Things To Celebrate...9/27/10 Through 10/03/10

Monday the 27th~Ancestor Appreciation Day, Family Day (a day to eat dinner with your kids), National Chocolate Milk Day, World Tourism Day

Tuesday the 28th~World Maritime Day

Wednesday the 29th~VFW Day, National Women's Health and Fitness Day, National Coffee Day, National Pumpkin Day

Thursday the 30th~National Hot Mulled Cider Day, The Flintstones premiered on this day in 1960

Friday the 1st~Fire Pup Day, International Day of Older Persons, World Smile Day, National Diversity Day, Homemade Cookies Day

Saturday the 2nd~International Day of Non-Violence, National Custodial Workers Day, World Card Making Day, World Farm Animals Day, International Frugal Fun Day, Mahatma Gandhi was born on this day in 1869, the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schultz first appeared in newspapers on this day in 1950

Sunday the 3rd~Techies Day, National Caramel Custard Day

Ladies, what will you celebrate with your children this week? Will you be sure to eat a nice family dinner together on Monday, paint a pumpkin together on Wednesday, or watch the Flintstones together on Thursday? Or will you talk about diversity as you bake cookies together on Friday, let your kids make cards on Saturday, or eat delicious caramel custard on Sunday? So many choices! Doing just one of these will help you create memories, as well as help educate your children. Invest in them this week, and let us know what you did! :-)

FREE Movie Night at Peoria's Metro Center

FREE movie night at Peoria's Metro Center tonight at 7 pm! Hope to see you there!

Things To Celebrate...9/20/10 Through 9/26/10

Monday the 20th~National Punch Day, National Student Day

Tuesday the 21st~International Day of Peace, World Alzheimer's Day, Miniature Golf Day, World Gratitude Day, National Pecan Cookie Day

Wednesday the 22nd~American Business Women's Day, 1st Day of Autumn, Diary Day, Elephant Appreciation Day, National White Chocolate Day

Thursday the 23rd~The planet Neptune was discovered on this day by German Astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle

Friday the 24th~Love Note Day, Punctuation Day, National Cherries Jubilee Day, Native American Day, thousands of businessmen were financially ruined on this day in 1869 due to panic on Wall Street

Saturday the 25th~Family Health & Fitness Day, National One Hit Wonder Day, National Hunting & Fishing Day, National Museum Day, National Comic Book Day, National Food Service Employee's Day, National Pancake Day, Sandra Day O'Conner became the first female Supreme Court Justice on this day in 1981, the first newspaper was published on this day in 1690

Sunday the 26th~National Good Neighbor Day, Shamu the Whale Day was born on this day in 1985 at Sea World in Orlando, FL, Johnny (Chapman) Appleseed was born on this day in 1774, the United States Postal Service was founded on this day in 1789

Remember that the whole reason we celebrate these silly holidays is to have fun, create memories, and possibly teach our children something. These holidays make every day feel like a special day. Not sure how to celebrate? Let me share some ideas.

On Tuesday, you can talk to your children about peace, and why peace is important. You can have them come up with ways to create peace in the home. You can also talk to them about the Prince of Peace. You can even discuss with them the Bible verse I Peter 3:11. I am going to make you ladies look that one up, and I promise that it is a good one!

Wednesday is Diary Day. If you have older children, say kids above age 8, you can talk to them about keeping a diary (or journaling). If you happen to have old diaries from when you were their age, you could share a page or two from them and discuss why writing down our memories is important. Let's face it, our memories tend to fade over time if they are not written down or photographed.

Friday you and your kids can write a love note to Daddy. Everyone likes to hear how much they are loved, as well as what it is that makes you love them. Doing this will help children see that it is good to share their feelings.

Saturday has TONS of things to do. One that I think would be fun to celebrate is National Food Service Employee Day. Maybe this is because I like to eat out. ;-) You can talk to your children about different jobs. Let them know that people who work at restaurants are providing a service. Explain that we leave the servers tips based on the job that they do. You can also talk to them about the things that a server does to ensure good service (kindness, efficiancy, etc.) and how these are good ways to treat people when working.

On Sunday you can be a good neighbor. You and your children can take the neighbors some baked goods, pick up litter in your area, or even simply clean up your yard with your neighbors in mind.

So, get out there and celebrate with your family! Let us know what you did in the comment section. :-)

~Dawn

First Meeting!

Ladies, we had our first meeting yesterday, and I left feeling pumped. I love the topic of community among women. I truly feel passionate about this subject, and I felt Jacquie and Josh each had such wonderful things to say. Don't you agree?

I want to reiterate that women need to ban together. Life is hard. Not every single day, thank goodness, but when it is we need people to help us through the hard times. Marriage can have it's difficult times. Children can be trying. Finances can get us down. I could go on and on. My point isn't to depress us about difficulties. My point is that these difficulties can be less trying when shared with a friend. We can pray together, offer encouraging words, and sometimes even suggest some brilliant, or at least helpful, ideas. ;-)

I James 4:11 says, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." So, if you are going through something, call a friend and let them love on you. If a friend is on your mind, love on them by calling and seeing how their day is going. If you don't have a close friend, pray for one. God doesn't want us to go it alone, and He will bless us all with the perfect friend or friends.

I hope to see all of your beautiful faces at next months Mom's Life! Be a blessing to someone and invite them to join you at our October 15th meeting. You may know a women that needs a group such as this, but if you don't, pray that God helps reveal to you who that person may be.

Your sister in Christ, Dawn :-)

Just When You Start to Wonder

This summer I started a marble jar for my kids. Everytime they do something they have been asked to do or better yet something possitive without being asked they get to put a marble in their jar. When the jar is full they get to go on a date with Mommy or Daddy.My 5 year old son, Jared, after working for a couple weeks to fill his jar accomplished the task. "Mom! I want to go on a date with you to McDonalds!" he says to me very excited. I think great. McDonalds playland just where I want to spend another hour of my life. Of course, I say you bet buddy.
We went to McDonald's one day before school. It was Jared, his little sister who is 2 and me. We order our food and I set down the tray on the table closest to us and go to fill our drinks. When I come back he and Tessa are sitting at the table very patiently. I say "Jare are we going to go into the playland?" "No Mom. I just want to sit out here with you." he says. So we sat just outside the playland and ate our lunch. Where it was relatively quiet and we could talk about school and other things that are important to my 5 year old.
Just when I was wondering if what I do all day everyday is really worth it. My kids have a way of confirming I am doing just what God has called me to do. Thank God he sends little angels in the form of my children to let me know I am loved by them and they do sometimes need time with just Mom! It makes all the days of discouraging behavior and disrespect seem a little less exhausting! So take some encouragement from me... They get it even if they don't want to!

Things To Celebrate...9/06/10 Through 9/12/10

Monday the 6th~Labor Day, Fight Procrastination Day, Read a Book Day, Jane Addams was born on this day in 1860, first Barbie doll was sold by Mattel on this day in 1959

Tuesday the 7th~Grandma Moses Day, Salami Day, National Acorn Squash Day, Grandma Moses was born on this day in 1860

Wednesday the 8th~International Literacy Day, Virgin Mary's Birthday,

Thursday the 9th~Teddy Bear Day

Friday the 10th~Swap Ideas Day, Sewing Machine Day, TV Dinner Day

Saturday the 11th~Patriot Day, Make Your Bed Day, National Hot Cross Bun Day, Little House on the Prairie premiered on this day

Sunday the 12th~National Grandparent's Day, Video Games Day, Chocolate Milk Shake Day

Let's Celebrate! Teddy Bear Day would be easy for those with young kids. You could read the book The Teddy Bear's Picnic and then have a picnic with the teddy bears in your home. Make Your Bed Day can teach your child not only how to make their bed, but also that it is important to take care of what God has given you. Oh, and don't even get me started on National Grandparent's Day! Have them over for a nice lunch or dinner. Let your kids help make the meal, make cards, or create a yummy dessert. So many fun things we could do with our kiddos this week, and each one can create wonderful memories, as well as spark some learning.

~Dawn

Pondering Life

Today I was driving on one of our busiest main roads through town. On this stretch of Peoria, the road is a two-lane divided highway which includes multiple turn-off lanes and a large median. I approached a chaotic intersection - one without a traffic light - and waited to safely turn left in front of on-coming traffic. A man and his dog were crossing the same street in front of me. The dog was leashed, and obediently walked beside his master. In the median, the man stopped to assess the second set of double-lane traffic before continuing to cross the street. I couldn't help but watch the dog. It was sitting next to its master looking straight up at him, tail wagging wildly. I imagined a thought bubble over the dog's head. "Can we play now? Can we? Play? Play now? How 'bout now?" The dog's owner was watching the cars on the street, but the dog was watching him.

I couldn't help but think of Jesus and I in this snapshot of real life. How many times does He lead me across life's traffic to safety? Innumerable times. But how many times am I looking up at Him instead of fretting over the speeding cars? Very few. I got a host of spiritual life lessons out of that image of the man and his dog.

The man is looking out for the dog, not the other way around. I've considered asking Jesus for advice and then stopped short on grounds that I shouldn't add to His burden for the day. Wars, starvation, hurricanes, poverty - surely God has enough on His plate. But Jesus doesn't need me to protect Him from the details of my life. It's absurd thinking of our relationship in that way! Plus, I am completely incapable of the supreme knowledge and control that is necessary to navigate my own life. Best to be obedient and let Him do the leading.

The dog is less aware of its circumstances than it is of its owner. I can't say for sure, but I'm guessing the dog can see the cars whizzing past him and feel the hot pavement under its paws. I'm sure a few horn blasts have the potential to startle it. It's aware of its surroundings, but it is intently focusing on the man. The tail wagging proves this pooch has a relationship with his master - he is not a stranger - and possibly believes good will come out of the walk. There is joyful anticipation in the upward gaze. The dog is well-behaved, walking alongside the man and assumingly happy to be there.

Next time the traffic of life looms impassible, I will remember the dog who looked not at the hectic street, but up the man who could safely get him across.

September Is Here!

Happy September, Ladies!!

September is...

Apple Month
Childrens' Good Manners Month
Classical Music Month
International People Skills Month
Library Card Sign-Up Month
National Chicken Month
National Courtesy Month
National Honey Month
National Mushroom Month
Self Improvement Month
Women's Friendship Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month

Let's Celebrate!!
~Dawn