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It's starting to be a busy time of year and the angels are getting really active. The angels are appearing all over town. Find out when and where the angels will be coming near you so you can see them first hand. Tomorrow, November 10th, we will be at the Maitland Rotary Art Festival at Lake Lily! Story time will be from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Next Saturday, November 16th we will be at the Art, Craft, and Wine Festival at Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs. Story time will be in the Kid's Area in the afternoon (time tbd). Tuesday, November 26th we will be at the Chick-fil-A at Hunt Club in Apopka for their Family Night - 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Bring a new or gently used book for the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. We will be delivering them to their Family House after Thanksgiving. Saturday, November 30th, we will be at the Winter Garden Holiday Farmer's Market from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Can't wait until then to get your angel book? You can order your book online and bring your angel with you to one of our Story Times! #angels #storytime #events #sightings #kids #books #holidays #gifts #gotyourangel #whereisyourangel #family #moments #memorable 
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The middle of the week around here we affectionately call "Wingsday." Since it's Wingsday we'd like to share some wisdom we recently came across. A man named George Muller lived in the 1800's and had orphanages (among other things). During his lifetime his houses raised over 10,000 orphans and his schools educated more than 120,000 in England. He was known as a man of prayer. For every need he prayed and God showed up in wonderful ways. One of the ways God showed up was when the houses needed milk. They were all out of milk and had many mouths to fill. Almost as soon as he was done praying, a dairy truck broke down in front of the orphanage and the driver gave them all the milk. Otherwise the milk would have spoiled. A couple of us our reading, "The Autobiography of George Muller" and thought it fitting to reprint a portion of his story on patience and faith. This is directly from his diary. "Patience and faith are still needed. My desire is to let patience have its perfect work. Not one penny has come in today for the building fund, but five more orphans have applied for admission. The more I look at things according to natural appearances, the less likely it seems that I will ever get the sum I need. But I have faith in God, and my expectation is from Him alone. The Lord can change the circumstances instantly. I continue, therefore, to wait upon God and seek to encourage my heart by His Word. While He delays giving me answers, I will be occupied in His blessed work." What a good word back then and what a good word for us to chew on today - some 150+ years later. His Word, the Bible, has much to help us be healthy, "wealthy", and wise. #wingsdaywisdom #Hisword #angels #georgemuller #prayer #goodforthesoul #goodforthebody #faith #whereisyourangel #gotyourangel #kids #orphans #answeredprayer #dogood  Doesn't it just melt your heart when your kids get what you have been telling them for what seems like an eternity? Like when they remember to say, "Thank you" and "Please" - unprompted. Oh the joys of parenthood in those moments! Some parents and I witnessed one of those precious moments when we were at Chick-fil-A last week. One of the Kindergarten girls who came to Family Night was coloring many (emphasis on many) angel pages. She was coloring one for her friend, one for another friend, and another one for someone else she knew and on and on. She was just a thoughtful coloring angel page machine. Right before she left another girl showed up. This girl was three and her name was Madison. She looked at all her angel coloring pages, picked out one, and gave it to Madison - someone she had known for all of 60 seconds. The parents who witnessed this were like, "awwwee". Then Madison did something sweet in return. She gave her the angel page she was coloring. Que the angelic orchestra music. Both of the girls' parents chests puffed out a little bit more and you could see the, "I'm soo proud of you" exuding from their posture. Don't underestimate the small acts of kindness that make a big difference in this world. Sharing what you have (or the only thing you have) with someone else makes it more valuable in the other person's hand than it ever would be in yours. #sharingiscaring #kids #precious #moments #angels #chickfila #books #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #goodstuff #proudparents  What do kids, angels, and Chick-fil-A have in common? A fun Family Night with Where Is Your Angel?™! A picture is worth a thousand words. So instead of telling you how much we enjoyed sharing the angel books with the kids at Chick-fil-A's Family Night we'd like to share a picture that captures the precious moments of the evening. Kids+Angels+Chick-fil-A= A Perfect Combination! #holycow #chickfila #angels #kids #books #precious #whereisyourangel  Do you like waiting in a doctor's room with sick, antsy kids (and those kids might not even be your own)? Wouldn't it be nice to have a caring doctor available from wherever you are - at home, on vacation, or a friend's house? Telemedicine is the way to go in order to have the convenience of your location plus the expertise of a board certified doctor at your beck and call. Our fave Board Certified Pediatrician, Dr. Deepa Sukumar, weighs in on the benefits of telemedicine and some "do you know?" facts.
*wait times for a telemedicine visit are significantly shorter than the average doctor's visit
#telemedicine #drdeepasukumar #pediatrician #convenience #ease #doctor #angels #kids #books #whereisyourangel  Have you ever met someone who was "worse off" than you yet their outlook on life and the things they've accomplished pale in comparison to yours? Inspirational, underdog stories always grip us in a good way. I'd like to introduce you to someone who by all appearances seems helpless but is not in any way impaired. On the way to pick my kids up from school a radio program was on. The host was a woman who was very athletic growing up then got in a diving accident at 16 years old. That accident left her paralyzed. She has been wheelchair bound ever since. Completely unable to use any of her limbs. Yet she paints beautiful pictures, is a recording artist, radio personality, has been in movies, and written best selling books. Wow! Her name is Joni Eareckson Tada. Although she has not had any children of her own, she has impacted thousands of families and kids through her Family Retreats. These retreats are held around the world for people with special needs and their families. She paints beautiful pictures with her teeth and loves getting letters from kids all around the world. Her organization also reaches out to veterans who have been impacted in some way shape or form from war. To view her ministry go to: https://www.joniandfriends.org/ Her testimony can be found here: http://www.joniearecksontadastory.com/ Inspiration comes in different packages and in surprising ways. The seemingly strong are not always the ones who possess the most strength. Be inspired and encouraged today. #beautiful #inspirational #overcome #joniearecksontada #joniandfriends #angels #whereisyourangel #wow #disabled #strength  This week we received a special letter and photo from a family who started their angel's mission about two years ago. Letters like these touch our hearts and light up our lives (and inboxes!) We tout the fun, the comfort, and the good that having our angel books and angel dolls bring into your home. But you are the ones who show us how much they mean to your family. We are honored to be a part of the story your family is making with your children and grandchildren. The photo we received this week shows watchman angel Gabriel admiring the girl he watches over, Hazel, and her baking skills. She helped make an impressive dog cake! Hazel also likes to write prayers for Gabriel to give to God. Such precious memories! When your family brings an angel into your home we encourage you to name your angel if you like. (See our "Homecoming Day!" page for more info.) We also encourage lots of engagement with your angel. One of our ideals at Where Is Your Angel?™ is not so much to produce a product but to produce an experience that lasts a lifetime. Our goal is, "making meaningful family moments through angelic awareness." Thank you Hazel and Gabriel for sharing with us. We appreciate you! Have a picture or story you'd like to share? Send it to us on our "Contact Us" page. #angels #families #memories #bakingskills #light #watchman #gabriel #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #gotyourangel  Recently someone who is a senior lifestyle blogger whose mission is to help aging Americans stay healthy and active post-retirement reached out to us to share some beneficial information about sleep with you. We have a lot of grandmas and great-aunts who buy our books and share them with their families. Any information we can share to help our families we gladly pass along. So grab your pillow, a soft blanket, and a nice warm cup of tea while you read Karen Weeks article on sleep. Tips to Help Older Adults Get A Good Night’s Sleep No matter how much we fight it, the march of time goes on. Along with hormonal changes, tissue loss and slower reflexes, seniors also experience various sleep disturbances that can have detrimental side effects. Sleep problems may be a side effect of another illness or health issue. For instance, many seniors with incontinence issues find themselves having to get up throughout the night to use the bathroom. Some people develop insomnia in their later years, and they have a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep. Other issues include sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorders and RLS. Sleep issues can have an adverse effect on a senior’s health. It’s so much more than feeling tired and seeing dark circles under your eyes. Lack of sleep can make a person gain weight, experience memory loss and feel depressed, and it can cause brain damage. Sleep deprivation has even been linked to Alzheimer’s, a degenerative brain disorder most common in seniors. Seniors can use Medicare to pay for tests, items and services that cover complex sleeping disorders, but the following everyday tips can also help seniors have better, more restful sleep so they can live happier and healthier lives. Eat Sleep-Friendly Foods If you are what you eat, you want to be sleepy in the evenings. Certain foods contain nutrients that help the body wind down and promote restful sleep. For instance, cereals, rice and other carbs with a high glycemic index cause a spike in blood sugar and insulin levels, followed by a drowsy crash that helps lull the body to sleep. Some fruits and vegetables also contain certain chemicals that encourage sleepiness. Lettuce, for instance, contains lactucarium, which acts as a sedative. Cherries are a rich source of melatonin, which helps people fall asleep faster. And walnuts are chock full of tryptophan, a sleep-enhancing amino acid that is a building block for serotonin and melatonin. Doesn’t a big salad for dinner featuring fresh lettuce, sliced cherries and chopped walnuts with your favorite dressing sound better than taking a nasty sleeping pill? Turn off the TV Seniors watch more television than the generations before them. Unfortunately, staring at the tube too long can make it more difficult to get quality sleep. It messes with the brain’s melatonin levels and keeps neurons firing when you are trying to wind down. Watching things that cause stress -- for instance news programs -- can also cause a spike cortisol, the stress hormone that is responsible for our feelings of fight or flight. Instead of binge watching TV before bed, spend the time before you go to sleep reading a book, taking a bath, or putting time in with your favorite hobby. Change Your Days As it turns out, the secret to a restful night has a lot to do with what you do during the day. Inactivity is a huge contributor to insomnia. An active senior who exercises regularly is tired enough to get to sleep at night. Start a new exercise regimen and commit to trying and learning new things in your senior years. Next to inactivity, stress is the next biggest contributor to sleep deprivation. Cut back on the stress you feel in your day-to-day life. There’s no use spending your golden years feeling anxious and tired. As we age, our bodies change. For many seniors, sleep issues accompany those changes. Whether it is a side effect of another issue or a new problem all its own, sleep deprivation can have adverse effects on a senior’s health. Enable a restful night’s sleep with a dinner chock full of sleep-inducing foods like cherries, lettuce, walnuts, and carbs with a high glycemic index. Stop watching television at night and turn to activities that help you wind down. Finally, the secret to sleeping well is what you do during the day. Be active, exercise, and cut down on stress to improve your sleep. To find out more go to: ElderWellness.net #sleep #nightnight #rest #aging #important #healthy #elderwellness #angels #families #whereisyourangel  Have your kids ever said, "I'm bored!," in an exasperated tone? Acting like you are their entertainment coordinator and you need to pick up the slack. Invariably ALL kids will say that at some point in time and some kids will say it much more than others (ugh). My husband and I started something when our kids were preschool age that has helped curbed that plea of exasperation. We took a parenting course at a local Baptist church and one of our take-aways was to have our kids intentionally practice being bored at home. So we dutifully took to task. We set aside 2-3 nights a week to practice for 2-5 minutes being bored. This is what it looked like. Our kids were 2 and 4 when we started. We had them each sit on their own blanket on the floor facing us. My husband and I were sitting on the couch. We told them we were going to practice being bored and defined bored (doing nothing with a happy heart). Then we set a timer. We started small and worked our way up. Being cheerleaders all along the way. First we set the timer for 10 seconds. Yay!! They did it! Then we went for 20 seconds. Wow, what an amazing feat!! Then we repeated. Next we asked if they wanted to see how long they could practice being bored. (Wow, kids love a good challenge, especially if they are being praised along the way!) Before long they knew what to do. We would be in public and all my husband or I had to say to our wiggly children was, "Practice being bored." It was like something clicked in their brain. Our lil' angels stopped, stood still, and were practicing what they had been learning. Strangers in the stores were amazed (and my confession is I was too!) Six years later we still have to practice every once in a while (or at least threaten to practice it again). Our kids still get it - for the most part. The premise of teaching kids to behave is that you have to practice it at home if you want to see it out in public. It's similar to when kids go to practice to learn a sport so they can play it on Saturday morning. So too parents need to teach or train their kids at home so the kids know how to act when out and about. One last thing, it doesn't hurt to have an angel nearby to curb the bored blues. Got your bored blues busting angel? #bored #parenting #kids #training #practice #angel #teach #celebrate #challenge #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #gotyourangel  Do you have those after Labor Day blues? The Labor Day holiday seems to unofficially mark the end of summer and the start of another season - even if it is just a mental shift. For example, are you one of the people who go by the "no white pants after Labor Day" fashion rule? Yep, Labor Day usually marks the end of carefree summer days. Well, just because summer may be over and school is in full swing it doesn't mean we have to cave in to those blues. Looking for ways to bring the summer back?How about recreating those things that bring back favorite summer memories? Summer to my kids mean s'mores. There are a couple of ways you can relive this American past time indoors. No, I'm not suggesting you start a fire in your living room. There are safer ways to have the s'more experience inside. One way to have this tasty treat and recreate a campfire without having to cut wood and start a fire is to buy an indoor s'mores maker. We have a kids Hershey's s'mores maker. A simple DuckDuckGo search yields many options for indoor s'more makers. By the plethora of options it seems like there are many who pine for s'mores after season! While the family is eating s'mores you can make yourself an adult summer drink like the Pina Colada. What I like about this drink is how easy it is to make it a virgin drink so the kids can have some too. Strawberry or Mango Daquiris, Cucumber Watermelon Sangria, Iced Tea are also great drinks to bring the summer back. Remember to put the decorative drink umbrella in your glass!! Here's a link to some tropical cocktail recipes: https://www.thekitchn.com/15-tropical-cocktails-that-will-make-you-forget-all-about-winter-pinterest-216728 Another way to keep hanging onto summer is bringing the scents of summer inside. Fruity body wash or aloe vera hand soap help. You can also get an indoor fragrance such as Hawaiin Suntan Fragrance Oil Wisk that won't let summer out of your smell. It contains coconut, passion fruit, guava, pineapple, banana, melon, and grapefruit. All things that say "summer isn't gone!" If you still can't let go of summer yet, there are Coppertone scented products that are sure to make summer linger longer in your mind. These include shampoo, shea butter lotion, roll-on, hair conditioner, and more. To get these and find more related items, go here: https://www.somethinspecial.com/coppertone-scent-fragrance-p/foeve.htm Labor Day blues or not, enjoy the chances you have to recreate the best of the passing season. #laborday #summer #nowhite #holdontosummer #cantletgoyet #season #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #memories #kids #smores  |
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