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Vernal Equinox | JOY for Today

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Reawaken, restart, rejuvenate, renew. Spring - a time of growth, new life, and warmth - is full of JOYful possibilities. Welcome to the Spring celebration! " Daisy Flowers in White " by Karen Arnold via Public Domain Pictures Vernal Equinox Offerings: Did You Know...   Wolfe Stew Connects Bible Verses and Quotes   Activity Suggestions  (For families, classrooms or individuals) Did You Know: Two "first days" of spring exist? One, the equinox, is astronomically based, but the other, used by climate scientists, is based on the temperature cycle. So, dear reader, you may choose to celebrate the first day of spring on March 1st (meteorologically) or March 20th (astronomically). Some cultures recognize the vernal equinox as their new year ?  While we celebrate the New Year in January, some countries in the middle east wait until spring to officially mark a New Year. To celebrate, they jump over bonfires, clean their homes, feast, paint eggs, bang pots, and picnic. A s

St. Patrick's Day | JOY for Today

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(Updated 2/23/2024) Chasing treasure at the end of a rainbow awakens childhood wistfulness leading to JOY for me. Add in silly Leprechauns and a sprinkling of Irish tradition and you have a recipe for JOYful memories. But in the end, we know our true JOY comes from being still. St. Patrick's Day Offerings: Did You Know...  Five facts we didn't know. Wolfe Stew Connects  To chasing rainbows. Bible Verses and Quotes  About adventure and blessings. Activity Suggestions : Leprechaun trap, Irish blessings, research opportunities, recipe links, discussion questions, and family challenge. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: Spring Equinox (Changes Annually - Generally March 19th or 20th) Palm Sunday (Changes Annually - 7 days before Easter) Easter (Changes Annually - The first Sunday following the first full Spring moon) Did You Know: St. Patrick was British? At 16, Irish raiders kidnapped Patrick and sold him to a Celtic priest. After six years as the priest's shepherd slave, he escaped back t

Get Over It Day | JOY for Today

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(Updated 2/15/2024) Each moment we choose misery or JOY. Get Over It Day is a great chance to practice choosing JOY, to cast negative thoughts aside and open the window to let JOY in. Tell yourself to "GET OVER IT," and remember that you deserve JOY. Photo shared by Humaied Ullah via Pexels "Getting Over It" Thoughts: Did You Know...  Facts about ruminating. Wolfe Stew Connects  With "Getting Over It" Bible Verses and Quotes  About choosing contentment. Activity Suggestions  To help "Get Over It" UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: National Good Samaritan Day (March 13th Annually) St. Patrick's Day (March 17th Annually) Spring Equinox (Changes Annually - Usually March 19th or 20th) Did You Know: The word for dwelling on a negative event is ruminating? While people who suffer depression and anxiety commonly ruminate, all of us are likely to now and again - especially following a stressful experience. Co-ruminating is when you continuously rehash the event

Ash Wednesday | JOY for Today

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(Updated 3.9.2023) Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent: a period of reflection and self-denial in preparation for Easter. While this day is not meant to be JOYful, we know of the JOY that's coming and it soothes our soul. Living in JOY is a way of life, we can be JOYful in periods of mourning and periods of solemn reflection because we know the source of our JOY. Furthermore, periods of self-reflection and self-denial are restorative and redemptive practices that make room for more JOY.  Dirt Texture picture by Daniel Smith at Public Domain Pictures Ash Wednesday Offerings Did You Know  Four we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  To fasting. Bible Verses  Inspired by Ash Wednesday. Activity Suggestions  About fasting, lent, and humility. Did You Know: Ash Wednesday takes place 40 days before Easter not counting Sundays? It marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting in preparation of Easter that mirrors the 40 days Jesus fasted ( Matthew 4:1-11 ) before undergoing

March 2022 | Blank, Holiday, and Personal Growth Calendars

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Are you ready to March into a restart? Three months into 2022 and we bet you're ready for something new. There's no time like spring to renew your goals and RESTART your habits. Here's what we're offering on the March 2022 Wolfe Stew menu: March 2022 GROWTH for Today Calendars Biblical Secular Blank 2022 Calendar   Bible verses  Inspirational Quotes If you're still craving ideas for EVERY day, find previous year listings below: March 2021   March 2020 Also, consider sampling our  JOY for Today  posts, where we aim to celebrate selected days throughout the year with you. March 2022 GROWTH for Today Calendars These "GROWTH for Today" calendars are new in 2022! Choose from a  faith-based  or  secular  perspective. Set aside time each day to do the activity and GROW to RESTART with us.   (Scroll down for faith-based version.) Whether you choose the  Biblical  or  secular  calendar, the theme and goal of March 2022 are the same: Theme:  RESTART  Goal : Seize

Presidents' Day | JOY for Today

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(Updated 1/26/2024) Presidents' Day began as a day to honor George Washington but now is commonly extended to all presidents. While celebrating presidents may not sound JOYful to you, consider where we'd be without someone to govern our country, to fight for our freedoms. On a personal level, spend time today thinking about who you lead, the JOY you find in it, and how you can grow to be better at it. Presidential Listings Did You Know...  Five facts we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  To teaching American History. Bible Verses and Quotes  Verses about leadership and quotes from presidents. Activity Suggestions  Coin sort, book related activities, research opportunities, leadership development, presidential timeline, discussion questions, and family challenge. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: Be Humble Day (February 22nd Annually) Tell a Fairy Tale Day (February 26th Annually) International Women's Day (March 8th Annually) Did You Know: Joe Biden is our 46th President?   Head to WhiteH

Valentine's Day | JOY for Today

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(Updated 1/25/2024) While Valentine's Day is met with mixed emotions, I see it as a celebration of LOVE: love of God, love of others, and love of self.  There is never enough love to go around. So, let's find JOY for today in giving and receiving love. Hearts image from Pixabay . Valentine's Day Offerings Did You Know...  Five Valentine's Day facts Wolfe Stew Connects  To love. Bible Verses and Love Quotes  About love.  Activity Suggestions  To show love to others, to remind yourself you deserve love, to create an environment of love, and to connect with God's love. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: Ash Wednesday (Changes Annually - 46 days before Easter) Singles Awareness Day (February 15th Annually) Presidents' Day (February's Third Monday) Did You Know: There are three Saint Valentine legends? First, there's the Valentine who married soldiers despite Emperor Claudius II's decree to keep them single. Second, Valentine of Terni lived his life supporting marri