned first hand: 
"I understood two things: mental illness existed (for real) and medicine helped. I was a smug survivor. “You’re sick, you take medicine, you get better. There.” How tidy. How easy. How vastly I underestimated the layers and nuances of the many diseases that fall under the umbrella of mental illness. " Read the full article HERE. 

And with more (and more and more?) snow and frigid weather on the way, some may even be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Yeah, that's real too. 

Need a sweet treat for the sweeties in your life this week? A delicious after school treat with milk, and delectable with your coffee - you can't go wrong with these bars! These little bars freeze well too. After cutting them, wrap them in wax paper or foil, freeze, and then pull out as needed for packed lunches, coffee dates, or desserts. Enjoy!

Strawberry Crumble Bars 

1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix
2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats (use only quick-cooking)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg, slightly beaten
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
18 oz strawberry preserves (or any flavor preserves or jam)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
In a large bowl combine cake mix, oatmeal, cinnamon and brown sugar; mix with a spatula or a large wooden spoon. In a small cup whisk egg with lemon juice and vanilla until combined; add to the crumb mixture along with 1/4 cup melted butter, and 2 tablespoons oil.
Using a large wooden spoon toss to combine then use your fingers to finish the mixing. Mix until the mixture clumps together. 
Sprinkle a little more than half of the crumb mixture into the pan then spread out evenly pressing firmly to cover bottom.
Spoon the jam carefully over the crust in the pan and spread evenly.
Cover with remaining crumb mixture over top of the jam then gently pat the mixture down slightly.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until light golden brown on top.
Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Recipe Source: kittencalskitchen @ www.food.com

A recent Neighborlies guest contributor shares a poignant and personal perspective on the recent Biggest Loser controversy - and how "strong feels so much better than skinny ever felt." www.bighipslittlehips.com

Never underestimate the sanity-saving dependability of this common household "power tool". As I type, I'm tucked behind my bedroom door listening to five children tearing through our basement-less home to the sound of the stereo playing the "Frozen" soundtrack at the highest decibel possible. They can probably hear it in Denmark. I never stay here for long (although I would lie to say the temptation isn't there), but sometimes the simple lock is my best friend in the quest for even keeled mothering during a long winter....



It's five o'clock somewhere!

Jeane'