It is always difficult to go back to work on Monday after a weekend away, isn’t it? We love camping, and our quick little trips in the RV give us a couple of days to just relax, enjoy delicious meals by the campfire, all cooked in the great outdoors, and spend some time in nature. This weekend the campground where we stayed borders a trail system that leads to a lovely little waterfall. It isn’t a long hike, but it’s a pretty one. The campground is also near a little shopping area where there is a wine shop and we were there on a day they were open for tastings! Pretty wonderful, hm? We spent quite a long time sipping delicious wine, getting to know the shop owner and enjoying great conversation. It was sort of a date that was connected to a longer date! Yep, it’s hard to go back to work, but we can combat that by planning our next camping trip. I’d better get started because spaces in all parks are filling up fast!
Verse of the Day
May 6, 2019
He [Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Psst! I’ve got a great secret. Jesus died to set you free from the guilt and punishment of your own sins. Psst #2! He didn’t do it just for you; he did it for everyone else, too! Spread the word.
www.verseoftheday.com
Finding Peace in Simple Moments
There were quite a few peaceful moments this past weekend, between the sounds of the birds happily singing in the trees, the song of the waterfall as it spilled over the rocks, or the crackling flames in our campfire. The best for me was so simple that it just made me smile. I woke up in the early hours of the morning, the campground quiet, Hubby sleeping next to me, Moose snoring from his bed under the dinette table. The blinds were parted slightly, and as I laid there I looked up and saw the sky bright with stars, so clear that it made me wish we were outside looking up at them together. I drifted back to sleep, at peace in a way that usually eludes us in our busy, go fast world. (I put a picture of the waterfall since I didn’t take any of the stars)
Joseph Brackett Day – I had never heard of Joseph Brackett – I’m sure not all that many of us have. He was born in Cumberland, Maine on May 6, 1797 and died on July 4, 1882. His name at his birth was Elisha Brackett, but when he was 10 years old his first name was changed to Joseph, like his father’s, when the family joined the short-lived Shaker community in Gorham, Maine. This new Shaker community was centered on the Brackett’s property until the time the whole group moved to Poland Hill, Maine in 1819. Brackett, Sr. died on July 27, 1838, but Junior continued to rise in the Shaker community and eventually became the head of the society in Maine. Joseph Bracket is best known as the author of a Shaker dancing song called “Simple Gifts”, which has become loved internationally. He wrote the song in 1848, and was at first virtually unknown outside of the Shaker community until Aaron Copland used the song in his 1944 composition “Appalachian Spring”. The song also became widely known through the lyrics of “Lord of the Dance”, written by Sydney Carter in 1963. Brackett’s memory is kept alive by “The Tune Lovers Society”, an online organization that was set up to preserve and protect American songs from the past. they sponsor a birthday commemoration for him on May 6th. That’s a lot of attention for a guy who really is only known for one song!
No Diet Day – How many of us spend all of our adult lives struggling to make over our bodies to be what society says that they should be? I admit that I have been fighting the battle of the bulge for more years than I care to count. I’ve had some measure of success a couple of times, but as with any plan to lose weight, if you don’t stick with it, it will come back! No matter what diet you choose to follow, it is absolutely necessary to change your habits or before you know it you will be back where you started again. Story of my life. What would be so wrong about appreciating the bodies we have? Everyone is different – we come in all shapes and sizes. There isn’t anything wrong with that! What a relief that would be! To be able to enjoy a meal without worrying about what it was going to do to the scale . . . to be happy with the me I see in the mirror, rather than avoiding even looking into it . . . to not worry about how my poor husband sees me, but just accept that he loves me the way I am . . . I must wonder if it would be easier to be healthy if I wasn’t so worried about it all of the time!? Today is a good day to reassess and evaluate how you are managing your weight, your goals and your perspective on weight loss. In doing this make sure that all of your efforts aren’t at risk for your health. If you do decide to continue with your diet, then maybe celebrate this one by taking a one-day break and just breathing for a while without the constant worry about every bite that goes into your mouth.
Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day – Nurses work so hard, don’t they? To be perfectly honest, when I do go to see a medical professional, I prefer seeing the Nurse Practitioner. I feel like I get better care – the doctors always seem to be so rushed. Well, most of the doctors. I must admit my current primary care doctor is the first one in a long time that really cares. But I digress – for the most part, Nurse’s just seem to care more and they ask more questions to get to the bottom of what is going on! That must be the reason there are so many days that celebrate nurses:
- May 6-12: National Nurse’s Week
- May 8: National Student Nurses Day
- May 6th: National Nurses Day
- Wednesday of Nurse’s Week: School Nurses Day
- May 12: International Nurse’s Day
- November 14: Operating Room Nurse Day
This week is all about giving nurses the recognition that they deserve for their contributions and commitment to providing their patients with quality health care. To all the nurses out there – thank you so much. For caring, for working so hard, and for being there for all of us when we need help.
National Tourist Appreciation Day – I haven’t had all that many vacations in my life – I was too busy raising kids and working in my younger years. On the few vacations I HAVE had since I married my 2nd/final/best husband, I expect to be treated well, pampered and coddled even, if it applies. Being a tourist can sometimes have the locals looking down their noses at you, but seriously, the life of being a tourist is a fun one! When we went on our cruise to Alaska, I can honestly say that I learned for the first time what it truly felt like to be attended to by the staff on the ship as if I were royalty. By the end of the week both my hubby and I were tempted to stuff our steward into our suitcase and take him home! He was awesome and earned every penny of his tip! Enjoy your time as a tourist when you head out for a vacation, and if you happen to live in a tourist town, embrace the tourists! If not literally, then figuratively. Tourism is the life’s blood of some small towns, so treating the tourists with respect and courtesy could go a long way to keeping the flow of traffic high, and the economy in your town running smoothly as a result!
Food Celebration of the Day –
Beverage Day – Experts recommend drinking at least 3 liters of fluid a day for men and 2.2 for women. Why not make it more interesting than a glass of water? Today is a great opportunity to enjoy your favorite beverage – and since the word beverage is pretty broad and general, it’s pretty much open to however you wish to interpret it! Here are a few new ones to give a try – be adventurous! You may find a new favorite!
Gingered Lemonade
Middle Eastern Lemonade
Chai
Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
Agua de Horchata
New York Egg Cream
Sun-Brewed Iced Tea
National Crêpes Suzette Day – Oh my, this sounds delicious! I’ve never made this – heck I have a difficult time making crepes that don’t fall apart, but I’d LOVE to try it. It would be a definite splurge, and very high carb, but it sounds like it would be worth every single one of them. Hmmm . . . I may have to bookmark this recipe for a day that I really want a special treat. Here’s a recipe I found by none other than famous chef, Bobby Flay.
It’s time to go to work now, I’m sure for many of us, so remember as you head out for your day, there is always something to celebrate, whether it is silly and small, or something big. Just being alive is enough, all on its own. 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