June 14, 2018 Thursday #keepyourfeetfromevil#choosewisely#T-ball!#Flagday#breadfetapeppers!

Get Faith
Proverbs 4:25-27  "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix you gaze directly before you.  Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm,  do not swerve to the right or the left, keep your feet from evil."  This is such good advice, I tell myself this everyday when I go for a walk.  As we get older we need to be watchful of the path ahead so that we don't trip and fall.  I can remember a time when I never considered this, but not anymore.  I watch for the break in the concrete, a stick fallen from a tree - anything that might be a stumbling block.  I don't think this passage was written for this purpose, I think it is more referring to life.  What do you think?  The last part "Keep your feet from evil" might be a clue.

Get Fit
This morning I started out with the resistance bands.  I worked out the legs (a lot) and then the arms.  If I had thought about what my plan for the rest of the day was going to be I might have thought twice before I had subjected myself to this.  Before my second cup of coffee and before it got hot and the sun was on the back side of the house,I suited up in long pants and long sleeve shirt and attacked the jungle behind my house.  First of all there are trees grown up on the fence and they need to be trimmed back off of my house every year.  Then I have a grape vine with an intertwined honeysuckle vine that I love and protect from the  invasive grape vine.  So, between chopping off tree branches, cutting long vines extending out from the fence and then raking all of it up, my arms now feel like cooked spaghetti.  Choose wisely.

On this day
2005  Nicole was grown up and working at Stony Lake as a counselor for the summer.  It was just Mom and I and although I am always busy, I seriously missed the days of softball.  On this day and many other days I took my lawn chair and went to Elmwood behind my house.  I could hear the noise from a game in progress.  Praise the Lord!  It was T-ball!  If you want some fresh air and don't happen to have any of your own - go watch a baseball or soccer game by someone else's kids.  Make sure your heart is in the right place.

1777 - The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the "Stars and Stripes" as the national flag of the United States. The Flag Resolution stated "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." On May 20, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed June 14 "Flag Day" as a commemoration of the "Stars and Stripes." Going to put my flags up!!

Thessaloniki Greece

In the early 20th century, Thessaloniki was in the center of radical activities by various groups; the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, founded in 1897,^[103] and the Greek Macedonian Committee, founded in 1903.^[104] In 1903 an anarchist group known as the Boatmen of Thessaloniki planted bombs in several buildings in Thessaloniki, including the Ottoman Bank, with some assistance from the IMRO. The Greek consulate in Ottoman Thessaloniki (now the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle) served as the center of operations for the Greek guerillas.

Thessaloniki was also the center of activities of the Young Turks, a political reform movement, which goal was to replace the Ottoman Empire's absolute monarchy with a constitutional government. The Young Turks started out as an underground movement, until finally in 1908, they started the Young Turk Revolution from the city of Thessaloniki, by which their revolutionaries gained control over the Ottoman Empire.^[105]

Constantine I of Greece with George I of Greece and the Greek army enter the city.

As the First Balkan War broke out, Greece declared war on the Ottoman Empire and expanded its borders. When Eleftherios Venizelos, Prime Minister at the time, was asked if the Greek army should move towards Thessaloniki or Monastir (now Bitola, Republic of Macedonia), Venizelos replied "Θεσσαλονίκη με κάθε κόστος!" (Thessaloniki, at all costs!).^[106] As both Greece and Bulgaria wanted Thessaloniki, the Ottoman garrison of the city entered negotiations with both armies.^[107] On 8 November 1912 (26 October Old Style), the feast day of the city's patron saint, Saint Demetrius, the Greek Army accepted the surrender of the Ottoman garrison at Thessaloniki.^[108] The Bulgarian army arrived one day after the surrender of the city to Greece and Tahsin Pasha, ruler of the city, told the Bulgarian officials that "I have only one Thessaloniki, which I have surrendered".^[107] After the Second Balkan War, Thessaloniki and the rest of the Greek portion of Macedonia were officially annexed to Greece by the Treaty of Bucharest in 1913.^[109] On 18 March 1913 George I of Greece was assassinated in the city by Alexandros Schinas.^{[110]  This is interesting to me because my friend Chris's heritage is Macedonian and I} 

fond memories of her Mom telling me her version of her country in broken Macedonian over 

home baked bread, grilled peppers and feta cheese, in Toronto.  yum.

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday - Betty, Christina, Krista &Bruce!

June13, 2018 Wednesday#Donateprayhelp#staystrong#roundabout#1917view

Get Faith
Matthew 25:40  "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers (and sisters) of mine, you did for me."   We reach out and help one another.  It is easy if you have the resources to just write a check or buy something for a group.  It is also easy to say prayers for those in need.  You can easily find more information on any charity that needs help.  You can donate your time to organizations that are looking for help.  There are a million ways to assist those in this world that have fallen on hard times or just plain live in hard times.  And we do it all to the glory of God.  Do it for Jesus.

Get Fit
I do lift weights and I notice the difference.  When I want to carry a bag of dirt, or lift a heavy pot in the yard - my strength is there for me.  I'm determined to not lose my ability to care for myself and stay independent.  If I get grandchildren (and I think I will)  I want to be able to hold them and play with them.  Think of one good thing you are losing in your life now because you aren't strong enough.   Now fix it, just start out with 1 lb weights!

On this day
2004  It was a Sunday and they always tend to be busy, right?  Mom and I picked up my Aunt Annie and went to a baby shower for my cousin Kathy's son Scott and his wife Wendy.  I stopped at Aaron's house to drop off a card for Rachelle, it is her birthday today.  When I got home I cut the lawn and Norma came by with leftover food from Ty's 60th birthday party the day before.  Funny thing is what I remember most about the day and it isn't mentioned here, is that I got stuck in the roundabout up in Macomb Twp- went around a couple times and ended up going back in the direction I came from, with the knowledge that I would have to try again.  How do you feel about those things?  I'm getting the hang of them now, but boy it was a laugh on me that day!

1777 - The Marquis de Lafayette arrived in the American colonies to help with their rebellion against the British.   The French have helped us out a lot - we have a street named after him here in Detroit!

Thessaloniki Greece

The seafront of Thessaloniki, as it was in 1917.
To Chris - do you think your parents saw this view at this time?

In the early 20th century, Thessaloniki was in the center of radical activities by various groups; the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, founded in 1897,^[103] and the Greek Macedonian Committee, founded in 1903.^[104] In 1903 an anarchist group known as the Boatmen of Thessaloniki planted bombs in several buildings in Thessaloniki, including the Ottoman Bank, with some assistance from the IMRO. The Greek consulate in Ottoman Thessaloniki (now the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle) served as the center of operations for the Greek guerillas.

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday to Rachelle, Jeff and Dan!!

June 12, 2018 Tuesday#Truth#Warmup#Thankyou#Ottomans!

Get Faith
Psalm 117:2  "For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.  Praise the Lord".   If you think of God as an overbearing Father, someone who judges and hands out punishment - you need to read the Bible more.  He is first of all merciful, forgiving all your sins in His Son Jesus Christ, that took away your punishment by dying for your sins. God is kind in what He provides to us all for our lives and hopes we will share with the world so everyone is cared for.  This is a truth repeated over and over in the Bible.  Maybe you should read it a little.  Start with the Gospels.

Get Fit
Back on track with my routine.  Richard and I were dancing to the oldies today - Michael Jackson's "I want you back" is a good warm up tune.  Always remember to warm up before exercising so you don't hurt yourself - stretch and light aerobics are what Richard brings. 

On this day
2003  Nicole had just graduated from high school and I had a big party for her in the yard.  As people arrived we took a picture of Nicole with them.  We included that picture in the thank you note to them and that is what she was doing on this day - writing thank you's.  No small feat, there were a lot of supporters and well wishers here!  Thanks again to everyone.  I now know some people that did computer art on a card with the pictures like we took and used those as thank you's, clever!!

2003 - In Arkansas, Terry Wallis spoke for the first time in nearly 19 years. Wallis had been in a coma since July 13, 1984, after being injured in a car accident. Wow!  practically all of Nicole's life up to this point he had been in a coma.  Unimaginable!

Thessaloniki Greece

The capture of Gallipoli by the Ottomans in 1354 kicked off a rapid Turkish expansion in the southern Balkans, conducted both by the Ottomans themselves and by semi-independent Turkish ghazi warrior-bands. By 1369, the Ottomans were able to capture Adrianople.^[68] Thessalonica, ruled by Manuel II Palaiologos (r. 1391–1425– ) itself surrendered after a lengthy siege in 1383–1387, along with most of eastern and central Macedonia.^[69] Initially, the surrendered cities were allowed complete autonomy in exchange for payment of the kharaj poll-tax. Following the death of Emperor John V Palaiologos in 1391, however, Manuel II escaped Ottoman custody and went to Constantinople, where he was crowned emperor, succeeding his father. This angered Sultan Bayezid I, who laid waste to the remaining Byzantine territories, and then turned on Chrysopolis, which was captured by storm and largely destroyed.^[70] Thessalonica too submitted again to Ottoman rule at this time, possibly after brief resistance, but was treated more leniently: although the city was brought under full Ottoman control, the Christian population and the Church retained most of their possessions, and the city retained its institutions.^[71][72] Thessalonica remained in Ottoman hands until 1403, when Emperor Manuel II sided with Bayezid's eldest son Süleyman in the Ottoman succession struggle that broke out following the crushing defeat and capture of Bayezid at the Battle of Ankara against Tamerlane in 1402. In exchange for his support, in the Treaty of Gallipoli the Byzantine emperor secured the return of Thessalonica, part of its hinterland, the Chalcidice peninsula, and the coastal region between the rivers Strymon and Pineios.^[73][74] Thessalonica and the surrounding region were given as an autonomous appanage to John VII Palaiologos. After his death in 1408, he was succeeded by Manuel's third son, the Despot Andronikos Palaiologos, who was supervised by Demetrios Leontares until 1415. Thessalonica enjoyed a period of relative peace and prosperity after 1403, as the Turks were preoccupied with their own civil war, but was attacked by the rival Ottoman pretenders in 1412 (by Musa Çelebi^[75]) and 1416 (during the uprising of Mustafa Çelebi against Mehmed I^[76]).^[77][78] Once the Ottoman civil war ended, the Turkish pressure on the city began to increase again. Just as during the 1383–1387 siege, this led to a sharp division of opinion within the city between factions supporting resistance, if necessary with Western help, or submission to the Ottomans.^[79]

In 1423, Despot Andronikos Palaiologos ceded it to the Republic of Venice with the hope that it could be protected from the Ottomans who were besieging the city. The Venetians held Thessaloniki until it was captured by the Ottoman Sultan Murad II on 29 March 1430.  AS with all histories of all countries there is war, continuously.  It can't all be blamed on religion, it is most of all earthly struggles for power that seem to be the problem.  What do you think?

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday Ty!  

June 11, 2018 Monday#clearly#Move!#stayinvolved#AmericanIdol#Bewareofselfcrowners!

Get Faith
1 Corinthians 13:12  "We can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face to face...Then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now."  If that frightens you be assured that God has seen everything since the beginning of time.  I cry for God everyday for what He has to witness on the whole earth.  Knowing that He sees all and still cares and loves us, is hard to conceive for our human minds.  But you need to know that He does see you and loves you for all that you are - His creation, His child.  Wait for the day when we will see clearly.

Get Fit
This was the last of 5 days in a row that I couldn't get up and do my exercises.  Tomorrow back on track.  That isn't to say I haven't been active.  You should always find ways to move to stay healthy in your everyday life.  What can you do today?

On  this day
2002  These days all started with "exercise, shower, lunch, work and school.  I realize that not everyone is as OCD as I am about keeping track but, you probably remember years when your morning schedule was the same, getting yourself and kids ready and out the door to whatever you needed to be at.  The after school and work schedules probably change, somewhat, but not a lot.  On this day Nicole and I were both back at school.  She had a basketball meeting and I had a Mom and Dad's club meeting.  I hope you are staying active with your children's schools so that they know how important their "work" is to you.

2002 - The television series "American Idol" debuted. The show featured judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. And so, this started!

Thessaloniki Greece
 Took a side trip to this location because of the Bible verse today and got this surprise.
Due to its ancient history and the presence of St. Paul the Apostle in Corinth some locations all over the world have been named Corinth.  

An Arab naval attack in 904 resulted in the sack of the city.^[57] The economic expansion of the city continued through the 12th century as the rule of the Komnenoi emperors expanded Byzantine control to the north. Thessaloniki passed out of Byzantine hands in 1204,^[58] when Constantinople was captured by the forces of the Fourth Crusade and incorporated the city and its surrounding territories in the Kingdom of Thessalonica^[59] — which then became the largest vassal of the Latin Empire. In 1224, the Kingdom of Thessalonica was overrun by the Despotate of Epirus, a remnant of the former Byzantine Empire, under Theodore Komnenos Doukas who crowned himself Emperor,^[60] and the city became the capital of the short-lived Empire of Thessalonica.^{[60][61][62][63]} Following his defeat at Klokotnitsa however in 1230,^[60][64] the Empire of Thessalonica became a vassal state of the Second Bulgarian Empire until it was recovered again in 1246, this time by the Nicaean Empire.^[60]

In 1342,^[65] the city saw the rise of the Commune of the Zealots, an anti-aristocratic party formed of sailors and the poor,^[66] which is nowadays described as social-revolutionary.^[65] The city was practically independent of the rest of the Empire,^[65][66][67] as it had its own government, a form of republic.^[65] The zealot movement was overthrown in 1350 and the city was reunited with the rest of the Empire.^{[65]  I find the history of this area very interesting, hope you are enjoying!}

^{Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!}

June 10, 2018 Sunday#Truepeace#Cinnamon#independence#StDemetrius

Get Faith
1 Thessalonians 5:23  "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."  The God of peace.  He offers it to you and everyone, peace.  We search for it, fight over it, pray for it and wish it to all we know.  Have you heard the news?  Just today they mentioned 3 suicides - 3 suicides!  And, that is not all of the suicides that happened yesterday.  People have lost meaning in their lives, even with all the money they may have - they are missing something, something that can bring them peace and joy.  I concur, mental disease  is a huge problem in our world and needs to be cured.  I suggest that much more time be put into saving souls through Jesus Christ and giving people something larger than this world - a true peace that comes from knowing you are blameless at the coming of our Lord, to heal depression.

Get Fit
The Top 7 Benefits of Cinnamon

The use of cinnamon in many food preparations and wellness activities has overwhelming effects on human health. Its value has been recognized for many centuries. There was even a time when cinnamon was more prized than gold. Although these days, majority of people would opt for a 24-karat gold piece over a 24-ounce cinnamon bark, this bark-cum-spice offers so many healthy benefits. Its short of amazing how this bark can spice up our lives in more ways than one. I'm thinking big cinnamon bun!!!!

On this day
2000 At 15 our kids start getting more independent and get lives away from us. On this day we started out at Clintondale for a softball regional game that they lost 6 to 5. Then I went home and cut the lawn and washed windows. (Wish I had an ounce of that energy) While I went to Ty and Norma's in the evening - Nicole went to a soccer game with the Nieto's. I blame them for her dropping softball and playing soccer the next year. But we raise them to make their own decisions and become independent of us and they do, hopefully. Make sure you give them good skills and oh, God.

1776 - The Continental Congress appointed a committee to write a Declaration of Independence. I would have liked to be a fly on the wall for that one!  

Thessaloniki Greece

Byzantine era and Middle Ages[edit]

See also: Byzantine Greece, Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Kingdom of Thessalonica, and Zealots of Thessalonica

Hagia Sophia church was erected in the 8th century AD based on the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Hagia Sophia is one of 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city.

Section of the Walls of Thessaloniki

From the first years of the Byzantine Empire, Thessaloniki was considered the second city in the Empire after Constantinople,^[41][42][43] both in terms of wealth and size.^[41] with a population of 150,000 in the mid-12th century.^[44] The city held this status until its transfer to Venetian control in 1423. In the 14th century, the city's population exceeded 100,000 to 150,000,^[45][46][47] making it larger than London at the time.^[48]

Fresco of 8th century in Hagios Demetrios. Entrace of the emperor, possibly Justinian II, in the city

During the 6th and 7th centuries, the area around Thessaloniki was invaded by Avars and Slavs, who unsuccessfully laid siege to the city several times, as narrated in the Miracles of Saint Demetrius.^[49] Traditional historiography stipulates that many Slavs settled in the hinterland of Thessaloniki;^[50]however, modern scholars consider this migration to have been on a much smaller scale than previously thought.^[50][50][51] In the 9th century, the Byzantine Greek missionaries Cyril and Methodius, both natives of the city, created the first literary language of the Slavs, the Glagolic alphabet, most likely based on the Slavic dialect used in the hinterland of their hometown.^{[52][53][54][55][56]  Such a rich heritage!!}

^{Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!}  

June 9, 2018 Saturday#Understand#smoothies#sportsbusy#EasternRomanEmpire!

Get Faith
Romans 6:1-2  "Well then, shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us more and more kindness and forgiveness?  Of course not!....For sin's power over us was broken when we became Christians."   When you become a Christian you realize a better relationship with Jesus.  You understand what our Father in heaven wants you to know about his great love and forgiveness.  Once you believe what the teachings are and hear the word with faith, you realize what that above sentence means.  It isn't a secret - you can receive the understanding, it's free!

Get Fit
I lost 10lbs in 2 weeks having this smoothie for breakfast every morning. A great start to your day :)


https://youtu.be/RhGGAk1tBkA

I love the idea of smoothies, etc.  Whatever you have in the refrigerator you put in your blender (with a little thought or guidance) and walla!  you have a meal in a glass.  My favorite is a dish of salad that you made a couple days ago.  I throw it in the blender with some extra spices/flavoring and some tomato juice and have gazpacho.  yum!

On this day
1999  My days were still work and school.  Nicole was playing softball in 9th grade and I must have had to stop at Dunham's for something, that Nicole needed I'm sure.  After the game I had to run over to Ty and Norma's to take care of the cats.  It is summer and sports are starting up.  If you are a mom and dad that works you have your hands full, especially if there are two or more kids.  You run from work to school to games to yardwork, laundry and oh!  dinner.  It is hectic but fun at the same time.  You can do it!  I did and I was an "old" mom.  Don't worry about the small stuff - but do it all together with the kids and family - even the house work.

1999 - NATO and Yugoslavia signed a peace agreement over Kosovo. 

Thessaloniki Greece

When the Roman Empire was divided into the tetrarchy, Thessaloniki became the administrative capital of one of the four portions of the Empire under Galerius Maximianus Caesar,^[37][38] where Galerius commissioned an imperial palace, a new hippodrome, a triumphal arch and a mausoleum among others.^[38][39][40]

In 379, when the Roman Prefecture of Illyricum was divided between the East and West Roman Empires, Thessaloniki became the capital of the new Prefecture of Illyricum.^[32] In 390, Gothic troops under the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, led a massacre against the inhabitants of Thessalonica, who had risen in revolt against the Gothic soldiers. By the time of the Fall of Rome in 476, Thessaloniki was the second-largest city of the Eastern Roman Empire.^[34]

Hard to believe this still stands!

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday Maria C, Eleni, and Lori!

June 8, 2018 Friday#Christlike#doublechin#change#Thessalonians!

Get Faith
Galatians 5 22-26  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Get Fit
You can find so much on health and wellness.  "How to Lose Double Chin in 30 Seconds"  Look it up and you only have to do it twice a day!  What have you got to lose?  Your double chin.

On this day
1998  On this day Aaron, Nicole and I were at the condo in Stuart.  We had moved Grandma and Grandpa down there from St Clair Shores after they sold their house.  We had to get up at 5 AM and drive up to Orlando to catch our flight home. We had a rental car that we had to turn in, we didn't what Grandpa to have to make that drive to Orlando.  It was an adventure and sad at the same time.  When we got to Detroit, Mom picked us up at the airport and brought us home.  I'm glad to remember when Mom could still drive and was comfortable to make the long trip to Metro to get us.  Life throws changes at us all the time, we just have to learn to adjust.

1998 - The National Rifle Association elected Charlton Heston to be its president.  I think I knew this.

Thessaloniki Greece

At the time of the Roman Empire, about 50 A.D., Thessaloniki was also one of the early centers of Christianity; while on his second missionary journey, Paul the Apostle visited this city's chief synagogue on three Sabbaths and sowed the seeds for Thessaloniki's first Christian church. Later, Paul wrote two letters to the new church at Thessaloniki, preserved in the Biblical canon as First and Second Thessalonians. Some scholars hold that the First Epistle to the Thessalonians is the first written book of the New Testament.^[36]

In 306 AD, Thessaloniki acquired a patron saint, St. Demetrius, a native of Thessalonica whom Galerius put to death. A basilical church was first built in the 5th century AD dedicated to St. Demetrius.

I love to see where history ties into the history of the Bible.  Here are proofs of St Paul's visit and the letters to the Thessalonians and mention of St Demetrius, an early saint of the church.

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday to Nancy and Phil!