Banana-land & Cherry Turnovers...

Yesterday was "Banana Lovers Day," the perfect day to celebrate what is most likely the most common, most eaten, fruit in the world. Having grown up in Ecuador, which provides 30% of the bananas exported around the world, I am well acquainted with this fruit. From the common yellow banana North America knows well, to the plantain served up fried like chips or cut long and fried along rice and a carne (meat) of some sort, to the sweet little bananitos that are pretty much like sugar, bananas have been my life.  

Ironically, we didn't eat a single banana yesterday thanks to a whirlwind trip across the border to do some shopping... but that doesn't mean I wasn't thinking about them and longing for a taste of home.

 
Today was "Cherry Turnover Day." I'm not really a fan of turnovers... or cherries. I know, I'm weird. But hey, as I stated above, I grew up in Ecuador. And Ecuador does not grow, or consume cherries! Nevertheless, I can appreciate how beautiful cherries are... and I can be amazed at the wide variety of cherries! 

What have you done to celebrate life today? What about yesterday?


Tomorrow: Chop Suey Day!

Cherry-licious!

Happy Cherry Popsicle Day! 

 

If you are in need of a cool treat today, why not try this easy recipe? 

Easy Cherry Popsicle Recipe
1 packaged cherry flavored Jell-0
2/3 cup hot water
2 cups cold water
1 cup sugar 

In a large pitcher mix the Jell-o, hot water and sugar. 

Stir to dissolve the sugar. 

Add cold water and pour into molds and freeze.  

Enjoy!


What have you done to celebrate life today?


Tomorrow: Banana Lover's Day

Sponges, Waffles and Banana Splits

Monday was "National Sponge Cake Day." I'm not a huge fan of this sorta cake... unless of course it's soaked in Rum. "Why is the rum always gone?" (Jack Sparrow, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"). Check out this oh so yummy ethnic recipe: Rum-Soaked Sponge Cake.

Tuesday was set aside to remember with fondness the person who invented the waffle iron. God bless them! ;-) I chose to celebrate by having waffles for lunch. It's always a good day when waffles are on!

Today is all about the banana split. Sadly, however, our bananas are not ripe enough, we don't have any chocolate sauce (for shame!) and I'm all ice-creamed out (yes, that is possible)! Instead I chose to find the biggest banana split known to man. Surprisingly, several people boast to having the biggest one! All I know is I got hungry when I saw this one:

How have you celebrate life lately?


Tomorrow: National Cherry Popsicle Day.

My Angel

Today is "Be An Angel Day," and as I type this I am enjoying a precious few minutes of solitude in the quiet of my house. After a busy day of church, a heated argument followed by an honest, heart-felt conversation, and a nap that left us all feeling refreshed, my husband - my angel - whisked our toddler out to the park to allow me some much-needed alone time. I appreciate it, and I appreciate him. I don't tell him that enough.

I'm learning right now. Experiencing the painful process of refining. The cleansing of the impurities in my soul, in my heart, in my words and actions is gut-wrenching. Combine that with a journey over the past eight months that has been more challenging than I could have ever dreamed, and I'm often left feeling like an empty shell with nothing left to give. Unfortunately, when that happens to us its our closest, most dearest loved ones who take the brunt of it. I recognize that, I acknowledge that, I am sorry for that.

Life is hard. Marriage is harder. But when the dust clears I see him, and I see God through Him. I see how hard he's trying to put our life back together. I see his anticipation of the new journey before us. I see his willingness to try, to learn, to do right by us. This demands my respect, my unconditional love and my patience. And so I renew my pledge again to love with complete abandon, to honour him and trust him as he seeks God's wisdom for our family.

He is my hero. My friend. My angel.

*******************************************************************

What have you done to celebrate today?

Tomorrow: National Spongecake Day; Ride the Wind Day

A week's worth of celebrations...

Sunday was "National Relaxation Day," so it seemed to be a fitting day to hit the park after church. It was HOT on Sunday too, making the shade of the trees at the park a welcome place to be. We met up with some old friends from the church we were visiting, enjoyed some chicken and other random foods, watched Abbie play in the sand and climb the slide, and generally chilled out. Perfection.

Monday was Bratwurst day, and while we did not dine on sausage, I certainly wished I could! However, Monday nights my hubby is out in meetings and that leaves me home alone with the kiddo. And, since I don't touch le BBQ, and it was way to hot to turn the oven on, I opted for a pancake dinner with my darling daughter. Bratwurst with sauerkraut on a warm, fresh hoagie was on my mind though. Yum!

Tuesday, was Vanilla Custard Day. Anyone who knows me well knows that that is not a day I would choose to celebrate. I'm not a custard, pudding or jello kind of girl. But that didn't stop me from reading up on custard, and finding out how countries around the world enjoy it. I still don't like it... but it was an interesting read.

Wednesday was a day I could get into... and did. National Soft Icecream day left me really no other choice than to make a pass through the McDonald's drive thru for a hot fudge sundae (with extra fudget of course!). Yummy!

Thursday was Potato Day, but I opted to make spaghetti and meatballs for my man. However that didn't stop us from enjoying the potato by indulging in a little snack later that night. Potato chips are a food group in my husband's eyes.

Friday was Lemonade Day and who doesn't loooooove lemonade! Unfortunately in the hustle and bustle of our "family day of fun" that took us to Second Beach and then Granville Island, I completely forgot to make lemonade! Boo. Oh well, I thought about it, does that count?

Last but not least -- today. Today was Spumoni Day, and let me just say this: I love Italian food. I love Italy. But Spumoni -- sorry, not so much. When it comes to icecream, I am a chocolate only (unless it's vanilla icecream drowning in chocolate sauce) kind of person. The idea of pistachios and cherries mixed along side of chocolate just seems, well, wrong. Sorry Italy.

What have you done to celebrate life lately?

Tomorrow: Be An Angel Day.

Creamsicle-licious!

Today is the perfect day to celebrate the creamsicle given the soaring temperatures! I found several lovely ways to enjoy all things creamsicle too... all of them yummy, and all of them COOL.


What did you do to celebrate the creamsicle today?

Tomorrow: National Relaxation Day; Lemon Meringue Pie Day

Mouth-Watering Celebrations

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to get back into your routine after vacation? Well, this week has been a challenge of epic porportions for my brain, my body, and my toddler. Focusing on tasks, getting up early again, and "forcing" my daughter back into a routine has not been a pleasant task, but we're on our way back now and that puts me in the mood to celebrate.

This week however, since simply getting out of bed of a challenge, the random holidays sped by me with a mere glance at the calendar and the thought of doing something about it. Fortunately most of the days this week have been food-related... which has given me plenty of ideas for meals and other yummies as I plan out my menu for the next couple weeks. So, in homage to the random holidays this week, I've collected recipes for the following mouth-watering morssels!

(Corn & Zucchini Quesadillas, in honour of National Zucchini Day - Sunday, Aug 8)

(Forbidden Rice Pudding, in honour of National Rice Pudding Day - Monday, Aug 9)

(Grilled Brioche S'mores - in honour of National S'mores Day, Tuesday, Aug 10)

(Mare Brown Butter Raspberry Tart - in honour of National Raspberry Tart Day, Wednesday, Aug 11)

(Baked Sweet Potato Julienned Fries - in honour of National Julienne Fries Day, Thursday, Aug 12)

(Peppercorn-Crusted Filet Mignon with Port Jus -
in honour of National Filet Mignon Day, TODAY!)

What have you done to celebrate this week?

Tomorrow: National Creamsicle Day

Houses of Light

I was thrilled to see that today, on the random holiday list, is "National Lighthouse Day!" After spending over a week on the Oregon Coast, taking in the majestic views of lighhouses such as Heceta Head and Yaquina, I have plenty of digial images to sort through and several to frame of these house of light.

I've always loved lighthouses. But on this particular trip to Oregon, the poetic imagery of the lighthouse took on new meaning for me. After the last 7 anxiety-ridden months of waiting, the lighthouses I captured with my camera reminded me of the journey we've been on as we waited for a new ministry opportunity. The lighthouses reminded me of the security we had in knowing that God has been our lighthouse on this voyage.

A lighthouse represents strength. Faithfulness. Courage. Protection. Direction. Warmth. Peace. It is what sailors look to when caught out in the storms of the pacfic. And the Lord is what we have looked to in the midst of the storm of our own uncertain journey. Just as sailors take comfort in knowing that focusing on that light would bring them safely home, so too did we know that putting our trust and focus in Him would lead us to the new chapter He had for us. And while the journey has not been easy, and we have felt tossed about by the sea, He proved faithful to lead us.

So with the past 7 months behind us, and one more to go before se set sail on our new adventure (September 1st), we will spend the next few weeks looking back on what we've learned and planning and packing for our new journey. We are excited about the voyage before us, and confident that, with God as our Lighthouse, we will remain on course with Him as our Guide.

What storms in life are you enduring? Do you feel tossed in a darkened sea with no light to lead you? If so, open His Word (the Bible), and look for that Light to fill the darkness. Take hold of the strength and protection of the Lighthouse (God) and plant yourself firmly in the knowledge that He is in control.

Psalm 119:105 "Your Word is a lamp to my feet; and a light for my path."


What will you do to celebrate today?

Tomorrow: National Zucchini Day; National Frozen Custard Day; Sneak Some Zucchini on your Neightour's Porch Day

Vacations

It's been a while since I've posted, but with good reason. We were on vacation! My parents arrived in town on the 21st, and we set out for the Oregon Coast not long after that. With the random holidays in the back of my mind (and written down on a list so I could refer to it each day), we spent the last two weeks celebrating and savouring God's creation, the love of a close-knit family, the giggles of a soon-to-be two year old, and some pretty tasty west coast food! And while we may not have managed to celebrate every random holiday (I mean seriously, who wants to eat lasagna for National Lasagna Day when the menu before you lists the most amazing seafood...), we did take a stab at a few. Here's what was on the list of celebrations from July 23 to August 6:

July 23 - National Hot Dog Day
July 24 - Cousins' Day
July 25 - Parents' Day
July 26 - All or Nothing Day
July 27 - Walk on Stilts Day
July 28 - National Milk Chocolate Day
July 29 - National Lasagna Day
July 30 - National Cheesecake Day
July 31 - Mutt's Day
August 1 - National Girlfriends Day
August 2 - Friendship Day
August 3 - National Watermelon Day
August 4 - Coast Guard Day
August 5 - Sister's Day
August 6 - National Root Beer Float Day

What have you done to celebrate over the past two weeks?