Today is such a special day! It is the day that we celebrate the birth of my amazing, wonderful, beautiful daughter! Truthfully, it’s a little difficult to comprehend that I have a child who is 36 years old, I barely feel more than that in my heart and head – my body tells the truth though and brings me firmly down to reality. As I age, I find that some memories are a bit hazy, but the days that my children were born stand out to me in full, vivid technicolor detail. I’m glad about that, since they were amazing days. I am a very fortunate woman, in that my labor and birth experiences were quick, relatively pain-free and straight forward. So, on this day, 36 years ago, my Mom took me to my weekly appointment to see how things were going. K was not supposed to be born for about three more weeks. I was hungry – when wasn’t I hungry at that point in my life? – and wanted to get this appointment done so Mom and I could go have lunch. I was REALLY looking forward to it, since we were going to Farrell’s. Does anyone remember going to a Farrell’s? They had great cheeseburgers, but the soft serve ice cream sundaes were AMAZING! I was so hungry for one, and that’s what we were going to get. My doctor had other ideas – what a kill joy, right? He asked me how I was feeling, I told him fine. He asked me if I was sure? Um, yes. He asked if I had had any cramping or stomach pains. I told him I had to go to the bathroom when I arrived, but now I was fine. Was I sure? Um YES! I am SURE! Why? He asked what my plans were for the afternoon? In retrospect, seriously, this was cruel. I told him, and he told me I’d have to change my plans. He told me I was in active labor! I had no pains at all, but I was in labor, closing in on 6 cm dilated and he was sending me to the hospital. I asked him if we could have lunch first, and he told me no, I needed to get straight to the hospital. My plan was to NOT tell my mom until after we ate, but that must have shown on my face because he asked if he could talk to my mom, and what could I say? Of course, I said yes, and knew that my day was going to be filled with the resounding noise of my stomach growling. I’m pretty sure this wasn’t good for the baby! Mom – being a mom and all – listened to that cruel doctor and took me straight to the hospital. I couldn’t convince her to get me a snack! The day progressed fairly quickly. I was checked in to the hospital by 12:30, by 5:05 they were wheeling me into delivery and at 5:12 I delivered the most beautiful girl it the world, I was holding her by 5:17, and demanding a turkey sandwich be waiting for me in my room when I got there. Hey! I was HANGRY by this time! But happy. So happy to be holding this amazing, perfect, baby girl. She is still amazing, she is still beautiful, and though nobody among us is perfect, she is pretty dang awesome, and she is doing a fantastic job in being a mommy herself. I’d say, that all told, this is a red-letter, wonderful day. I am blessed. Happy birthday Dear Daughter. My life changed drastically the day you you were born, in so many beautiful, miraculous ways. I love you.
Verse of the Day
March 1, 2020
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Some gifts are too precious for words and too wonderful to fully appreciate. The greatest of these gifts is that we are God’s children! We have been adopted into the Father’s family! Jesus claims us as his younger siblings! Even though the world may not acknowledge this, that condition doesn’t make it any less true. After all, the world didn’t recognize its Creator when he became flesh and lived among the people he had made. God’s Word, however, still proclaims the truth; we ARE the children of God!
Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day – All of America’s military and veterans deserve our gratitude, and today we pay tribute to the United States Asiatic Fleet. The U.S. Navy has had a presence in the far east since about 1822. The Asiatic Fleet was formed in 1902, and reestablished in 1910 and served into 1942. The Fleet protected American lives through years of unrest. They also helped civilian areas that had been devastated by forces of nature and internal warfare. When the attack on Pearl Harbor threw the United States into World War II, the Asiatic Fleet played a key part in defending the Philippines. The Fleet was outnumbered and outgunned at sea and in the air, but were joined by ships of the British, Dutch and Australian navies to oppose the Japanese advance through what is now Indonesia. The Fleet’s destroyers hit the Japanese at Balikpapan and Badung Strait, and the cruiser Marblehead fought through massive air attacks off Bali while submarines, which were short of fuel and torpedoes, hit the Japanese supply lines. The battle reached its height in the Java Sea. In the early hours of March 1, 1942, the American cruiser Houston and the Australian cruiser Perth, outnumbered and outgunned, fought to the last in the Sunda Strait. They went down with their guns still firing, followed just hours later by the British cruiser Exeter. The rest of the Allied ships were ordered to head to Australia. It was the end of the Asiatic Fleet, but it left behind a heritage of courage and selfless dedication which encouraged our Navy to ultimate victory in World War II. The Seventh Fleet carries on the Asiatic Fleet’s duties, helping to preserve peace in East Asia, earning honor in the Korean and Vietnam wars. The brave men and women in our Naval services who saw the Cold War come to a peaceful end, and won victory in Operation Desert Storm, do honor to the sailors and Marines who earned glory in the Java Sea. Today we pay tribute to the memory of the Asiatic Fleet, calling on all Americans to salute its proud heritage of bravery and honor. Below is a copy and paste of the proclamation by President Bush, declaring this a National holiday:
“The Congress, by Public Law 105-261, on October 17, 1998, has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in commemoration of the United States Navy Asiatic Fleet. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, March 1, 2002, as U.S. Navy Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth. “
Baby Sleep Day – This is celebrated every March 1st to bring awareness that a good night’s sleep is healthy for babies. Though I do agree with this, somewhere in my mind I am having a “duh” moment. Is there someone, ANYONE, out there who did not know this? Everyone who has ever been a parent knows that the best way to have a happy life while raising children is if the children get a good night’s sleep, which in turn allows the parents to have a good night’s sleep – and everyone is healthier in body and soul for having had that sleep. Without it, it’s a cranky world. For anyone who DID NOT happen to know this, well, now you do.
This picture is pretty special to me. Baby R was spending the night with us – he was almost a year old at this point – our room was very dark and I couldn’t see him on the little cot we had next to my side of the bed. I took a picture with my flash on, and not surprisingly, Moose was lying there, chin on the edge of the cot, watching over R. When the littles are here, Moose is always watching, taking care of things, alerting me in the night if their breathing changes or he feels they are in distress. A big paw in the middle of my stomach or face wakes me up, if I’m not awake already. My heart just feels so happy when I look at this picture.
Breast Implant Illness Awareness Day – We have all known, or at least know of, people who have had breast implants to either enhance their appearance, or sometimes in the case of double mastectomy, to re-construct what they have lost to disease. Sadly, many of these people, if not all of them, have suffered to some degree from breast implant illness, which is something so many people know nothing about. I didn’t until I was reading up on this. Breast implants are advertised as safe by plastic surgeons and the medical community. The truth is that they cause many health issues. Most people, doctors and non-doctors alike, focus on how they look or on local complications, such as infection to the surgical site. They don’t talk about how the human body can react to a foreign body being introduced into it, the effects of silicone toxicity, heavy metal exposure, how the implants release something called gel bleed, the development of biofilm around the implants and how the implants are oxidized in the body. Let’s look a little closer at the question of biofilm – this can cause persistent low grade, chronic bacterial infections, chronic inflammation, and other issues. How about the free radical, oxidative damage from the implants oxidizing in the body? These things weaken the immune system, and result in a cascade of negative health issues, which may cause autoimmune diseases, endocrine dysfunction, thyroid or adrenal problems, gut issues, bacterial and viral infections and more. Breast implants are composed of 40+ chemicals and have shells that leak gel bleed of silicone, heavy metals, and chemicals from the 1st day they are implanted, and over time cause profound illness. After reading all of this, I have to wonder why the doctors don’t warn about these things? Or is in the teeny tiny fine print that most people do not read? I have to wonder.
Dadgum That’s Good Day – I love this and can’t figure out why I am just now hearing about it, even though it’s been celebrated since 2015. Today is the day that ushers in a season of cooking good food and enjoying happy times spent with family and friends. The phrase “Dadgum, That’s Good” is actually trademarked, I’m guessing by John McLemore – who has a series of best-selling cookbooks by that name. Basically, gather those you love together and create an amazing meal so you can all taste it and say “Dadgum, That’s Good!”
Endometriosis Day or Wear Yellow Day – How many of us have heard of someone who has suffered from endometriosis but don’t have much of a clue what it is? We know it has something to do with fertility and a woman’s monthly cycle, but that is it? Well, that’s what this day was set up for – to raise awareness and educate about this hidden and very often unrecognized condition. It is a very real, debilitating, disabling disease. Women who have endometriosis suffer and deserve to be understood and cared for by the best doctors and treatment possible, so that they can live full, productive, pain free lives. Though we all agree with this, WHAT is it? Well, endometriosis happens when tissue, similar to that which lines the womb (uterus) grows in other areas of the body. It mainly grows in the abdominal cavity. The tissue is linked to the woman’s hormonal cycle, but unlike a period, the tissue stays inside the body and forms scar tissue, lesions and blood-filled cysts. Symptoms include extremely heavy bleeding, pain, infertility, fatigue and a suppressed immune system. Treatments include painkillers, drug therapy, surgery, hormonal treatments, hysterectomy and surgical removal of the tissue. This is a serious, extremely painful and debilitating medical issue – next time we hear about someone who suffers from it, show some compassion since we now have the slightest clue what they are going through, which is nothing close to what they are actually dealing with on a day by day basis.
National Horse Protection Day – When we think of horses, what comes to mind? Maybe a beautiful horse standing in a field, or a peaceful ride through green meadows and on sun dappled paths through the woods? This is a beautiful picture, but sadly, there is a lot of cruelty that happens outside the scenes in the movies, or the well-cared for horses we see in the countryside. Some horses are subjected to unimaginable abuse and slaughter by cruel and horrible people. It is considered normal to eat horse meat in some countries of the world, and it is even eaten in some places in our own country. This breaks my heart and is definitely not something I would voluntarily eat. Beyond that though, the abuse and cruelty, the horrible neglect, has got to be addressed and stopped! I just don’t comprehend it! In 2004 there was a bill passed called the Wild Horse Protection Act that made it OK to slaughter wild horses. In 2009 the Bureau of Land Management that farms these wild horses decided that they were going to get rid of 620 of them. Why? Because they were “trampling the landscape”. Seriously! They wanted to slaughter these beautiful animals for trampling the landscape? They are wild horses! What did they expect? It was said that the BLM was abandoning the care of the horses in favor of political interests. Sadly, that sounds like it is likely true – considering how I feel about most politicians. So, what can people who love horses do to demonstrate how much they care? Well, the number one way, if you possibly can, would be to adopt a horse! If you have the ability and resources to bring a horse into your family, you would be showing great kindness to an animal that needs it. That isn’t practical though, not for everyone. You can get into the National Horse Protection Day website and see different options for helping out that may fit better into your life and know that you’ve done a good thing.
Namesake Day – Ah our names. They are so important to us! Today we are encouraged to explore the roots of our names and find out if we are named after anyone in particular, maybe even research people who share the same name as us. Our names are special because they are the unique word that identifies us as the person we are. Sometimes our names can inspire us to work harder and achieve the purpose behind the meaning of our name. Every single name has meaning and significance, no matter how simple the name might be. Historically people were named after their ancestors, so traditionally speaking that would mean grandmother, grandfather or other relatives. Many people name their children from out of the Bible, and others just name their children certain names because they like them. If you go to www.themeaningofnames.org you can put in your name and find out what it means and how many other people in the country have it. My first name is Scandinavian for Pure, and my middle name is English for Sunrise. Nice! I also found out that my daughter’s first name is NOWHERE else in the data base in the history of the Social Security Administrations lists, nor found anywhere in historical archives, which means that I happened to pick a name that was 100% unique to her and it really makes me happy that I did!
Pig Day – Today we recognize the importance, and sweetness, of domesticated pigs. Pigs are smart animals, yet most people don’t realize how smart they really are! They can be taught to do tricks, and if you’re keeping one as a house pet, they can be potty trained! This celebration is observed by zoos, and they hold activities like snort offs, pig outs and online pig chats. Not sure how that last one works, but it definitely sounds interesting. I’ve always thought a potbellied pig would be a fun pet . . . but I think a lot of animals would make a great pet and we just don’t have the room for all of them! Enjoy today and honor a pig if you get the chance . . . and no, having bacon for breakfast does not qualify this time.
Plan a Solo Vacation Day – I know people who have done this, and actually do this on a regular basis. They plan a trip and they go on it, all alone. On one hand it sounds interesting, but quite honestly, I don’t know how much I would enjoy it. Getting away to think is something we all can benefit from, but I enjoy my trips with my husband so much that I don’t know that I would be comfortable doing something like this, all on my own. I was on my own briefly between my 1st marriage and my 2nd (current) marriage, and I didn’t really care for it. On the weekends when my son was visiting his father, I had a LOT of time to sit and think and truly found it to be overrated. If you enjoy your own company so much that you would benefit from this, please, go enjoy yourself! I’ll plan my next trip with my hubby instead.
Food Celebrations of the Day –
National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day – We stand up and salute America’s favorite sandwich spread today. Can you think of any kid who didn’t grow up loving PB & J sandwiches (barring those who are allergic, of course)? Smooth peanut butter is more popular than crunchy – but I can’t figure out why. I absolutely LOVE the crunchy stuff – especially in cookies. Think of all the ways you can eat peanut butter, and they are all good! On crackers, celery and other “holders”. It is used in cookies and candies, and I honestly love it in sauces over chicken and veges – like Thai Chicken! Yum! Did you know that peanut butter is 90% or more peanuts? If you get the natural brands, they are ALL peanut! If you can, enjoy something made with peanut butter today!
Some interesting facts about peanut butter that I thought I would share with you:
An 18 oz jar of peanut butter needs 850 peanuts.
The USA produces about 6% of the world’s crop of peanuts, by comparison Indian and China together produce about 70%.
West Coast people prefer chunky peanut butter, and those on the East Coast like creamy.
Peanuts account for 2/3 of the total snack “nuts” consumed in the USA.
96% of people, when making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, put the peanut butter on before they put the jelly on.
Two Presidents of the USA, Jimmy Carter and Thomas Jefferson, were peanut farmers.
I won’t make any promises about being here more regularly, but I can say I’ll try. Life just seems so centered around my computer at work lately that coming home and being on it more just doesn’t always sound very good. I’ll try though. God bless you and I’ll see you soon.
Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com