Happy weekend! I know that means more to those of you who are currently employed, but it is nice to have a weekend for me anyway, since Hubby is home with me on the weekend. So far, we are just hanging out relaxing. He works so hard that he deserves to have the down time before he gets started on whatever projects he has planned for the weekend. I’m content to stay in the house since it’s going to be hot out again this weekend. The reprieve of the last few days of cool temperatures was welcome, and honestly, I am sad that it is over. From what I am seeing on the news, it is going to be a pretty miserable week. Not as bad as it is in Texas, but I don’t think it is ever as bad here as it is in Texas. Sadly, because of the heat, wildfires are raging in various places across the region, including one that has burned 70,000 acres so far. I have been praying for the safety of the firefighters as they do their dangerous job. It’s heart breaking to see the property burning and knowing that there are people and wildlife in danger, losing their homes and possibly their lives. This is the worst part of summer.
Verse of the Day
July 21, 2018
I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.
—Psalm 119:30
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Jesus reminded us to “pick up your cross daily and follow” him. The way of truth is a daily choice. To not seek to intentionally put him at the center of our life, the top priority in all of our decisions, is to slip a little bit further away from the life he calls us to lead. Any decision made without consciously seeking to please him is a decision to place him at the periphery of our lives. So let’s set our heart on him. Let’s choose his way, the way of truth, the way of life, and set our hearts on doing his will.
July 22, 2018
“What about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
—Matthew 16:15-16
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
There is no other name under heaven that can save us (Acts 4:12). We are to confess Jesus before men, knowing that when we do, we can be sure he will confess us before the Father in heaven. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior and Lord. We may not know all the theological gravity behind those words — after all, Peter didn’t when he confessed Jesus as Christ — but we can make a commitment to know him and follow him until we do know more. Jesus asks us to open our hearts to his lordship and begin the journey toward fuller knowledge and experience of him.
www.verseofthedaycom
Food for Thought
Hubby and I really enjoy going out camping in our little 22-foot RV. It’s an older model – not as old as our first one was – and Hubby is working towards making custom touches to create a comfortable place for us to be when we are away from home. And I appreciate that! I loved our first one because he completely re-did it – it NEEDED to be redone because it was really gross when we got it. It was a beautiful little space when he was finished. This one though, it’s dated, but it’s in great shape and doesn’t need to be gutted. I enjoy it though – it is comfortable and meets our needs. We are watching a show on fancy RVs and I can honestly say that the waste is disgusting to me. Spending millions of dollars on what is essentially compensation for something obviously lacking in their lives, doesn’t make any sense at all to me. Nobody NEEDS crystal chandeliers in their RV! Nobody NEEDS marble countertops, $10,000-bathroom sinks, 6-figure paint jobs (and that is a quote from one of the RVs), 4 slide-outs, heated floors, electric EVERYTHING and bathrooms big enough to bathe a large family at the same time. One was so horribly decorated that it reminded me of something Ralph Furley from Three’s Company would have done to an RV if he had one. For one, that is NOT camping and for another, you can spend that money more wisely, have an RV that will meet your needs while still keeping you comfortable, without driving something that just screams LOOK AT ME! I NEED ATTENTION! Wow. I’ll take our little RV that nobody would take any notice of as they drive by any day of the week over the glutinous display of excess on these shows.
July 21 –
Legal Drinking Age Day – This one confuses me slightly. The drinking age across our country is age 21, yet everyone turns 21 on different days of the year, so who exactly would celebrate this one? I tried to look into it, but what I found was info on when and why the national drinking age was changed to 21 – and of course it all came down to bureaucratic nonsense. Typical, isn’t it? The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (23 U.S.C. § 158) was passed on July 17, 1984 by the United States Congress. It punished every state that allowed people below 21 years old to purchase and publicly possess alcoholic beverages by reducing its annual federal highway apportionment by 10%. This didn’t outlaw people from consuming alcohol while under 21 years of age – except in the 7 states of Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Vermont – allowing private consumption in the presence of consenting and supervising family members in private homes. The act also did not criminalize alcohol consumed during religious occasions. This act left the decision of minimum drinking age in the hands of each state, all while punishing those that did not fall in line. I have a fundamental problem with this. Don’t get me wrong . . . I do not advocate underage drinking by any means, and of course I am adamantly opposed to drinking and driving . . . but if our young men and women are old enough to go off to war and die for our country on the orders of our government, then they should doggone well be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage in a public place, as long as it is done responsibly.
Lowest Recorded Temperature Day (-128.6F Antarctica) – According to Wikipedia, the lowest natural temperature that has ever been recorded at ground level is -89.2 degrees C, or -128.6 degrees F. This was at the Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica on July 21, 1983. It is important to note that this is on the ground. There was a study done in 2009 that estimated under exceptional climate conditions very similar to those in 1983 that temperatures around Dome Argus could go lower than -139 degrees F, but that was via satellite observation, not on the ground.
National Be Someone Day – At face value this one doesn’t seem that special – we are all someone, right? After looking into it, this one is a challenge to take 10 seconds of our lives to make a difference. But, it’s only 10 seconds, right? What can we possible do in 10 seconds? Well, 10 seconds can be a significant amount of time in the right circumstances. We can say some kind words. We can smile at someone who looks sad. We can wave at someone, give them a compliment, or give honor where it is due. We can also save a life by making a call when we observe child abuse. We can discuss making a difference with everyone we meet so that they too can be someone to someone else in need. Take 10 seconds. Be someone that helps someone in need.
No Pet Store Puppies Day – I’m sure we have ALL see signs on various stores, or internet ads, Craig’s List, and other places, shouting BULLDOG PUPPIES ON SALE! YORKIE PUPPIES AVAILABLE HERE! Have you ever given any thought to where those puppies come from, especially if they come with ridiculously low-price tags? The truth is that a purebred pup, born to a reputable breeder who raise their dogs with compassion, love and in comfortable and humane conditions, is going to come with a price tag that is likely to be a little on the high side. In this, as in most things in life, you get what you pay for, and with pets, you could not only be buying an unhealthy dog if you go for low prices, you could be contributing to the ongoing abuse of dogs that are kept in horrifying conditions merely to keep popping out litters. I will not share some of the awful pictures here – they are just too horrific to share, but please look them up and spread the word – NO PET STORE PUPPIES! Encourage people to seek out the breeders who care about the dogs, and who raise them in a healthy, safe and comfortable environment. Even better, go to a rescue organization or shelter, and adopt a pet who is just waiting for their forever family to come and take them home, or find a family who has a dog that should have been spayed, wasn’t and they ended up with accidental pups. Moose’s mom was one of those dogs and I feel blessed to have him in our lives. They weren’t a puppy mill though – we determined that the moment we stepped foot on their property to check them out. Do your research so that you get a healthy pup without perpetuating the horrors of puppy mills.
Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day – I am one of those people who has a tendency to re-hash the past. What could I have done differently, what SHOULD I have done differently? If I had made this decision, or that decision, would things have been better? Would I have saved my kids this grief or that? Would I have been carrying less baggage, or more? The truth is that all of that talk is useless. Learning from our mistakes is good, it helps us not make them again, but fixating on the things we cannot change prevents us from moving forward into the future. Sometimes, depending on what your past issues are, this can prevent you from moving forward in a healthy way and making better choices from this point forward. Today you can change all of that! Today is the day to cast off all of that baggage and stop trying to second guess the decisions that cannot be changed. This is a big one for me. I hope it is for you too.
Woodie Wagon Day – For most of us, I’m guessing, our only experience with the Woodie Wagon is from old surfer movies, but the wood sided vehicle wasn’t just something done for style, there was a practical reason behind it! The popularity of this vehicle started in the 1940s. Steel was being salvaged for the war effort, so car manufacturers were turning to wood as a replacement. It was placed along the sides of the “wagon”, and was a great family vehicle for the 40’s and 50’s. As the popularity, and necessity, of the car subsided the prices dropped, and California surfers began buying them since they were not only inexpensive, they could easily carry their surf boards. Today the nostalgia continues in old movies and in the memory of those who had one in their family in those days.
July 22 –
Anne Hutchinson Memorial Day – (Always on a Sunday before or after her birthday on 7/20) – I am a little embarrassed to say that I didn’t know who Anne Hutchinson was, but after reading about her, I am hoping that you appreciate her contributions to our history as I do, and honestly, I feel like I should have dedicated an entire post to just this topic. Because there are other things to write about, I’ll be as brief as I can without doing injustice to this amazing woman.
Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643) was an early American colonist. She was famous as one of the early colonists of the Massachusetts Colony who was banished from Boston in 1637 for her religious and feminist beliefs and fled to the Rhode Island Colony. She was actually called “an American Jezebel, who had gone a-whoring from God” by Governor John Winthrop. He also said she should be “tried as a heretic”. As I looked for specific facts about Anne Hutchinson and her life, I was completely enthralled by the details of her life. She was born and baptized on July 20, 1591 in Alford, Lincolnshire, England. Her parents were Bridget Dryden and Francis Marbury. Her father was a deacon at Christ Church, Cambridge, and was ahead of his time when it came to education. He believed – unlike the majority of his peers – that girls should also be educated. As a result, she was very well-educated at home and developed a strong interest in theology. In 1612 she married William Hutchinson and they had 15 children together (busy woman!). They attended sermons by John Cotton and became followers of the Puritans and in 1634 when John Cotton joined the Puritan Colonies of New England. Anne’s family soon followed suit. They set sail to American in late 1634 with other colonists on the Griffin with the hope for religious freedom that was favorable to the new ideas of Puritanism. She joined the congregation of John Cotton, but she soon had issues with them because she had different ideas and she wished to have freedom of thought and to worship God as she believed, rather than how she was told to by the strict beliefs of the Puritans. The Puritans viewed women as inferior to men, and morally feeble individuals who would lead men to damnation if they were allowed to form an opinion or express a thought. Anne was determined to speak her mind, so she started a Women’s Club and held meetings in her home where the women discussed the Scriptures, prayed and reviewed sermons, and here she also expressed her own views. John Winthrop saw Anne as a ‘dissenter’ and denounced her meetings, stating that they were “a thing not tolerable nor comely in the sight of God, nor fitting for your sex.” He was determined to silence Anne and found a legal way to stop her. Small women’s prayer groups were allowed by law, but large groups listening to the teachings and opinions of one leader were thought to be disorderly, so in November of 1637 he had her arrested and placed in custody at the house of the marshal of Roxbury, Massachusetts. She was 46 years old and pregnant at the time. She was accused of violating the 5th commandment to “honor thy mother and father” and because of that encouraging dissent against the fathers of the commonwealth. She was also charged that her meetings tempted women to neglect the care of their own families. She was found guilty of heresy and condemned to banishment by the Civil Court. Anne and her followers left Boston in 1638 for the settlement that had been established by Roger Williams at Providence, Rhode Island, and set up their home in Portsmouth. They adopted a new government which provided for trial by jury and the separation of church and state. Quite a forward-thinking woman, very ahead of her time, and because of her and others like her, we have progressed to a time when women are considered to be equal, with their thoughts and opinions valued. And I have to admit, if I had lived in her time I would have been toast. Not a chance I would have been able to keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself. Anyone who knows me, knows that to be true.
Auntie’s Day – Many of us have a special aunt who always was there for us, through thick and thin. For me, this was my Aunt S. She listened to me when I needed to talk, and even as recently as May of this year, she came to the rescue when we were heading over to her side of the mountains and needed some help. She has always been, and will always be, a very special part of my life and I hope she knows how much I love and appreciate her.
Casual Pi Day – I’m the first to admit that I am NOT mathematically minded. I never have been. Pi Day, and today’s celebration Casual Pi Day, will mean more to those who care about more than the basics, so this is for all of my mathematically minded readers and friends! Ultimate Pi Day is celebrated on March 14, but for anyone who missed it, today is Casual Pi Day. What does that mean? Well, in Europe they wrote the date with the day followed by the month, which would make July 22nd “22/7” – which is the closest fractional approximation to Pi! For anyone who doesn’t know what Pi is, it is a name given to the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter. Simply put, for any circle, no matter the size, you can divide the distance around the circle (the circumference) by the diameter and ALWAYS get the same number. I admit, as challenged by math as I am, this is pretty cool. Pi is what is called an irrational number, which means that the digits never end or repeat in any known way. Because of this, calculating the digits of Pi has been something that has fascinated mathematicians throughout history. Some have spent their lives calculating the digits of Pi, but until computers came along, less than 1,000 digits had been calculated. In 1949 a computer calculated 2,000 digits and it became a challenge to find out how far it would go. As computers got more advanced, so did the number of digits of Pi . . . millions of digits have been calculated with the record (as of September 1999) held by a supercomputer at the University of Tokyo, of 206,158,430,000 digits. And so, it goes.
Fragile X Awareness Day – This is one that I had never heard of before, but it is fascinating and sad at the same time. Fragile X Syndrome is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability that affects an estimated 1 in 4,000 males and 1 in 6,000-8,000 females. It isn’t contagious, or the result of a particular behavior. It is passed from one generation to another and carried by both males and females. The good thing is that it can be diagnosed through DNA testing. The interesting thing is that it is a group of disorders that is caused by a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome – not a single disorder. The Centers for Disease Control lists the following physical and behavioral signs that could point to Fragile X:
* Not sitting, walking or talking as early as other children (developmental delays)
* Learning disabilities
* Speech and language delays
* Behavioral problems such as ADHD.
Often children have a typical facial appearance that gets more noticeable with age, and they feature:
* A large head
* A long face
* Prominent ears, chin and forehead
Males who have Fragile X Syndrome usually have some form of intellectual disability that range from mild to severe. Females with it can have normal intelligence, or some degree of intellectual disability, with or without learning disabilities. Autism spectrum disorders happen more frequently in children with Fragile X Syndrome. Though there is no cure for Fragile X, once diagnosed, through education and intervention in the forms of speech and language therapy, behavior therapy, physical therapy, etc, the lives of those affected can be greatly improved. In some cases medication is beneficial also. If you ever meet anyone who has a child in their lives affected by Fragile X Syndrome, remember that the physical, emotional and financial impact on the family is profound. This awareness day is to further the cause for research and funding for providing the necessary diagnostic tools and therapies to help families who would otherwise struggle alone.
Hammock Day – Today we celebrate the hammock. When I was growing up a neighbor had a hammock in their yard. I would struggle to get into it, then lie there very still so I wouldn’t fall out, and just watch the leaves of the Weeping Willow dance in the breeze, while I swung gently back and forth beneath its gracefully bowing branches. I’ve always thought it would be wonderful to have a hammock in the yard, but it just wouldn’t be the same without the trees. We just don’t have the sort that work for a hammock. But this celebration got me to wondering, where did the hammock come from? Well, I found out that it is thought to be an invention of the Mayan Indians in Central America. The earliest hammocks were woven from the bark of the Hamak tree but replaced by the Sisal plant because the fibers could be softened. The Indian nations of Central and South American had extensive trade routes between them, which permitted the hammock to be adopted in almost every country of Central America, and many in South America. Each country began making the hammock in their own way, with their own materials, including the cloth or fabric hammock that evolved in Brazil. Hammocks are mentioned in the logbook of Christopher Columbus’s first travel. According to thehammockcompany.com, he was introduced to the hammock, or “hamaca” by the Taino Indians from Haiti in 1492. Now that we know the history behind this wonderful invention, and with summer in full swing, it is time to slow down and relax and there’s no better way to do that than on a hammock! Enjoy! This is Baby R and his Daddy, T on their hammock. I absolutely love this picture!
Parent’s Day – I know we have Mother’s Day, and we have Father’s Day, but this is special and different. This isn’t just a Hallmark holiday intended to sell cards, candy and gifts. Today is the day to honor the importance of the family structure and family values, which are so important for the health of our children and of the nation. That structure and those values are established and nurtured by our parents. The best way to mark this day is by spending time with your parents, letting them know how much they are loved and appreciated. I was unable to hang out with Mom and Dad today, but they did come to visit us at our campsite and a walk on the trails on Saturday, so that counts . . . at least to me. As an interesting side note, this day (the 4th Sunday in July) was proclaimed as National Parents Day in 1994 by President Clinton.
Rat-Catcher’s Day – Today we commemorate the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the most infamous of all rat catchers. It is one of the most well-known stories in German folklore, and according to the story the town of Hamelin, Germany was infested by rats. The mayor promised to pay the Pied Piper handsomely if could get rid of the rats. So, the Pied Piper played his flute, and lured by the magical music, all the rats left town and followed him. He played his music all the way down to the river. Once there, he waded into the river with all of the rats following him, and they drowned. The mayor refused to pay him though, so one night when the townspeople were all asleep, the Pied Piper played his music again, but this time the children of the town followed him all the way into a cave. Some versions of the story vary here . . . in one version the Pied Piper kept them there until he was paid by the town for his services, but in most versions the children were never seen again. I honestly prefer the first version! That story could give kids nightmares, but I suppose the moral of the story is good – pay your debts. Nobody really knows why THIS day was chosen to be Rat Catcher’s Day, but it is thought that the Pied Piper rid Germany of the rats around June 26th, 1284, and that several weeks later when he lured the children away was July 22nd. Interesting, no matter what got it started.
Spooner’s (Spoonerism) Day – So what is a Spoonerism? Well, I had to look it up last year and I’d already forgotten by this year! I guess this is a good reminder! Apparently, it is a misspoken word or phrase where different sounds are mixed up. The term started with Reverend William Archibald Spooner, who would swap word sounds and come up with funny things by accident, rather than what he’d intended. For example, a couple of famous examples are when he said “swell foop” instead of fell swoop and “half-warmed fish” instead of half-formed wish. Another very famous example was when George Carlin said in his act “Don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the sweaty things”. This day is on Spooner’s birth day, July 22, 1844. Happy Birthday Reverend Spooner – and thanks for the chuckles! Today I saw a video by someone who cracks me up every single time I hear him speak – The Political Cowboy, Chad Prather. This is the PERFECT example of Spoonerisms that were done very well! Good job Mr. Prather!
This Day in History –
July 21, 1873 – Jesse James and his gang rob their first train.
July 22, 1934 – Bank robber John Dillon was shot dead.
July 22, 1975 – An act of Congress restores Civil War Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s citizenship.
Food Celebrations of the Day –
July 21 –
National Crème Brulee Day – The French, British and Spanish all claim they invented creme brulee. One thing’s certain, though: Cracking the top is always fun. But what is it? It’s a delicious custard treat, usually vanilla, that has had the top caramelized to a crunchy, golden crust. The center tends to stay cool. Honestly, the only time I’ve ever had it was on our cruise to Alaska, and I admit that I loved it. I wanted a 2nd one, but did control myself and stuck to just one. Yum. I did a search to find a low carb version of Crème Brulee, and did find one. I haven’t tried this, but it does sound good! Give it a try! You may find a new favorite!
National Junk Food Day – Junk food – yum, right? Pretty much anything that is a processed food is considered to be junk to our bodies but today we are celebrating those things that we KNOW are horrible for us but have a love/hate relationship with anyway. French Fries, potato chips, candy, tater tots (LOVE THESE) etc. Honestly, I won’t give in to this one today because we are going to be out celebrating Hubby’s birthday next week and doing it with the sorts of junk food we would be celebrating today. The most we might do it have a bit of a carb splurge with some popcorn tonight.
Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day – I have been to quite a few wine tasting events, but I can say that I have never tried strawberry rhubarb wine, and I am determined at some point to change this sad state of events! It sounds light and refreshing, doesn’t it? Strawberries are sweet and delicious, rhubarb is tart to the point of jaw locking, but when you combine the two in a dessert they make a lovely combination that balances each other out. Oh, my goodness. I want to try this! I had no idea I could actually find wine on Amazon, but I did a quick search and I found this link, showing just a label. I BELIEVE that this is wine – but can’t be sure. I wouldn’t want to pay this money on just a label. The one review wasn’t really informative either. However, at a price tag of $13.00 plus $18.00 shipping, which is indicative of ground shipping since I don’t think you can mail wine through airmail, this, I do believe, is a bottle of wine.
July 22 –
National BLT Day – Is there anything more delicious that a BLT made with thick cut, crisp slices of bacon, crunchy cold lettuce and the sweetness of a sun ripened tomato? Mmmm . . . on toasted sourdough. We were going to have steak or pork chops for dinner, but I am seriously leaning towards a BLT salad with blue cheese dressing now. That sounds delicious, easy and it won’t heat up the kitchen! YUM!
National Penuche Fudge Day – I’ve never heard of this and now I really want to try it! This sweet treat appeared in the 1929 “The Candy Cook Book” by Alice Bradley. This fudge tastes like its main ingredients, including brown sugar, vanilla and pecans (or walnuts, depending on the recipe you use). It is often featured at New England gift shops, candy shops and food fairs.
Not long before I had this ready to post, Hubby invited me out on a date, so we left for a few hours. I got back to it as soon as we got back. We had a great time, hope you did too. God bless you, have a great weekend, and I’ll see you on Monday!
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Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com