Lessons Taken From Books: The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning

This is a wonderful book about a little pig named Owen who insists that his hug and card to his grandmother gets passed from one mail carrier to another until his card is delivered to her. She insists that her kiss for Owen get sent back the same way. There are people on the hug and kiss journey that don’t really want to participate, but they end up complying.

I am not suggesting you hug everyone you met today. Try to hug a few that you care about and give kind words to others if you like.There maybe people you interact with today that are prickly like the porcupine in the story. Please hug them or give them kind words any way. You may also want to send a letter containing a hug or a hug box. (Read my post on Creating a Perpetual Hug Box)

Today there are probably many people in your world that could use a hug.

National Hugging Day- Create a Perpetual Hug Box

Today is National Hugging Day. I found this idea for a hug box on Family Crafts that would so easy to put together and so much appreciated by someone special in your life.

How do you make it?

1. Decorate a box.

Family Crafts talks about decoupage. I think a simple box with pretty paper and ribbon would be nice.

Some of you really crafty people can leave your suggestions for how to decorate the box in your comment.

2. Attach a gift tag with this message:

This is a very special gift

That you can never see

The reason it's so special is

It's just for you from me.

Whenever you are lonely

Or are ever feeling blue

You only have to hold this gift

And know I'm hugging you.

You never can unwrap it

Please leave the ribbon tied

Just hold the box close to your heart

It's filled with hugs inside

I am going to make this with JDaniel for my husband to take to his father when he goes to see him this weekend. He is in failing health and will enjoy knowing JDaniel and I made this for him.

Happy Buttercrunch Day! Here is a Recipe for It

This recipe was so easy. I don't cook well. It needed to be easy.

Ingredients:
12 graham crackers
1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
6 oz. chocolate bits
Chopped nuts

Directions:

Grease foil and line cookie sheet.




Put on one layer of graham crackers.





Melt butter and sugar. When boiling, pour over crackers.




Bake 5 minutes at 400 degrees. Sprinkle on chocolate bits; put back in the oven for 5 minutes and smooth out.




Sprinkle with chopped nuts and refrigerate to set.

I went to a meeting last night and came home to find a large chunk of this missing. My husband was product taste testing while I was gone.

Good News! He is alive and well today. That means this recipe looks good and is safe for consumption.

Happy National Popcorn Day! Celebrate with a Rhyme!

Today is National Popcorn Day. Here is a fun rhyme to do with your children:

Pop! Pop! Pop! Put the corn into the the pot. (Pretend to pour popcorn in the pot)

Pop! Pop! Pop! Shake and shake it 'til it's hot. (Pretend to shake the pot or shake your whole body)

Pop! Pop! Pop! Lift the lid and what have you got? (Pretend to lift the lid of the pot)

Pop! Pop! Pop! POPCORN! (Clench your hands and release them to make a poping movement)

Two Songs About Martin Luther King and a Craft for Children

Martin Luther King’s birthday is this week. I thought I would share two songs for children I found on the internet about him and a wonderful art project my nephew Charlie did in preschool to celebrate his birthday.

Here are the songs:

Freedom, Freedom, Let It Ring to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Freedom, freedom, let it ring.Let it ring, said Dr. King.

Let it ring from North to South.

Let it ring from house to house.

Let it ring for everyone,

All across the whole nation.

Let it ring for black and white,

Let it ring both day and night.

Let it ring for young and old,

Forever may its song ring bold.Freedom, freedom, let it ring.

Let it ring, said Dr. King.

Let Us Keep His Dream Alive to the tune of "This Old Man"

This young man had a dream;

In his eye he had a gleam.

We must love each other to survive.

Let us keep his dream alive.

He believed man was good;

He had dreams of brotherhood.

We must love each other to survive.
Let us keep his dream alive.

All join hands, let us sing;

Let the bells of freedom ring.

We must love each other to survive.

Let us keep his dream alive.

We can learn from the past;
Then we'll all be "free at last!"

We must love each other to survive.

Let us keep his dream alive.

Here is the wonderful craft:

Charlie and his classmates put handprints on each person’s paper to create unity ring of many skin tones. Then they played this beautiful dove in the center of the ring.