Celebrate Hairstyle Appreciation Day & National Oatmeal Cookie Day & National Mahjong Day & National Raisin Day & Thank You Thursday

Happy National Oatmeal Cookie Day &
             Hairstyle Appreciation Day &
                National Mahjong Day &
                 Thank You Thursday &
                 National Raisin Day

You can celebrate Oatmeal Cookie Day and National Raisin Day together if you have oatmeal raisin cookies.

Find a Mahjong game online and enjoy the matching.  It's one of my favorite games, although, I just realized I don't have a Mahjong game that I've played this year!

We can really have some fun with Hairstyle Appreciation Day since most, if not all, of us haven't been to a hairstylist in almost 2 months.  Be creative because I know your hair is getting long unless you cut it yourself.  One of my colleagues is wearing a hat to virtual meetings because he cut his hair himself.  Did you see the video on Facebook of the man who cut his own hair with pruning shears?  

Since it's Thank You Thursday, let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who reads and participates in these little celebrations with me.  I appreciate your input and comments.  Feel free to post your own pictures of celebrations as we look for ways to enjoy life day by day.  The days I choose are not the only days (and you can make up your own too - I think I'll do that next year) so please share a different day to celebrate if you want.

Ephesians 1:16  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Celebrate International Dance Day and several other things

Celebrate International Noise Awareness Day &
                    National Shrimp Scampi Day & 
                          International Dance Day &
                             National Zipper Day &
                                   Denim Day

There's a lot to celebrate these last 3 days of April!

The Recipe Critic has an easy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi recipe.

Celebrate National Zipper Day and Denim Day by wearing jeans that zip.  See how many things with zippers you can wear or use today.  Zippers come on more things than just clothes, like zip lock bags, for instance. 

While you're eating shrimp scampi and wearing things that zip, do a little dance to celebrate International Dance Day.

But be quiet about it.  Remember it's International Noise Awareness Day.

Psalm 30:11  You [God] turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

Happy National Blueberry Pie Day & National Kiss Your Mate Day & School Bus Drivers' Day & National Superhero Day

Celebrate National Blueberry Pie Day &
                 National Kiss Your Mate Day &
                  School Bus Drivers' Day &
                    National Superhero Day!

Blueberry pie is one of hubby's favorites.  Cake Whiz has an Easy Blueberry Pie recipe.  I like blueberries in moderation and pie is not my favorite way to eat them.

But I'll still kiss my mate, Denny, even if he eats blueberry pie!

Do school bus drivers count as superheroes?  I've heard some stories from my superhero Pastor, Glen Keefer, and I think they should qualify.  They're kind of like Batman; they have no mystic powers, just lots and lots of superhuman patience.

Ephesians 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Today would be a great day to watch a movie or show about superheroes.  I think Doctor Who should qualify as a superhero; he's saved the earth enough times!  Who's your favorite superhero?

Makenzie - I am Batgirl

Celebrate Babe Ruth Day & National Prime Rib Day

It's Babe Ruth Day & National Prime Rib Day

Watch an old baseball game to celebrate Babe Ruth Day or eat a Baby Ruth candy bar.  Although, the Curtiss Candy Company says the candy bar is not named after Babe Ruth the baseball player, but it was named after Ruth Cleveland, President Grover Cleveland's daughter.

If you are fortunate enough to have a steak, by all means celebrate it even if it isn't prime rib.  We will probably celebrate with hamburgers, it's beef.

Psalm 27:13-14  I remain confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Celebrate National Pretzel Day

Psalm 27:1  The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?
                    The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?

There are pretzel recipes that use yeast and some that don't.  You can form them into the traditional pretzel shape, roll them into straight sticks, or make them into bites.  No matter which method you choose, my research shows making pretzels is more work than I care to put into them so I will buy my pretzels.  How about you?  Do you like pretzels?  Have you ever made them?

Celebrate National Zucchini Bread Day & National Telephone Day

It's National Zucchini Bread Day & National Telephone Day

Psalm 27:7  Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

Little Sweet Baker has a Real Simple Zucchini Bread recipe on her website.  Grating the zucchini sounds like the only difficult thing in this recipe.  I've never made zucchini bread so I have no idea how hard it is to make.  Have you ever made zucchini bread?  Is it easy?

How will you celebrate National Telephone Day today?  Will you play on your phone?  Will you play telephone with those in your household?  Will you play "I called grandma on the telephone and told her about 1 apple.  I called grandma on the telephone and told her about 1 apple and 2 boats," etc.?  Will you make a telephone out of a string and 2 tin cans? 
Did you ever talk on one of these?

Celebrate Pigs in a Blanket Day

It's Pigs in a Blanket Day!

Psalm 125:2  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.

The Lord surrounds us and holds us.  He's even closer than that "blanket" is around that "pig."
I have hot dogs and a can of biscuits to make pigs in a blanket; or I might just mash the bread around the hot dog when I eat it.  Amanda's family will be celebrating with the real thing pictured below.
Do you like pigs in a blanket?

Celebrate Movie Theater Day & English Language Day & Impossible Astronaut Day

It's Movie Theater Day & English Language Day & Impossible Astronaut Day.

Since we're staying safe at home, we will have to pretend we are watching a movie in a theater.  Find a good movie to watch, pop some popcorn, turn out the lights, and get comfy on the sofa.

This week has many references to language.  Today, it's English Language Day.  Choose your words wisely as you use them today.

Proverbs 16:24  Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Do you know what Impossible Astronaut Day refers to?  Leave a comment below.

Celebrate National Jelly Bean Day

Happy National Jelly Bean Day.

It's a week to celebrate beans.  Today, it's jelly beans.  Many probably prefer them to lima beans.  I think I prefer lima beans.  Jelly beans just aren't my favorite thing to eat.  How about you?  They come in lots of flavors and the dentist loves them.  What's your favorite jelly bean flavor?

Ephesians 2:10  For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Apparently, it's also Earth Day.  Amanda's family says, "Have a little dandelion soup."

Celebrate National Tea Day and BIG WORD Day

It's National Tea Day and BIG WORD Day.

There are so many different flavors of tea and you can drink it hot or iced.  What's your favorite tea?  Or is tea not your "cup of tea?"

Share a BIG WORD today.  Merriam Webster has a Word of the Day on their website.  Sunday's word was alienist which is another word for psychiatrist.  So, it looks like this is saying psychiatrists may be aliens.  Yep, that's the rumor I'm starting.

Here are some big words to think about today.
God is Immutable (He never changes) (Malachi 3:6)
God is Omnipotent (He is all powerful) (Psalm 33:6)
God is Omniscient (He is all-knowing) (Isaiah 46:9-10)
God is Omnipresent (He is always everywhere ) (Psalm 139:7-10)

Chinese Language Day & Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day & Lima Bean Respect Day

Celebrate Chinese Language Day & Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day & Lima Bean Respect Day.

We think of China frequently because we have family living there.  That's why Chinese Language Day made it on my calendar.  It's amazing to hear my family from overseas speak Chinese as fluently as they speak English.  It's a very difficult language to learn; an inflection can change the whole word.  Several years ago, Katherine liked to pretend that she spoke Chinese and would just talk gibberish, very convincingly.

SPD (aka stockpilingmoms.com) has an Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe to try.  The cake looks like it takes more time and effort than it actually does.  Which means it looks impressive when you serve it, right?

It's also Lima Bean Respect Day - a day to give some respect to the lowly, unloved lima bean.  (At least, it's unloved by my children.)  But it should be respected just like the black bean and kidney bean (which are loved in my family).

Genesis 11:9  That is why it was called Babel - because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world.  From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Celebrate National Garlic Day

Happy National Garlic Day

Sounds like Italian food is on the menu for today.  I only use garlic powder so that's what my recipes use but they can be converted to "real" garlic.

Yesterday, I made Melt in Your Mouth Chicken and it lived up to its name.  The chicken was so moist.  The recipe is on Food.com and uses 1 tsp of garlic powder.

Another yummy recipe that uses 1 tsp of garlic powder is Garlic Herb Pull-Apart Rolls.  There's a really easy recipe on the Southern Bite website.  You really have to try this one.

What's your favorite recipe that uses garlic?

Colossians 3:15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.

Celebrate Husband Appreciation Day & National Animal Cracker Day

It's Husband Appreciation Day and National Animal Cracker Day

Since many of us have been together in the house for so long, it might be a good time to reflect on how much we used to love and appreciate our husbands, in case that needs some bolstering.  Mine is extremely caring and helpful (for real).  He is very sweet and peace-loving.  I do appreciate him and all he does to take care of me and our family.

I wish I had some animal crackers - vanilla or chocolate!  Since I don't, I may have to watch Shirley Temple sing "Animal Crackers in my Soup" which she sang in Curly Top.  Years ago, my first day at a new job, my supervisor left a box of animal crackers on my desk with a post-it note that read, "Welcome to the zoo."  It was one of the best jobs I've ever had.

Proverbs 31:12  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

It's International Haiku Poetry Day & National Cheese Ball Day

A Haiku poem consists of 3 sentences.  The 1st sentence has 5 syllables.  The 2nd sentence has 7 syllables.  And the 3rd sentence has 5 syllables.

First, five syl-la-bles.

Sec-ond, sev-en syl-la-bles.

Third, five syl-la-bles.

Have fun creating your own Haiku.  Please share it with us.

Enjoy some cheese and crackers while you write your Haiku.  My Kitchen Craze has an easy cheese ball recipe but it has to be refrigerated for an hour before you can eat it.  Cooking Classy also has an easy cheese ball recipe.  It also has to be refrigerated for an hour before you can eat it.

I'll make a cheese ball.

No ingredients around!

No cheese ball for me.

Psalms are not Haikus but many are beautiful, inspired poetry-like readings.  Psalm 1 and Psalm 139 are two of my favorites.  Do you have any favorite Psalms?

Happy Day of the Mushroom & National High Five Day

If you like mushrooms, this day is for you.  Day of the Mushroom celebrates edible mushrooms.  If you're going to eat them, it's good to know the difference.  I don't like mushrooms so when I buy them, it's in a little can and I only put them on pizza because others in my family like them.  But you mushroom lovers enjoy celebrating today.

It's National High Five Day - a day boys and men would love if we were allowed to get close to others.  It's the one day when giving a high five is cool.  However, since we're all practicing social distancing, here are some high five suggestions.

• The Air Five - just like a high five, minus the hand-to-hand contact.  It's a pretend high five, a wave high five, sort of.  The high five you can practice with the people 6 feet away from you.
• The Self High Five - raise one hand up then bring your other hand up to high five yourself!  (Girls call that clapping but I guess if you only do it once, it can be a high five.)

Proverbs 11:15  Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

high five from Aubrey

1st McDonald's Opens & National Banana Day

Today the 1st McDonald's opened on April 15, 1955.  That particular building is no longer standing but if it was it would be just a few months older than me.  I'm planning an escape for a yummy iced coffee or diet coke and maybe some fries or a burger!  I admit I'm a McDonald's kind of girl.  Year before last, for Christmas, Denny went to McD's in secret and got unused fries bags and put enough money in each to buy a diet coke.  I don't remember how many envelopes there were but he taped them all shut and each time I used one it gave me time to think (some were grateful thoughts, and some not so much) as I struggled to open them.  He's very creative and sweet.

It's also National Banana Day.  Bananas are so good.  I prefer mine straight but I also like them baked in a loaf once in awhile.

We can take a deep breath today because the due date for income tax returns has been postponed until July 15, 2020.

Today read Luke 19:1-10 about a tax collector.  Vs 10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Tyler chooses to celebrate McDonald's Day today.

Happy National Pecan Day and Look up at the Sky Day

Happy National Pecan Day and Look up at the Sky Day.

Pecans have antioxidant benefits.  They help with immune-cell development and function.  Pecans can also improve cholesterol levels.  They would be a healthy addition to your diet if you don't currently eat them.

But if you don't have any pecans today, you can still celebrate by going outside and looking up at the sky.  Hopefully, it isn't raining like it was here yesterday.  Can you find shapes in the clouds?   Is it relaxing to watch them drift across the sky?  Post a picture of your beautiful sky today.

Revelation 1:7a " Look, He is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see Him,

It's National Peach Cobbler Day & Scrabble Day & Thomas Jefferson Day.

It's National Peach Cobbler Day & Scrabble Day & Thomas Jefferson Day.

Do you like cobblers?  They seem pretty easy to make.  Recipes That Crock has an easy peach cobbler recipe to try.  If you don't want to make cobbler in the crockpot, Lil' Luna has an easy peach cobbler recipe that bakes in the oven and sounds yummy.  

It's Scrabble Day.  That would include playing Take Two (aka Bananagrams) as well as Scrabble.  There are also all kinds of word games online.  What's your favorite word game?  Take some time to play with letters today.

Thomas Jefferson was quite an accomplished man who had many interests.  Do you use any of his inventions?  Let's celebrate his life by sharing some of the things he did, invented, etc.  Please share a trivia fact about Thomas Jefferson.

Matthew 7:24  Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Katherine & Forrest game night

Matt & Cat game night

Happy Easter, Wear a Star Day, & National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

I wish Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day was Monday when we might have leftover ham to go on the sandwich.

Happy Easter, aka Resurrection Day!  Today, as we remember the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am thankful for His sacrifice and paying the penalty for my sin and setting me free to live for God.  He is risen.  He is risen indeed!

Wear a Star Day is for those who have suffered the loss of a child.  It is to honor the "little stars" that are no longer with us.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

National Humor Month

It's National Humor Month.

Share some humor below.

Proverbs 17:22a  A cheerful heart is good medicine.

It's Golfer's Day, National Siblings Day, National Farm Animals Day, Global Work from Home Day, & Good Friday

Golfers, take your clubs out and practice some swings in the yard.  Make a putting "green" and practice tapping the ball into a plastic container.  If your grass is a little longer, you can practice putting in the rough.

Read Charlotte's Web to celebrate National Farm Animals Day.  Search funny farm animals on YouTube for some giggles.  What's your favorite farm animal?

This is a Global Work from Home Day like no other.  How ironic that most of the world is working from home.  And why is this even on Good Friday, which should be a holiday from work?

As our world goes through these unsettling times, think of the unsettling times in Jesus' life during this holy week and think on how He viewed them.
Hebrews 12:1-2  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Remember good times with your siblings today.  I don't have any siblings so my thoughts turn to my children and grandchildren.  Here's our youngest grand.

Happy National Unicorn Day (it's also National Humor Month)

Once upon a time, my family went to a Medieval Times for dinner and the show.  I sat between two of my daughters.  Towards the end of the show someone rode a unicorn into the arena.  At the same time, they leaned toward me and one whispered, "That looks so fake," which the other whispered, "I knew unicorns were real!"

If you're wondering what happened to the unicorns, listen to The Unicorn Song by the Irish Rovers.

Have you seen the meme, "Save the Chubby Unicorns?"

Psalm 20:7  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Jackson and Makenzie the unicorns

Happy Zoo Lovers Day

Since we aren't able to go to the zoo, let the Internet bring the zoo to you.

Watch the movie We Bought a Zoo.  

Check out these webcams to get your zoo animal fix.

The Houston Zoo

The National Zoo

Kansas City Zoo

Carolina Tiger Rescue has live streaming events on Facebook.

Go to YouTube and search zoo animals and see what comes up.  Not all zoo, many pets, but most are funny.  
Check out 10 Wild Animals that Escaped from the Zoo! by Top 5 Best from Mar 11, 2020.

Thanks to God's mercy and Noah's obedience, we still have wild animals.
Genesis 7:14  They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to its kind and every bird according to its kind, everything with wings.

Happy National Coffee Cake Day & National No Housework Day & don't miss the pink supermoon tonight

Coffee cake is any cake flavored with or intended to be eaten with coffee.  That would be any cake, right?  I really want to try making waffles with cake mix.  I have pie filling to top it with too.

Here's a challenge since we're all at home with nowhere to go.  Can you go all day without doing any housework?  No laundry, no dishes, no sweeping the floors.

Make sure to go outside tonight to see the pink supermoon.  A supermoon occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth in its elliptical orbit while in its full phase.  It isn't really pink.  According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, April's full moon often occurs the same time pink creeping phlox blooms.  That's why an April supermoon is called pink.  To get the best view of this supermoon, head outside around sunset and watch the moon rise. 

1 Corinthians 15:41  The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

Sorry Charlie Day, Fresh Tomato Day, TV Dinners' birthday, Jump Over Things Day & National Caramel Popcorn Day

So many things to celebrate today!

Do you remember the sorry Charlie tuna commercials?  They were popular during the 60's, 70's, and early 80's.  Sounds like lunch might be tuna and tomato sandwiches today.  

TV dinners have really evolved over the decades.  Swanson introduced the first TV dinner in 1953.  Nowadays, TV dinners are not just for dinner and not just for TV viewing time.  Convenient frozen meals are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as appetizers, snacks, and desserts.  And cooking them in the microwave makes them even more convenient and portable.  That one breakthrough revolutionized the food industry.

It's Jump Over Things Day.  If you can't jump, how about step over things?  Speaking of jumping, stepping, and walking around things (earlier this month), I've discovered several exercise channels on YouTube.
One to help kids (and adults) expel some of their energy is The Body Coach TV.  He is currently posting "PE with Joe" videos every day.
Another YouTube exercise channel is Fitness with Cindy.
The last 2 I'll mention is Bob & Brad and Lucy Wyndham-Read.
Check them out.  Some are geared toward Seniors and beginners.

After you watch the videos (maybe even exercise with them), pop some caramel popcorn.  I have some Kettle corn that's lighter but close.  Allrecipes has an easy Caramel Popcorn recipe.  If you're a baker, you probably have all the ingredients on hand.

Starkist never chose Charlie but God is calling all of us to turn to Him and be saved.
Deuteronomy 30:19  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

Happy Palm Sunday and it's National Deep Dish Pizza Day

There are many church services being held online.  If you're looking for one, here are a few suggestions.
Calvary Faith Center (out of Wendell, NC) is holding their services on Facebook starting at 10:30 on Sundays.
The Bridge Community Church (out of Warrenton, VA) is also holding services as well as kid's church on Facebook.
Evident Grace Fellowship (out of Fredericksburg, VA) is posting services on YouTube.

After church, celebrate with pizza.  I don't prefer deep dish so I will have to pretend it's deep dish or pretend it's just pizza day.

John 12:13  They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!"  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  "Blessed is the king of Israel!"

It's Walk Around Things Day & Vitamin C Day & International Carrot Day

Today, practice social distancing from things as well as people.  Give everything as wide a berth as you can.  Maybe the refrigerator and pantry needs to be included.  

Repeat of Lemons and Oranges Day!  Get some vitamin C today to help you stay healthy.  Other foods containing vitamin C are broccoli, cauliflower, and cantaloupe.

Carrots don't have vitamin C, but they do have vitamin A.  Vitamin A is good for your immune system and you need to protect that too.

So, add some carrots and broccoli to your day.  Add Ranch dip and you have a healthy snack.

1 John 4:4  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

It's Fish Fingers and Custard Day & National Don't Go to Work Unless It's Fun Day

Do you know Who likes Fish Fingers and Custard?  I will not tell you Who.  Personally, I think it sounds disgusting.  You'd have to be a Mad Man to eat that!  I wouldn't even feed it to my Tin Dog.  I prefer to have Bowtie pasta with my Fish Fingers.  If you eat Fish Fingers and Custard you may need to call The Doctor.  Well, that's enough Space for this day.  It's Time to move on.

A couple days ago it was International Fun at Work Day.  Today, it's National.  Good thing most of us don't have far to go to work.  How can you make your day fun? 
Take a 15-minute break and have a mini dance party.  Exercise gets those happy endorphins going.  Be thankful.  Worry can't add anything but can take away from you.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and there be any praise, think on these things.

It's National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day & National Burrito Day!

Sounds like PBJs for lunch and burritos for dinner.  It's so nice to have these suggestions for meals.  Those are pretty easy so I have no recipes to suggest.

Today's meditation:  Psalm 7:10  My shield is God Most High, Who saves the upright in heart.

April Fool's Day & National Walking Day & International Fun at Work Day & it's sliced bread's birthday

You might want to keep your pranks friendly today.  After all, you're stuck in the house with the same people for a while.

Hopefully, we will all have fun "at work."  I feel like it's my own fault if I don't.  Too bad International Napping at Work Day is already past!

I bet many more people will celebrate National Walking Day today than would have under normal circumstances.  We all want to get out a little.

Celebrate sliced bread's birthday with toast in the morning or a sandwich for lunch.

Ephesians 5:15  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,