World Blood Donor Day is June 14.
Father’s Day is June 21. Let’s honor those dads!!
Every year on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.
Health benefits of donating blood
- Reduce harmful iron stores. According to the Mayo Clinic, one in every 200 people in the U.S. is affected by a condition called hemochromatosis that causes an iron overload. …
- Preserve cardiovascular health. …
- Reduce the risk cancer. …
- Burn calories. …
- Free blood analysis. …
- Give you a sense of pride.
Honoring Your Father
1. Share in a hobby/interest- Father’s Day is a great day to do something special with your dad, whether it’s camping, grilling, watching a game, or just hanging around together as a family. Many of those interests don’t have to wait until Father’s Day and can build your relationship all year long. Is there something special you remember doing with your dad as a kid? Like going to a baseball game? Playing a board game? Watching a show or movie? Or something that adult children couldn’t share in as kids (hunting, fishing, etc.)? The point of this suggestion is not just to encourage a hobby, but to provide a means to spending time with your dad.
2. Ask for his memories-Explore that part of your family by trying to learn about your father’s childhood, his family, and his life story. The experiences that helped form him formed you.
3. Pray for him- Support your father in prayer! He’s not perfect, nor will he always say/do the correct thing. And who knows what burdens he carries from his family/work/childhood/etc. that he doesn’t share with his kids? Raising children is a heavy responsibility, however much joy accompanies it.
4. Make something for him- It used to be that the stereotypical Father’s Day gift was a necktie. Now with the ability to print a photo on just about anything (coffee mug, mouse pad, t-shirt, blanket, and more), mementos for dads are easier to come by. But who doesn’t like receiving a “just because” gift anytime during the year? Little gifts from children can melt a father’s heart. In addition, is there some way you could help your dad’s work day improve? Something for his desk or the dashboard of his truck? One of my favorites is getting a recorded video on my smart phone. Whenever I have a hard day at work, I ask my wife for a video of her & the kids. All they have to do is say “hi, Daddy” and my day gets instantly better.
5. Learn his communication style and then engage him- Some of us are chatty, others are reserved, others are loud and outspoken. For some dads, lots of talking pales in comparison to a silent day in a fishing boat. Adult children shouldn’t make the mistake of never changing how you communicate with your parents. Get fresh eyes on how your father likes to communicate, even if you think you have him figured out. Establishing a new ground could
6. Help with chores- This applies both for kids at home and adult children living outside of home. For decades, our parents lost sleep, changed innumerable diapers, worked to feed us, took care of us, drove us around everywhere, and gave of themselves for the sake of their kids. Parents can err on the side of using this as a guilt trip, but there is truth behind it. Actively find a way to help with chores around the house. This isn’t just in a reciprocal way, but to follow in their footsteps and exercising a self-giving love.
WATERMELON AGUA FRESCA
INGREDIENTS
- 6 cups diced watermelon (about 1/4 medium watermelon)
- 4 cups cold water
- 1/4 cup sugar (start with 2 tablespoons and add more to taste)
- limes wedges and mint leaves, for garnishing
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine diced watermelon and cold water in a large blender.
- Pulse on high until watermelon is 95 percent pureed.
- Add in sugar, pulse on high to mix and taste. Add more sugar if necessary.
- Serve chilled over ice.
- Garnish with limes and mint