What a gorgeous weekend! The sun has been bright, the sky blue and the air crisp and clean. We had plans to get out and to do work in the yard, but somehow that didn’t happen, and our yard, which is in great need of the final mow of the year, still needs it. However, there has been some decorating done for Christmas, since we like having it done early so we can enjoy it, and there will be more finished before the end of today. I am going to simplify my life a bit by posting this with tomorrow’s celebrations also, since I will be starting my new job tomorrow and throughout the day, I will be organizing things, pre-packing snacks and other things to make this week go more smoothly. I hope your weekend has been peaceful so far, that you enjoyed your extra hour of sleep, and can wake up tomorrow with a smile as you remember celebrating something wonderful over the weekend.
Speaking of the extra hour, I feel like I put mine to good use today. I woke up on my own without the alarm, to be pleasantly surprised that it was only 7:30! I have a roast in the crockpot, made a good breakfast and have bread dough rising. Some of it will be rolls to go with the roast, and some will be made into a cinnamon raisin loaf. While more Christmas decorations go up, and I’m watching Christmas movies, the aroma of yeasty deliciousness will be filling the air. Yep, it’s going to be a great day.
Verse of the Day
November 2, 2019
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
God is faithful! Scripture declares it. We’ve experienced it. In fact, we cherish this promise from God, especially when things don’t turn out as they “should.” So when Satan does trip us with temptation, or when we are weak or rebellious, isn’t it comforting that we can be forgiven and made clean again? God wants us to call our sin what he calls it. (To “confess” literally means to “say the same” thing about it as God does!) Incredibly, God does more than forgive us. He also cleanses us. We’re made new, fresh, pure, and holy once again! That is more than being faithful and just; that’s being downright gracious.
November 3, 2019
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
God answers prayers! Recent research in the recovery of surgery patients for whom others prayed seems to validate this. Our experience suggests it is true. The Bible promises us that it is so. But Luke emphasizes one specific answer to prayer that God-seekers receive. God longs to give us a truly great and wonderful gift: his presence in us through his Holy Spirit. (vs. 13) Because of the indwelling Spirit, God can do unimaginable things for us and through us.
November 4, 2019
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
As we enter the month often associated with giving thanks, this reminder from Moses is an important one! We so easily forget to give thanks when things are going well. It’s easy for us to whine and ask God to help us when we are in trouble, but we often feel like we “deserve” the good things that happen to us. God reminds us that what we have is simply a confirmation of his grace and his faithfulness to do what he has said. We need to remind ourselves, and each other, that the blessings we have come from his hand and not because we deserved them more than someone else.
Saturday – November 2
All Souls Day – I am writing about this one for information only, but I will add a disclaimer. All Soul’s Day is a Christian holiday, but it is not one that the doctrine I was raised with follows. The purpose of All Soul’s Day is to pay respect and remember the souls of friends and loved ones who have died and gone to heaven. Upon death, some believe that the souls have not yet been cleansed of sin, so prayers for the souls are said in the hopes of removing the stain of sin, thereby allowing the souls to enter the gates of heaven. This observance started in the year 998. OK, now for my disclaimer: Anyone who is a Christian accepts that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. In the Bible it clearly teaches that we are responsible for our own salvation and seeking forgiveness for our sins is something we can only do for ourselves. Nobody else can pray for, and get, forgiveness for our sins on our behalf. Celebrating this holiday may make the living feel better about those who have died, but we won’t know if they took care of their own salvation needs until after we have also passed away and made our way to either our reward, or our punishment. Daily communication with God, persistently seeking His grace and asking forgiveness for our sins should be as automatic for the person who follows Christ as it is for us to breathe.
Bison Day – Have you ever purchased a buffalo steak or burger from the grocery store? I have and found it to be delicious. I just found out that I was mostly likely buying and eating bison, and not buffalo. I did not know until today that the animals we see in pictures and have been calling buffalo aren’t buffalo at all! Mind . . . blown! The animal that lives in North America is a bison. Buffalo is from either the African or Asian buffalo families that are native only to Africa or Asia. The bison is the largest land mammal to roam North America since the end of the Ice Age. It descends from ancient animals that migrated across the Bering Strait land bridge an estimated 300,000 years ago. Historians think that the species was called buffalo because early European explorers were familiar with that animal. Makes sense. Even though we now know that this is not the proper name for it, people have used the words buffalo and bison interchangeably since that time. At one-point bison were near extinct on this continent due to over-hunting, but they’ve made a comeback since that time and now there are about 500,000 in the United States, about 40,000 being slaughtered each year for consumption. When you compare that to the 125,000 beef cattle that go to market each day in the US alone, that’s not much. Of course, bison are much bigger . . . but there is barely room for comparison there, in my mind. What I didn’t know is that bison are much smarter than cattle, being highly intelligent, curious, playful and very powerful. They may seem gentle, but they are definitely not domesticated. This makes them harder to handle and more powerful than cattle. Even though they are very bulky, they are also very nimble and apparently have been said to have be as agile as goats. I also thought it was very interesting that bison can have a life span of 30 years! Their cows weigh about 1000 to 1200 lbs at full maturity, and the bulls weigh about 1500 to 2000 pounds. That’s a big animal! Bison meat is healthier than beef, being less fatty. Bison has 2.42 grams of fat, 143 calories and 82 mg of cholesterol per 100 grams (3.5 oz) of cooked meat, where beef has 3.5 times more fat per 100 grams of cooked lean meat. One last little bit of information that I thought was fascinating, is that Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the US where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times, and this herd is one of the few that remains genetically free of bovine genes.
Pumpkin Destruction Day – This is pretty cool. I had some difficulty finding any lengthy information about it, but what I DID find was so much fun! The Rock Ranch in Georgia pioneered this amazing and fun event, where people all bring their jack-o-lanterns and pumpkins that have seen better moments to have a ball destroying them! The pumpkins are destroyed in every way possible – they are bashed, smashed, chunked and dropped from way up high. There are pumpkin-bombing airplanes, monster truck pumpkin demolition, pumpkin archery, reverse pumpkin darts and lots more! There is even pumpkin cannon and bowling! Doesn’t that sound like fun? Sad thing is there was some sort of a lawsuit going on last year and they canceled it, and I believe they did the same this year. Don’t you just hate that our overly litigious society ruins so many fun things? There is something you can do with your pumpkins instead of destroy them – squirrels love them! Put out your pumpkins for the little creatures to eat and you will be extending the life of your jack-o-lantern and filling up the tummies of some hungry critters. That sounds like a wonderful plan to me!
Sadie Hawkins Day – I admit I laughed when I saw the origins of this one. Sadie Hawkins Day originated in Al Capp’s classic comic strip, Li’l Abner (1934 – 1978). In Li’l Abner, Sadie Hawkins was the daughter of one of Dogpatch’s earliest settlers, Hekzebiah Hawkins. Sadie was known as “the homeliest gal in all them hills” and she was frantic waiting for “suitors to come a-courtin’”. When she got to be 35 years old and was still a spinster, her father was getting frantic too, at the thought of her living at home for the rest of her life. He was desperate, and in that desperation, he called all of the unmarried men of Dogpatch together and declared the day to be “Sadie Hawkins Day”. It was decreed that there would be a foot race, with Sadie chasing the town’s eligible bachelors, with marriage at the end of the race to the man she caught. The town spinsters thought that this was such a great idea that they made Sadie Hawkins Day a mandatory annual event, much to the upset of the bachelors of Dogpatch. Because of all of the fun they got out of this topic, there were many sequences that revolved around the dreaded Sadie Hawkins Day race. If a woman caught a bachelor and dragged him kicking and screaming across the finish line before the sun went down, by law, he had to marry her. The first mention of Sadie Hawkins Day was made in the comic strip in 1937 and proved to be a very popular annual feature. Since that time Sadie Hawkins Day has leaped from the comic strip page to real life. In high schools and on college campuses since 1939, there have been dances and gatherings where the girls ask the boys out, which was pretty much unheard of before 1937. By 1952, Sadie Hawkins Day had been celebrated at 40,000 known venues. It is celebrated on the 1st Saturday of every November and is listed yearly in The Old Farmer’s Almanac! How fun is that?
Sunday – November 3
Cliché Day – So, what is a cliché? I’m sure we all know, but just in case . . . A cliché is a phrase that is used over and over . . . and over and over and over . . . I know that most of us may try to avoid using clichés for fear of sounding silly or trite, sometimes the occasion just fits, doesn’t it? So today you should try to use clichés all day long . . . after all, what have you got to lose? It couldn’t hurt! You never know until you try! ?
Daylight Savings Time Ends (Turn Back 1 Hour) @ 2:00 AM – I don’t know if you are as tired of dark mornings as I am, but for a little while that is about to change! Another annual tradition of autumn is here as we end daylight savings time for the year. Tonight, or tomorrow morning actually, at 2 a.m. we turn the clocks backwards one hour (easy to remember if you think of it as falling back in the fall and springing forward in the spring). Starting today this hour is switched from evening to morning as standard time begins. Why do we do this? Well, the credit (or blame) for the shifting of time goes back to Ben Franklin, who published an article for “An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light” in a 1784 journal, after he noticed that people were burning candles at night but sleeping past dawn. Well, with today’s electric lights and alarm clocks, this doesn’t seem necessary any longer, but we still do it. I have to admit, I am going to really appreciate sleeping in that one extra hour!
Monday – November 4
Fill Our Staplers Day – I am giggling a little over this one – because a group called the Dull Men’s Club started it. How funny! They’ve decided that it is very annoying to run out staples right when you need them, so to eliminate the problem they decided that the day after Daylight Savings time change, and the day after Standard Time change should be designated to refill the staplers. It is also check batteries day and changing the clocks day – so it can all be done at the same time. Now, this one wouldn’t work for me since I use a LOT of staples at work and have to fill it all the time. Perhaps it might work for you though!
King Tut Day – Over 3,000 years ago, King Tutankhamen became the King of Egypt when he was 9 years old. He died when he was 19 and was called Egypt’s “child king”. On November 4, 1922 his tomb was discovered nearly intact in Egypt’s Valley of Kings. The cause of King Tut’s death is uncertain, but the two main theories are murder and that there was an innocent accident. Seems to be two opposite extremes. Anyway, to celebrate this day you could spend a little time studying Egyptian history books learning more about King Tut and the culture of his time.
National Chicken Lady Day – Nope, this day is not about a lady who invented the Chicken Dance, and honestly it doesn’t have much to do with chickens at all! The Chicken Lady is really Marthenia “Tina Dupree”, also known as The Chicken Lady. She worked for 12 years for the 2nd largest chicken restaurants in the world, in one of the highest-level positions in the company as Director of Community Relations and Training. For her community involvement and her efforts to raise educational standards, she was invited to meet President Bush in 2001. In honor of her work the President proclaimed November 4th to be National Chicken Lady Day. Though he didn’t officially declare it to be a National holiday, their meeting did bring about the celebration and recognition of this day.
National Easy-Bake Oven Day – There are very few toys that are such an iconic part of many childhood memories as the Easy Bake Oven. I loved mine, and actually credit it as being one of my very favorite toys and the reason I love baking so much today! For 50 years this toy has been under the tree for too many children to count and treasured while it was being used and held special in their memories for a lifetime. There was something about that light bulb cooking a little cake that was truly miraculous! What really made me feel sad was, today when I was looking to see what the age suggestions were for this toy, for Miss B, I found that there are some sources saying this toy is no longer being manufactured. She’s a bit too young for it, but I am seriously thinking about getting one now to hold back for her until she’s old enough. I’m afraid I won’t be able to get one if I don’t!
Use Your Common Sense Day – American cowboy and actor Will Rogers said, “Common sense ain’t all that common.” And no, it is not a coincidence that Use Your Common-Sense Day is on November 4th because Will Rogers was born on November 4, 1879. Sadly, it seems these days that common sense is an oxymoron that holds its own holiday since we really are seeing less and less of it every single day. There are ways YOU can celebrate it though and make it less of an oxymoron in your own life. Celebrate by using common sense with your money, family and health. Read Thomas Paine’s historic take on “Common Sense” as it pertained to American Independence. Maybe watch the classic movie “Sense and Sensibility”, which is based on Jane Austen’s novel. Regardless, just USE your common sense not just today, but every day. Right there, with that little step, we’ll be ahead of the game.
Food Celebrations of the Day –
Saturday – November 2
National Deviled Egg Day – I love deviled eggs. They are a feature on our table at many holidays and gatherings. I don’t have a specific recipe, but just know what I want to throw into the eggs to make them delicious. There is nothing sinister about the term “deviled eggs” since the “deviled” part refers to the original signature spice mix in the stuffing. Deviled eggs, or forms of them, have been found in Medieval cookbooks, but those recipes describe a much more difficult process to make them than we have today. If you have always made your deviled eggs the same way over and over, maybe try something different – maybe add bacon if you haven’t before, or something with a zingy spice!
Sunday – November 3
National Sandwich Day – Who doesn’t love a good sandwich? What’s not to love? It’s truly a wonderful creation! Sandwiches are a daily lunch staple for millions of Americans. Do you know what lead up to the creation of the sandwich? Well, according to English history, John Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich, and he was reported to be a heavy gambler who often spent many long hours in London’s gambling parlors. In 1762, he created the sandwich by putting meat between two pieces of bread. This allowed him to stay at the gambling table for long periods of time. And of course, this creation was named after him. One way to celebrate this day would be to eat sandwiches at every meal (oops, I already blew it by having oatmeal for breakfast). You could eat your favorite sandwich, or better yet, create an entirely new one! No matter how you celebrate it, have a Happy Sandwich Day.
Monday – November 4
National Candy Day – Honey was the original candy, but now we aren’t limited to honey for our candy. The sky is actually the limit! Learn how to make your own candy or find creative ways to use store-bought candy in a recipe. I found a few interesting candy facts and dates from the National Confectioners Association. I thought you might like to read them.
1854 – Whitman’s debuts its first box of chocolates.
1902- Necco introduces the first “conversation hearts” with sweet Valentine’s Day messages on them.
1928 – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups debut and are still “among the most popular candy bars today.”
1954 – Ferrara Pan Candy Company introduces Atomic Fireballs.
Wish me luck tomorrow! I am not nervous so much as I am filled with anticipation jitters. As sad as I am to give up my one day off a week, which I’ve had for over 20 years, I am excited about new possibilities that come with this new job. It will take a little getting used to, but doesn’t everything new? God bless you and I’ll see you on Tuesday!
Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com