Yesterday was one of those days when I headed out to work, and within a few miles, realized that everyone in the world (within my sight anyway) was stupid. They were driving too slowly or tailgating too closely. They were passing where they shouldn’t or weaving back and forth – so I’m SURE they were texting while driving. That or putting on make-up. Neither should be happening. I decided not to get angry. I turned up the radio and sang all the way to work. I’m sure I looked like a complete loon, but I didn’t care. The irritation at the other cars around me went away, and I smiled all the way to the office. Music therapy – it works!
Verse of the Day
February 19, 2019
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
God has been so gracious to us! Think of all the different ways he has blessed us — some financially, others with great opportunities for service, others with deep personal relationships that are eternal, and for all of us, the promise of life with him. But what will we do with these blessings? Will we hoard them, hide them, and keep them to ourselves? If we do, our blessings will wither, crack, and dry in our parched hearts. But, one of the greatest ways we can thank God for his kindness, mercy, and goodness is by sharing these blessings with those around us, especially those in need who can never repay us for our kindness.
www.verseofthe day.com
Food for Thought
Is there anything more uncomfortable than trying to deal with a phone call at work, with the sounds of your bosses snipping at each other in the background? Yes? No? I’m sure that there is, but in that particular moment I felt pretty uncomfortable. Just say no to arguing or sniping at each other while at work! At least take it outside!
Iwo Jima Day (Landing) – On this day in 1945, American forces launched one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, after invading the Japanese island if Iwo Jima. The U.S. Marines’ 5-week assault, which was the first Allied attack on Japan’s home territory, was the accelerant to the U.S. to build the first nuclear bomb. The hope was that Iwo Jima would be a good staging post to launch an invasion of the main islands, which were 660 miles away. Of the 70,000 Americans hoping to capture this staging post, nearly 7,000 died and 19,000 were wounded. The resistance from the Japanese was so fierce, that out of 22,000 defending soldiers, only 200 surrendered, even though they had no hope of withdrawing or getting help. Almost 19,000 were killed, and nearly 3,000 hid in a series of caves that were in the eight-square-mile volcanic rock, and those men continued to attack Americans for months afterwards. The battle of Iwo Jima was immortalized by Joe Rosenthal’s photo of U.S. troops raising the American flag on the island’s highest point and was the Marine’s toughest fight. Within a week of conquering Iwo Jima, U.S. forces invaded Okinawa in the biggest combined land, air and sea battle the world had ever seen, this time using mostly Army. In all, 183,000 American soldiers, compared to 156,000 U.S., British and Canadian troops in Normandy, landed on the island 340 miles from Japan’s mainland. Fierce fighting for 82 days left 34,000 American and 100,000 Japanese soldiers dead after the Japanese again refused to surrender. Japan also launched 1,465 Kamikaze attacks, during which the pilots killed themselves by steering their planes towards ships with the intention of crashing into them. In the end, America may have tipped the balance of power, but only after three months of horrible battle on the 60-mile long island. It was feared that if the same level of resistance was put up in a larger area, that the loss of American lives would have been far, far larger. Because of this, a decision was made to use nuclear weapons, and on August 6, 1945, only 21 days after being tested, the first atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. 70,000 people were killed instantly, with radiation and burns killing 96,000 more over time. STILL Japan refused to surrender, so three days later the U.S. dropped another nuclear bomb, this time on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 people in an instant. On August 15, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender, telling his people in the first radio broadcast ever that “The enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon.” This surrender came nearly four years after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, which was what led to America’s entry into the war. The loss of life on both sides was such a huge and horrible price to pay.
National Lashes Day – They say that the eyes are the windows to our souls, so that means we need to keep them healthy. Part of doing that is taking care of our eyelashes! So many of us use mascara to enhance our eyelashes, but we don’t give their health a passing thought. We should though! They protect our eyes from things that may get into them, and when they look good, so do we. Have you ever noticed that if you forget to wear mascara you look a little ill? At least I do. Anyway, to take care of them properly we need to clean them before going to bed every night, using product that is actually made to use on the eyes. Rubbing on the eyes is bad for them, as is picking the mascara off of them or being too rough when cleaning the mascara off of them. I found out recently that that gritty feeling our eyes have in the morning that we call “sleep in our eyes” isn’t sleepiness at all . . . it is bacteria. Lots and lots of icky bacteria. That is why the special cleansers are so important – it kills the bacteria – or at least keeps it in check. I got a horrible sty in my eye took a long time to heal. When I went to the doctor, he gave me steps to do every day to keep the bacteria in check. Bottom line – take care of your eyelashes. What you do, or don’t do, can really impact the health of your eyes.
National Vet Girls Rock Day – I am so excited that we have a new celebration and I’ve stumbled upon it for its first year! Today is National Vet Girls Rock Day, which was started in order to recognize the incredible dedication of the nearly 2 million U.S. women who are veterans in our military. It’s a day for these amazing vets to support each other, share information and resources with each other, create relationships with each other and to bring much needed awareness to the needs of women warriors. Women have actually served in the armed forces since the Revolutionary War, but without being recognized for their service and sacrifices. Thank one of these incredible warriors today, let the know that the sacrifice of their time and talent for their country is appreciated and valuable.
This Day in History –
1913 – A prize is inserted into a Crackerjacks box for the first time.
Food Celebration of the Day –
National Chocolate Mint Day – Chocolatey yet refreshing — what’s not to love about mint paired with the ultimate indulgence? Chocolate Mint Day celebrates anything and everything that is chocolate mint flavored. The most common chocolate mint treats are ice cream, candies, and desserts. Not everyone likes chocolate mint, but those who do love it. No, we don’t know why some people don’t like this great flavor. Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the combination of chocolate and mint. Thin Mints are some of my very favorite candies, and chocolate chip mint ice cream is a very rare, but oh-so-loved treat. I think that today I am going to make a Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake. Here’s the link for the recipe by low carb genius Carolyn Ketchum!
- Easy Thin Mints
- Chewy Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- Andes Mint Thumbprint Cookies
- Mint Chocolate Chip Pie
- Mint Chocolate Coffee
I’m scooting out the door early so I can stop at the doctor’s office to get a fasting blood draw to prep for a long-procrastinated trip to my new MD on Friday. I hate this part – and seriously, the sooner I go, the sooner I can have my coffee! 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