Tag Archives: Jimmy Carter

So Much To Love About October 1

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Happy October, everyone! We are at the very beginning of a terrific month and I hope that you are ready for a spectacular 31 days. But before we look ahead too far, how about we just focus on October 1? Why? Well, because October 1 is pretty special in its own rite. Whether something is happening on it or it kicks something off, let’s consider five things about Oct. 1…

October is here! I love this month.

– Happy HalloweenGivingMas! Or, to those uppity types, happy HalloGivingMas! Whatever you call it, today begins a three-month blitz of some really special holidays. This stretch is such a fun and festive period with so much to celebrate and look forward to. Enjoy!

– Speaking of a three-month stretch, these last few months comprise the final quarter of 2024. Yep, we are already 75% of the way through this year. You can look at the remaining 92 days as either a long time or a short time but one thing is for sure—it is the perfect amount of time to satisfy any goals you had for 2024 or to do something that will leave you with a positive impression of the year.

– With October now here, we can say that the presidential election is NEXT MONTH. In fact, in exactly five weeks we will elect a new president. If this race has brought you anxiety, I know the next 35 days might be tough. Stick in there!

– Hooray! Jimmy Carter turned 100 today. Last month I had the opportunity to read the kids a book about the 39th President of the United States. At the time of the reading, Sloan asked, Is he still alive? I answered her question and mentioned that he was so close to turning 100. We are all glad he reached the milestone.

– While we are on the topic of October birthdays, a blogger you know will also be blowing out candles this month. My cake will have a few less of them than President Carter’s.

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Have a fabulous month. October is a lot of fun and I hope you kick it off the right way by enjoying today. Don’t Blink.

Introducing Sloan and Beau to Jimmy Carter

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As a U.S. President-obsessed kid in the early 1990s, someone always stuck out to me on the poster that hung on my wall and the many president books/flash cards/memorabilia in my room. Out of the 41 or 42 commander-in-chiefs pictured on these items, #39 seemed to pop out.

Of course, for those as nerdy as me, we don’t need the reminder about who that number designation is reserved for in American history. We are talking about James Earl Carter. Out of the numerous other past presidents on my prized materials, no one looked as happy, youthful and folically-blessed as Jimmy Carter. Out of so many stone-faced, scowling, bald, and old men, the guy with a mile-wide smile and full head of hair stood out to a 5-year-old like myself.

On Saturday night, I read a Jimmy Carter children’s book biography to Sloan and Beau. It summarized his whole life from his upbringing in segregated Georgia to his early political career to his presidency to his post-presidency humanitarianism.

I read “Hard Work But It’s Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter” to Sloan and Beau on Saturday night.

After we finished the book, Sloan asked the logical question I was expecting from my 7-year-old: Is Jimmy Carter still alive?

I told her yes but I didn’t know exactly how old he was. I whipped out my phone, typed in his name, and found out he is 99. But he didn’t turn 99 this summer or even this year. Former President Carter turned 99 on October 1, 2023. That means, God willing, he will become a centenarian in 22 days.

Jimmy Carter is now 99 and isn’t youthful but he still has that smile.

Needless to say, Carter isn’t the fresh looking face that graced the U.S. President poster that hung in my childhood room. But the smile is certainly still there!

Carter says he isn’t obsessed with holding on until he turns 100. Rather, he has a goal that extends beyond his milestone birthday. The man says he wants to live long enough so he can vote for Kamala Harris.

Although this isn’t a political post by any means, I admire that Carter still has drive and goals. Let’s pray for our 39th president. I will be more than happy to wish him a happy birthday on Oct. 1. Don’t Blink.