Good Morning and a Very Happy Wednesday to you! Yes, I get excited when we get to mid-week. I think it’s from years of “hump day” being ingrained in my work brain, followed by years of having that day off work. There’s something about reaching this part of the week that has all of us looking forward to the weekend I suppose.
Verse of the Day
November 14, 2018
Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Having stood over the open graves of friends, family, and strangers, I know the appearance and feel of death’s finality and our human frailty. But Christ’s death is that great reminder that death is a matter of perspective and faith. I believe God raised Jesus from the dead and that Jesus is the first fruits of those of us who believe in him. He is alive, not just in Spirit, but in bodily form. Because Jesus lives, so will we!
I Am Thankful For . . .
This may sound frivolous to some people, but it’s a thing I am sincerely thankful to have in my life . . . bacon. Yes, I said it. It is delicious, can be an ingredient in so many different dishes, or on its own, and did I mention it is delicious? We had it for dinner last night in sandwiches AND in soup. It can take food that is terrible and make it good; and take good food and make it great. Yep, today I am thankful for bacon.
Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day – It is sort of sad that we need a dedicated day to remind us to loosen up and relax, isn’t it? I know that as we hurry, hurry throughout our daily lives, the stresses build up and as we try to beat deadlines, get things done, accomplish more, do more, BE more, we lose sight of just taking a breath and letting some of it go. Let’s give ourselves a break! This celebration encourages people to let go of their stresses and spend time just enjoying things that make them happy. Here are some suggestions that may help every day: – Having a laugh releases feel-good hormones, improves your immune system and reduces stress – Naps improve productivity and reduce stress – Regular physical activity releases endorphins which improves circulation, mood and reduces stress – Adequate amounts of sleep reduces blood pressure, risk of heart disease, helps maintain a healthy body weight, and (you guessed it), reduces stress A few suggestions for Loosen Up and Lighten Up Day: – Take a walk or go for a hike – Pay a surprise visit to a friend – Joke around with people – Plan a special evening out after work with a significant other, family or friends – Make time to read a favorite book or watch a favorite movie – Take a vacation day from work, sleep in and let the day decide where to take you!
National American Teddy Bear Day – You might be thinking that this is a duplicate of a recent celebration, and at first, I thought so too, but I realized after a little reading about it that we did have National Teddy Bear Day on September 9th. This one is different. This one is AMERICAN Teddy Bear Day and that is because it is based around the date that President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, our 26th President, went on a hunting trip around which the entire existence of Teddy Bears was based. This is sort of a sad story, but it’s an interesting bit of history, so let’s learn about it even though it’s sad. In November of 1902 the President went on a bear hunting trip with the governor of Mississippi. They looked for three days, but after all of that tromping around in the forest, they still hadn’t seen one. In an attempt to keep the President’s trip from ending without getting a bear, the guides set the dogs loose, and they tracked down an old bear and attacked it. The guides then brought the wounded bear back to camp with them and tied it to a tree for the President, but when he saw it, he refused to shoot it because it would be unsportsmanlike (you’d have thought they would have known that, wouldn’t you?). Because the poor bear was injured and suffering, he told the men to put the bear down to end its pain. Word traveled via headlines across the country, without political cartoonist drawing a single panel that was featured in the Washington Post, showing the president in the foreground, with a guide and bear behind him, only the bear was shown as a trembling cub. The artist began to include the cub in other drawings of Roosevelt, forever making the link between him and bears. Around that time there was a Brooklyn candy shop owner who saw the cartoons and was inspired to make a stuffed bear. The shop owner, Morris Michtom, wrote to the President and asked his permission to call the toy “Teddy’s Bear.” With doubt that it would ever amount to anything, he gave permission to use his name, and rather than being just a short-term interest, the cuddly bear became so popular that Michtom mass-produced them, forming the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company in 1903. Before long, it was a multi-million-dollar business. There is still an original Teddy’s Bear on display in The National Museum of American History, in perfect condition.
National Young Reader’s Day – I was an avid reader as a child. Still am, truth be told, though I don’t take as much time for it now as I should. I would have thought the older I got, the more time I’d have for reading, but that just isn’t the case. Today is a day to give young readers a chance to celebrate by reading with your kids or having them read to you. Giving a new book as a gift for this special day would be a good way to get started! If a child’s love of reading starts young, they will likely enjoy it for the rest of their lives.
Operating Room Nurse Day – Have you ever had surgery? The nurse who is there for you through the whole thing is so very important! Not only do they help the surgeon, but they offer comfort before and after the surgery. I’ve had really awesome nurses every time I’ve had surgery, and can tell you, they deserve this special day. I know that they deal with a lot in their job, and as such, full appreciation of it is very important! By thanking an operating room nurse you could be helping THEM know that what they do is important and not taken for granted.
World Diabetes Day – I don’t normally celebrate the international or world celebrations, but I know quite a few people who suffer from diabetes, so I thought it would be a good idea. This one was first introduced in 1991, founded by both the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization. Because of the rise of diabetes cases around the world, it was decided to choose a day of the year so that the awareness of Diabetes and related health issues could be brought to the forefront and discussed. Today was the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, the scientist who discovered insulin and was the first person to use it on humans. Each year they teach about the disease and how to prevent it, along with different ideas for raising awareness. For all of my family and friends who live with diabetes, I pray every day that there is a cure. Just an FYI, I recently learned about the ketogenic diet – which seems to be helping many people with diabetes live with it in a healthier way.
This Day in History –
1832 – The first streetcar went into operation.
1968 – Yale University goes Co-ed.
Food Celebration of the Day –
National Spicy Guacamole Day – I love guacamole. It’s creamy and delicious and has the bonus of being very healthy! Today’s celebration is about giving it a bit of a spicy kick! It’s pretty easy to whip up a batch. Just take 4 ripe avocados, peel, seed and cut them into chunks. Put them into a bowl and mash them with a fork. Add ½ tsp ground cumin, one large diced tomato, one large diced and peeled hopped white onion, two Serrano chiles –seeded and chopped, and 4 Tbsp of fresh- squeezed lime juice. Season to taste with a bit of hot pepper sauce, sea salt and ground pepper. Once you have it all stirred together, pile it into a bowl and serve it with chips. DELICIOUS!
National Pickle Day – I love pickles, especially those really crisp dill pickles that give a nice crunch when you bite into them. I like sweet pickles OK, but the dills are wonderful. Pickles seems to be one of those things that people either love, or hate, sour, sweet, savory or hot . . . they come in all sorts of flavors! One of my favorite appetizers is deep fried pickles – if you haven’t tried them, I highly recommend that you do!
I’m sorry I didn’t have any stories, insights or anything fun to say today. I think last night when I started this, I was too tired to be very creative, and this morning I don’t have the time! I do want all of you to have a great day though, filled with fun celebrations. God bless you and I’ll see you tomorrow.
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Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com