celebrate the day: This Week…Celebrating Kindness - 02/16/24 05:11 PM
This Week…Celebrating Kindness
 
Today, February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day.   Many say that we should celebrate this every single day and they’re absolutely right. 
 
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was established in 1995 with the goal of making kindness the norm! 
What gift can you give that costs you nothing…makes you and the recipient feel good…and no matter how many thoughtful acts you give away, you will always have more to share.
 
KINDNESS
 
In our current environment, it is easy to become frustrated with every news story you hear or read. Many of us no longer listen to the news but … (23 comments)

celebrate the day: Celebrate the Day…Motivate and Inspire - 01/01/24 04:41 PM
Celebrate the Day…Motivate and Inspire
 
What an appropriate day for the beginning of the year!  Today, January 2, is National Motivation and Inspiration Day and yes it is a DAY! 
 
 
Passed by Congress in December 2001 after the events of 9-11, the hope was to motivate and inspire people to continue living their lives.  
 
Our ActiveRain community continues to inspire me with your posts and comments. That’s not all, though. The friendships made here and knowing I can count on the community continue to keep me inspired. 
One of the greatest gifts we can offer someone is the inspiration to be who they want to … (14 comments)

celebrate the day: Happy New Year! Welcome, 2024! - 12/31/23 04:55 PM
Happy New Year! Welcome, 2024!
 
Happy New Year to my ActiveRain friends. 
 
My wish for 2024 is that we continue to learn and grow on our journey through life. 
 
 
I hope that KINDNESS becomes our norm rather than a rarity. 
 
Let diversity go hand in hand with acceptance. And please, let common sense emerge from the dark where it has been hiding. 
 
Let me continue to be a better person tomorrow than I was today. 
 
 
Thank YOU, ActiveRain for being part of my 2023!!

On my calendar for today or the next is to de-holiday my home and watch the bowl games!  


Every year you make a resolution … (17 comments)

celebrate the day: Merry Christmas 2023 - 12/24/23 05:58 PM
Merry Christmas 2023


May the joy that fills our hearts this holiday season stay with us long after the trees and lights have been packed away for next year. 
 May the goodwill we share with others in December stay with us through the buds of Spring, the heat of Summer, and the changing colors of Fall. 
 Keep the spirit of this holiday close to your heart. 
 
 Merry Christmas to all my ActiveRain friends!
 

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,
Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope
And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.
The world is encouraged to … (14 comments)

celebrate the day: Happy Birthday to My Soulmate - 11/30/23 11:46 AM
Happy Birthday to My Soulmate
 
My wonderful husband, Larry, has a birthday today!!! 
 
Over 46 years ago I met this brilliant Renaissance man. Every day, I thank my lucky stars for the day we sat by our apartment pool and he beat me in several games of backgammon. 
 

He may not have been who I’d ever imagined I’d end up with but he’s the person I needed and whom I was meant to be with.
 
He can do just about anything including being a Fighter Pilot in the USAF, going on a 10-day wilderness expedition in the Everglades, sewing his own lightweight tent, and making … (17 comments)

celebrate the day: Full of Gratitude For Thanksgiving - 11/22/23 05:45 PM
Full of Gratitude For Thanksgiving
 
Writing the posts for this month’s Gratitude Challenge and preparing our Thanksgiving dinner for our family took me down Memory Lane. 
 
My first memory was growing up and playing flag football with my cousins in the front yard after Thanksgiving dinner. One Thanksgiving I attended the  Annual Texas-Texas A&M  game in College Station with a boyfriend. 
 
 
 
At one time we’d have two Thanksgiving dinners…one with the family and the 2nd one prepared in our apartment for our friends whose families were out of town. 
 
 
One Thanksgiving in Leesburg, VA, it was just Larry and me and we still cooked a … (20 comments)

celebrate the day: Honoring All Who Have Served… - 11/10/23 12:02 PM
Honoring All Who Have Served…
 
The Freedoms we have (and there are many) come at a price, paid for by the men and women who have served and continue to serve in our Armed Forces. 
 
 
There are currently “17.9 million veterans about 6.8% of the U.S. Population. “
 
Veterans Day is about recognizing and honoring ALL who have served in our military. Whether or not they served overseas or stateside…flew a jet or navigated the high seas…all made a sacrifice. 
 
All who serve in any capacity have sworn to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...”
 
If you … (17 comments)

celebrate the day: World Heart Day…Celebrate YOUR Heart - 09/28/23 05:12 PM
World Heart Day…Celebrate YOUR Heart
 
World Heart Day is today, September 29.  It’s an important day for all of us because …

On average someone in the US dies of CVD every 34 seconds. 
 
224 per 100,000
The age-adjusted US death rate attributable
to CVD
 
 
Twenty-four years ago Larry and I spent 4 months chasing down his medical issue. 

He had thallium stress tests and wore a monitoring device. He was referred to a Gastroenterologist and still nothing was found. Yet, Larry knew that something was not right. 

It took our friend suffering a massive heart attack in our driveway to make us take the next step. Larry … (31 comments)

celebrate the day: Thankful Thursdays…Gratitude and Peace - 09/20/23 01:58 PM
Thankful Thursdays…Gratitude and Peace
 
We need these in our lives…gratitude and peace. As it so happens, today is World Gratitude Day and International Day of Peace. 
 
Being grateful is not just about saying Thank you. We’re taught to do that when we’re toddlers. 
 
Being grateful takes thought…it means recognizing the people, experiences, things, and achievements in our lives that bring us joy. 
 
Being grateful is also an art we can develop and make a habit. It’s learning to find the positive where others may see all that’s wrong. 
 
It is also the International Day of Peace. It’s sad to think that there are countries where the … (21 comments)

celebrate the day: National Read a Book Day - 09/05/23 01:16 PM
National Read a Book Day
 
The ability and desire to read have always been important to me.  It goes back to my days administering psychological tests. I was floored when I learned that a great many could not read above the 3rd-grade level.  

Having the ability to read opens doors for you…in your work and personal life. Books can carry you to places you may never see or light a desire in you to learn more about.

Several years ago I had the opportunity to take part in Delray Reads. There were law enforcement officers, firefighters, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles…all there to instill … (20 comments)

celebrate the day: Friday Fun…Crispy or Soft on the Inside? - 08/03/23 04:59 PM
Friday Fun…Crispy or Soft on the Inside?
 
There are many desserts I can pass up but I rarely miss accepting a GOOD homemade chocolate chip cookie. 
 
 
Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day so let’s have some fun. By the way, did you know that the chocolate chip cookie was voted America’s favorite cookie?
 
I’m a bit picky about my cookies, though. If I'm going to eat all the calories (and sugar) I want it to be worth it. My mother made the best “Original Toll House Cookies” which she kept in a real cookie jar!
 
To make good chocolate chip cookies, you have to … (27 comments)

celebrate the day: Friday Fun…What’s Your Junk? - 07/20/23 03:03 PM
Friday Fun…What’s Your Junk?
 
It is once again time to come out of the closet and celebrate your favorite junk food because today is National Junk Food Day! 
I have no idea who started this or why, nor does it matter. What matters is what is your favorite junk food??!!
 
Junk food-“food that is high in calories but
low in nutritional content.
Merriam-Webster
               
 
 
Don’t be shy! We won’t judge you and think horrendous things about you!  

In case you’re curious…
 
Snack Foods by Zodiac sign. (mind is donuts)

 
Top 10 Iconic Junk Foods

100 Greatest Snacks of All Time

The 2022 … (21 comments)

celebrate the day: July 4th 2023…Happy Birthday, Land That I Love - 07/03/23 04:59 PM
July 4th 2023…Happy Birthday, Land That I Love
Happy Birthday, America! 
At 247 years young, it is time to celebrate our nation’s birthday.  
 
 
While we are not without our faults, I would not want to live in any other country.  
 
Like families around the world, we fight, argue, and have different opinions about everything. 
 
However, it is important to remember that in times of crisis, We The People come together. 
 
 
 
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.
Thomas Jefferson
 
 
As it is customary to bring a gift to someone celebrating a birthday, I … (16 comments)

celebrate the day: Remembering D-Day and Another Special "D" Day for Me - 06/05/23 05:06 PM
Remembering D-Day and Another Special "D" Day for Me
 
Today marks the 79th anniversary of the  Allied invasion of German Occupied Western Europe...D-Day. It was to be the “largest air, land, and sea operation before or since that day.”  Its codename was Operation Overlord.
 
 
Many only know of D-Day from movies like Saving Pvt Ryan or The Longest Day. This is why it is important that our children and those who follow us know more about this well-planned campaign that historians called “the beginning of the end of World War II.”
 
As of 2022 only 167,284 of the 16 million Americans who served … (18 comments)

celebrate the day: Memorial Day…Words Are Not Enough - 05/28/23 06:01 PM
Memorial Day…Words Are Not Enough
 
I know this is a busy time and there are countless Memorial Day posts to read, so if you do nothing else while visiting my post, I hope you’ll watch this video made by Alejandro Villanueva…
 


This weekend many of us have been spending time with friends and family members…celebrating the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. 

However, let us not forget that this precious time we have been given is due in part to the many sacrifices over the years of those who defended our country and our way of life at the … (20 comments)

celebrate the day: This Week…Celebrating Armed Forces Day - 05/19/23 04:52 PM
This Week…Celebrating Armed Forces Day
 
Today is Armed Forces Day…the day we honor and celebrate those currently serving in our military.
 
 
It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle. 
General Norman Schwarzkopf

Go ahead and fire up the grill and break out the flag for this special day. 
 
 
It can get confusing because we all want to do what’s right to honor military personnel. 
 
Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the armed forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to guard.
President John … (22 comments)

celebrate the day: May the Force - 05/03/23 06:41 PM
 
May the Force
 
As you know, today is May the Fourth, however for those who enjoy all things Star Wars, today is May the Force.


 
Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering   Yoda

In the interest of full disclosure, I am more of a fan of the original trilogy…you know, Hans Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke. 
Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.  Yoda


My brother is a huge Star Wars fan so for his  60th birthday, his daughters surprised him with a Star Wars birthday … (31 comments)

celebrate the day: Wordless Wednesday…For the Birds - 04/25/23 04:46 PM
Wordless Wednesday…For the Birds
 
Today, April 26, is Audubon Day so we are celebrating the birds!!! The day celebrates the birthday of John James Audubon! 
 
The birds in our backyard must know that we are celebrating this because we have had a very busy flight pattern over our bird feeders this week. 
 
 
The Orioles have been enjoying our buffet of cut oranges and grape jelly. 

We saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak for the first time at our feeder. We also have our hummingbirds, blue jays, bluebirds, mockingbirds, Chickadees, and other assorted feathered friends. 

 
If you want to attract birds to your backyard all you need to do … (18 comments)

celebrate the day: Good Friday Wishes - 04/06/23 01:39 PM
Good Friday Wishes
 
Good Friday is a solemn day for Christians. While families will come together on Easter Sunday, with dinners, picnics, and, of course, Easter egg hunts, none of this means anything without the selfless act of one Man.
 
 
It seems to me that if one Man would do this for all of us, the very least we could do is show Him our gratitude for His sacrifice by in turn showing kindness, love, and forgiveness to the people in our lives. 

The highest act of love is the giving of the best gift, and, if necessary, at the greatest cost, to … (18 comments)

celebrate the day: National Vietnam War Veterans Day is March 29…Time to Honor and Celebrate Their Efforts - 03/28/23 05:00 PM
National Vietnam War Veterans Day is March 29…Time to Honor and Celebrate Their Efforts
 
Many of us were around during the Vietnam War. We had classmates and relatives who served. Some here may have served as well. Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
 
When the young men and women returned home, they were not greeted with parades and the gratitude that they deserved. Many placed their negative feelings about the war on them.
 
Larry was an F-4 pilot; a good friend, Vic, was part of the Lost Platoon in May of 1967.  I had a cousin who saw a sight so horrible … (20 comments)

 


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