The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, are forever engrained into our hearts. We will never forget the horrific images of the airplanes careening into the Twin Towers. Or hearing the telephone messages of passengers calling their family members and telling them what was happening and they weren’t going to make it out alive. Or listening to someone talk about their loved one who died fighting in the war of terror that ensued after the fact.
September 11th invokes a wide range of emotions. My heart aches for those who lost their loved ones on that day or in the war. But at the same time, it is a day of much joy and happiness. You see, while today marks twenty years since the terrorist attacks, it also marks twenty-two years that JT and I walked down the aisle and became husband and wife.
The highs of knowing that my life has been forever changed by the most wonderful woman in the world, remembering the beautiful ceremony, eating wonderful food, and sharing great memories with friends and family at our wedding. To the lows of know that just two years later, life as we knew it had changed, terrorism was a real threat, and so many people died in the name of preserving the American freedom that we have lived in.
Now twenty years since that horrific day, I find that I have changed. In the years past, while I felt a deep sadness about what happened that day, I still wanted to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I found myself saying, “We were married before this happened, so I am going to celebrate.” But this year, it was different. I could only post things related to the terrorist attacks and the war on terror on my social media. I wanted to post photos of my wife as a countdown to our anniversary, but my heart told me NO. It wasn’t right. Maybe it has to do with the end of the war in Afghanistan and the recent loss of the thirteen soldiers in Afghanistan. Maybe it is the heartache for the people who died on that day truly hit me.
The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the war that followed became so real to me today. After eating lunch at Red Lobster for our anniversary, we went to see the Flags of Valor presentation. Over seven thousand United States flags are placed on Art Hill in Forest Park in Saint Louis, MO. Each flag includes a photograph of a soldier who died fighting in the War on Terror, along with a replica dog tag that gives their name, date of death, and where they died. There are also flags honoring the first responders, police officers, and firefighters who died while helping the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. A panel display includes photographs of each of the people who died on September 11th. Fox News captured this video shows the magnitude of the presentation.
Seeing more than seven thousand flags, each with a photograph and a dog tag of a man or woman who sacrificed their lives so that I can continue to live in freedom. So that terror would not prevail, and that evil has no place in this world. All I can say is, “Thank You!” And we all must say, “We Will Never Forget!:
A flag honoring Vincent G. Danz, New York Police Officer who died at the World Trade Center during the September 11th Terrorist Attacks
Happy Wedding Anniversary to my sweet husband. I feel like we just got married, and now it is 22 years. You love me despite all my flaws. I wonder why did you marry me. I thought I would never get married because I wasn’t shown, good role models. I realized that God is first before everything, and through him, he gave me you. God is good, and I thank him for his grace and mercy.
1 Corinthians 13;4-5 says,
Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
NIV: New International Version
Marriage is work, and anyone that tells you it’s not is lying to you.
If you are married, there are two steps you can take to freshen your marriage each day.
1. Put God first: Jay and I know that nothing works without God In Jesus Name, so our spiritual life is a priority. Did this happen? No, we made it a priority, and if one of us slips us, we make sure we check each other. A good bible study together is the BibleRecap with Tara Lee Cobble on Youversion Bible app.
2. Communicate: spend time together each day and talk. Life, kids, fur babies, and everything else that encompasses your day can take priority but make sure you both are spending time talking not just about the day but about each other. The time can be as little as 15 minutes, but there’s no set time. Just make it happen.
3. Be each other’s cheerleader: As a husband and wife, there’s no 50/50. It’s 100/100. You both have to go all-in with the relationship.
I am not a marriage expert, and again it seems like we just got married yesterday. However, I can tell you from 22 years of marriage experience that these tips are still part of our communication with each and our love language continues to grow when we do the work.
Honey, I love you, you are my best friend, Happy 22 years!
What exactly is yoga? It is the practice of gently moving your body and assuming various postures while meditating on your breathing. Yoga started in northern India and has since become one of the most popular kinds of physical practice. Brought into Western society around the 1970s, various versions of yoga became substantially more mainstream.
Maybe you had also liked amongst millions who have joined in on the movement of yoga exercises that are said to help your body and your mind and spirit. Over the years, research has revealed that practitioners have achieved astounding outcomes that have given them overall control over their bodies. With effort and dedication, we may all acquire the authority and advantages that many others have praised if we begin practicing yoga postures. But the major question is whether yoga can improve a person’s flexibility and athletic ability in a measurable way. We’ll look at how that’s possible and some extra information that might help you avoid sports injuries and stay calm in stressful circumstances through the adoption of yoga.
Improving Flexibility Your athletic performance and flexibility can invariably improve through yoga practice and the proper instruction. The flexibility that your body begins to open up to can visibility improve over time. According to the Yoga Journal, this is because you are eventually extending your muscles and releasing tension inside your body. When tension is released, it affects the muscles in apparent regions such as your hamstrings or lower back and your joints. That is, your movable and semi-mobile joints will eventually relax considerably, allowing for more lubrication and mobility throughout the workout. By hydrating yourself regularly, you may ease the process of providing lubricant where it is most required, allowing you to enhance the trained motions gradually.
Improving Athletic Performance Many well-known athletes participate in different sports that practice yoga to help them improve as athletes. From football players in the NFL, basketball players like LeBron James, to combat sports like MMA and NHL ice hockey players, not just them. Athletes adapt it to target different muscles to enhance their central strength and endurance to reach their fitness goals. The capacity to improve your core strength is developed by focusing on the breath while your body learns to support its weight. When you systematically develop your strength for longer periods, you progressively build your endurance. The mental focus that you begin to develop also helps you gradually improve your agility and balance. This improves athletic performance by teaching you how to improve particular muscle groups and coordination with pre-and post-workout warmups.
Preventing Sporting Injuries Stretching is well known and accepted in the athletic world to reduce the likelihood of injury. Athletes have also utilized yoga to return to their sport after suffering physical injuries gradually. Muscle inflammation or the danger of pulling a muscle can be reduced, which aids recovery and prevention. Over the years, research has revealed that it decreases the likelihood of athletic injuries and mental health, and chronic conditions such as arthritis. It is crucial to remember, however, that a certified instructor is required to prevent physical injuries. If you do not take the time to become completely aware of your body by recognizing what it is telling you, you risk harming yourself by practicing yoga. This signifies knowing your boundaries and not pushing yoga postures, and motions since with the positive come the negative if misused. Using sports tape can help lessen the possibilities of sporting or yoga injuries because the tape supports your muscles.
Maintaining Calm When Pressure Strikes The ability to quiet your mind, concentrate your breath, and work with your body may all have a significant influence on your mental health. This is how athletes additionally practice endurance when faced with tasks that may seem impossible. Breathwork and focus taught with yoga and sports allow them to focus and propel them further regardless of the struggles they face. Many people and research have shown that yoga significantly improves people’s ability to navigate their life. Being able to heal via mindfulness practice might bring about a sense of peace. There is a notion that motivated and consistent yoga practice enables you to resiliently work through various difficulties that you may be struggling with. Healing isn’t always an easy road, but doing things slowly and not expecting immediate results may be good for both your mind and body.
You may find it challenging to get your family in the kitchen to eat meals. But, juicing is a healthy alternative for everyone! It’s easy to prepare and costs less than buying fresh fruits or vegetables at the store. No matter what their age, juicing can provide many health benefits for all members of the family. The following are five ways that juicing can improve health and well-being in every member of your household:
Decreases Inflammation You may already know that juicing is a great way to consume more vegetables and fruits in your diet. But did you also know it can be beneficial to reducing inflammation? Juicing removes the water from vegetables, so they’re easier for your body to process without harming digestion as eating them whole would. Studies show that those who drink juice with vegetables and fruits experience decreased inflammation.
A beneficial juice for your family to include in their diet is veggie-based green juice. This type of drink contains high levels of vitamin K and C and magnesium, which are all essential nutrients that can help with inflammation reduction.
Boosts Your Immunity Juicers from reputable manufacturers like goodnature.com/ can juice veggies, fruits, and grains. Juicing these is a great way to boost your immunity. All the vitamins and nutrients that you take in through fresh fruits and vegetables will help build up your immune system so that it is not vulnerable when exposed to illness-causing bacteria, viruses, or other harmful substances. In addition, the antioxidants found in juices prevent cells from damage from free radicals.
Promotes Weight Loss Juicing is a great way to promote weight loss because your body breaks down the natural sugars in vegetables more efficiently. This process results in feeling full for longer than usual and having fewer cravings for unhealthy foods that may contribute to weight gain.
Several studies have shown that weight loss is more sustainable when you incorporate juicing into your diet because it promotes feelings of satiety and reduces overall calorie intake by making nutrient-dense foods easier for your body to break down.
Increases Energy Juicing is a great way to get your family’s day off on the right foot. You can make it in batches and lasts for up to three days, meaning you don’t have to worry about breakfast or snacks before school. All it takes is some fruit juice (a natural source of energy), water, an apple and orange cut into slices, and two teaspoons of honey.
Juicing with vegetables is a great way to increase your energy levels. When juicing, the carbohydrates found in veggies convert into simple sugars that immediately work by spiking up insulin and boosting human metabolism.
Good Source for Essential Nutrients The ingredients of juicing can provide a good source of essential nutrients for your family. For example, green vegetables are high in minerals such as iron and calcium that help with the formation of connective tissues, boost immunity, fuel metabolism, and reduce inflammation. In addition, fruit juices provide essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, which is vital for eyesight. Juicing also provides a way to get the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables in one glass.
Conclusion Hopefully, these tips have helped you get started on the path to healthy living. If you feel like your mind and body need a reset, juicing is just what they need!
While for an informal gathering or a family barbecue, disposable cups, paper plates, and plastic forks and garden chairs begged, borrowed, and stolen from everywhere will more than suffice. There are some occasions where they just will not be sufficient. When these occasions come up, it is wise to have all the tips and tricks in your entertaining repertoire ready, so that you can throw a successful and elegant dinner party.
These occasions might be for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, client entertainment, and networking. Whatever the occasion, these tips will make sure your dinner party is classy and fun. Read on to find out more.
Send out invitations
While a quick message in your friends or family Whatsapp group or a Facebook message is more than adequate for an informal get together, when it comes to something a little more formal, you want to send out proper invitations. Of course, professionally calligraphed and gold sealed envelopes might be a step too far, but sending one out via post is a great way to give a sense of occasion to any elegant dinner party.
Plan the menu
Before you plan your menu, make sure that you find out if there are any allergies or dietary requirements for your guests. Once you know if you have to plan for allergies, vegetarian, vegan or the like, it makes it a little easier. Then, set to work on planning a special meal. If you are cooking it yourself, do not go for anything too fussy or complicated that will require lots of attention in the kitchen while your guests are there. You also do not want to try something new that night – either keep to something tried and tested or give yourself plenty of time to perfect the dish. There are lots of superb ideas and recipes online, with just about every ingredient and taste catered for. Why not try an old favourite, with a new twist, such as the mushroom gravy recipe here? Of course, if you are getting the professional caterers in, you could go all out.
Lay your table
Setting the plates and the cutlery and mismatched glasses alongside a bottle of ketchup and mustard are not going to be right for an elegant dinner party. You need to spend some time dressing the table with crisp, clean table linen, charger plates, the correct cutlery for each course, appropriate glasses for drinks and so on. You also want to look at sophisticated and elegant decorations. Vase of fresh flowers or foliage are always a winner, as are tealights dotted about. Leave the paper napkins in the drawer and bring out clean, pressed linen ones with rings to hold them together.
Even if you are hosting a small, intimate gathering, place cards can be used to add a thoughtful, personalised touch to the event. Furthermore, by seating your guests next to new faces, you can easily facilitate a fun, enjoyable evening for them. They are also a useful tool for assisting guests in avoiding the awkward decision of deciding where to sit.
Set the scene
You will want to set the right tone with the right lighting and music. For an elegant dinner party, dim the lights to a comfortable setting, but not so dark that your guests can’t see what they are eating, and light candles along the table and in surrounding areas to give the room a warm, enticing glow. Scented candles, on the other hand, should be avoided because they may interfere with the aroma of the food you are serving.
When it comes to music, make sure to set the volume to the appropriate decibel level so that your guests can converse comfortably. Choose a chilled out playlist that can easily fade into the background while also providing a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. Jazz is always a good option.
Make sure the bathroom is clean
Aside from the dining room, you will want to spruce up your bathroom, as that’s the only other space you will be opening up to guests. To maintain the overall theme of your elegant dinner party, make sure to provide or hang cloth or linen hand towels for guests to dry their hands.
Stock the bathroom with luxury soap and hand lotion. Make sure all of your facilities are clean and functional ahead of time. To add a finishing touch, light a clean-scented candle or place a fragrance diffuser in the bathroom to keep it feeling and smelling fresh all evening.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
Happy Wedding Anniversary to my sweet husband. I feel like we just got married, and now it is 22 years. You love me despite all my flaws. I wonder why did you marry me. I thought I would never get married because I wasn’t shown, good role models. I realized that God is first before everything, and through him, he gave me you. God is good, and I thank him for his grace and mercy.
Follow!