Tomorrow is National Homemade Cookie Day

 

Tomorrow is National Homemade Cookie Day, so I certainly had to celebrate it with you by sharing my family's favorite cookie recipe with you - Three Grands' Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter & Oatmeal Cookies! 

September, And Every Month, is National Suicide Prevention Month

I tend to write about the joys of spending time with the children we love, but it is important to also talk about difficult things and September has been National Suicide Prevention Month, so I want to again share some information to help you and/or people you love, as every month, every day is a time to prevent suicide.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Orange Shirt Day

Tomorrow (September 30th) is Orange Shirt Day, which is "officially known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this day commemorates and pays honor to the indigenous children of Canada who were taken from their families and sent to residential schools in the 19th century." 

I have read online how Canada has been working with First Nations Peoples to, advance reconciliation, renew nation-to-nation relationships, and support self-determination. In 2008 the historic government apology for Indian Residential Schools and the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Canada established statutory holidays like the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Canada committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) to align laws with Indigenous rights. The federal government is negotiating self-government agreements to help First Nations transition away from the control-based framework of the 1876 Indian Act toward independent community governance.

I am SO happy to see Canada is prioritizing showing respect for First Nations Peoples with their words and actions.

illustrate my own - Check Out this Series

   

Quite a few years ago I wrote a series of books for children about Bible people. I was motivated to do so because when you see books about Bible people, they are usually about just a few Bible people and there are so many more people in the Bible with fantastic accounts of how they were able to know and walk with God. I enjoyed writing the Bible stories, but am not an artist, so I thought maybe it would be fun to write a series of books with an "illustrate my own" "twist" - the children - and/or families - could illustrate their own books!

Today is World Day of Migrants and Refugees

 

According to Nationaltoday.com, "Every year since 1914, the church has been celebrating World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The inception of this day can be traced to just a few months before the outbreak of the First World War. In 2019, the number of immigrants all over the world had reached a staggering 272 million, which was 51 million more than it was in 2010. Today is a day dedicated to expressing concern to many who face challenges related to immigration and is also a day to recognize our foreign brothers and sisters’ journeys and shine a light on their stories whichever way we can." There has been a lot of talk about migrants and refugees, so on this day which calls attention to these people, let's first look at what God has to say about them in the Bible . . .

Today is National Coffee Day - Let's Celebrate with Coffee & Special Offers!

 

If you are my son, then every day is Coffee Day! But, for those of us who enjoy coffee, but do not have signs on the back of our vehicles which say, "powered by coffee", today is National Coffee Day! Of course we will look at some fun coffee facts - did you know . . .

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Miscou Island in New Brunswick

This "Lost Canadian" grew up in Michigan, so I have been able to experience many beautiful Falls. The other day I saw a post on Instagram about some very beautiful places in New Brunswick where Fall color is amazing, so today I wanted to share these places with you . . .

Books Which Make a Difference - the little answer book & the little answer book for children

Today I am happy to let you know about two books for the adults and children you love -the little answer book  and the little answer book for children.

As I say in my books, I am not a scientist. I am not a theologian. I am not a philosopher. I am not an apologist. I am a mom and I am a grandma. I have listened as friends have shared how their loved grown child and/or grandchild turned away from their faith. I know this is a pain more and more parents and grandparents are experiencing (as shown by the Barna studies). We must not sit back and continue to watch as the ones we love turn away from their faith.

Try Tiesta Tea and Save $10!

For many years I have enjoyed ice tea, but my left wrist has arthritis so lifting my ice tea pitcher to pour or move it in or out of the refrigerator can be painful. I recently saw an ad for Tiesta Tea and their cold brew pitcher - which fits into the door of the refrigerator - and decided to give it a try. I also ordered a bag of their Blackberry Citrus Green Tea mix - saying I am happy with the purchase would be putting it mildly!

Today is National Family Fun Day!

Today is National Family Fun Day and I'm all for a day to have fun with family - although I believe any day is a day to do so for sure! Daysoftheyear.com says . . . 

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Bannock for Canadian Thanksgiving

I've been writing about Canadian Thanksgiving - the history and culture behind their celebration, which is on the second Monday of October. So, today I'm going to share a recipe I found for Bannock - which is a First Nations bread and a common part of Canadian Thanksgiving, but first some information I found online about Bannock . . .

Fall Book Review - King of the Castle

Kids Can Press sent me the new book, King of the Castle, by Heather Smith and illustrated by Andrea Armstrong - this book has all the love of family - siblings - and discovery of close connections!

Tomorrow is National Good Neighbor Day!

 

While we should certainly be good neighbors every day, today is a day to especially be a good neighbor! In Luke 10 Jesus taught everyone is our neighbor and we need to be good neighbors; people who have and show mercy to all others! Get your grandchildren and think about things you are able to do to be a good neighbor to your neighbors. Maybe you could . . .

Ancestor Appreciation Day

I have lived most of my life in West Michigan, just thirty minutes from beautiful Lake Michigan. I lived for a few years in Northern California, two hours from Oregon, where I met my husband - but I was born in West Michigan and have lived most of my life here. Of course I knew my dad and my grandpa, but my great-grandpa died before I was born. Along with not knowing him, I also did not know - until this past April - my great grandpa was born in Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada, and my great-great grandpa and great-great grandma were born in East Hawkesbury, Prescott, Ontario, Canada, and Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada. And I did not know about my many other ancestors as close as just great-great grandparents were born in Canada - six of them - and more before them!