Today's the Longest Day of the Year

Summer Solstice

While Memorial Day is the “unofficial” start of summer, today the season really begins. Today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the start of summer in the northern hemisphere is 1:16 p.m. today. According to TimeandDate.com, the date of the “June solstice” varies from June 20 to June 22 depending on the year.The Farmer’s Almanac states that “the word solstice comes from the Latin words for “sun” and “to stop,” due to the fact that the sun appears to stop in the sky.” With the sun high overhead today, this will be the longest day of the year. How do you spend your longer days? More time outside playing with the kids or more hours working?

Tell us about how you will be spending the longest day of the year?

I hope what ever you choose to do today it will be fun.

Head over to mom-stuff.com for some fun ideas for your summer fun.

Fourth of July Ideas are Here at mom-stuff.com

Happy Birthday America
Fourth of July Crafts to celebrate America’s B-Day. Fun to make and even funnier to wear. . . . keep reading

Summer Family Fun
Schools Out!!! Now What??? . . . keep reading

Fancy Flip Flops
Fancy Flip Flops . . . keep reading

Rockin Bobbie Pins
Make your own Rockin Bobbie Pins to match your clothes. All you need are bobbie pins and your imagination. These are so much fun. You can make some for every holiday or even every outfit. . . .keep reading

Souvenir Vacation Scrapbooking
Vacation Scrapbooking Pages Using Souvenirs . . . keep reading

Summer Kids Crafts
Summer crafts to make with your kids; funky flip flaps, jewelry, popsicle stick flowers, summer noise makers and cookie flowers. We have also added a craft for moms to make for their kids. It is a back pack blanket for all of their summer activities. . . . keep reading

Summer Fun Recipes
Summer is the time for fast, easy and light food. We have gathered together some of our favorite summer food recipes . . . keep reading

Just for Fun

Shampoo alert!

  

   As I was conditioning my hair in the shower this morning, I took time to read my shampoo bottle.  I am in shock!  The shampoo I use in the shower that runs down my entire body says "for extra volume and body"!

Seriously, why have I not noticed this before?  Now I understand why I am so "full-figured"!

   Tomorrow I am going to start using "Dawn" dish soap.  It says right on the label "dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove."

   It pays to read the warning labels! I thought you could use a laugh today.

Be Aware, Don't Share

Parents: You May Be A Drug Supplier This Summer

Studies show that more teens start using drugs during the summer months – while unsupervised and with more free time.

With the end of the school year approaching, children look forward to a long break – and a lot of time at home alone. When teenagers are released from school for long break periods such as summer, the risk of substance abuse increases.

The CDC lists prescription drug abuse as the fastest-growing drug problem among 12-17 year olds.  One in four high school students in the U.S. admits to having taken a prescription drug without a prescription. The number of teens going into treatment for addiction to prescription drugs has increased by more than 300%.  Emergency room visits for prescription drug abuse have more than doubled since 2004, 48% of all ER visits for prescription drug abuse are by young people ages 12-20.  Prescription drugs are now involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine, combined.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Safeguard all medicines by monitoring quantities and controlling access. Remove drugs from your medicine cabinet and lock them up.

Warn your youngsters that prescription drugs can be just as dangerous, addictive, and lethal as street drugs.  Studies show that teens dangerously view prescription drugs as “safer” to abuse than illicit drugs.

Properly dispose of old or expired medicines in the trash. Hide or mix them with cat litter or coffee grounds before throwing them away.

Don’t have kids at home? What about your grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and your friends’ kids that visit your house?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUpGahCmeTk

Parents can learn more about preventing prescription drug abuse at home this summer by downloading the MEDucation Kit from Lock Your Meds. This resource provides a good dose of knowledge about prescription drug abuse among adolescents. The comprehensive kit teaches parents lessons about the problems of abuse and the solutions available for families. Parents can download the MEDucation kit here:

I Pray You Enough

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure of the daughter’s flight.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said,

‘I love you, and I pray you enough.’

The daughter replied, ‘Mom, our life together has been more than enough.

Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too, Mom.’

They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, ‘Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?’

Yes, I have,’ I replied. ‘Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?’

‘Well…I’m not as young as I once was, she lives so far away & has her own busy life. I have some challenges ahead, and the reality is – her next trip back will be for my funeral,’ she said.

‘When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, I pray you enough. May I ask what that means?’

She began to smile. ‘That’s a prayer that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.’ She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. ‘When we said, ‘I pray you enough,’ we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.’

Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Then, she began to cry, and walked away.

To all my mom-stuff friends,

I PRAY YOU ENOUGH…….

I did not experience this, nor did I write this. I do not know who the author is. I received this in an email (one that passes around the web) this morning from my daughter. It meant so much to me I wanted to share it with all of you. Thanks for being a one of my mom-stuff friends. Dianne

Love is the Message of June

June emerges as a sea of green.  Summer officially starts, and in earlier days trees would have become the heart of the community.  Children would be in them and adults would gather under them to share stories and a cool drink.  Some of the distinction between trees blurs with the passing of the blossoms and we see, instead, a merciful bower and quiet retreat.  The trees are generous with their shade, and we can breathe a little deeper in their presence.

Looking up into the canopy of a spreading tree is a heart-filling experience.  A tree can protect you from rain and yet allow a glimpse of a summer sky.  Looking at the world with the heart may open a similarly uplifting view.  We are sheltered from loneliness as we receive love from people in our lives, and see acts of kindness through seemingly impenetrable barriers.  As we learn to receive and give love we gain the message of June.

Excerpt from  Leaves for the Tree of Life by Kim Welborn and Dianne Murray