For Halloween, Wednesday, October 31st, 2018

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, 2018

55 Days until Christmas

Sunrise: 7:58 am

 Sunset: 6:24 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

  

Today is Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, which can be traced back to an ancient Celtic festival celebrated over 2000 years ago.  The Celtic calendar began on November 1st and the Celts believe that as the old year faded and the new year emerged, the boundaries between the living and the dead became unstable.  On the night of October 31st, the spirits could walk the earth. To combat evil spirits, they built huge bonfires and left bowls of food outside their homes and wore costumes and masks.

Halloween has now evolved to a family friendly event.  One quarter of all the candy sold in the US is purchased for Halloween and over 40 million children trick or treat in their neighborhood each year.  

Happy Halloween!

Today is also National Caramel Apple Day.

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative.

Judy Gold 

Tonight I’m going to be having some Halloween fun. I’ll be joining DS#5, DD and their families for dinner and trick or treating.  It’s always fun to see the little ones all dressed up in their costumes.  

I’ve lots more Jack O Lantern pictures to share today. Everyone likes to be an artist and have some original designs it seems.

Holiday tip for today:Reuse and recycle packaging materials.

Stockpile mailing boxes and use them for your own gift mailings.  Make sure to remove or cover old mailing labels.  A permanent black marker makes it easy to do.  It’s also easy to recycle styrofoam packing materials if you keep them stored in a drawstring garbage bag.  Use what is needed and then seal back up.

They say we will probably have a rainy Halloween here.  I guess nature is playing some kind of trick on us, but then no matter the weather we’ll be bringing our own sunshine.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

L.M. Montgomery

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

6478. for a family friendly holiday

6479. for recycling which saves some money

6480. for another good cup of pumpkin spice coffee this morning

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

  

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight.

Author Unknown

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Tuesday, October 30th, 2018

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH, 2018

56 Days until Christmas

Sunrise: 7:57 am

 Sunset: 6:25 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

  

Today is National Candy Corn Day which celebrates a sweet fall treat. Candy corn is a favorite American treat to enjoy during the Halloween season.  

Made of sugar, corn syrup and coloring, candy corn was invented in the 1880s by Geoge Menninger of Wunderie Candy company in Pennsylvania.  

The colors of candy corn represent the autumn season and the beauty of corn. And it’s hoped that the little nuggets will brighten up some dark days.  

Grab a handful to celebrate today!

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

A little sugar helps the medicine go down...

I always have candy corn this time of year and  mix it with honey roasted peanuts.  The sweet and salty taste is really good.  The pictures today are of my bowl of candy corn and also a wreath I got several years ago that has candy corn on it.    I usually put it around a candle holder on the table, but it could be used around the candy bowl too.    

Candy corn is often used in what is called Blessing Mix that I’ve made for Thanksgiving many times over the years. I know I’ve shared this before, but here it is again.

Blessing Mix

2 cup Bugles brand corn snacks

2 cups small pretzels

2 cup candy corn

1 cup raisins

1 cup peanuts

1 cup M&M’s brand chocolate candy

16 Hershey’’s brand chocolate kisses 

16 servings

Gift Tags for treat bags

Bugles represent the cornucopia, a horn of plenty

Pretzels represent arms folded in thanks and prayer

Candy corn reminds us that during the first winter the 

Pilgrims were allowed only a few kernels of

 corn per day because food was so scarce.

Seeds and nuts are promise of a future harvest if they are

planted and well tended

Fruit is a reminder of the harvest gifts from the land

M & M’s are for Memories of those who came before us.

Hershey’s kiss is a reminder of the love of family and friends

that sweeten our lives 

My days seem all turned around this week, but just because it is not supposed to rain today, I’m hoping to get outside and do a little leaf duty.  

We seem to be having more rainy days that not so have to may hay while the sun shines!

I hope you all have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Gratitude is the best attitude

Author Unknown

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

6475. for candy corn good with nuts

6476. for a dry day

6477. for treat to remind us what we’re thankful for

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

  

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats

Iris Murdoch

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Monday, October 29th, 2018

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 29TH, 2018

57 Days until Christmas

Sunrise: 7:56 am

 Sunset: 6:27 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

  

Today is National Cat Day, which celebrates cats and the unconditional love and companion shape they give to their owners. Cats are one of the most beloved human companions of all time. Today cats can be found in 34 percent of American households, making them the most popular house pet in the United States.

National Cat Day also seeks to raise awareness of the thousands of cats that need to be rescued.  If you don’t own a cat, volunteer at your local animal shelter or make a donation.  It’s the purrrfect way to show you care.

Today is also National Oatmeal Day.

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Time spent with cats is never wasted.

Colette

I no longer have a cat or any pet for that matter, but I used to have them, both cats and dogs.  The first cat we owned came to our door one Thanksgiving and we named him Thanks. That was years ago but I’ll never forget that Thanksgiving gift.  We had four more after him and enjoyed all of them.  All of them were indoor cats and each one had their own personality.  

Today I’m hoping to catch up on what I didn’t get done last week.  I was without water, more than not, every day while they worked on fixing the leak and that made it almost impossible to get much done.  We really don’t know just how much we depend on running water until we don’t have it.  I did manage to catch up on the laundry Saturday, so at least that much is done.

Today’s holiday tip:  Blooming bulbs make a fresh fragrant holiday gift. 

Forcing bulbs for Christmas is easy and inexpensive, but it takes time.  If amaryllis is on your gift list, the time is now. These bulbs will be at their best 8 weeks after forcing them, so now is time to start them.

Last year I was pleasantly surprised to see some hyacinth bulbs starting to come up in one of the pots I’d set outside after Easter.  My sister has a sunny room so she took them to her house and at Christmas gave them back to me and I enjoyed their fragrant blooms through the Christmas season.  I sat them and an Easter lily outside again after Easter this year, so I’m going to have to check and see just how they are doing now.

The tree out front really changed color over the weekend and it’s leaves are starting to fall now. The picture is dark, but then that is the kind of weekend we had.  That and my Christmas hyacinth are what are in today’s pictures along with a more pumpkin fun that was had over the weekend for a few of the grands

I hope you all have a GREAT start to this new week.  Happy Monday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

What greater gift than the love of a cat?

Charles Dickens

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

6472. for running water

6473. for bulbs that make wonderful gifts

6474. for grandchildren's happy faces 

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

  

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

In order to keep a true perspective on one’s importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.

Derek Bruce

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma