For Halloween, Thursday, October 31st, 2019

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31ST,2019 

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.

52 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

56 Days Until CHRISTMAS 

Sunrise: 7:58 am

 Sunset: 6:24 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark 

Today is Halloween, also known as All Hallows Eve, which is the evening before All Hallows Day or All Saints Day celebrated on November 1st.  The origin and meaning of Halloween are derived from the ancient Celtic harvest festivals, but more recently we think of Halloween as a night filled with candy, trick o treating, pumpkins and ghosts.

The celtic druids revered it as the biggest holiday of the year and emphasized that day as a time when the souls of the dead supposedly could mingle with the living.  Bonfires were a large asset of this holiday as well.

It was a popular holiday until St. Patrick and other Christian missionaries arrived in the area.  As the population began to convert to Christianity the holiday began to lose it’s popularity. 

The children would go door to door on halloween with soul cakes singing and saying prayers for the dead.  Churches took these days and incorporated  them into holy days. Halloween is also the first day of Allhallowtide.

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.

Author Unknown

I’ll be celebrating today by having dinner with DS# 5 and his family and helping to hand out treats to the tricksters.  The kids will be going out to trick or treat and hopefully I’ll get some pictures to share for tomorrow.  We’ll see.  DD and her family are also invited so it should be quite a happy party. 

I won’t be wearing a costume but I do have a Halloween Sweatshirt to put on and will have my coat on too.  It’s to be a wet and chilly evening.  It rained last year too and DS#5 set up a tent to sit under so we could stay dry while handing out candy.  That is what the pictures are of today, last year’s halloween celebration.  

We always hope for nice weather to get out in, but we don’t have much control over the weather but we do have umbrellas.

Eat. Drink, and be scary.

I hope you all have a GREAT day.  Happy Thursday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

A candy a day keeps the monsters away.

Author Unknown

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

7555. for a fun and family oriented holiday

7556. for the religious aspects of Halloween

7557. for tents and umbrellas to keep dry

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

On Halloween you get to become anything you that you want to be.

Ava Dellaira

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Wednesday, October 30th, 2019

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH,2019 

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.

52 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

56 Days Until CHRISTMAS 

Sunrise: 7:57 am

 Sunset: 6:26 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark 

Today is National Candy Corn Day which which is a confection in the United States and Canada.  Popular primarily around Halloween.  Candy corn was created 1880’s by George Renninger of Philadelphia, PA. based Wonder Candy Company.

The three colors of the candy, a broad yellow end a tapered orange center, and a pointed white tip, mimic the appearance of kernals of corn. Each piece is approximately three times the size of a real kernel from a ripe or dried ear of corn.  Candy corn is made primarily from sugar, corn syrup, artificial coloring and binders.  It is estimated that 20 million pounds of candy corn are sold annually.  Grab a handful to celebrate National Candy Corn Day.

This week is International Magic Week

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We elves try to stick to the four main food groups, candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.

Buddy the Elf

I love candy corn mixed with peanuts and always have some on hand this time of year.  It makes a great snack with the sweet and salty mixture.  Candy corn is also used during Thanksgiving when it represents the corn the Pilgrims ate at the first Thanksgiving Day.  

There is really nothing healthy about it but it’s good especially mixed with peanuts.  Here’s a recipe for what is known as Thanksgiving blessing mix in case you’d like to make some to have on hand for your family and friends.  It’s ’ become a tradition at my house.

Thanksgiving Blessing Mix

Bugles . shopped like a cornucopia is Horn of plenty, a symbol of our nation’s abundance

Pretzels. Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country

Candy Corn.   Sacrifice of the Pilgrims first winter. Settlers served on a few kernels of corn a day.

Nuts or seeds.  Promise of a future harvest.reaped only if seeds are tended with diligence.

Dried Fruits. Harvest gives of our bountiful land.

M&M’s  Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future

Hershy Kiss.  The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

Mix together and share with friends as small Thanksgiving favors. Bagged and decorated with this  harvest poem.  This mix brings a festive touch to your Thanksgiving table.  

But I don’t want to get ahead of myself with the holidays, they come fast enough on their own.  So we’ll keep it a treat for October.  

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL  Wednesday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

But let the good old corn adorn the hills our fathers trod; Still let us, for his golden corn, Send up our thanks to God 

John Greeleaf Wittier

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

7552.for festive candy to help celebrate the holidays

7553. for a holiday tradition

7554. for a little chocolate, M&M's make everything better

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!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Never take candy from strangers.

Rita Rudner

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Tuesday, October 29th, 2019

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH,2019 

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.

54 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

58 Days Until CHRISTMAS 

Sunrise: 7:56 am

 Sunset: 6:27 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark 

Today is National Cat Day which honors one of the most beloved human companions of all time.  They were first domesticated in the Middle East’s Fertile Crescent as early as 12,000 years ago.  When humans relied on hunting as the main source of food, dogs were most useful, but then the first agricultural societies emerged, cats became in valuable.  Domesticated cats became responsible for keeping grain stores free from miice and other rodents. Today cats can be found in 34 percent of American households, making them the most popular house pet in the United States.

Today is the perfect day to give extra attention to your feline friends.  Celebrate cats and the unconditional love they give.  Volunteer at your local animal shelter or make a donation.  It’s the purrrfect way to show you care.

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.

James Herriot

It’s been many years since I’ve had a cat, but I used to have quite a few.  One imparticular always comes to mind this time of year.  She was black and was called Spooky.  She live a long life and I had her for 18 years.  She was supposed to be DD’s cat but when she left home, she couldn’t take her so she became my cat.  She would perch herself on my shoulder and stay there purring in my ear for as long as I would let her.  

Black cats get a bad rap especial during Halloween season when they are associated with witches and other scary things the go bump in the night .  It sounds spooky fun but their reputation as an omen of bad luck has real consequences. Experts say black cats are less likely to be adopted and some people even harm then. Halloween can be a dangerous time.  They are at higher risk for abduction or injury by cruel people using them as trick or treat pranks . For that reason animal shelters often refuse to adopt out black cats during the month of October. Remember that black cats deserve as much love and attention as their other colored furry friends.

I do miss the companionship but I’m not able to take care of any pet the way they should be and they are very expensive to care for.  The picture of the cat in today’s pictures are from DS#5’s house.  They had the cat at the time, but sadly no longer. And as far as I know it was the last cat in the family.  Correct me if I’m wrong.  

I hope you all have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

What a 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.

7549, for cats, good companions

7550. for grand pets, easy way to enjoy what I don’t have 

7551. for DD who always takes a great picture

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

It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more kittens.

Cynthia E Varnado

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma