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2013: Happy Memorial Day!

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2013: Happy Memorial Day!

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Remembering my Grandpa today and his service to this country, I am thankful for his sacrifice of money, energy, and time.

He could have stayed home and made more money, spent more energy focused on his family, and dedicated more time to my Grandma. However, he served for the freedoms I have today.

To all our former and current military warriors:

Thank you for sacrificing your time and energy to serve my family and the citizens of the United States at home and abroad. Thank you for protecting our freedoms and giving of yourself.

To all former and current military families:

Thank you for your sacrifice through deployments and moves. Your loyalty and unselfishness granted your soldier the freedom to defend our country.

Thank you to all those families whose soldier made the ultimate sacrifice leaving behind heartache and pain. Thank you for loving your soldier while he or she defended the freedoms my family has today.

Saluting all military families on this day of honor and remembrance of all those who served, like my Grandpa.

Happy Memorial Day!

2013: Happy Father’s Day!

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2013: Happy Father's Day

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

To all Dads, Husbands, Fathers-in-law, Grandpas, Brothers, and Sons

Thank you for leading your families, loving your wife, and caring for your children.

As protecting, providing, and pleasing your family invades your needs, wants, and desires, you still press on investing your money, energy, and time.

From taking our hand, getting your shoes muddy to help us along, and carrying the heavy loads, you are one of a kind.

Though you are appreciated all year long, we invest our time and energy into making this day special for you.

Happy Father’s Day!

2013: Happy Birthday, America!

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2013: Happy Birthday, America!

Photograph Credit: NVT OfficeClips

Happy Birthday, America! Today, we celebrate all that America was, is, and is to come. This includes the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Not everything America has endured has been pretty. I think of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we have today.

Though all Americans will not see eye to eye on issues that surround us, we can come together to celebrate another year as the United States of America.

From my family to yours, I wish you a wonderful celebration on Independence Day because America the Beautiful lives another year united.

2013: Happy Birthday, America!

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

Happy Birthday, America!

2013: Happy Labor Day!

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2013: Happy Labor Day!

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

In celebration of Labor Day, our family joined some friends for a cookout and camp out Friday night. Paul had the tent set out by the time the children and I arrived. We worked together to get the tent up, and then enjoyed a time of food and fellowship.

We ate hot dogs with the fixings, macaroni and cheese, chips, and baked beans. After playing games, we sat around the bonfire making s’mores and watching the kids play with flashlights.

As we retired for the evening, our family snuggled into our tent leaving the window flaps open for ventilation.

Well, a big thunderstorm came. Let’s just say, we got soaked. The flaps did get closed, and we stayed within the tent. However, Paul and I did not get much sleep, but we enjoyed chatting with our friends Saturday morning over Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.

2013: Happy Labor Day!

Surviving our camp out, we relaxed and rested most of Saturday. Miss 3 felt like a big girl on her first camping experience, but Mr. 8, Dad, and Mom could do without the drama while Miss 6 just goes with the flow. 🙂

Our Labor Day weekend has been filled with activity. With Monday off from school, we are enjoying the extra time together in our own home in our own beds.

In case you are wondering where Labor Day came from, I received an e-card from my sister-in-law explaining the holiday. I thought you might find this information interesting.

2013: Happy Labor Day!

Photograph Credit: CrossCards.com

As we pay tribute to the workforce, continue using time wisely with your family and friends celebrating together.

Happy Labor Day!

Question: How did you spend your Labor Day weekend?

Thanking our First Responders and Remembering 9.11

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Thanking our First Responders and Remembering 9.11

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Today, I was immediately taken back to September 11, 2001 when I entered our favorite Chick-fil-A. The scene brought back a flood of memories of that day 12 years ago.

In accepting Chick-fil-A’s offer of a FREE breakfast, I had made two reservations for this morning to enjoy some time with Miss 3.

As we arrived in the parking lot, we found 4 or 5 fire trucks taking up many of the parking spaces. At first, I thought something was wrong, but then I remembered the date.

As Miss 3 and I walked into Chick-fil-A, the front dining area was a sea of blue shirts as the firemen were meeting together over breakfast provided by Chick-fil-A.

Though expecting to feel some emotion, I caught my breath as the scene pulled at my heart strings. All the memories of that awful morning came flooding back from viewing the victims falling as the south tower crumbled to getting the phone call from the District Court judge to get out of the building and go home.

Standing near the doorway of Chick-fil-A, my eyes welled up with tears as I was overwhelmed with gratitude for these men serving the community. Having already appreciated Chick-fil-A, I felt even more gratitude for this company serving our firefighters with a FREE breakfast before their memorial service at the fire station.

I’m amazed at how real that day still feels. On this 12th anniversary, Miss 3 and I spent time thanking our first responders and remembering 9.11. The fire fighters were very gracious and invited us to stop by the fire house at any time to check out the trucks.

In using time wisely, thanking our first responders and remembering 9.11 was great investment. Though Miss 3 does not understand these events, she understands fire trucks and that today was special because people died helping others.

If you are a first responder, then thank you for your service each day. You are greatly appreciated, and we remember those who died helping others, especially those on September 11, 2001. Thank you!

Question: How are you remembering the September 11th attacks?