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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 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 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 Mother’s Day!

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2013: Happy Mother's Day!

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Today is a bit of mixed of emotions. Having struggled through the pain of infertility and waiting almost 7 years after marriage for our son to rest in my arms, I understand the heartbreak that some ladies feel on Mother’s Day.

For those who have not been blessed with a husband or baby, the pain hurts and hurts deeply.

Having endured the pain, I have reached the other side to experience the joy of holding my precious children shortly after birth.

I understand the busyness of nursing, pumping, changing diapers, snagging a quick nap, repeating instructions, sacrificing things I want to do to help my child, potty training, cleaning, laundry, picking up the toys I just put away, and the million other tasks that come with mothering.

In the midst of the everyday are the precious moments of the spontaneous hugs, bursts of laughter, and games of hide-and-seek.

Surrounded by boo-boos to kiss, bedtime stories, and snuggles during illness, mothers are constant. We are not perfect and rarely accomplish all our tasks, but we embrace the moments of today.

As I cried through much of our pastor’s sermon today focused on Hannah’s motherhood journey, I was so encouraged by the thought that moms matter. We fight for our kids, we pray for them, we care for them, and we worship with them.

Though I felt pain before I had children wanting the void filled, I still experience pain after having them. Now, I struggle in protecting them and caring for them.

As moms, we have a big responsibility in rearing the next generation. We take on the responsibility without regret. Press on, dear mom, your efforts are not in vain.

As the struggles and pain come, remember that God is in control, and all the cleaning, feeding, and nurturing matters. They matter because moms matter.

Happy Mother’s Day!

2013: Summer Bowling – Kids Bowl Free

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Kids Bowl Free

Photograph Credit: Kids Bowl Free

With our summer vacation beginning in about 2 weeks, I’ve got my daughter registered for art camp and waiting for tennis camp registration to open for my son.

Looking ahead, we are ready for the water parks to open and spending time with our friends.

However, we still have much to accomplish at school, so I’m planning for summer while keeping my children on academic tasks. 😉

Last week, we looked at the AMF Summer Unplugged bowling program. This week, Kids Bowl Free gets promoted.

Kids Bowl Free

For those really hot or rainy days, I prefer indoor fun. For an indoor option, Kids Bowl Free gives every registered child 2 free bowling games each day, every day, all summer long. The children’s ages and dates of this promotion are determined by the individual bowling alleys that participate.

Kids Bowl Free for Children

To get the free games, find a participating location (available in the United States and Canada) and register each of your children. You will need to re-register each summer as the program resets, and the information from last year does not transfer.

There is a limit of 6 children and one location per e-mail address. So, if you have 4 children and two available bowling alleys in your location, then you will need two e-mail accounts. Use one to sign up each of your 4 children at one location, and then use the other e-mail account to sign up all 4 children at the second location.

Once registered, you will receive a weekly e-mail on Sundays with a coupon for each person for each day. Before you go to the bowling alley, print your vouchers for your FREE games of bowling. Shoe rental is usually not included with the FREE games.

Kids Bowl Free Family Pass for Parents

If you want to bowl with your children, then consider purchasing the Kids Bowl Free Family Pass for $24.95, which allows 4 named family members to bowl 2 free games each day all summer long. Again, shoe rental is usually not included.

When you get the Family Pass, you will get an e-mail confirmation that can be used immediately. Then on Sundays, you will get the coupons for each person for each day to print when you return. You can register at anytime for the Family Pass, so wait until you are ready to go to the bowling alley.

In using time wisely and looking forward to summer plans, register your children in Kids Bowl Free. I find bowling a nice backup activity if we need a change of pace. Of course, our family will need the bumpers to keep our young one at least interested. Happy summer planning!

Question: Did you find a participating Kids Bowl Free alley in your area?