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Celebrate National Ice Cream Month

celebrate national ice cream month

Celebrate National Ice Cream month!

July is National Ice Cream Month!   In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month.  The third Sunday of the month is National Ice Cream Day.  Wow! How did that fact escape me all these years?

For some fun facts about over seventy Ice Cream flavors, click here.

Be sure to hover over the different flavors and read the contents.  I’m not so sure I want to try a few of them.

Before you head to the store to buy cartons of your favorite brands for the celebration, consider these timely tips on how to celebrate this exciting holiday month without going overboard.

  1. Portion control.  If having a big carton of ice cream in threatening to your diet, consider stocking up on individual cups, ice cream bars, or even popsicles for those who cannot do milk products.
  2. Take advantage of available fresh fruit and nuts.  Fill your bowl with fruits and nuts first, then top with one generous scoop of softened ice cream. Eat slowly and enjoy.
  3. Make sure the sales are really what you need. If limiting yourself is a problem, don’t be tempted to get the two for a special price. The dollars you save may not be worth the extra calories you’ll consume!
  4. Have an ice cream party.  Invite friends and neighbors to bring their favorite toppings and join you for a fun evening of games and snacks.  Consider a summer salad and dinner is served for your guests!
  5. Tuck $5 ice cream gift cards in the notes and letters you send … encourage others as you celebrate.
  6. Check your local eateries.  McDonald’s has 59cent ice cream cones the month of July . For our ice cream outing, we get a cone at the drive thru; then sit in the car, windows down and people-watch while enjoying a small portion of ice cream.
For a brief history of ice cream flavors, click here. Read how historian Sarah Lohman unravels the complex origins of chocolate and vanilla, and explains why a strange whale byproduct was key to ice cream’s infancy.
Well, I hope you will try at least one new flavor this month, with a friend! Be sure to let me know how you celebrate!
Hugs,
A reminder: don’t forget to check out those summer salad ideas … good with or without ice cream!

Personal Handwritten Notes vs Texting or Messaging

Personal Handwritten Notes vs Texting or Messaging

Personal handwritten notes may be better than texting or messaging.

For proof positive of this, consider the soccer parents in this story being played out today in history (click here). I can see them clutching tear-stained notes from their children.

A mother’s simple note to pastor reaches her family.

When my pastor-husband took a firm stand on an issue in our community, he received a simple, hand-written note from an elderly widow. Faye not only thanked him for his stand, but  assured him of her prayers for his ministry.  Russell kept the letter in his Bible and read it often. Recently, after her death, he gave the letter to her daughter letting her know how much that encouragement had meant to him. The value increased as her family shared tears of joy to hold that precious, life-changing note.

Feelings expressed on paper have long-lasting benefits.

Recently, I found a hand-written note from my only sibling. He called me weekly for many years, then daily the past two years before he died in October.  I miss his calls, his voice and his long stories. though they fade with time. His sweetness comes alive as I re-read his words scribbled on a yellowed notepad. I feel the paper, knowing he touched it and shared his heart with me. I continue to reap amazing rewards with personal handwritten notes from my ‘baby brother’. They are priceless!

Confined at home; can’t minister to others? Think again.

Doris Smitherman, in her 90s, regularly sends hundreds of small notecards to a growing list. This beautiful friend  hears a need and adds another family to her ministry list. Simple notes filled with stickers and Bible verses touch the hearts and souls of many who never get visitors, calls, or cards. Only eternity will reveal what amazing rewards await her.  How many lives have been changed forever by one person they may never have met who cared enough to “send the very best.”

Stop! I can hear your excuses … I have used them, too!

“Not me! – My handwriting is terrible! – I can’t spell! – I’m not a writer! – I’ll just call or text! – Stamps are too expensive! – I don’t have time for this!”

You thought some of those things, didn’t you? You may be right! However, indulge me on this one, please! (I’ll look for your comments at the end.)

Why are personal handwritten notes so valuable?

  1. A handwritten note is tangible proof you are loved and appreciated.
  2. A handwritten note, with all its imperfections, is personal; just for the recipient.
  3. Value increases when you consider someone spent time, thought, and money for you.

 

Who needs your note? (For other ideas on who needs your encouragement, click here.)

  1. Those who cannot or may not reply; it is not a card ‘exchange’.
  2. Overworked, stressed-out caregivers or parents or teachers or ???
  3. Faithful servants in the community: waitresses, store managers, mail carriers …
  4. Those on your prayer list, whether you know them personally or not.

 

I hope this whetted your appetite a bit to at least try it. For now, start accumulating addresses and watch for an article very soon with simple ideas to make this an easy project for you, and perhaps your family.  Please do comment below and trust me through one more article.  I think you will be amazed!

Hugs,

An important part of recognizing who may benefit from our personal notes is learning to listen. For me, this has been a challenge; God, as always, never gives up on me! click here for more

 

 

Prepare for Unexpected Events

Prepare for Unexpected Events

 

 

Do you prepare for unexpected events every day?

Like a flash of lightning, a car attempted to speed around us as the highway narrowed to one lane entering our town. And, just as quickly, the small car hit the median dirt, and became airborne. The time to prepare for unexpected events had passed for each of us. All we could do was watch — and pray!

“Lord, protect her – please, Lord, don’t let her land on another vehicle! Lord, please, please, don’t let anyone be hurt.”

Her car spun like a top above the median and the traffic in the two southbound lanes. In seconds, the flying vehicle came to rest, wheels down, in the grassy ditch west of the crowded highway.

Later as I stood on the side of that hot, dusty highway hugging a sweet young girl, my mind was flooded with the “what ifs”.  I strongly believe God had a chorus of angels guiding her to safety and protecting others. As I had watched her car from takeoff to landing, I knew it had to be God’s protection for her and those nearby.

The incident caused me to seriously ponder a couple of things; perhaps you may want to do so as well.

#1 Our priorities reveal how we prepare for unexpected events.

This young girl valued her job; she admittedly was hurrying to get to work on time.  However, what temporary priorities kept her from allowing plenty of time to get to work?

I’ve been guilty myself of wanting to ‘make up time’ when I’ve allowed some insignificant thing delay my departure. I wonder what my priorities reveal about what things are really of value in my life.

#2 Our confidence in times of stress comes when we prepare for unexpected events.

On the onset, one would say this young driver was very prepared for unexpected events. She had confidence because she had her up-to-date insurance papers readily available.

She had her seat belt securely fastened (praise the Lord!), and her hands on the steering wheel.  Yet, her next statement revealed the reality of the situation.

“I thought I was going to die!”

My heart broke as I thought of her young life and what could have been. So quickly our lives can change.

“Honey, surely God had angels holding your car above the danger and setting you down in a good place. Thank Him that you are okay. No one else got hurt, and you will be fine.”

None of us are promised another breath; not a single one of us. How important it is to make sure our relationships as well as our possessions are in order.

There is peace in the midst of the largest storms in the eyes of one who knows for sure Christ is in their hearts.

Do you have that peace? None of us are promised another breath, not one. Feel free to write me if you have questions.

Hugs AND Prayers,

Here is a wonderful Bible Study on the Promise of Peace in the Midst of the Storm.