It’s an old saying that cardinals are a messenger from Heaven. I’ve been seeing a lot lately. Some of the birds have shown up outside a window at work, while others will appear in the early evening at home. I’ve felt that this was not necessarily an omen, but more like messages from my grandmother and my dad letting me know that they knew I had been thinking of them a lot.

I guess I’ve had a lot on my mind and my heart, too. The school year is coming to an end. It always serves as a reminder that life is passing faster, and generations are getting older. I’m not going to say how many years it has been since I graduated. I’ll just say that I’m still celebrating my anniversary of turning 29. Kala teased me about that for years. Then she turned 29. Then she celebrated another year of 29. Yep. Kinda funny how you become your momma. If you know, you know.

When I graduated from high school, my grandmother gave me a large Samsonite rolling suitcase. She told me I was going places. The summer before my senior year, I had won a trip to a national competition in Chicago. It was amazing!

Somehow though, my suitcase hasn’t been to all the places on my bucket list.

In fact, neither have I. Want to know a little secret? My senior year, I became the yearbook editor and senior class vice-president. I thought I was a pretty good vice-president, stepping into the president’s role most of the time because the president was usually a no-show. The yearbook editor job helped me land a job with the local newspaper and alas do the yearbook later for the schools as an adult. Here’s the thing I’m almost embarrassed to admit --I was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Most Talented”.

What have I done with that? I think I’ve let my classmates down. I have not used all of my talents to good use, and I have not strived to do everything that I set out to do.

Shortly after I graduated from high school, my grandmother retired at the age of 70. She was a house parent at a children’s home, and they essentially encouraged her to retire. Can you imagine? 70 years old and wanting to take care of a whole bunch of little kids at once! So, what did she do? She retired. She went to Disney World for the first time ever to celebrate her retirement and Donald Duck’s 50th birthday. She flew to Oklahoma to see her brother. She traveled everywhere to see relatives. She socialized, cooked, and watched the sunrise at the beach. She laughed on the phone with me.

Well, I’m not 70 and I’m not retired, but the anniversary of my graduation is amongst us. So, I’ve promised myself and those cardinals…I’m going to be MOST TALENTED….MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED again. I still have that suitcase. I’m going to dust it off. I’ve got places to go and people to see. I’ve got things to write. Things to cook.

It’s time to celebrate life. As my grandmother would say, “You are only as old as you feel!” Of course, I told her at the time I was older than she was, but, hey, I’m willing to rethink that. Life is what you make it, right? At the end of the day, let’s be able to say that we used all our talents to the very best of our ability, whether you are a senior due to age, senior in high school, or somewhere in between.

Here are some recipes that your family will love. You will love them because, not only are they delicious, but they are also so easy to make!

Oat Rage Cookies

(This recipe was given to me over 30 years ago by the first media specialist I worked with in Bryan County Schools. It’s a hit with kids and adults!)

1/2 cup salted butter 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter (for crunch peanut butter, use ¼ cup more) 3 cups quick oats Directions: Line two baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Combine butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk.

In a 2.5-to-3-quart medium saucepan combine butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk.

Set saucepan over medium heat. Stir mixture frequently until melted and reaches a full boil. Once it begins to boil, quit stirring and allow it to boil for one minute without mixing (set the timer!)

Remove from heat and place on heat resistant surface. Immediately and quickly add in vanilla, peanut butter and quick oats. Stir mixture until well. Drop by 2 tablespoonfuls (using scoop or spoons) onto the prepared baking sheets. Allow to rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes in order to set. Store cookies in an airtight container in fridge, using wax paper or parchment paper to divide layers.

Quick Fruit Dip

(Great to serve with a fruit bowl, kabobs, or platter!)

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened* 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme 1/8 tsp vanilla or rum flavoring Directions: Place cream cheese and marshmallow crème in a medium mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to blend until smooth and mixed well. Slowly mix in the flavoring.** Serve with your favorite fruit. Refrigerate any remaining. *You can substitute the equivalent of the softened cream cheese in a tub, including the fruit flavored. **You can switch up the flavor of the fruit dip by varying your flavorings including using orange juice or other juices.

Fruit Salad

2 cups cubed fresh pineapple 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced 3 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced 3 bananas, sliced 4 mandarins (“Cuties”), peeled and sectioned or 2 oranges, peeled, sectioned, and seeded.

1 cup seedless grapes Directions: Mix fruit together in a large bowl. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. (Bananas can be mixed in right before serving if you need to make this up ahead. That way the bananas will not turn brown.)

Libby Hires is a Bryan County institution. Her husband is too. Jimmy Hires coached Richmond Hill High School to three boys state basketball championships.