I have many happy places, and one of them is visiting my Amish friends homes. I also enjoy spending time at the beach whenever I can. Another happy place is our backyard, where I can observe the variety of birds and other critters who find their way in. The other day we had a rabbit running around the yard, and of course, there are usually ducks who enjoy swimming in our pond.

The stresses of life can become overwhelming at times, but finding a happy place can help a person feel more relaxed and alleviate the stress. And while enjoying time in my happy place, I am reminded of a verse found in Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”

Do you have a special place you can go that makes you feel happy and calm? How has visiting your happy place helped you deal with the stresses of life? Do you have a favorite verse from the Bible that helps you unwind and relax?

If you’re like me, you enjoy trying new recipes. I especially like fixing something different for supper. Since both my husband and I are eating gluten-free, sometimes it can be a challenge to fix things like pizza. However, in this tasty recipe, found in my Amish Cooking Class Cookbook, we can enjoy eating pizza without using any flour. Here are the directions for making Heidi Troyer’s German Pizza:

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef, browned 2 tablespoons butter
1/2 half medium onion, chopped 6 raw potatoes, shredded
1/2 green pepper, diced 3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided 1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 cups shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese

Directions:
In 12-inch skilled, brown beef with onion, green pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Remove beef mixture from skillet; drain skillet and melt butter. Spread potatoes over butter and sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Top with beef mixture. Combine eggs and milk, and pour over all. Cook, covered on medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Top with cheese, cover, and heat until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Cut into wedges or squares to serve.

Do you have a favorite supper-time recipe to share?

Shortly before Christmas last year, my husband and I wanted to do something special to help someone we knew of but didn’t know personally. However, we wanted to do it secretly, without that person knowing who had given them the gift.

Even though we will probably never know their response, or how much they may have appreciated the deed, it blessed us to be able to do something for someone in secret.

In Matthew 6, verse 3 (NIV), it speaks of giving in secret: “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”

Have you ever done something to help someone without them knowing it was you? How did it make you feel? Have you ever received help or a gift from someone secretly? How did you respond to it?