Love & Joy!
Tokens of Love …
Whether it’s candy, or flowers, or a heart-shaped balloon, we can’t think of Valentine’s Day without remembering tokens of love that we have given and received throughout our lives. The token represents affection and often even devoted love. All in all, they represent a gift of self.
What the World needs now is Love
Whether it is love of spouse, love of children, love of friends, not to mention love of God, much more is needed in our world to build a joyful culture, a culture of life and love. How can we infuse the world with love? Loving service to others: being a truly loving, caring friend and being open to new friendships is a natural way to start. We can love because God loved us first. We can imitate Him by being the first to actively show love in an encounters with others. The Prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz notes in his letter on friendship, “It is a form of love that is directed ‘in two directions and that seeks the true good of the other person, a love that produces union and happiness.’ [quoting St. John Paul II] … Charity raises the human capacity to love to the supernatural level, and therefore friendship as well.” [Letter from the Prelate (1 November 2019)pt. 4 ]
Love begins at home
They say that Charity begins at home … Happy families, joyful families, and family members with hearts full of love come from the nourishment of the home environment. Various studies reveal keys to practices that provide such nourishment in family life. A number of these studies contributed to a talk entitled Creative Cooperation, that you can access via this link on the Home Unlimited website. In addition, a 2023 Art of Living for Women series is being planned beginning with this talk to help participants learn to bring these practices into their homes! This session will be offered in Downers Grove, Illinois; other areas may also provide such sessions.
“Live by Love and you’ll conquer always.”
Avocado Chocolate Mousse with Peppermint Essential Oil
What is a better way to show love on Valentine's Day than through a kind gesture and delicious dessert? This vegan chocolate mousse is sure to please with buttery avocado, sweet maple syrup, and the rich combination of chocolate and peppermint. Enjoy!
Serves: 4-6 people
This is vegan and has no refined sugar!
Ingredients:
1 avocado
½ cup maple syrup
½ tsp. vanilla
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
pinch of kosher salt
1 drop peppermint essential oil
(optional)
Instructions:
1) Scoop the flesh out of the avocado and place it in the bowl of a food processor. Process avocado, syrup, and vanilla in the food processor scraping bowl half way through, until the avocado is smooth and creamy about 30-45 seconds.
2) Add cocoa powder by sifting it through a strainer into the bowl, and add 1 drop of peppermint oil and a pinch of salt. Process for another 45 sec. to a minute, scraping the bowl halfway through…
3) Put into individual dishes or store in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
4) Let stand for 15 minutes at room temp. before serving. Put a dollop of lightly sweetened fresh whipped cream or whipped coconut cream on the top, and a few fresh raspberries and a sprig of mint as a garnish!
Members' Corner: Meet Glee Hoonhout
To find out what is happening in another part of the country, this month we interview another member of Art of Living for Women and Home Unlimited, Glee Hoonhout.
HU: Tell us a bit about where you live and the place you call home.
Glee: We live on Long Island in New York. We’ve raised our 3 boys here, and although we are not from NY, it’s been home for us for the last 17 years. Our physical space has recently changed from a single-family home to a townhouse in a 55 and older community. It’s an adjustment, but we love it!
HU: What is your role with Art of Living for Women and Home Unlimited?
Glee: I am the regional coordinator for the tri-state area of the Art of Living for Women which means I am the contact person for women who want to host an AOLW event and start a chapter in their area. I help plan the events on Long Island with a wonderful committee of women who host the events. I am also a board member of Home Unlimited.
HU: What expertise do you like to share with AOLW?
Glee: I have a professional baking background and love inspiring others with that skill. There is nothing more delightful than walking into a home with the aroma of something freshly baked. I also take great pleasure in organizing and how that plays out with schedules, so sharing what I have learned with other women is always a great joy to me!
HU: What is your favorite memory from one of your seminars?
Glee: As I said I love to organize, and at our first AOLW seminar 5 years ago we did “Home for the Holidays”. One of the modules was on packing for travel, which I taught. I showed the attendees how to use packing cubes. I had 3 people text me a few months later telling me that they bought the packing cubes and that they were lifesavers, and now they are packing cube converts! I LOVE hearing that! I also taught a soup and bread baking class, and I chose classic dinner rolls for the recipe. Soon after the class two women reached out to me to share that they had never baked bread before, but seeing it done in the class made it look easy, so they decided to give them a try, and their families LOVED them!
HU: Tell us what you have in store for the next seminar.
Glee: Our recent move was to the southeastern part of Long Island, where there are many young women, both single and married with children here, so we are in the process of developing a series of 1-hour talks that will be about creating a home and how to prepare and host family and friends for special gatherings! Hospitality is a beautiful way of bringing people together, and we want women to feel confident in what they can do and the joy of doing it for others!