Category: health

Are you ready for some Fall FUN with your family?

Today on The Morning Thing, we shared 20 different ways to spend some quality time together as a family. This list of great ideas comes from Crosswalk.com

Click HERE to see the full list.

Here are some of our favorites:

* Host a Family Movie Night

Everybody loves family movie night. Typically, there is a theme like all the movies in a series or even a certain genre. 

* Cook Together

Cook a cozy, comforting meal together. We all know that family dinner time is important, so make it more special by preparing a meal together. Think meatloaf and mashed potatoes, cozy casseroles, and comforting soups. You could even try a recipe or two that you’ve never made before to shake things up. It can be as extravagant or as simple as you wish. 

* Make a Thankful Wall

Get a whiteboard or bulletin board and hang it where everyone in the family can see it. Buy either dry-erase markers or post-it notes and push pins. Each week, have everyone write what they are thankful for so everyone can see it. Then on Friday nights at dinner, talk about your week and the things you are grateful for. 

* Go Out for Breakfast

Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, it’s also cheaper than going out to lunch or dinner. Get up early on a Saturday morning and head to your favorite breakfast joint. Don’t forget to keep an eye out online, in your email, and also your snail mail for coupons. You can also go directly to the website and see if there are any specials going on as well. Enjoy the restaurant’s fall specials, like pumpkin pancakes or pumpkin spice coffee.

* Attend a Fall Festival 

Do some research and see if there are any fall festivals in your town or neighboring towns. If so, spend the day together as a family. There will be lots of things to see and do, and it will do you good to be out in the crisp, fall air.

* Make S’mores

S’mores are a staple in the fall, so fire up the bonfire or fire pit and gather ‘round. However, you don’t always have to make the traditional graham cracker, marshmallow, and Hershey bar kind. There are tons of variations online. 

I have seen s’mores made with horizontal slices of granny smith apples with caramel melted in the middle. Chocolate chip cookies with marshmallows and a chocolate bar melted in the middle. And s’mores made with chocolate graham crackers, peppermint patties, and marshmallows in the middle. There are lots of delicious variations, so have fun. You could even make several kinds and have friends over to enjoy after family dinner. 

* Sleep Under the Stars

Pitch a tent or two and sleep under the stars one night as a family. Sit around the fire pit and talk, admire the moon and the stars, and thank God for his creation. Slow down and enjoy the surrounding nature.

Thanks to the author for these great ideas!
Carrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. She has had her work featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and the Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three clean romance books, one romance novella, three books of poetry, and one non-fiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband, and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.

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Do you want to simplify your life? Check out this blog!

Today, The Morning Thing shared some small ways to make life simpler. These tips are from The Positivity Blog. They remind us that life does NOT have to be so hard.

See the full list of 23 small ways to make life simpler HERE.

Here are some of our favorites:

1. Breathe.

When stressed, lost in a problem (or a mistake) or the past or future in your mind breathe with your belly for two minutes and just focus on the air going in and out.

These deep breaths will calm your body down and bring your mind back into the present moment again.

2. Do one thing at a time.

You’ll get better results and feel better and less stressed while doing those things.

3. Write it all down.

Use your mind for better things than remembering what to do. And the mind is often like a leaky bucket.

So write down all your great ideas, insights and thoughts before they go missing somewhere and add what you need to do to a to-do list.

4. Stop trying to do things perfectly. 

It will only get you stuck and drain your self-esteem.

Go for good enough instead and when you are there you are done. Get things all the way to done this way and then move on to the next thing.

5. Pack your bag before you go to bed.

Then you don’t have to get stressed out by that in morning and you are less likely to forget something.

6. Ask yourself simplifying questions every day.

Questions like:

  • What is the most important thing I can do right now?
  • What is one small step I can take to simplify this situation?

7. Keep everything in its place.

If everything has its own place then it is whole lot easier to keep your home reasonably ordered and decluttered from day to day.

This also helps you with your inner stillness as the outer environment affects how you feel on the inside.

8. Write shorter emails.

I tend to write emails containing only a few sentences, usually between one and five. If you focus on keeping it short and focused then you’ll probably discover that this is a good solution in most cases.

9. Ask instead of guessing.

Reading minds is hard. So, instead ask questions and communicate.

This will help you to minimize unnecessary conflicts, misunderstandings, negativity and waste of time and energy.

10. Check everything just once a day.

I check my email inboxes, blog statistics, my online earnings, Twitter and Facebook just once a day.

I combine all that checking into one small daily ritual at the end of my workday so I don’t slip and go checking it more during the day and waste my energy and attention.

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WNZR talks with Amy Seward from the Knox County Emergency Management Agency!

We got to talk with Amy Seward, who is the Deputy Director of the KCEMA! In honor of it being National Preparedness Month, Amy wanted to tell us why and how we should be preparing for disasters. She also details her role, what they do, and how you can stay connected!

For more information on National Preparedness Month, click HERE!

Click HERE if you want to know more about the Knox County Emergency Management Agency!

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How to be Happy!

Today on The Morning Thing, we celebrated Happiness Happens Month! This is a month that highlights the things that make you happy on a day-to-day basis.

We shared some daily, monthly, and even yearly habits that are geared towards making you happier! With a little time and practice, you’ll be able to figure out which habits are good for your lifestyle.

To learn more about Happiness Happens Month, click HERE!

For the full list of habits, click HERE!

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There is still time for summer!

Today, on The Morning Thing, we shared some great ideas for a late summer picnic! There is still time to get outside while the weather is good, so take this opportunity, grab some food, and have some fun!

There is 100+ great ideas for creative and classic food!

Click HERE to view the full list!

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100 Lifestyle Hobbies!

Today, Marcy and Xander shared some great hobby ideas for you and your family! Whether you enjoy fun, athletic, or unusual hobbies, there is something on this list for everyone. With over 100 hobbies to choose from you can find something that suits you!

Some of our favorites:

  • Reading
  • Golf
  • Skydiving
  • Geocaching
  • Embroidery

There is many more so go check out the full list HERE!

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Resetting on your busy days!

On The Morning Thing today, we shared some fantastic tips on how to reset when there is too much going on! There are many ways to do this whether it be through activity, relaxing, or getting organized. There is something on this list that will work for everyone!

Some of our favorites:

  • Do 5-10 minutes of stretching
  • Spend time with you pet
  • Go for a short walk
  • Wrap yourself in a weighted blanket

To see the entire list, click HERE!

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WNZR talks with members from Hospice of the Western Reserve!

We got to sit down with Tara Severence and Danielle England from the Hospice of the Western Reserve! Tara and Danielle provide us with information about themselves, their organization, and all the services they provide. They also detail their open house they have coming up, where you can learn about hospice, meet team members, and check out their new facilities!

Hospice of the Western Reserve Invites You to an Open House 

Mount Vernon, OH— Hospice of the Western Reserve in Mount Vernon (formerly HNCO/Hospice of Knox County), invites you to join us for an open house event on August 21, 2025 from 11am-3pm. 

HNCO/Hospice of Knox County was acquired by Hospice of the Western Reserve on August 1, 2024. We are an Ohio-based non-profit organization dedicated to end-of-life care in the community for over 40 years. This partnership allowed us to expand our services and comprehensive care. 

The open house is an opportunity to bring the community together to learn about our hospice and palliative care services, meet our local team members, and to see our newly renovated space. 

During the open house you can enjoy local food trucks, music, and light refreshments while touring our facility and learning about the care, comfort, and support we provide for patients and families. A table of informational materials will be available as well as goody bags for the first 100 visitors. 

We will also share ways you can make a difference as a volunteer. 

On the Rise Bar-B-Que and Round Hill Dairy will be selling and serving food and ice cream from their food trucks. The local band Side Effects is scheduled to perform from 11am-1pm followed by Granny Creek from 1pm-3pm on our back patio, a relaxing space with a beautiful view of nature and a granite water fountain. 

All are welcome to attend! 

Hospice of the Western Reserve is located at 17700 Coshocton Road in Mount Vernon. We are just past the health department on the right-hand side of the road. There is a big blue sign in our yard that you cannot miss! 

To RSVP or for questions, contact Tara at 740-507-0072 or tseverance@hospicewr.org. 

To learn more about their organization, click HERE!

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Being open to let God work!

Today on The Morning Thing, we focused on Serendipity Day! We looked at it through a Christian lens as we know God works in incredible and surprising ways, and we came up with 8 things each of us can work on to be more open to this kind of God!

Recognizing and being open to a serendipitous God — one who moves in unexpected, surprising, and grace-filled ways — involves cultivating a mindset, a heart posture, and some daily practices that create space for divine presence in the ordinary and the unforeseen. 

Here are some of the best ways to open yourself to this: 

1. Practice Attentiveness 

  • Slow down: Serendipity is often missed in busyness. 
     
  • Cultivate a habit of noticing: small joys, coincidences, encounters, beauty, and nudges that may be divine in nature. 
     
  • Ask: “What is this moment trying to show me about God?” 
     

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes.” 
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

2. Let Go of the Need for Control 

  • Be willing to release rigid expectations about how God “should” act. 
     
  • Stay open to mystery, ambiguity, and the unconventional. 
     
  • Recognize that interruptions may be invitations, and detours may be sacred. 
     

3. Cultivate Wonder and Curiosity 

  • Instead of seeking answers, seek encounter. 
     
  • Be curious: Why did that person come into my life? What is unfolding here? 
     
  • Welcome the unexpected with openness rather than fear. 
     

4. Engage in Reflective Prayer or Journaling 

  • Ask questions like: 
     
  • Where did I see God today? 
     
  • What surprised me? 
     
  • What felt like more than coincidence? 
     
  • Keep a “God of Surprises” journal. 
     

5. Trust in Divine Timing 

  • A serendipitous God is often a God of timing, not just outcomes. 
     
  • Learn to embrace delays, disruptions, and waiting as potentially sacred pauses. 
     

6. Surround Yourself with Stories of Serendipity 

  • Read scripture with a lens for divine surprise (e.g., Ruth meeting Boaz, Paul’s detour to Macedonia, Mary’s unexpected yes). 
     
  • Listen to the testimonies of others and how God met them unexpectedly. 
     

7. Be Willing to Act on Gentle Nudges 

  • When you feel prompted to reach out, speak up, help, pause — do it. 
     
  • Serendipity often requires participation. 
     

8. Hold Theology Loosely, Hold God Tightly 

  • God is not always confined to our doctrines or expectations. 
     
  • Stay rooted in God’s love and character, but allow the form of His movement to surprise you. 

To learn more about Serendipity Day, click HERE!

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WNZR talks with members of the TAC about the annual Color for a Cause Race!

We got to chat with several members of the Teen Advisory Counsel about their program and the upcoming Color Run! Their members tell us all about the TAC, why they are involved, and they highlight the fun event coming this weekend!

To learn more about the TAC or their Color Run, click HERE!

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