For Monday, July 25th, 2022

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MONDAY, JULY 25TH, 2022

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.

'

59 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Sunrise: 6:16 am

 Sunset: 8:52 

 pm

Life is a special   

occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Christmas in July which is a fun occasion to primarily remember the northern hemisphere’s snow banketed Christmas nights.  Its a fun way to satisfy the craving for cooler weather and holiday cheer that many people experience during the hottest month of the year. 

Some families love the concept of Christmas in July, especially if their family members are scattered across the states, because it is easier for them to have a get together in July, which is a summer month and weather is favorable for a vacation rather than in the freezing winter months when long distance traveling is really bad.

This untimely Christmas festival is often ascribed to a group of Irish tourists who went for a vacation in Sydney’s Blue Mountains in the summer months of July in 1980.  Away from the summer temperatures in their country, they were overjoyed at the sight of snow there.  It is believed that they convinced the proprietor of a local hotel in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales to hold a party called Yulefest.  The idea was an instant hit and caught on the imaginations of everyone present there.  The proprietor saw this as a golden opportunity in this and henceforth held a Christmas Party each year in July.  The local businessmen too jumped in on this unique festival and it continues to this day.

The market opportunity is undoubtably the most plausible reason for Christmas in July celebrations.  It is commonly said that the creation was dreamed up by retail merchants in the western countries who wanted to benefit from a holiday in July, which otherwise is a dull season for business and has few marketing opportunities.

In the United States, Christmas in July seems to be mainly a time of retail sales.  This holiday has become highly commercialized. 

To celebrate today, take some time to look back at your favorite Christmas pictures and remember the good times with your family and friends.  Maybe wish everyone you see a Happy Christmas in July!

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Calvin Coolidge 

I really never celebrated Christmas in July until we started camping.  The campground we permanently camped at always had a big celebration.  Everyone decorated their campers with Christmas lights and they had a party where Santa appeared dressed in an Hawaiian shirt. There was music and dancing and plenty of good food and treats for the children.  

For now it’s become a time when I try to think up what Christmas gifts I’ll be making for my family this year. I didn’t make any homemade gifts last year and have pretty much stopped my crafting this year, but now I think it is time to get back into it.  So today I’m going to sit down with my painting books and decide on what I want to do for Christmas gifts this year!  Maybe it’ll cool me down looking at all the pictures of Santa and snow.  Today’s pictures are of what I painted previous years.

It’s also my day to cook up something new here to eat and on the menu is :

Rustic Tomato Pie 

 Makes 8 servings

Dough for single crust pie

1 3/4 lbs. mixed tomatoes, seeded and cut up into 1/2 inch slices

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1/2 cup mayonaise

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp. minced fresh basil

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 bacon strips cooked and crumbled

2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  On a lightly floured surface roll dough to a one inch thick circle, transfer to a pie plate and trim crust to 1/2 inch beyond rim of plate.

Place half the tomatoes and half the onions in crust. Combine mayonaise, cheddar cheese, basil, salt and pepper; spread over the tomatoes.  Top with the remaining onions and tomatoes.  Fold over crust edge over filling, pleating as you go  and leaving an 8 inch opening in the center. Sprinkle with bacon and Parmesan cheese.  Bake on a lower oven rack until crust is golden and filling is  bubbly, about 30 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.  If desired, sprinkle with additional basil.

I happen to have a frozen premade pie crust in the freezer so will use that today.I’m looking forward to trying this out.  It’s different from what I usually eat.

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

COUNTING MY GIFTS 

The best gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

Author Unknown

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

 

10,459. for a day to celebrate the joy of Christmas 

10,460. for lots of painting books to review 

10,461.for something new for dinner ! There’s nothing like homegrown tomatoes !

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 EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.

Charles Dickens 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma