Do you ever have trouble getting good reception on your cell phone? Today, we shared tips on how to improve your cell service. Click HERE for some quick easy fixes for the battle of good cell phone service.

We also talked about how to build a positive home. Click HERE for some tips for kids and parents. Everyone in the household needs to know that home is a safe placed where love can always be found.

We also celebrated another crazy holiday- National Cream Filled Donut Day. It is always celebrate on September 14th. The most popular cream filled donuts are chocolate cream and vanilla cream. What do YOU like?

The Morning Thing team of Marcy, Aubrey, Jenna and Wesley wish you a Happy Monday!

There is nothing quite like a grandparent, is there? They are a special set of people and they definitely deserve recognition. That’s why the Morning Thing is choosing to support Grandparents’ Day, which is this Sunday the 13th. If you want to learn about the history of the special day or the organizations involved with it, you can check out the official website- grandparentsday.org.

In honor of Grandparents’ Day we decided to make our Fave Five about our favorite memories of our grandparents.

-Guest host Jessica Wells loved how her grandma would take her out on one-on-one dates to things such as movies and build-a-bear and she always enjoyed those times.

-Jenna Potts can’t pick just one specific memory. From family vacations, Christmases, birthdays, in her graduation her grandparents have always been there for her. Their love and guidance is something she has always treasured. No matter what is going on in her life her grandparents are there to give her a hug and encourage her. She loves hearing stories of their mischievous childhood and young adult years. They inspire her in everything they do.

-Wesley has many good memories of all his grandparents: spending the night at their house, eating cookies, trips to the zoo… But his favorite memory was a time when he was old enough to know that his grandparents wouldn’t always be around and so in an attempt to get to know them as well as possible he asked them how they met. Hearing the story of a blind date and laughing at their fun adventures is something he cherishes.

-Marcy has lost both sets of grandparents, so it is hard for her to pick just one memory. What she does remember, and will always remember, is the incredible spiritual heritage that she received from Grandma and Grandpa Street and Grandma and Grandpa Miller. Whenever she would visit their houses they would spend time reading the Bible and praying together as a family. Her grandpa Miller had four generations that he prayed for every single day. He would pray for his children, their children, their children, etc. She truly believes that she knows Jesus today because of her grandparents and their decision to follow Him in their lives.

In addition to celebrating Grandparents’ Day this weekend you will also have the chance to watch the annual Night of Joy concert live from Disney World! Here’s all the information you’ll need to watch a webcast of bands like MercyMe, For King and Country, and more:

Watch Night of Joy 205 Live on StageHop.com!

StageHop is excited to present Night of Joy 2015, one of the biggest annual events in contemporary Christian music, LIVE September 11-12 from Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida! Featuring today’s top Christian music artists, we’ll give you the best seat in the house for all 3 stages over both nights of the event.

* Entertainment subject to change or cancellation without notice

Get Your Free Live Webcast Pass Today!

Dates: September 11-12, 2015
Time: Stay tuned to StageHop.com for details
Live Webcast Cost: Free
Live from Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort

The world is a strange place. It is full of oddities and today on the Morning Thing we decided to take a look at some of these. So if you are feeling like the world is a place in terrible shape, read these stories and feel encouraged knowing that there are people out there with a sense of humor…

Story 1: #DeadRaccoonTO

I’ve always heard that Canadians are a nice lot, and the touching story of DeadRaccoonTO proves it. What began as a dead raccoon on the sidewalk that was not being picked up by animal services turned into a memorial fit for a king, with passers-by leaving flowers and notes in loving memory of the poor animal. Yes, there is a hashtag. And yes, DeadRaccoonTO has his own Twitter account. You can check out the entire story through a hilarious series of tweets right HERE.

Story 2: The Chocolate Lobster.

I don’t mean just any chocolate lobster. I mean a 418.1 Pound, 90.5 inch, world record breaking chocolate lobster. In honor of their 100th anniversary Haven’s Candies of Maine decided to take on a rather large feat. You can see “Shelby” on display until October 22. You can find the whole story HERE.

Story 3: The Dessert Competition…. For a House.

That’s right, a Californian woman is holding a dessert competition and the winner receives her house. This is no small shack either- it’s a 1906, restored, 2267 square foot, four bedroom, two bathroom home valued at $390,000. Unfortunately the deadline for entering has passed, but we can still eagerly await the results. You can check out the story HERE.

Bonus: The Brilliant PTA Letter

Helping your child in school with those PTA fundraisers is never easy. Who has time to bake three dozen cookies, or make t-shirts, or hit up friends and neighbors to buy wrapping paper? Fortunately, one PTA caught on to this and sent students home with the most brilliant fundraising letter ever. Check it out!

Dishwashers. They make life so convenient. I remember when I was young and I had to help wash and dry the dishes… Such labor! Then came that glorious day when we got a dishwasher and my hands no longer had to be wrinkled with dish water anymore. Glorious day!

Okay, Not quite. As it turns out you can’t retire the dish-washing sponge once you have a dishwasher. There are actually several things that you should never put in the dishwasher. As it turns out, you might even have to use a special cleaning mixture to properly take care of it. You can check out the entire list of what NOT to put in the dishwasher HERE.

We also talked about the latest news from the stamp world- Charlie Brown is getting not one, not two, but ten stamps! That’s right, The Peanuts Gang is getting recognition in honor of the 50th anniversary of the beloved animated special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” You can see the stamps HERE, as well as learn about the other events being held in honor of the beloved classic.

It is International Literacy Day.

We talked with retired teacher Nancy Short about her recent donation of children’s books to the MVNU library. Click HERE to hear our conversation.

We also shared some wonderful quotes about life from children’s books. Click HERE to be inspired.

We also found 10 ways for parents to help struggling readers. Click HERE to read these amazing tips.

Grab a book today and celebrate International Literacy Day with The Morning Thing.

Happy Labor Day from The Morning Thing!
This morning, we shared some history behind this holiday.
Click HERE to read more about why we celebrate this holiday.

It is also a BIG day for Ohio State University football fans.
The Buckeyes kick off their season tonight. They play at Virginia Tech tonight at 8pm.
We share the Girl’s Guide to football. Ladies – you no longer have to stay on the sidelines!
Click HERE for a great football glossary.
You can learn football “lingo” and be ready to be part of the conversation tonight.
Click HERE for a handy guide to really understanding the game – from scoring to how the clock works.

We also shared some BIG news for a local actress.
Luna Moreland is participating in a contest to play the American Girl, Julie Albright, in a movie! Click HERE to hear a conversation about how Luna got involved with this contest.
To vote, click HERE. The deadline is Noon on Tuesday, 9/8/15. You will need to click on the picture of JULIE and then create an account on Tongal. It is free! Luna says “thank you” for your vote.
Here is a link to Luna’s video audition.

Today on The Morning Thing, we shared inspirational quotes from Social Media.
Take a minute, read through our blog and BE inspired.

We also shared The Morning Thing Fave 5 for the week of 8/31/15:

It’s Labor Day Weekend. Here is a list of fun ideas and you won’t have to travel!

1. Go to Ariel Foundation Park. Try climbing up the Rastin Observation Tower for an incredible view of our city of Mount Vernon.
2. Sleep in! It is GREAT to have a day when you do not have to set the alarm.
3. Go to the Kokosing Gap Trail. You can get some exercise and spend time with family and friends.
4. Have a movie marathon and go see the War Room. It is now playing at Premiere Theater in Mount Vernon. Show times: Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 12:45pm, 4:10pm, 7:10pm, 9:40pm. Monday – Thursday – 12:45pm, 4:10pm, 7:10pm.
5. Have a cookout and finish with ice cream. This is great way to say goodbye to summer! Have your favorite summer treats with your favorite people.

We wrapped up the show by having a chat with MVNU President, Dr. Henry Spaulding. Click HERE to listen to his September MVNU Update.

Is your family memorizing scripture? We shared some tips on how to add scripture into your regular routine. Click HERE to see these great ideas from BibleGateway.com.

We also shared some wonderful bible verses that can teach us “who” God is. These verses might be a great place to start your memorization journey. Click HERE to be inspired.

It’s official! Ohio has 3 cities on the list for the BEST U.S. cities for a staycation.  As you head into your holiday weekend, maybe you could plan a visit to one of these great destinations in Ohio. Click HERE to see the list.

Cincinnati, OH skyline

Cotton Swabs… It can be tempting to use them to clean your ears. But that’s a big no! That’s a big safety concern. So what can you do with them? Turns out there are a lot of surprising uses all around the house for them- from cleaning your laptop to getting the last drop of makeup out of the container. Today on the Morning Thing we took a look at what can be done with them, and you can find the whole list HERE.

In addition to talking about uses for cotton swabs we also took a look at exercise; specifically how to make it a habit. It is really easy to think of exercise as a chore and something that is anything but extinct- trust me, I’m right there with you. But when you dread exercise it makes it that much easier to do it at all, let alone regularly. So here are a few things that can help you get on the right exercise track.

1. Forget the myths! Exercise can be fun (think playing catch with the kids, taking a walk through the woods, or swimming). Find something that works for you on a personal level and forget the myths.
2. Start slowly. It can be easy to burn out and give up if you start big. It’s okay- scratch that- it’s great to start small and work your way up.
3. Find an exercise buddy. Having a friend keep you accountable helps you from talking yourself out of it. It’s a good idea to pick one who is in the same shape as you.
4. Pick an exercise that you like. Try it for a few weeks and if you still hate it then try something new. Remember- pick something else up, don’t give up entirely.

Parents – STOP helping your kids with their math homework! Why? Click HERE and find out how you might be creating math anxiety for your kids.

Do you have a future college student at your house? Today, we shared some important car prep tips to teach your kid before they leave for the college campus.