As we welcome the month of August, we could surely use some gusts of cool winds blowing down here in the Sunshine State. I’m starting to think we are morphing into desert people — the heat is unforgiving. Everybody’s swarming to the many beaches we have here. Some are just hanging out at their pools. As for me, I opt for staying under the central air with a tall, cool glass of strawberry lemonade, my feet propped up, and relaxing my brain. And while I’m relaxing, perhaps I’ll grab myself a piece of butterscotch meringue pie since today is Homemade Pie Day. Blow that diet out of the water!

Did you know this month has some 612 celebrations? You’d better grab your sunglasses, flip flops, and a straw hat and choose the ones you plan on attending because there’s no way you can make them all. For a complete list, toss our beach ball around just don’t toss it away!

Out of these 612 celebrations, 28 are celebrations for the entire month, but we won’t list them all…We have American Adventures Month, American Artist Appreciation Month, Back to School Month, Black Business Month, Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Family Fun Month, MedicAlert Awareness Month, National Golf Month, National Civility Month, National Immunization Awareness Month, and Summer Sun Safety Month.

Being blessed to have survived leukemia, National Minority Donor Awareness Day is at the top of my list for August 2. More people need to get involved and put their names on that Bone Marrow Registry by visiting different websites and blogs. Speaking of blogs, we bloggers have our own Blogger Day on August 5. For those of us who are trying to taper off from the Internet and focus more on family ties, there is National Son and Daughter Day on August 11 and Women’s and Family Day on August 13.

Let us remember Purple Heart Day on August 7 and National Airborne Day on August 16. Purple Heart Day is a time of somber reflection on and honoring those patriots who courageously lost their lives or were wounded while serving this country. National Airborne Day is dedicated to recognizing the past, present, and future contributions of American airborne troops in all campaigns and peacekeeping missions.

This National Day of Repentance although observed on August 26 every year in Papua New Guinea. Needs to be observed everywhere, considering the state of the world today. This public holiday is celebrated through prayer ceremonies across the country. National Repentance Day is meant to be a day of Christian prayer.

Happy Birthday in advance to all of you who were born this month! If this is your birth month, know that you are sharing it with the likes of everybody from former President Barack Obama (August 4) to Mae West (August 17). There are so many famous people celebrated this month who knows you might share a birthday with one of them.

A little August Trivia. The “Dog Days” of summer are often associated with early August, when Sirius, the “Dog Star,” rises with the sun, causing hot temperatures, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Father, we give thanks and praise to You for all You have done for all of us and our families.  Thank You for Your grace, favour, mercy, and protection. Thank You, Father, that we are alive to see the 8th month of the year.

Happy New Month!