juliannah by design

Blog Move

2010-02-09T15:31:00.004-07:00

I moved to my own hosted site. I had a redirection but it caused a problem with some of my sponsored posts. Please visit me at me new site, juliannah by design.Sorry for any inconvenience.

Just Pass the Bread

2010-01-06T15:38:00.007-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Wheat Food Council. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have I ever mentioned that I love most anything that is made from wheat? Just give me bread, bagels, pasta and tortillas. Yum, Yum, Yum. I never understood those low carb diets, because if someone took my bread away I would not be a happy camper.

So, I recently discovered a site that lets you interactively virtually grow, harvest and mill your own kernels to create your desired wheat food. Go to How Wheat Works and get started. People of all ages can participate.

The program has four phases. Growth, harvest, milling/baking and the grocer’s aisle and only takes just a few minutes to complete, although the program spans the course of four days. You get to pick the type of wheat to be grown and at the end of each phase you will have the opportunity to prepare recipes from wheat grown in your area. Plus you can view harvest videos from “America’s Heartland.” There is a program that reaches out to our youths by providing kids ages 9 to 12 with learning, quizzes and information and strives to educate children on the benefits of wheat products.

The best part is the Wheat Foods Council will donate two pounds of flour, up to 90,000 pounds, to Operation Homefront, a non-profit that provides assistance to needy U.S. troops and their families. Of course this is near and dear to my heart because I do all I can to support our troops and their families.

ADM and ConAgra Mills, two of the world’s largest millers are making this possible. Also the Wheat Food Council believes that teaching people about the benefits of whole or enriched grain food can shed new light on wheat nutrition, resulting in better informed food choices. So check out HowWheatWorks.com and get started on a better, healthy lifestyle and have fun while you are at it.

Still Hanging Out

2010-01-05T15:14:00.003-07:00

Well it looks like I will still be hanging out here for awhile. I have to wait for Social Spark to change my url before I can write sponsored posts where I moved my blog. I will have to continue to post them here until that happens. I think their customer service department must be bogged down with the holidays barely over and such.

So if you want to read my product reviews continue to stop by and I will post when I finally get completely moved. I also will put the redirect back on so it will go there automatically. Also will my followers please follow me at the new juliannah by design. I would really appreciate it. I also need the traffic as my stats really took a hit once I moved. Of course I knew that would happen, but it is still disappointing. That is my priority in the next few weeks. I am also trying to work on Tweeting more and receiving more income from that avenue. Please come follow me on twitter too. You can find me as @juliannahaz. I will be breaking 300 followers anytime. Follow me and I will follow you.

Well, I am off to Social Spark to pick up a new Opp. Thanks for bearing with me during this move. Overall it will be for the better and I am enjoying working on my new blog.

Tuna: Good for Moms-To-Be

2010-01-04T15:41:00.006-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of HealthyTuna.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

I find it very interesting how much differing views concerning pregnancy are out there. When I had my kids, the last one born 25 years ago, I was not told to avoid seafood. Today, pregnant women are told not to eat seafood such as shark, mackerel, swordfish and tilefish because they can be high in mercury and that can be harmful to the developing baby.

One type of seafood that I love is tuna. I ate tuna when I was pregnant with my children. I still enjoy a tuna sandwich for lunch A scientific report published in Environmental Health Perspectives recently stated that locally obtained seafood has higher levels of mercury, but most of the seafood consumed in the United States is not from local areas.

Some women may actually be avoiding seafood when some like healthy tuna could be beneficial to a pregnant woman. Studies have shown that tuna can help prevent depression in pregnant women. The omega-3 fatty acids also assist in brain development of the child.

Women trying to conceive can also benefit because tuna contribute to increased fertility, increases HDL (good) cholesterol and provides nutrients like the already mention Omega-3 fatty acids plus vitamin D and selenium.

Therefore, women should of course talk to their Obstetrician about diet before and during pregnancy and follow the Doctor’s recommendations, but should not be afraid to limit every type of seafood.

This is my family's favorite Tuna Casserole

* 8 ounces elbow macaroni
* 4 tablespoons butter
* 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
* 2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper
* 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
* 3/4 teaspoon salt or seasoned salt
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper
* 1 cup milk
* 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
* 1 can cream of mushroom soup
* 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
* buttered soft bread crumbs

Cook macaroni in boiling water according to package directions until tender, drain and rinse.
Melt butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; add chopped onions and bell pepper and sauté over low heat for about 3 to 4 minutes, until tender. Add flour, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until smooth and bubbly. Add milk and mushroom soup and stir over low heat until smooth and thickened. Add cooked drained macaroni, flaked tuna, peas, and about half of the cheese to sauce mixture, stirring constantly. Pour the mixture into 2-quart buttered casserole; top with remaining cheese then buttered bread crumbs. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, or until nicely browned.

Tuna casserole serves 4 to 6.

My New Place

2009-12-22T20:12:00.002-07:00

I have moved. My new address is juliannahbydesign.net. Please update your bookmarks and subscribe to me there.

I am very excited about having my own domain and more control over my blog. Please visit my new site so I can get my google rank up.

Just know that I am still working on my new site. I will get it together soon. Once the holidays are over I will have some more time.

Trouble in Blog Land

2009-12-16T16:31:00.001-07:00

I tried to switch to a custom domain name and it seemed to go well but when I try to view my blog it starts to load but then it just stops. I posted this problem in Google help and the person checking on it said they could see my blog with no problem. So I have know idea what is going on. Wish me luck on fixing this problem.

Great Deals Online That Benefits Lung Cancer Awareness

2009-12-09T16:16:00.007-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Bidazzled. All opinions are 100% mine.

In early November, a new online auction site was launched. Online auctions are a great way to go shopping because you can get great deals on the things you want to purchase. At Bidazzled, winners typically save over 80% of retail prices. There are also no losers. If a bidder does not win, they will still receive up to 50 bonus points for participating. Winners are typically
offered cash and bids or bids for bedazzled to buy back the item.

When you sign up you get five free bids and during the first month, two winners won Nintendo Wiis with only their five free bids! If you register by January 15 Bidazzled you will receive 15 additional free bids. Just enter these codes on the registration page:

Blog: BBP1202A
Twitter: BTP1202A

Bids can be purchased for $1 or in a pack at $25 dollars. If you purchase a pack, you will receive bonus bids. If you join, you will also get in on a lucrative Viral Referral program.

This is how is works:

A refers B. A receives 5 Bonus Bids
B refers C. A receives 4 Bonus Bids
C refers D. A receives 3 Bonus Bids
D refers E. A receives 2 Bonus Bids
E refers F. A receives 1 Bonus Bid.

Bidazzled was designed to benefit the Ruch Foundation, a charity that promotes awareness about lung cancer. Therefore, everybody wins when you sign up for Bidazzled.

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightening

2009-12-09T15:58:00.001-07:00

I had an interesting day yesterday. It started out with a monster storm that contained almost hurricane force winds and torrential rain. When I woke up the wind was howling and leaves, tree branches and lord knows what else was flying everywhere. My dog buddy did not want to go outside and promptly peed on a rug in my bedroom. My big, red dog Lucie went outside, raced around in the mud, and of course tracked it back in the house. Nice.

I left to go to work and had to dislodge tumbleweed from underneath my car. As I was driving to work in the pouring rain, I barely missed hitting a downed tree. When I arrived at work apparently said tree had encounters with several other co-workers of mine. Thank goodness, it was early and there was not many people on the road as we all had to serve to miss the tree. We all concluded that after missing the tree there was no need for coffee as we were more than awake at that point.

When I left to go home I discovered my car had been hit with mud rain. What is mud rain? Well this is something new to me, but all I can say is my car looked like it had not seen a car wash in years and I actually had to turn on the window washer in order to see out.

Driving home, I ran over numerous palm tree branches and other debris. When I finally arrived home, the tumbleweed was still in my driveway. Now you would think with almost 70mph winds that tumbleweed would have left. Nope. Still there.

Once at home I cleaned the sticks, leaves and dirt off my back porch and tried to keep Lucie out of the mud. I thought about washing the car but decided to wait a couple of days. Another storm has been forecasted for this weekend. Maybe I will get lucky and this storm will contain clean rain. One can only hope.

I Need a New Vacuum!

2009-12-08T14:35:00.004-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dirt Devil. All opinions are 100% mine.

My vacuum cleaner is broken. It has decided to spit the dirt back at me rather than picking it up. Luckily I have mostly tile floors but my carpeted floors cannot go on without attention, so the time has come for a new vacuum.

While browsing the internet in search of a good deal I went to DirtDevil.com and while I was there I found the Dirt Devil Holiday Buying Guide. It is a downloadable catalogue that Dirt Devil has compiled with ways to get the best holiday deals. There are over 300 ways to save by shopping online with the Guide. Many sites are offering promos for reduced prices, free shipping as well as other special offers. The guide shows how to save with promo codes and the easiest way to find them. For example you can search the retailers name and include “promo code” to find great deals. I was able to find a great deal on a new vacuum cleaner using this tip in the guide.

December 17 many retailers will be offering free shipping and if you order on that day they guarantee delivery by Christmas! Plus there are links to sites that help you get free shipping all during the holiday season.

Besides the great Guide, DirtDevil has great holiday gifts for men, women and the whole family! So go check out the Dirt Devil Holiday Guide. They have done all the work and all you have to do is follow a few links and after a few mouse clicks your holiday shopping will be done. No crowds, no lines to wait in or trying to find a parking space. Now that is my idea of shopping!

We The People

2009-12-02T15:23:00.002-07:00

This speaks for itself.

Great Prizes Just in Time for Christmas

2009-12-01T15:32:00.005-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter Communication. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Yea, me either. If you are like me you are probably looking for the best deal on the gifts you want to give. Probably want the easiest way to purchase them too. I love to shop online. Just point and click and before you know the purchases arrive on your doorstep.

Better yet what if you do not have to pay for all your purchases? Well I found a site that lets you enter sweepstakes to win the great gifts you want. Just visit Charter's Daily Deal Web Site for two ways to win cool prizes like FREE gift cards and get great deals on Charter Cable, Internet and Phone services.

Charter's is finishing a great year of goundbreaking sweepstakes that began with Black Friday and Cyber Monday where they offered gift cards worth up to $200! For 38 days Charter’s is giving out great prizes like iPods, Camcorders, GPS units, webcams, Photo frames and much more. There are great Showtime programs like Dexter, The Tudors, and Californication, which by the way my son told me over Thanksgiving that this is a great show! They also have boxed sets of Big Love and Entourage, personal favorites of mine.

Plus become a fan of Charter on Facebook and you will be able to see updates everyday of these great deals.

During the last two years, Charter has surpassed the industry in creative and newsworthy Sweepstakes including terrific prizes like an HDTV-a-day, Toyota Prius, a new 2010 Chevy Camaro, Xbox 360s and much more.

Charter’s is worth checking out! After all, who does not like to win truly great prizes!

What is a Turducken?

2009-12-01T15:27:00.002-07:00

That was my question last year. I first heard about it on the radio so naturally I had to find out all about it. It seems that a Turducken is a chicken stuffed into a duck that is then stuffed into a turkey. I really wonder who ever came up with this. Apparently, there are many people enjoying this dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The first Turducken is traced back to Paul Prudhomme, a creole chef. It is said he created the dish for the Duvell Festival in Washington . There is a company called Herbert’s Specialty Meats in Maurice Louisiana that prepares around 5,000 Turducken orders a week during Thanksgiving. I guess there are quite a few people out there that like Turducken!

I am not so sure this would be something I would like. I am not especially fond of duck. Although a chicken in a turkey might not be so bad. Hmm. Turchicken anyone?

Finding the Best Running Shoes.

2009-11-23T16:16:00.003-07:00

Where do you buy shoes? Maybe at the mall or online better yet a discount shoe store? I really like the convenience of online shopping. I have found that you can see a bigger variety of the product you are looking for just by shopping online.

If you are a runner then Zappos.com is the place to go for running shoes. They have a huge variety and just about every brand you can think of. I found these Sketcher running shoes. I like the simplicity of the style. They will look great on the trail or with a pair of jeans if you so desire.

Another feature I like is free shipping! I also like the way they categorize the running shoes. You can look for the running shoes that fit your needs, like stability, motion control or trail running. There is also a section for track and field.

If you are in need of running shoe then check out Zappos.com.Oh, and while you are there check out the apparel, handbags, housewares and beauty section. Because all girls want more than just the perfect running shoes.

Sponsored Post

Tips for Keeping Your Kids Busy Before Christmas

2009-11-21T19:19:00.008-07:00

When my children were young, they typically would become excited over the prospect of the coming holiday. With that came a renewed sense of energy that I needed to find a way to deal with, otherwise I would quickly find myself wanting to pull my hair out. After giving it some thought I decided to use the holiday as a new learning experience and a chance to embark on new projects. Here are my tips for engaging the kids with new and exciting things to do on those days leading up to the holidays.

Making cookies is pretty standard and straightforward holiday activity. That being said, kids usually love makeing and decorating cookies. In addition, the types of cookies to make are endless. The cookies can be made from scratch or buy a cookie log and simply cut the cookies or roll out and use cookie cutters. This was a personal favorite with my kids. After baking, I would let the kids decorate with frosting and all kinds of sprinkles and afterward we had quite an assortment of cookies. You can take it a step further and package the cookies in colorful tins for gift giving.

One year I decided to make ornaments. Some of the best ornaments I own are either handmade by my kids and me or received from my kids as school projects. I looked forward each year to see what ornaments they would bring home from school. One year after collecting pine cones from a mountain trip, we spray painted the cones and tied on ribbons. The ribbons served as hangers. They were simple, but quite beautiful. They still hang on my tree every year!

Try making a video. Kids naturally like to perform and with a little coaching and some practice, you can make a great video of your family singing songs or telling stories or even a small play. We made a video one year and the kids gave it to their grandparents as a gift. The kids had a great time and the grandparents loved it.

Find a small tree and let the kids make all the decorations such as paper ring garland, popsicle stick ornaments, pretzel wreaths or pipe cleaner or naments. When I was a child, I loved having my “own” tree in my room. Let the kids come up with there own ideas for decorations. You will be surprised how creative they really are.

The possibilities are endless. These are just a few of the activities my kids and I did together. Please feel free to leave a comment about what you and you kids do or have done. I would love to hear them!

Oh, my daughter continues the cookie tradition. Sometimes we still get together and make cookies or if it is not possible, she makes them with her daughter. I am quite sure my granddaughter will continue someday with her own children.

Wordless Wednesday - My Best Friend's Wedding

2009-11-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

Tweet and Get Paid For It!

2009-11-17T16:36:00.049-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Sponsored Tweets. All opinions are 100% mine.

You can:

1. Set your price. Decide what you would like to be paid for your tweets!

2. Choose your offers. Decide what you want to tweet about.

3. Receive payment. Your account will be credited within 24 hours. You can cash out once your account reaches $50!

Go ahead and sign up for sponsored tweets and give it a try. Why not get paid for something you are already doing? Sponsored Tweets lets the tweeter have complete control and is designed to be non-intrusive and you, the tweeter wins as does the advertiser. Sponsored Tweets supports a code of ethics which includes mandatory disclosure, freedom of authenticity, freedom of choice and transparency of identity. So far I am very happy working with Sponsored Tweets. I think you will too. Go ahead and give it a try. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3. You have until 11/22/09 to sign up! Hurry and get in on this great opportunity! I know you will be very pleased! I know I am!

New Blog Post on Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

2009-11-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

I have a new post on Life is Like a Box Of Chocolates:

5 Ways to Support the Troops During the Holidays

Please visit and tell me how you support the troops during the holidays.

How do You Survive Deployment?

2009-11-17T06:00:00.001-07:00

I get this question quite a bit from co-workers, friends and family members. How do I do it? Well, I might say, "Very carefully." The truth is I do not always have a good time dealing with it. Even though my son is not in war zone, so to speak, I still worry and realize he is still a target. I find the not knowing aspect to be the hardest.

I cope by working on his Christmas care package, writing emails to him and updating his deployment website. I am so fortunate to be able to follow his deployment on FaceBook and Twitter. I also look at Marine, Naval and Unit websites quite regularly. I have said it before and I will say it again. Google is my friend.

Surviving deployment is made a little easier for me because I have many friends and family that understand when I get a little upset. Even though this is a non-combat deployment, there are other issues such as financial problems. I have to get his car registered this week and I have a feeling the experience will be less than pleasurable. Power of Attorney is not the end all to every situation that arises.

I also believe that we, the people back home can help ourselves survive by doing whatever we can, be that standing with the Patriot Guard, becoming a Soldiers' Angels or just shaking the hand of a vet and saying "Thank you." For some joining support groups or online communities such as Marineparents.com can help coping on a daily basis.

Deployment is hard any way you look at.

So, how do you survive deployment?

Review: Why Mineral Makeup is my Choice

2009-11-17T05:00:00.001-07:00

Years ago, when mineral makeup first came on the market it was only sold in high-end boutiques and TV shopping channels. It was also priced on the expensive side with a .06 ounce tub going for about $30.00. I did not mind then because I really liked how it evened out my skin and stayed fresh looking all day.
Another reason I liked mineral makeup is that it provided sunscreen protection. With an SPF of 15, it was not necessary to apply a liquid sunscreen. Since I have been using some form of sunscreen for many years, mineral makeup became even more appealing to me.

I was not surprised how popular the mineral powders became. Soon women everywhere were trying them and loving them. They seemed to work on almost all skin types and tones. Even if the shades available did not match someone's skin, exactly women could mix colors to get the right shade for their skin tone.

Mineral makeup has revolutionized the way women apply foundation. Applying mineral makeup is also easier than and not as messy as liquid foundations. Most come in a kit with a brush and women could just tap a little bit of the powder in the lid of the tub and swirl the brush in the minerals then apply to their face in circular motion. Just a few swirls on your face and that was all there was to it. Using a smaller brush women could even use a small amount as a concealer.

Another advantage is mineral makeup looks good on women of all ages. My mother tried mineral makeup when she was in her seventies and she loves it. Now in her eighties she continues to use mineral makeup. Mineral makeup would be the perfect choice for teenagers who are just starting to wear makeup, as it always looks natural. Young girls will not look too overly made up with this type of makeup.

I remember wondering how long it would be for less expensive makeup brands would come out with their own version of mineral makeup. Well it took a few years but now you can walk into any discount department store or pharmacy store and find mineral makeup in almost all of the popular less expensive makeup brands.

Now more than ever is a great time to try mineral makeup. Affordability is no longer an issue. All women can now enjoy these powders. The choice of brands is almost limitless. Most are talc free and women can choose between a matte look and a more luminous look. Also quite a few companies are more than willing to give out free samples so women can try several brands before making a choice. If you need more information on mineral makeup this website, Mineral Makeup Reviews, provides reviews, links to some mineral makeup companies, and even has a section on bargain mineral makeup.
I have enjoyed mineral makeup since first discovering it. If you decide to try it, you probably will too.

How About a Winter Vacation?

2009-11-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Since I live in a very warm climate sometimes I long to take a nice winter getaway. It would be great to go somewhere where the seasons actually change and the weather is brisk.

When my kids were small, we only took a summer Family Vacation. I always wondered what it would have been like for my kids to take ski vacations. I can imagine them throwing snowballs and making a snowman. They became very adept at water skiing and swimming but never winter sports.

There are so many wonderful resorts and lodges across the country. For instance, Vermont Hotels provide a magical winter holiday getaway. People can find something close to home so a long weekend could be a great chance to take the family on a wonderful outing or spend a week or two having fun on the slopes.

Many resorts offer family packages, couple’s retreats and corporate package deals for business trips. Some have private condominiums while others have luxury suites. In addition, if you are like me and you do not know how to ski, most lodges will offer beginning ski lessons to make the adventure a memorable one.

My kids are all grown now, but I would not mind taking a winter holiday with Corvette even if was to sit by a warm fire and watch the snow fall. Yes, I think it is time to find the snow boots.

2009-11-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

New blog post on Life is Like a Box of Chocolates - Do you Know About #MilitaryMon? Read to find out.

8 Easy Steps to a Stress Free Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-16T06:00:00.045-07:00

Anybody who has prepared a Thanksgiving meal knows it can be quite time consuming. Some families assign certain dishes to each family member making it easier to prepare the overall meal. Years ago when we moved out of state I was faced with preparing the complete meal by myself for the first time. I soon found out that good planning was essential in order to pull off the entire meal by myself. I have come up with an organized system designed to make the process easier with minimal work.

Start by shopping for all items needed to prepare the dishes to be served. It is best to shop a week ahead of time. Doing this insures that you miss the holiday rush on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I used to work for a grocery store and trust me when I say that Wednesday is the single busiest grocery shopping day of the year. The turkey also needs about a week to thaw in the refrigerator so do shop ahead.
Make sure you have a list of all items needed. This will prevent any forgotten items and another trip to the grocery store.
On the Tuesday before the holiday make any pies that you plan to serve. They will be fine in the refrigerator.
On the Wednesday before the holiday prepare your side dishes. Mix the stuffing and place in a plastic container. Boil the potatoes, cook the yams and if you plan on making deviled eggs then boil the eggs too. Then finish any other side dish you plan to serve.
On Wednesday night set the table and put out your floral arrangement.
Now it is Thanksgiving morning and time to pop the turkey in the oven. If you stuff your turkey the stuffing is already to go in the bird. If you bake it in the oven or crock pot you can do that after the turkey is in the oven.
They only thing left to do is prepare any appetizers you might be serving. Right before dinner is served put the dinner rolls in the oven.
Serve dinner!

The key is to plan and prepare ahead of time. Following these steps will make the preparation for your Thanksgiving dinner painless and easy.

How Would You Like $5,000?

2009-11-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

How would you like to win $5,000 or a big screen HDTV or maybe even the Flip UltraHD camcorder? Do I have your attention? I thought so. So what do you have to do? It’s simple. Just make a video in one of these three categories:

1. "My contacts are getting in the way of my good time"

2. "My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision"

3. "You should see life after the iLASIK Procedure"

Next, submit the video to iLASIK Video Contest. Then tell all your friends and have them vote for your video. People can vote once per day until December 10.

There will be one first prizewinner of $5,000. Three second prizewinners, one in each video category and three third prizewinners, one in each video category.

If you already have an existing video, you can get help editing it for the contest. So get busy people, get creative and have fun because the winner just might be you!

Finding the Perfect and Affordable Auto Insurance

2009-11-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Auto insurance is something we do not think about everyday, but it something we have to have everyday. If you want to buy a car, you must show proof of insurance. If you want to register a car, you have to show proof of insurance. If a cop stops you, you had better show proof of insurance!

Finding affordable auto insurance is not always easy, but it is possible. Years ago, you would have to make numerous phone calls to different companies to get quotes. Well, now thank goodness with the internet after just a few clicks you can get a quote and have your insurance set up. Thank goodness for the internet and technology!

The Targets

2009-11-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

As parents, we all worry about out children. Worry is something that starts long before our children are born. Then we realize the worry will never end. As parents of military members, we share another fear. Fear, we dread hearing the words, “Mom, Dad. I will be deploying on….” Those words pull on our heart even more because we know they will intentionally be in harm’s way.

What we try not to fear is when they are stateside on a base or post is their safety. The murder of 12 soldiers and 1 police officer on Fort Hood came as such a shock. Were they not supposed to be safe?

When my son deployed this fall on a naval ship I knew in my mind that all would probably be well. However, to be honest watching that ship sink smaller into the horizon left me with a pit in my stomach. I wanted to jump in the ocean and bring him back. I think about him every night before I go to sleep. I wonder where he is. I wonder if he will be safe while in port. No, I am sure I do not have the same fear as a mother of a service member in Afghanistan or Iraq, but fear is still fear.

When my son came home from boot camp, he told me that he is not allowed to travel in uniform. Why? Because he is a target. A target? My Son?

Last week we found out just how much of a target our children are. It is shameful, but real. It is why I lay awake at night.

Feeding my Reality Show Addiction

2009-11-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

Did I mention I like reality TV? It is my favorite form of mindless TV. You have to wonder why it is so popular. My take is that people’s lives are so complicated these days that watching a reality program may help take some people’s minds off the their own daily lives. I am very sure many people had to give up paying for TV because of losing jobs.

I recently had to give up my Netflix in order to same some money. However, to my delight I have discovered I can Watch TV Online legally! Since Corvette can watch the same movie repeatedly, I tend to get very bored sometimes. I also fall asleep pretty early and then I miss many programs I like to watch.

Now I can watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta anytime I want. Hey, maybe I can get rid of my expensive satellite TV. Although I do not think Corvette would be too happy about that. Since he only watches about 10 channels maybe he will not notice. Nah, I do not think so!

A Christmas Tree for my Son

2009-11-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

I am preparing LCpl Honda's Christmas care package. Since he will not be here for the holidays I wanted to bring a little holiday spirit to him. I have been agonizing over what to send to him. He just keeps telling me he does not need anything. I know he is not deprived of anything since he is deployed on a Navy ship, but still I want to send him something!

Today I stopped at Walgreens and I this tree. I love it! The clerk loved it! Especially when she found out it was going to a deployed service member. Now my care package think tank is in full gear. Watch LCpl Honda, Christmas is coming!

Decorating Woes

2009-11-05T17:02:00.001-07:00

My furniture is probably over ten years old. So I have been thinking about either replacing it or maybe covering it. It has a southwestern theme which is fine but I am kind of tired of it. I am striving for a simple decorating solution for my house. Although keeping Corvette from sitting out toy cars and machine gun shells from LCpl Honda is a challenge in itself.

I want to have a mix of Southwestern décor with a touch of modern motif. So of course, I resort to internet searches and I found a site that offers many options for my decorating dilemma. The Furniture Store has solutions for every room of the house. I really liked the selection of living room furniture.

I checked out the dinette sets because when we moved to our new house I bought a set that just does not work in our house. I want to sell it and get something that will work better in the space we have.

There is even a section for pets. I have been looking for a new affordable dog bed for Lucie for awhile now. I love my puppy but I am not willing to take out a loan for a dog bed. I found a large, plush dog bed for about $44.00. Not bad.

I am sure I will find what I am looking for. It just takes some time, but I will persevere in my quest to have my perfectly decorated home!

Applebees Salute to our Military and Veterans

2009-11-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

Veteran’s Day is November 11 and if you are active duty military or a Vet then you will get to eat free at Applebee's. I have to aplaud Applebee's for honor our service members in this way.

We can all spread the word to the service members we know. Just go the Applebee's send an invitation page and fill in the service member’s info and they will be sent an personalized invitation. If you have a facebook or twitter account you can spread the word to lots of people

It is that easy. You will be doing a great thing along with Applebee's and our heroes get a a big thank you in the way of a free meal.

Doggie Halloween

2009-11-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

I found this extremely funny. I was looking at different Halloween costumes and I ran across a site with pet costumes. I know many people dress their pets up for Halloween, but somehow I do not see that happening with Buddy and Lucie.

For one thing, Buddy would probably turn around and bite me and Lucie would just rip up the costume until if was off. I know, she chews anything she can get her mouth on. Anyhow, can you just imagine my little Chihuahua dressed like this?

Or Lucie, my big red dog dressed like this.

Healthful Halloween

2009-10-30T16:34:00.003-07:00

It is almost Halloween and I am sure everyone is gearing up for the big night. I remember when my kids were little and they would go out and collect more candy then they needed in a year. They would come home and after inspecting the loot my next move would be to try and get control of the candy intake. I am sure most moms can relate to this. I could not just let them haul the candy bag off to their bedrooms. Oh no. This would surely result in stomach aches, candy wrapper trash everywhere but the worst would be the sugar high. All parents have experienced the horror of kids on sugar. So, needless to say I would fight to the end to gain control of the candy bag. This way I could limit the amount of candy they could eat at any given time. This would avoid the sugar high and all that comes along with eating too much sugar. For example, kids bouncing off the walls, kids screaming uncontrollably and the worst, kids that will not go to sleep.

I have given this much thought over the years and after giving out raisin packs, carrot sticks and other dried fruit, much to the dismay of trick or treaters, I decided to look into something healthful but a bit more appetizing. So I found a website that not only appeals to the little ghost and goblins, but meet my requirements for a healthful treat. I found Trick or Treat Me blog and they offer Hershey’s and Organic Valley Chocolate Milk in shelf-stable cartons. Most kids love chocolate milk! The chocolate milk comes in recyclable cartons and the Trick or Treat me offers some great information about milk and how it aids in recovery after exercise.

So this year I will be handing out these chocolate milk boxes along with a little bit of candy in hopes that I will not only make the kids happy but contribute to their overall health. I wish I had known about Hershey's and Organic Valley's Chocolate Milk in recyclable cartons before.

They even offer coupons toward the purchase price, so everybody wins. Check it out because after Halloween is over the chocolate milk is still a great afternoon snack or a before bedtime treat.

The Booklet

2009-10-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

I received a booklet in the mail the other day. It was from Miss Foundation an advocacy group that not only works to educate people on stillborn, infant and childhood death, they also provide a place for bereaved parents and grandparents to come together, share and get help with the grieving process.

I contacted the group not long after Lolly Pop Kid went to heaven in an attempt to cope with my own grief and to try to help Cinderella in any way I could. At the time, they sent me a packet filled with information about the subject. The booklet had lots of information and it listed so many names of Angel children. I never realized how many children die each year and how many other people were out there with the same feelings I had.

A couple days ago another issue of the booklet arrived in the mail. I did not pick it up and look at it until yesterday. As I was looking through it, I came upon a section titled recent losses. There I saw it. Lolly’s name printed with several other children. I have to admit it was like a stab in the gut. Not that I think I am over this, because I never will be, but I have managed to find a new “normal” way of living. I know that I still think about him everyday. I just do not feel sucker-punched as much as in the beginning.

I also read that October 15 was National Infant and Child Death Awareness and Prevention Day. I was unaware of this. I wish I would have know because I would have worked to get the word out to help other parents and family members that find themselves in this sad group.

We cannot bring Lolly back but at least we know there is help out there and it is comforting to know that our Lolly is not forgotten. Certainly not by us and not by people who did not even know him.

Love you and miss you big boy!

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Cuties

2009-10-28T04:29:00.000-07:00

Heatwave or Snowstorm?

2009-10-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

I know I have talked about the weather here in the Desert Southwest a time or two. Last week we were still hovering around the ninety’s. Nothing new for October since we only have two seasons here. Ungodly hot and normal hot. Ninety degree temperatures in October are not unusual.

Normally it cools down a little around Halloween just in time for parents to start looking for jackets so the little ghost and goblins will be warm for a night of treats. I remember my kids would want to pick a costume like a fairy princess or some other outfit that I knew they would end up getting cold by wearing.

So I turned on the news last night and wouldn't you know it. The weather person says there is a cold front coming. Now we are not talking any cold front. Oh no. We are talking near freezing temperatures by Wednesday morning with a high somewhere in the fifties and a possibility of mountain snow. The high temperature for today is supposed to be 86 degrees. I am wondering does this happen anywhere else in the country? Then on Halloween the temperature should be back up to seventy degrees.

So, today is shorts tomorrow may be heavy sweaters and back to shorts by the weekend.

Ahh, so is life in the Desert Southwest.

Ten Things You Don't Know About Me

2009-10-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

1. I cannot stand when people say Achoo loudly when they sneeze. Not necessary. Why? Did you ever hear a newborn say Achoo?

2. I like reality shows. Current favorite, The Househusbands of Hollywood. I know but sometimes I just need mindless TV.

3. I was a stay-at-home mom in the eighties when it was not very popular to do so. So many people would ask, "What do you do for a career?" When I told them, I was raising my children at home I would usually get a raised eyebrow along with a cool "Oh."

4. I love living in the Desert Southwest but quite honestly, I am getting really tired of the extreme heat in the summer. Sometimes I would like to run away to an area with grass, big trees and find a house with a wrap-around porch. Then I would sit in a rocking chair on the porch and sip lemonade. However, places with snow or freezing temperatures with just not do. Is that asking too much?

5. I really do not care to watch movies repeatedly. Unless it is 'From Dusk to Dawn', 'School of Rock', or 'Walk the Line', don't even ask. I know, quite a diverse group of pictures. What can I say? I am diverse and hate repetition.

6. I can easily pass on candy, cookies, cake and sweets in general. If people kept jars of pizza or bagels on their desks, I would be in big trouble.

7. I used to read books all the time when I was younger. Now, since I read newspapers and magazines for a living I have not picked up a good book in a long time. I do however read numerous blogs, internet news and entertainment sites. I have so many bookmarked sites in my favorites I sometimes forget what each site is about.

8. When I was a child, I wanted to be a comedienne when I grew up. Really. I thought I was funny. Still do. But then again I also wanted to be an Indian and live on the land. I actually tried it once in the backyard.

9. I love animals. Sometimes more than people.

10. I try to live like a decent person, although I am not perfect. I had made many mistakes. At the end of the day, I believe if everyone got up in the morning and thought what they could do to make the people in their live's day a little better, the world would be better off for it. Something to think about.

momfuse

2009-10-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

As a mom and grandmother I am always on the look out for good sites concerning parenting and products for parents. I ran across momfuse a couple of days ago and let me say this site is filled with information for today's mom. Even though my kids are grown they have kids of their own who come and stay with me so I like to keep up with parenting world.

On momfuse you can find information on food, beauty, parenting and they also have giveaways! Who does not like a giveaway? I think my favorite part is the momprenuers. I wish I had opportunities like this when I was a stay-at-home mom.

So if you are mom checkout this site you will not be sorry.

My Son, Deployed

2009-10-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

Visit my son's deployment site:

http://jacksdeployment.shutterfly.com/

Planting Our Fall Garden

2009-10-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

After a scorching summer, our garden has finally rebounded and we were able to harvest a few peppers, one lone cucumber, and a giant radish. Corvette and I have concluded that planting early spring and late fall is probably our best bet for having a more productive garden.

I decided to do a little research to see what vegetables do the best in the fall months. I came up with a list for fall planting. Snap peas and snow peas, broccoli, cabbage, collards, carrots, parships, beets, onions, lettuce, mesclun, spinach, turnips & chard to name a few. Now some of these need to be planted no later than August in order to get a good harvest. However, since I live in the Desert Southwest we do not get many hard freezes and I am hoping that if we do get cooler temperatures I can just cover the garden. Just as this summer was a learning experience with the garden, winter will be too.

I hope that by next year I will have a real good idea what to plant during warm weather and cooler weather. Now if I can just get Corvette to stop picking the vegetables before they are mature I might actually have eatable veggies! Seriously, we had green leaf lettuce that even though it was taking a bit of a beating from the heat he thought if he picked it early he would save it. Wrong. I tasted it and it had a horrible sour taste. Please Vette baby, let the garden grow!

On Getting Paid to Blog

2009-10-06T15:39:00.000-07:00

Blogging has definitely exploded over the last few years. I started reading blogs a little over a year ago. I probably read close to fifty blogs on a regular basis and communicate with many of the authors. A soldier deployed to Iraq wrote the first blog I started reading. I must admit I was hooked almost immediately. The soldier is a very talented writer and he was able to describe events taking place with such eloquence. He had a remarkable way of comparing and contrasting his military service, deployment and personal life. He eventually had to cease and desist. The military thought he might be revealing a little too much concerning his deployment. He now has a book coming out soon.

I started blogging not long after I started reading blogs. I do love to read and write and over the past year, I have learned quite a bit about blogging and advertising on blogs. Although, I digress, I still have a lot to learn. I do however find it very satisfying to write a review for a product, website or company. Making extra money is a plus too.

Companies have found that blog advertising can and does reach many potential customers. A well-written, popular blog with a regular readership is a lucrative way for companies to attract new customers. Writing blog posts for advertising is easy. After signing up, the blogger can write about the subjects they choose. This is nice because the bloggers can write about what is interesting to them.

Therefore, blogging for money is good deal for both bloggers and advertisers. I expect this form of advertising will continue for a long time. I am sure the internet is not going anywhere soon. My ultimate dream would be to get paid to blog full time. Hint, anybody want to hire me? But seriously, I will definitely keep writing and loving it at the same time

Just a Couple Pics of Fuzzy and Wuzzy

2009-10-06T15:26:00.001-07:00

I haven’t seen the Twins, Fuzzy and Wuzzy for a couple of weeks but I have been assured they are growing and interacting even more. They are both around 10lbs now and will be two months old next week. Where does the time go? I am going to turn around and they will be starting school.

Sometimes it feels like my kids where just born yesterday and my youngest, Hippie Guy just turned twentyfive last month. Time seems to go by so quickly. That’s ok. I like where I am at now. I do not think I want to go back to when my kids were small. Too much work. hah! But then Buddy might as well be an infant as he feels the need to wake me up at night. Sometimes two or three times!

Well here is a couple of pictures Flower Child’s dad sent me. I believe the first one in Fuzzy but I do not know for sure. ;)

They are so cute!!!!

I hope to get some more when we go visit them this weeked.

Sometimes We Just Need a Little Help

2009-10-05T15:24:00.001-07:00

The post will be a little out of the norm for me. I hope it does not offend anyone. The truth is some people need a little help in the bedroom. The medical field has made many advances in this area in the last few years.

Now it is commonplace to see TV commercials for Viagra, Levitra and other similar products. The one that really cracks me up is the ExtenZe commercial. That guy and his silly grin gets me every time. Now I have no idea if that stuff really works, but if it does, I guess that is good news for the guys that are using it.

Still, it must be embarrassing for some people seeking these medications and treatments. There are actually sites on the internet where these medications can be purchased, discreetly and privately.

So, this post is just for spreading imformation. Let’s face it, most everyone would like to have a great sex life. If this post helps someone out there so much the better.

Cinderella's New Tattoo and Butterfly's Girly Bedroom

2009-10-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

Cinderella got a new tattoo in honor of Lolly Pop Kid. The movie ‘Cars’ was everything to him so of course she got the Lighting McQueen car. Here is a pic of it. The artist drew it freehand and did a nice job. She already has Butterfly’s name tattooed on her back and it is only fitting Lolly is there too. I thought about getting one. I really have no idea what to get. I thought about his initial. Hmm maybe a lollypop with his initial intertwined. I am going to have to think about that one.

I also spoke with Butterfly yesterday and she was kind enough to send me a picture of her room. She told me she rearranged it all by herself and for the most part decorated it too. I love it. It is sooo pink. What little girl would not love this room? I especially love the pink butterfly curtains. Very appropriate if I don’t say so myself!

Also, notice the movie on the TV. Yes, it just happens to be ‘Cars’ and of course there is Lighting McQueen with his big, toothy smile. Just like our Lolly. We know he is still with us and many ways.

BTW, his tree has a brand new orange bloom. I look forward to watching the oranges grow.

Love you big boy. Thanks for sending the love from heaven.

Finding Affordable Design Software

2009-10-02T18:06:00.001-07:00

When I bought my new computer a few months ago, I knew that my old creative design software would probably not run on the operating system. I have the original Adobe Creative Suite and after checking around on the internet, I found this to be true.

I bought that software when I was still attending college and I received a student discount at the time. Therefore, cost was also a factor. I really love the Adobe software as I use it at work and home so I was hesitant to try something new and I really did not want to have to learn new programs.

After reading several reviews, I found that looking at the recommendation of the reviewers was quite helpful. I found quite a few applications that I could now spend a little time looking into. Most have trial editions so I can download the trial versions and spend some time playing with the application to see if it fits my needs.

With a little research one can really gather quite a bit of information in order to help decide what design software to buy. I now plan to spend a few weeks reviewing the software and I am confident that I will make the perfect choice for my needs.

The HouseHusband was Right

2009-10-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning like every morning and began preparing to go to work. After getting dressed, I let my big red dog Lucie outside to do her morning business. On the way see stopped to smell the end of the couch. It took a little coaxing to get her out side. Usually she goes right out. When she came back in she again went the side up the couch and started sniffing. I did not think too much about that as my cat Angelina was sitting on the couch. I just figured Lucie wanted to play with Angelina. Nothing new there Angelina for the most part, wants nothing much to do with any sort of interaction concerning Lucie.

I fed Lucie, Buddy my Chihuahua and Angelina and finished getting ready for work. I went to put Lucie in her crate and again she stopped to smell the couch. It being before 6:00 o'clock in the morning I had only one light on in the kitchen and could not see to well. After getting all the animals taken care of for the day I made my lunch and sat down to watch the news for a few minutes.

As I was preparing to walk out the door, I saw it. Right there on the arm of the couch was a huge pile of cat barf. I do mean huge! Now let me tell you, I do not do well with vomit of any kind. Yes, I have three kids, four grandkids, numerous dogs, cats, birds, rats even a potbellied pig and I have handled many let's just say less than desirable situations but regurgitation ranks as the one thing I can not handle.

Ok, so I cannot just leave it there, right. Therefore, off I am to get paper towels and cleaner. One thought came to my mind as I prepared to clean the vomit. I was watching an episode of 'Househusbands of Hollywood' the other day. Tempestt Bledsoe and her husband Darryl have cats. The have one in particular that vomits all the time. Since he is home all day, it is his job to clean the vomit. Tempestt gets upset because her leaves the vomit on the carpet for 24 hours until it dries and then cleans it up. He says it is easier after the vomit dries. I remember watching and thinking how gross to do that.

So, I start cleaning and Angelina must have done this sometime during the night because right away I notice the vomit is dry. Guess what? It is easier to clean. It came right off the couch, I only had to wash the area a little bit, and the couch is as good as new. I am happy, not gagging and I can go to work with peace of mind. In addition, I do not have to deal with Corvette complaining about the animals.

Now I do not advocate leaving animal puke on carpet or furniture for any period of time, but I do understand what Darryl was taking about on that episode. And that was my morning. How was yours?

Bachelorette Party Anyone?

2009-09-30T18:25:00.004-07:00

With Cinderella getting married early next year I have become interested in different aspects of putting a wedding together. Not that I would want all that work, but looking at all the dresses, gowns, reception areas and such can be quite fun.

Cinderella will be having her bachelorette party in Las Vegas. I am not quite sure where Tango's bachelor party will be, but I am sure it will be a fun and exciting place. There is such a bevy of ideas and places to do and go. I ran across Redseven. Based in the UK, Redseven arranges Hen parties and Stagg weekends for brides and grooms. What is this you ask? Well Hen parties and Stag weekends are the European equivalent to Bachelorette and Bachelor parties except on a slightly higher scale. Instead of a one-night party, the occasion usually involves a weekend stay.

Redseven even will arrange a Hen party or Stag weekend almost anywhere in the world. The bride and groom and their guests will be treated to the best of hotels, restaurants and other accommodations. Redseven can tailor a party to exactly what the customer is looking for and they offer many different packages. They also can arrange Christmas parties, company parties and extreme sporting parties.

I do not think Cinderella and Tango will be going quite this far. I do think it serves as an interesting idea for bachelorette or bachelor party or as they are called in Europe, Hen parties and Stag weekends.

It is Too Darn Hot!

2009-09-30T17:49:00.002-07:00

Last night I was sitting watching the weather on the news. They said the weather would cool off to 88 degrees. I am sure a lot of you are laughing at that, but considering it was, right around 101 degrees yesterday it will be a nice change.

There is not really a fall season here in the desert southwest. Usually it goes from freakin' hot to sort of hot. That being said we do get some nice days in the so-called fall and spring and sometimes it actually gets cold enough for freeze warnings and then if we are lucky it snows every now and then. Now I am sure not anyone reading this in Minnesota agrees with the "lucky" part, but snow is a novelty here.

Lately I have been wishing I lived somewhere cooler. A place with grass and trees without stickers on the branches would be nice. Of course, it would have to be free of biting insects, high humidity, and smog. Therefore, I guess that rules out Florida, Louisiana, and California. I would not want to live in a big city like New York or Chicago. Sometimes I would like to live on a farm in the Midwest or a cabin in the mountains, but there is snow.
Lots of snow.

No extreme cold just might be worse than extreme heat.

Well this is just a thought. I do not think I am going anywhere soon. But I can dream. Maybe I will win the lottery or inherit a large amount of money from a rich relative (of which I do not have). As I said, I can dream. If you love where you live, please tell me. I would like to hear about it.

As for now I guess I will just settle with heat and blinding sunshine.

Finding the Perfect Website Host

2009-09-25T17:30:00.002-07:00

Recently I thought about taking this blog and hosting it on my own site. Since I wanted to do reviews, I found out that I could not do them on my wordpress site since it is against their policies and doing them could result in my blog being deleted. The thought of all that work and effort being lost was not very appealing to me. That is one reason why I moved all of the content here to Blogger.

I did a lot research on the internet about web hosting sites. I found Web Hosting Geeks. They reviewed the top ten web hosting sites. Web Hosting Geeks ranks each site from one to ten. They included features, bonus features, prices and user reviews.

There is also web hosting awards for Best Budget Web Hosting, Best Blog Web Hosting, and Best Email Web Hosting and so on. You can visit Web Hosting Geeks and read the awards for yourself.

I found Web Hosting Geeks very helpful in my search for a web host. It was easier to compare features, prices and I always like to read actual user reviews on any product I plan to purchase.

If you are in need of web hosting you should check out Web Hosting Geeks. They have done all the footwork for you making it easy to find the right web host for your blog or website.

I can't help it.

2009-09-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I am watching Dancing with the Stars. I love dancing and I just have to watch this show. So far I like Aaron and Donnie. Ashley and Tom I think your days are numbered!

What do you think?

The Lone Cucumber

2009-09-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

Corvette and I planted a garden this year. We planted a little late and since we live in the Desert Southwest it has been pretty hot. We managed to harvest a few varieties of peppers, cherry tomatoes and radish. We planted cucumbers, bell peppers, snap beans, carrots, spinach and green leaf lettuce, none of which produced. But, now that it is cooling off a bit we seem to have a resurgent in the garden. Yes!

When we planted, I told Corvette that we have to thin things out. But, no he would not let me thin and he would not either. Soooo, we did not get a good harvest. Well I will be taking control next year. Corvette's attitude is to plunge in no matter the cost. Ok, well that did not work out so well.

Currently we have one cucumber growing. As far as Corvette is concerned you would think we are feeding the world with ONE cucumber! Like I said I am taking control.

It is Hard Being a Landlord

2009-09-20T10:01:00.001-07:00

Since we built our new home last November we are renting out our first home. Last week the cooler went out at the rented house so Corvette had to go and attempt to fix it. Before moving into our new house we lived at the former house for over twenty years so Corvette new pretty well how to fix things. Well it did not work this time and he is done with climbing the roof. After all, we are not so young anymore and it is dangerous for him to climb roofs.

Well after figuring out what was wrong Corvette decided to hire someone to fix the cooler. This got me thinking about just finding a property management company to take over the repairs and whatever other issues come up with the house. This would take the pressure off of us and we would not have to worry about any future problems that might occur. Hopefully we will be able to sell the house, but of course the market is not good right now, so we have to wait.

I looked into property management and found Real Property Management online. They are a full service management company that can help single property owners like us or multiple unit owners. They also are the recipients of awards in their field like "Franchise of the Year Honorable Mention" award. They have also been mention in Midwest Bizjournal of Cincinnati and Columbus.

Real Property Management is currently managing over 20,000 units all over the country. They are also a member of the National Association of Residential Property Managers. Real Property Management signed with Freddie Mac to manage the new REO Rental Initiative.

I think this a great solution for landlords. If you are like Corvette and me, look into property management. It is just one way to make life a little easier.

New Advertising Campaign for the Marines

2009-09-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

On 9.19.09 the Marines will launch a new advertising campaign designed to portray what it takes for America's youth to answer the call to become one of the few and one of the proud. The campaign is called 'What it Takes' and is a prequel to the 'America's Marines' campaign which was launched in January of 2009.

Boot Camp is a very grueling and intense 13 weeks where the individual is basically broken down only to be shaped and then built back up to become someone deserving the title of US Marine. The title is not just given out it is earned.

I never went through boot camp but LCpl Honda has spoken to me about it many times. These young men and women deserve such respect for making it through boot camp. As does every other person in all military branches.

There is a teaser video on Our.Marines.com and you can read more about the campaign.

Thanks Crafty for bringing this to my attention!

Military Monday - Task Force Born 9/11 Still Guards NY

2009-09-14T17:38:00.003-07:00

I came across this article today on Military.com. The New York National Guard has a task force that has guarded New York City since 9/11. It was actually formed on September 11th, 2001. Joint Task Force Empire Shield is an active-duty force of 280 and some of the people have been on the force since day one.

One of those soldiers is Staff Sgt. Michael Wilson, who joined the Army because of the tragic events on 9/11. He was 19 years old at the time. He has spent most of his career with Empire Shield which includes a deployment to Iraq. He is shown here outside of Penn Station.

Empire Shield's mission is to provide homeland security and to support civilian authorities, as needed. They patrol randomly to keep the enemy off guard. They perform missions, such as patrolling John F. Kennedy International Airport, La Guardia Airport, Penn Station and other mass transit hubs. They join New York State Naval Militia and Coast Guard reserve colleagues on boats bought with homeland security money released after 9/11. They also conduct foot patrols in and around airports and nuclear power facilities.

It is nice to know this special unit is watching out for us. Please read the full story of Empire Shield.

Sunday Brunch

2009-09-13T09:12:00.004-07:00

My son, LCpl Honda is returning to his base to prepare for his upcoming deployment next week. As I have mentioned, he will work in combat cargo. His job is to unload helicopters which includes supplies and/or people. He along with his fellow Marines and of course the Navy will be cruising the high seas. He is going to see many parts of the world. I know this will be a great adventure for him and I will update his progress. What is my job? Well, I get to make sure his bills are paid and babysit his car. Corvette and I will drive out this week and see him off. Then since a one way car rental is so expensive me and Corvette have to caravan back. It is only a six hour drive so I guess it will be okay. I am looking forward to seeing the carrier leave with all the fanfare. I am not looking forward to my son being gone for months. I guess that is normal.

I have a new post up at Parent's Zone. It is about a organization that is trying to have a flag Congressional and military sanctioned to Honor and Remember all who have given their life for our country. It would also be a visible sign to each American. Please go and sign the petition to make this flag possible.

So the recipe for today is of course Lasagna in honor of LCpl Honda's birthday this past week I do not make it from scratch but it always turns out good. It is one of his favorite dishes and it is also a Christmas Eve tradition for our family. We always partake of Lasagna on Christmas Eve and then enjoy a traditional dinner on Christmas Day of turkey, ham, stuffing mashed potatoes... Needless to day we have lots of leftovers to feast on for the following week. I do fear that this year will be a little tougher than past years with LCpl Honda gone and Lolly Pop Kid in Heaven. It have been tough but we do have our new additions, Fuzzy and Wuzzy.

Lastly, why am I back here on blogger? Well let's just say that there are some things I can not do on wordpress. So here I am.

My Lasagna

1 pound hamburger

1 pound sweet Italian sausage

1 can spaghetti sauce

1 box of no boil lasagna noodles

15 oz ricotta cheese

8 oz mozzarella cheese

pinch of onion powder

pinch of garlic powder

Brown the hamburger and sausage. Add the sauce and reserve about a 1/4 a cup for later. Start with a layer of meat. Add a layer of ricotta by drops. Layer noodles on top. Add extra sauce to cover noodles. Continue this until you have two to three layers or whatever you desire. Finish with a layer of mozzarella on top. Cover with foil and put in the oven at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

I Remember 9/11

2009-09-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

I think everyone remembers what they were doing on September 11th 2001. Getting ready for work this morning and watching the images on TV really took me back to that day. I once again felt the shock, disbelief and the overwhelming sadness over the events that I witnessed.

That morning in 2001 I was doing much the same as today. I was getting ready for work as I turn on the TV. The first plane Flight 175 had already crashed into the south tower and nobody was quite aware what had hit the tower at that point. I continued to get ready for work and Hippie Guy who was in high school at that point, was in the bathroom getting ready for school. I remember looking up and seeing the second plane Flight 11 crash into the north tower. I felt a sick feeling in my stomach and called to Hippie Guy. "Oh my God. I think we are under attack." We both just stared at the TV in horror.

It was a very fearful day to say the least, but then I realized I did not know what would happen to Cinderella. She was in the Army at that time stationed in Ft. Hood. I tried to get ahold of her all day and when I went to work I had my mom try. Finally later that night she called. She said the Post was on lock down that day and the only reason the let her off was to pick up Butterfly, who was a baby at the time. She did not know what would happen either so the days following 9/11 were still very scary and stressful for me.

One other event occurred on 9/11. LCpl Honda was to celebrate his birthday. As you might suspect our family did not celebrate that day. It took a couple of weeks before we did. LCpl Honda really wanted no part of it. Since them he had felt robbed of a normal birthday and the thought of all those people losing their lives in such a horrible way really weighs on him. He also shies away from telling people the date of his birthday because they usually react with, "Oh, I am so sorry!" Yea, that does not go over very well.

We he did something about it. He became a United States Marine.

He said, "Mom, no one's birthday is going to be ruined by terrorism again if I can help it.

I do believe he means it.

Happy Birthday LCpl Honda and Semper Fi to you!

Wordless Wednesday - 9/11

2009-09-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Angel Tuesday

2009-09-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

Today's Angel is Nicholas Aiden Laplante. Nicholas became an Angel on October 8th, 2008 fighting a battle with a brain tumor. He was fourteen months old.

Nicholas was sweet baby boy with a popeye smile and beautiful eyes. During his short time on earth he learned to say what, mom, dad, sis, quack, and no. He loved to ride his four-wheeler ride toy.

Nicholas is loved and missed by his mommy, Daddy and sister. Please add this family to your prayers and stop by their memorial for Nicholas.

Sunday Brunch

2009-09-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, family and friends came together and we planted Lolly's tree. The week before, I prayed for cooler weather and that prayer was answered. I was a little worried a major storm might interrupted the planting but that did not happen. The tree was a little bigger than I expected. I have a VW bug. The tree is about 5 feet tall and it actually fit in my car. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. LCpl Honda dug the hole in the yard. Everyone arrived and we feasted on sub sandwiches and potato salad. Grandma M brought a carrot cake. Lolly loved baby carrots. Everyone took turns shoveling dirt into the hole. Then Butterfly and my friend's daughter, Big Brown Eyes helped Lolly's dad Tango make a well around the tree. Finally, we made a circle around Lolly's tree and said a prayer and asked God to bless the tree.

It was a wonderful day.

After the planting, I gave everyone a picture of Lolly's name in the sand.

I am posting our group picture, although we took many pictures that day. The rest I have chosen to keep private. I am also posting a picture of my dad, Grandpa DingDon, one of Lolly's namesakes. No recipe today. Yesterday was simple, kind of like a picnic. Everyone knows how to make a picnic. Yes?

We love you sweet boy. Donovan. Our Lolly Pop Kid.

I had to add this drawing, done by Butterfly, Lolly's sissy.

ps. The drawing was lying on my kitchen table today and my cat decided to walk on it. The blue background was done with pastel chalk. I just spent a whole bunch of time in my bathroom trying to wash the blue color off of my cat's feet. Fun.

Yea, I think that is all I have to say about that...

I am not ok either

2009-09-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

My daughter Cinderella wrote this awhile back because she can hardly bear people asking her if she is ok.

Are you okay?

A piece of my heart is gone forever, I am not okay.

I may smile, laugh and make jokes, but I am not okay.

The pain in my heart hurts so badly and I am not okay.

It is hard for me to get out of bed everyday, I am not okay.

I am able to function everyday, but I am not okay.

Sometimes I want to end it all and I am not okay.

How can I go through life without him, I am not okay.

I am not the same person I once was, I am not okay.

Some people say I am strong, but that does not mean that I am okay.

I am really weak inside and I am not okay.

I want him back so badly and I am not okay.

I pray to the Lord to give me strength, but I am not okay.

Please stop asking if I am okay.

I am not ok either.

I can not fix anything.

I would if I could.

I can not change anybody.

People do as they choose.

I still want to scream some days.

And I do.

I wish I could go back in time.

But I can not.

I wish for my family to heal.

But I know they never will.

I still have tears everyday.

I am afraid of the day I don't.

I can not change anything.

No, I am not ok either.

Looking Forward to Saturday

2009-09-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

This Saturday we will plant a tree for our Lolly Pop Kid. Our family and Tango's family will gather at our home and together we will plant an orange tree for Lolly.

I prayed to God that the weather would be a little cooler since the temperature has been around 106 degrees. I mean I really prayed. I just want everyone to be comfortable. However, I did not ask for a hurricane. We do not get full-force hurricanes where we live but we do get some nasty storms from them. So I am hoping the weather will be nice and not drench us with rain all day on Saturday.

I am happy about receiving this photo. There is a woman in Australia writes the names of Angel children in the sand on a beach. She then photos them at sunset and uploads them to her blog. The pictures are absolutely beautiful. I cried when I say Lolly's photo. There appears to be a red halo over the sun. As I have said before, Lolly had wonderful flaming red hair. So everyone attending the tree planting will receive one of these photos. I think it will be a lovely addition.

The Perfect Dress For Mom

2009-09-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Cinderella is getting married next January. I have been searching the Internet for a dress. I want something simple, yet elegant. I want to blend with the wedding party, but I do not want to match them. The wedding colors are watermelon and teal. I read somewhere that the Mother-of-the-Bride should look regal. I do not know about that. I just want to look nice and appropriate. Hippie Guy's wedding was very simple, preformed at Flower Child's mother's home, and I wore a simple, black dress. Cinderella's wedding will be at her church with a reception to follow. It will be an afternoon wedding. Corvette suggested I wear the dress I wore as Matron of Honor in my best friend's wedding. Ah, no.

So far, I found a few dresses I like. The first one is very simple but only comes in marine, a dark blue.

The second one comes in either a lighter blue color or a pale purple. I love the front of the dress but I am not sure of the back. There is not an option to view the back on the website.

The last one is as close to regal as I can find. The only drawback is this dress is knee length. I am not sure if I should wear knee length or floor length. I really like this dress. The color is called teal.

Since I need shoes I decided to visit Zappos.com. There is a wide selection of shoes for men, women, boys and girls. There is even a special section for bridal shoes. I like the 'Narrow your Choices' feature. You can search by styles, size, color, brand and even widths. I found a couple pairs of shoes that I like. I just can't wear really high heels anymore so these low-heeled sandals would do nicely. Especially since I intend to spend a good amount of time dancing at the reception!

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Angel Tuesday

2009-09-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

Today’s Angel is Brianna Sharp. Brianna was a lively 7^th grader when last fall she was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a highly aggressive brain tumor. She went to heaven surrounded by her family on July 25, 2009.

Brianna loved running cross-country at school. She also played the flute in her school band and liked art.

Her father Matt said she had a contagious smile and laugh. She would laugh at his jokes even when they were not that funny.

Brianna kept a daily blog where she has chronicled her battle with cancer. She also describes her life with family and friends.

Brianna’s faith grew during her illness. She wore a cross, carried a rosary and said the Hail Mary. Many family and friends attended her 13th birthday party this past spring.

Brianna is loved and missed by her family, friends and all who knew her. Please say a prayer for Brianna and her family.

Please continue to pray for Lolly Pop Kid and our families. We now have answers as to why Lolly went to Heaven. I will not post that here. The information does not make me feel better. It just breaks my heart more and gives my brain more stuff to think about.

Today is also the start of Childhood Cancer Awarness Month. This is near and dear to my heart because Butterfly once battled Leukemia and won! Please take a moment to think about the littlist warriors today and through the month.

Finding the Perfect Pair of Running Shoes - A Review

2009-08-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

I walk my big red dog, Lucie nearly every morning. Walking is great exercise for me and it helps Lucie’s daily attitude. She tends to border on the hyperactive side. Walking or running requires a good pair of shoes for the best foot support.

ShopWiki.com is a good place to find sneakers, running or trail running shoes. There are shoes for men and women in varying styles. ShopWiki.com provides some very useful information such as how to choose the correct shoe and lists tips for the care of your shoes.

ShopWiki searches out every store on the internet so the customer has a chance to compare products and prices. We recently purchased a new flat panel TV. We originally were going to mount it to the wall but since getting it home, we decided to go ahead get a nice stand. I typed in TV stands and 22 stores popped up. This is much easier than searching through each store on an individual basis.

Whether you are in the market for new athletic shoes or like me looking for a new TV stand take a look on ShopWiki.com

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Military Monday - Great Idea for 9/11

2009-08-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

I wish I could take credit for this idea but I am happy to pass it on. I actually received this in an email and thought it would be a great Military Monday post.

We have about two weeks and counting to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in the United States of America.

If you send this in an email, blog or twitter to least 11 people and each of those people do the same ... you get the idea.

THE PROGRAM:

On Friday, September 11th, 2009, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this eighth anniversary of one of our country's worst tragedies. We do this to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds

Action Plan:

So, here's what we need you to do .

(1) Send this in an email, blog or Twitter about this program to everyone you know. Take a moment to think back to how you felt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you.

(2) Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.

Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America!

Sunday Brunch

2009-08-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

It seems that so many celebrities or maybe just famous people have lost their lives this summer. Maybe I am just more aware since we lost our Lolly Pop Kid. I don't know. I blogged in an earlier post about my feelings after watching the Michael Jackson memorial service which occurred on the two week Angelversary of Lolly's passing. I woke up that morning to find the sky vividly red. Lolly has flaming red hair.The sight of the sky overwhelmed me. I called my boss and said I would not make it to work that day. I wasn't going to watch the memorial because I thought it might come off as an over the top spectacle. I was wrong. I sat there that day and watched another family feeling the pain and loss of a loved one.

Yesterday I watched the Ted Kennedy funeral and once again felt the same pain and loss for another family. I have my own opionions about these people who haved passed away this summer, but I will keep those to myself. The point is that each and every one of these people have families that cared about and loved them deeply. Just as our family cares and loves our Lolly.

I do not know what happens in Heaven. Nobody does. I have faith that we will all go one day to a new beautiful place called Heaven and live in eternal peace and love. So that being said, as I said in my earlier post about MJ and Lolly, our Lolly is probably learning to do the Moonwalk and MJ is finally learning what it is like to have a simple, beautiful childhood.

Maybe Lolly is learning how to play the guitar from Les Paul and sing with folk singer, Mike Seeger.

John Hughes may be teaching him what teenage life is like through all his films and I am sure Lolly would have a crush on Molly Ringwald as so many teenage boys did in the eighties. After all, she has beautiful red hair too.

DJ AM may be showing him how to spin a mean record and maybe add a few dance moves too. Of course I do believe Michael is the person to go to for the dance lessons.

Eunice Shriver might teach him to have compassion for children and all people with disabilities. I am sure there must be a Special Olympics in Heaven. But on the other hand, everybody is healed in Heaven so everyone participates in the Heaven Olympics.

Ted Kennedy along with his brothers, Jack and Bobby will probably teach him all about politics and public service. But more importantly, they probably teach him about family love until we are with him again.

Lastly, I am sure that Lolly will know how to clean just about everything because I am sure Billy Mays is real busy making tons of Heaven infomercials. God must be going nuts.

And what do all these people get from Lolly?

The joy and pleasure of knowing our sweet Lolly Pop Kid!

And that's all I have to say about that.

Today's Sunday Brunch recipe is:

HARD CANDY LOLLIPOPS

2 c. sugar

2/3 c. light corn syrup

3/4 c. water

Oil flavors (optional)

Color (optional)

In a saucepan, blend sugar, corn syrup, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, until mixture reaches 290 degrees. Remove pan from heat. Allow to stand until bubbles have simmered down. Add flavoring and color as desired. Too much stirring will cause syrup to solidify into a hard sugary lump. Mold into desired shapes in Pam-sprayed hard candy molds. Work fast.

Keep mixture warm over hot water. If mixture becomes too cold and thick it may be warmed for a few seconds in microwave. Put sucker sticks in molds before pouring mixture.

Can You Hear Me Now?

2009-08-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

This has been a very interesting week. I took time off this week to help Flower Child and the twins, Fuzzy & Wuzzy. I really only spent one day with them as I was waiting for the phone guy to come and install my new landline the first day. He finally came around noon, but this was after Flower Child was in the middle of a minor breakdown during her first day alone with the twins. She did get through it but I can only imagine how hard it is having to take care of two newborns by yourself. After all of that, my phone was still not working. I called and they told me to wait 24 hours because my other service was not disconnected. I called again the next day and spoke to a really nice person who told me the issue would be resolved the next day.

It. was. not.

I called again and spoke to someone who kept giving me a standard answer as to repairing my service. Let's get this straight:

I. had. no. service. Ever. I called back and threatened to cancel the whole kit and caboodle. Nicely, I might add. That got their attention. A really nice technician arrived yesterday morning and took one look at my phone hookups and new exactly what was wrong. He also went into my smartbox and fixed everything. He also told me I could throw former services' phone modem into the street. Yea, I don't think so. He definitely did not like my former phone/internet service.

Anyway I spent a few hours the next day with Flower Child and the twins. Fuzzy liked me but Wuzzy wanted nothing to do with me. Oh well, I just might have to resort to bribery at some point ie: candy, cookies, toys. Flower Child decided to fly solo the next day and did ok. I had to return to work on Friday because I have no time off left. Please pray I do not get the Swine Flu inbetween now and January.

The Ted Kennedy Funeral was on TV at the time the new phone guy came and he had a few choice words for that too. He also told Corvette that the war in Afghanistan has something to do with Obama's opium crops. (insert cricket sounds here)

On the other hand he loved my dogs and they loved him. Buddy (my chihuahua) did not bite his ankles and Lucie, (my big red dog) did not jump on him and knock him down. Quite frankly, I did not know what to make of him. But, hey, he fixed my phone so I guess it is all good.

I am currently watching the Ted Kennedy funeral. I have a take on this and all the people that have passed this summer, but I will wait until tomorrow to post about that. I am worn out with the phone stress.

Quote of the Week

2009-08-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.

-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Wordless Wednesday - Clouds

2009-08-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

rainbow cloud

glowing cloud

hole in the red sky cloud

angel cloud

all of these clouds appeared on a different Angelversaries of our Lolly Pop Kid.

Angel Tuesday

2009-08-25T04:04:00.000-07:00

Angel Tuesday profiles Asa Imad Mayle who became and angel on January 4, 2007. He was 6 years old and in the first grade. Asa was hit by a school bus as he was crossing the street.

I learned of Asa through Virtual Memorials. Lolly Pop Kid's online memorial is at this site also. Please feel free to visit.

Asa was an inquisitive little boy with a big kool-aid smile and big brown eyes. He liked his clothes nice and neat and he especially loved his belt.

Asa absolutely loved everything Batman. He had Batman sheets and would tie them around his neck and make a cape. His mommie could not resit buying Asa Batman stuff.

He once asked his mommie, "If Batman can't fly why does he have a cape?" Good question.

Asa even at his young age would talk about growing up, getting married and going to college. He wanted to go to Ohio State. He also new what kind of car he would like to own. Asa wanted a PT Cruiser. Spotting PT Cruisers became a game for Asa. He would shout "PT Cruiser I saw it you missed it!!"

Asa is loved and missed by his family and always will be. Please take a moment to visit his beautiful memorial made in loving memory of Asa by his mommie.

Military Monday - LCpl Honda at Sea.

2009-08-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a pic of LCpl Honda working on the flight deck in Combat Cargo. He is the one one the right. The Marines are moving a net that is used to transport cargo, food and other supplies from the the cargo ships and between the Navy ships. Combat Cargo also aids in assisting visitors or military personnel arriving and departing from the ship. It does not matter how high up in rank the visitor may be. Combat Cargo personnel is in charge on the flight deck.

LCpl Honda will be home on leave this weekend and then will deploy in Sept. It is going to be a long 7 months. He will however get to visit quite a few ports in many countries. Anyway, here he is:

God Bless our Troops. Happy Military Monday!

Sunday Brunch

2009-08-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a weekend with Cinderella, Tango & Butterfly. They came down to to visit and see Fuzzy & Wuzzy our new twins. The twins are doing well, but always seem to be sleeping when we visit.

Cinderella gifted Hippie Guy & Flower Child with a digital camera so they can provide us with lots of pictures of Fuzzy & Wuzzy. I have a few more to post and will do that at the end of this post.

I like my new blackberry phone but it has quite a learning curve. It is like a mini computer. Any help would be appreciated.

Today's recipe is my most favorite potato salad. It doesn't really have a name so I will just call it Juliannah's Potato Salad.

Eight to Ten Red Potatoes

2 Hard Boiled Eggs

1 cup Mayonnaise

1/4 cup Rice Vinegar

1 Tbsp Sugar

1/4 cup Red Bell Pepper

1/2 tsp Onion Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper

1/2 tsp Paprika

Boil the potatoes with the skins on until done. Boil the eggs until done. Cut up the potatoes and eggs. Cut the bell pepper into small pieces. Mix potatoes,eggs & peppers. Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, spices & sugar into potatoes, eggs & peppers. That is it. You can also substitute green bell pepper, pickle relish or anything else you may desire.

Here are another couple pics of the twins:

Fuzzy

Wuzzy

Today is also the 2nd month angelversary for Lolly Pop Kid. We all miss him so much. I had a knock at the door today and it was Mormon missionaries. They gave me a card with a illustration of Jesus and on the back of the card it said, "Faith in Christ can help you resolve personal and family challenges.

God Just keeps knocking on our door.

Lolly Pop Kid we love you and miss you. We want you back.

And that is all I have to say about that.

I Upgraded Myself.

2009-08-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is correct. You see I sorta live in the stone age of cell phone land. I have one but it just has voice on it. No internet, text, camera etc. Sooo I took the plunge and bought a new phone! Boy o Boy did I ever.

I decided I wanted a Blackberry. Hey if it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for me. And it's pink. It will match my new red computer. I think they will get along with each other just fine. Hopefully I won't have a problem operating it. But just look how cute it is.

So now that I am upgraded just look for the girl with the pink Blackberry hunched over her phone like everyone else. Not. I don't even really know how to text. Yet.

Quote of the Week

2009-08-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.
Horace Bushnell

Wordless Wednesday - Dogs

2009-08-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

Angel Tuesday

2009-08-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

Today’s Angel Tuesday child is Ethan who became an Angel on July 26, 2008. He went to heaven because of a horrible drowning accident.

Ethan, a beautiful 6 year old with a smile that exudes radiant energy and a huge open-mouth laugh that delighted everyone. All that knew Ethan commented on his smile.

Ethan loved creating ships with Legos and playing with Star Wars toys. He loved tossing a football and listening to his Veggie Tales CD.

On what would have been Ethan's 7th Birthday his family held a Global Star Wars party where many people from all over the world watched the movie Star Wars.

Ethan just plain loved Star Wars.

Ethan is and will always be very much loved and missed by his family. His mom Lisa keeps a blog where she has written so beautifully about Ethan, her family’s loss and how they manage the “new normal.” Lisa is also a wonderful photographer as there are many poignant photos of Ethan and her family.

Please visit Hey Jude. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Please also remember our Angel Lolly Pop Kid.

Military Monday - USS New York

2009-08-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

The USS New York was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. It is the fifth in a new class of warship, designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

It was christened by Dotty England, the wife of Associate Press Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Northrop Grumman shipyard in Avondale, Louisiana.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, Louisiana to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, “Those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,” recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. “It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.” said Capt. Wensing.

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the “hair on my neck stood up.” “It had a big meaning to it for all of us,'” he said. “They knocked us down. They cannot keep us down. We're going to be back.”

The ship's motto?
'Never Forget'

To read more about the USS New York go here.

Baby Pics!

2009-08-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some great pics of our twin grandsons. I found bloggie names: Fuzzy & Wuzzy. This is because Flower Child pointed out that Fuzz had fuzzie hair all over his back as did Wuzz, so Fuzzy (A) & Wuzzy (B)! Family members please email me and I will tell you who is who.

Happy Family

Wuzzy

Fuzzy

Hippie Guy with his sons.

Flower child with her sons.

Grandma & Grandpa with Wuzzy & Fuzzy.

Grandma with Fuzzy and Wuzzy.

Fuzzy

Wuzzy

Goodnight sweet boys.

"We Made Humans."

2009-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hippie Guy and Flower Child became the proud parents of twin baby boys yesterday. The whole family is doing fine and we are thankful to be able to welcome two healthly and beautiful babies into our family.

It is funny because Flower Child was scheduled to have a C section yesterday at 1:00pm, but nature decided to step in as she went into labor the night before so they arrived just a bit earlier in the day. This was the day God intended them to come and they most certainly did.

I must admit that my son Hippie Guy looked a little shell-shocked right after the birth. I do believe he was given that wonderful little life changing gift every new parent receives upon the birth of their child. Responsibility. Not that he isn't already responsible, because he is, but now there is a bit of a twist on that.

Flower Child looked very serene and beautiful except for the 3 hour period from the twins' birth to when the nurse finally brought them to her. I think if she could of got out of bed at that point it is quite possible there would have been a few wounded nurses. Seriously.

If you are wondering about the title it was a remark that Flower Child made while we were discussing the birth experience. Yes, Flower Child and Hippie Guy, you made humans. And two fine ones at that.

I will post a couple of pictures now, but I left my camera at the hospital and I will be posting more pictures later when I get it back. Plus I need to think of bloggie names for the twins. So far my mind seems to be blank concerning this. Any suggestions? But please keep it nice and clean.

So for the time being they will still be A and B. This is A.

This is B.

Wordless Wednesday - Butterflys

2009-08-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Angel Tuesday

2009-08-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of trouble starting this post. I am not sure why. Maybe because I wish I did not have to. I did not realize how many children die each day. To be honest it was not something I wanted to think about. Nobody does.

Today is seven weeks since Lolly Pop Kid became an angel. Today is another Angelversary.

So I will try and bring a new child each week either an angel or a child with an illness. Please pray for these children and their families. Visit their blogs or sites and if possible leave a message.

The pain does not go away and it does not get better. It helps when people reach out.

Here is Lolly's memorial site.

I wish I could open the door and pick you up and hug away the tears.

I wish you could open the door and pick me up and hug away the tears.

Military Monday - At Sea

2009-08-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

I am a little late with this. There is a new series, "At Sea" on the Military Channel featuring the US Navy and the US Marines. It actually started last night, Aug. 9th. It is a three episode special focusing on Naval ships. The second episode airs tonight Aug. 10th at 10pm eastern time and concluding with the third episode on Tues. Aug. 11th. Hopefully it will repeat at another time. There is an excellent article about the series here.

The series focus is to let the American people know how the Navy and Marines work together and what these joined forces do when they are at sea. Our armed forces are made up of real people who have chosen to serve the American people and the series conveys this message to the viewer.

LCpl Honda is currently on the USS Bonhomme Richard preparing for an upcoming MEU. This is why I am especially interested in this program. He currently works on the fight deck in Combat Cargo. He and other Marines and Sailors are responsible for loading and unloading cargo and making sure that people get on and off the Helicopters safely.

Go to the Military Channel website and you can explore an aircraft carrier interactively, find out more about the program, "At Sea" and learn about ships of the future.

Sunday Brunch

2009-08-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

I have not been posting too much lately. I guess that is because I just do not have the gumption (sp?) or the ideas to talk about. I am going to try and post everyday. I need to get back to posting because it helps me get through my life. I have already established Military Monday, Wordless Wednesday & Quote of the Week. I want to include Sunday Brunch which I think will be a little recap of my week and a recipe that maybe someone might like to try.

I decided to include Angel Tuesday. Lolly Pop Kid went to heaven on a Tuesday. I know that I will never live through a Tuesday without thinking about him leaving us. That is just the way it is. I think that I will profile a child that is going to heaven or a famly that has lost a child. I know what it is like to have a lived with one that is sick with a possible terminal illness. Please pray for Sydney

There are a lot of children out there that need prayers. There are a lot of parents' that lost their child. I just need to reach out.

So here is the recipe that I would like to share:

Chipolte Chicken with Flaming_Tequelia Pepper Salsa Avocado Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds ground chicken breast

2 medium onions, chopped

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated

2 to 3 tablespoons puréed chipotles in adobo

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 quart chicken stock

Salt and ground black pepper

1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 orange bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped

1 medium red onion, chopped

3 to 4 shots tequila

Juice of 1 lime

1/4 cup cilantro leaves, chopped

1 avocado, pitted

1 cup buttermilk

Juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup finely chopped chives

Preparation

Place a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add the bacon to the pan and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken to the pot and continue cooking until golden brown, 5-6 minutes.

Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook until the veggies are tender, 4-5 minutes. Add the puréed chipotles, cumin, coriander, paprika and tomato paste to the pot and cook until the spices are aromatic and beginning to caramelize, about 1 minute. Add the chicken stock, some salt and pepper to the pot and bring up to a bubble. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.

While the chili is simmering, place a medium skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add the peppers and red onion to the skillet and cook until the veggies are tender, 4-5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and add in the tequila. Return the skillet to the heat and flame the tequila to burn off most of the alcohol. Add the lime juice, cilantro and some salt to the salsa. Reserve.

In the bowl of a food processor combine the avocado, buttermilk, lemon juice and chives. Process until smooth then season with salt and pepper.

Serve up the chili topped with some of the tequila-pepper salsa and avocado ranch. Garnish with some crushed tortilla chips.

All I can say is pray for us and we will pray for you. This recipe probaly seems over the top, but it is just the way I feel at this point.

Baptism

2009-08-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, August 2nd I baptized my daughter Cinderella and granddaughter Butterfly. I was most honored and did so in memory of my grandson, Lolly Pop Kid.

We are the thirteenth group in the video. It was a wonderful day. You have to wait a few seconds. But it is worth it.

Surprise, Surpise

2009-08-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

So last night my phone rings and it is LCpl Honda. He tells me, "Make a wish and then tell me when you are done." So I did. Then he tells me, "Guess what? Your dream just came true!"

Huh? Right about that time the phone disconnects and the doorbell rings. I was thinking, "Who the heck is ringing my doorbell at 7:30 in the evening?" As Corvette went to answer the door, I put the phone down and went out in the garage to open the door to let some of the heat out. Since we live in the Desert Southwest it gets incredibly hot out there and I like to let it air out a little at night. I stayed in the garage for a few minutes and then went back in the house.

Surprise!, Surprise! LCpl Honda was standing in my living room!

He was supposed to be here on Saturday to bring home some of his things before deployment. He was also only supposed to be here overnight. So lucky us!

My nephew Sgt. Red once surprised my sister Crafty in the middle of the night by climbing through the dog door. Thank goodness his dogs knew it was him. I told LCpl Honda not try any middle of the night entries or come in when we are not home (he has a key) because he will set off the alarm and then he will have some explaining to do. To the cops. Marine or no.

Oh, that wasn't exactly my wish, but I will take it.

I Can Hear God Knockin'

2009-07-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

People keep asking me, "How are you doing?" I have a standard answer, "I'm ok." Period. That's it.

I just don't think they would understand if I blurted out, "I want to pull every hair out of my head!" or "I want to scream until no sound comes out." or my personal favorite "I want to throw a brick through a window." Which BTW is what I tell Cinderella to do, frequently.

I am not complaining, just getting through each day. The pain is still real and still there for everyone. My pain has so many different aspects everyday. Over the last few days I have been receiving a message from several different sources. What is the message? I will let you decide for yourself.

Written on July 23rd, one month after Lolly Pop Kid became an Angel. Read by me on July 24th. Posted on a MarineMom mailing list by a woman who just found out she has cancerous tumor.

Yesterday my son called me to see how my oncology visit went. As I was sharing with him that (this is true) my doctor is a CAN-CER-VIVOR too, and because of his illness he is death in one ear, and can barely hear. He wears a ponytail, and because he is death I could hardly understand a word he was saying... I was sharing his dry sense of humor(after I finally understood what he was saying) and how I never laughed so hard in my life as he drew pictures of "Arnie" and had me put my hand on my belly to be personally introduced to him. (SMile) And, I believed I named him correctly, because Arnie must have taken steroids to be so big. I must admit... I'm proud of his perservance to even think he can remotely knock me down. (SMile)

As I was sharing this with Glenn he asked me if I was okay. When I said with a SMile, "Glenn, I'm fine. I'm not worried at all!" He said, "OKay!" I then asked, "Do you believe me?" He then replied, "NO. Not at all, but I love you that much for trying to keep me from worrying." I said, "Is it working?" He said, "NO!" I then said, "Good, because now you know what you put me through when you went to Iraq and I would ask you what you were doing and you would tell me not to worry!"

Speechless he was!

Children need to always know that as mothers of those who serve, when they feed us the bull, the bull will come back and bite them everytime.

When I hung up the phone I SMiled. I believe I was able to teach Glenn a lesson in life he will never forget, but on the other hand I did mean it when I told him not to worry.(SMile)

That is the message I want to share with you today. Please don't spend the day worrying about your children. It's within the adversitities of their lives where they get to experience something wonderful and challenging, and when they get through it they are more than they ever thought they could be.

Many of you have written me about the challenges in life that you too are facing, and I want you to know that each and everyone of us are:

CAN-CER-VIVORS!

We each wake up and have to survive something. Doesn't have to be an illness. So, whatever it is you are going though today just know that I believe in you, and you CAN-CER-VIVE this!

And... if you need to chat, please e-mail me. I'm back to work today, and being that I'm my own boss, I promise I'll take a moment out of my day to remind you that there's nothing you can't do!

Onward by faith...

Grandma G!

Just a note: We have sinced learned the tumor is not cancerous and I now have a new friend!

A post from a mother whose 10-year-old daughter, Sydney is suffering from a terminal brain tumor on Monday, July 27, 2009

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

I was first given this verse shortly after my car accident in 1993. I had been driving and my best friend was killed. As you can imagine, it was a very difficult time in my life...and this verse brought much comfort.

At that time, it helped me to understand that although my heart was suffering...I would someday be glorified because if it.

But over the years, as I read more verses of that chapter in Romans, it shed even more light on the subject of suffering...and I'd like to share it with you now. Let's look the verse again...along with verses 19-21:

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."

Romans was written by Paul...who was no stranger to suffering. He often mentioned his sufferings, although not specifically identifying just what was the "thorn in his flesh" that he discusses in 2 Cor. 12. But this "thorn" was not taken away when he pleaded...as God had a greater plan for Paul..and that suffering was needed in order to conform Paul into His image.

Firstly, suffering is suffering...whether it be suffering for Christ's sake...or from your own infirmaties, or struggles of life. In my humble opinion, any form of suffering can be for Christ's sake, if we allow it to do it's intended purpose in our life.

Now that we have that established, let's dive into it a bit. Now, I am no scholar, but have studied a little and this is what I have found regarding this passage of scripture.

In verse 18, Paul says, "..our present sufferings"...the ancient Greek work used in this verse for "present" is "kairos" which means a specific period or season of time. It's different than "chronos" which means a undetermined space of time. So what Paul is saying is...this suffering will last only for a while...there will be an end...it will not go on forever.

He also speaks of a glory that will be revealed in those who suffer who are children of God. In the latter verses, he's talking about creation...that's US. It says the "creation was subjected to frustration...not by it's own choice, but by the will of the One (God) who subjected it..."

Simply put...God allowed it to happen. He looked at His creation (us) and decided to subject it to "frustration" or sufferings. Why!?!?! Why would this loving God look upon those He created and want them to suffer? It wasn't even suffering because of wrong choices on the part of creation...it was simply His will that this be allowed in their lives!!! WHY!?!

Here's why: "in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."

Creation has to be purged of it's sin...creation has to go through the fire...has to be free of the bondages and impurities of sin, in order to be made into His image...and can then receive His glorious freedom...basically, the creation (us) will be rewarded in heaven for our brief sufferings here on earth!

Also, in my own thinking, when we (the creation) gives GOD glory through our weakness...through our suffering...it draws others to the Creator. Others see in us what they are so desperately in need of...a peace in all circumstances.

Here are Pauls own words about the thorn in his flesh...and how God is glorified in it:

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:7-10)

How many times have we asked God to heal Sydney? Countless times!!! I mean my own prayers are countless...now add in all of yours...and the others around the world...well, that's a lot of prayers.

How many times has God healed her as of yet? None that I am aware of. Oh, He's helped her improve or feel better and such...but not a complete healing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining...although there are times I do. There are times that I get so tired of this process, and I just beg for a healing....just want to scream!

What was God's answer to Paul? He said, "My grace is sufficient for you...". That has been God's answer to me, as well. I'm not saying that He's not going to heal Sydney. I'm simply saying that I just don't know what He's going to do...and the waiting really gets quite wearing.

But if I look at Paul's words, I can rejoice. For one, in the passage in Romans, it says that our suffering will end...it is only for a time...and that God has allowed it to mold us into His image...to prepare us for the glory in heaven that awaits us!

Then, in 2 Corinthians, he shows us that although we don't have the answer we want...although we may get weary, we should really be rejoicing in that suffering, because God's grace gives us the strength to endure it...and through our weakness, God's strength can be seen around the world!

I'm sorry if this was to lengthy today...but it is my heart. I was going to have a rough day today...I could tell when I woke up that my heart was heavy, with a little dose of "feeling sorry for myself". But then, remembered this study I had done...and felt the need to share it with you all.

Upon reading it, I was reminded to be joyful in all things...even when I don't feel like it...even with life doesn't seem fair...even when God doesn't answer my prayer in the way or time frame I wish...REJOICE...for there is a purpose! I am being prepared for His glory to be revealed in me...and while I await that revelation...His grace is more than enough to see me through!

God Bless ~ IVESTRONG

Thurday July 30th Posted on a website for grieving parents and grandparents

Together We Walk the Stepping Stones

Come, take my hand, the road is long.
We must travel by stepping stones.
No, you're not alone. I've been there.
Don't fear the darkness. I'll be with you.

We must take one step at a time.
But remember, we may have to stop awhile.
It's a long way to the other side
And there are many obstacles.

We have many stones to cross.
Some are bigger than others.
Shock, denial, and anger to start.
Then comes guilt, despair, and loneliness.

It's a hard road to travel, but it must be done.
It's the only way to reach the other side.

Come, slip your hand in mind.
What? Oh, yes, it's strong.
I've held so many hands like yours.
Yes, mine was once small and weak like yours.

Once, you see, I had to take someone's hand
In order to take the first step.
Oops! You've stumbled. Go ahead and cry.
Don't be ashamed. I understand.

Let's wait here awhile so that you can get your breath.
When you're stronger, we'll go on, one step at a time.
There's no need to hurry.

Say, it's nice to hear you laugh.
Yes, I agree, the memories you shared are good.
Look, we're halfway there now.

I can see the other side.
It looks so warm and sunny.
On, have you noticed? We're nearing the last stone
And you're standing alone.
And look, your hand, you've let go of mine.
We've reached the other side.

But wait, look back, someone is standing there.
They are alone and want to cross the stepping stones.
I'd better go. They need my help.
What? Are you sure?
Why, yes, go ahead. I'll wait.

You know the way.
You've been there.
Yes, I agree. It's your turn, my friend . . .
To help someone else cross the stepping stones.

So today I received an email from my mom, Grandma M. What would we do without our mommies.

It's in the Valleys I Grow

Dear Lord,

Please continue to watch over our family and bless us each everyday. Please take good care of Lolly because we will be coming after him.

And that's all I have to say about that.

I Thought of You Today.

2009-07-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

I thought of you today, but that is nothing new
I thought of you yesterday and days before that too.

I think of you in silence, I often speak your name,
All I have are memories and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsake, with which I'll never part
God has you in his keeping, I have you in my heart.

Military Monday - Pride in Our Country

2009-07-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

I did not write these, I actually received these in an email from Grandma M. These are some good examples of having pride in our country.

JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaule decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaule said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible. Rusk responded "does that include those who are buried here?

DeGaule did not respond.
You could have heard a pin drop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.

He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?'

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...

Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.

"You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically.Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.

"Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."

The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

"Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !"

The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to."

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are proud to be an American, pass this on!

I am proud to be of this land, AMERICA

Many Veterans Exposed to Asbestos and living with possible Ailments

2009-07-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

The twentieth century brought us the start and end to many wars for Americans, all of which were fought mainly overseas. In that time many soldiers were killed or brought back injuries through their sacrifice. Much of the military returned healthy. But this does not mean there are not a variety of issues if you dig a little deeper. One often overlooked issue is mesothelioma cancer, which results from asbestos exposure.

Roughly 30-40 percent of all reported mesothelioma patients in the United States are former members of the military. Asbestos is an excellent fire retardant that in many ways protected veterans throughout the years. In addition to being dangerous if the fibers are ‘lose’ and breathed in, it is fairly cheap and effective. This fiber was used in every branch of the military up until the late 1970’s and was specifically valuable to the Navy, which used it in engine and boiler rooms and other areas below the deck for safety reasons. It was used in the tools they used and the rooms where they slept.

In particular, veterans who served from the 1930s and 1970s have the greatest risk of getting mesothelioma, with the disease not settling in sometimes up to 50 years after asbestos exposure.

Pursuing compensation for mesothelioma and other breathing ailments that can result is not easy. VA Claims sometimes can help but you must prove that you were only exposed while in the military. The military does not list mesothelioma as a service-related disease. Some think that the Obama Administration will push through policies to make the VA Claim process easier. Another avenue to take is to sue the manufacturer of the product (not Uncle Sam) but litigation is typically tough because diagnosis often occurs many years after exposure.

It is safe to say that asbestos is one of the worst corporate catastrophe’s of the 20^th century because manufacturers knew about the dangers since the 1920s and the mesothelioma survival rate equating to almost certain death within a short time (varies but typically within a couple years). The full breakdown of mesothelioma facts is interesting, to say the least. Most Americans think that asbestos is an old issue but veterans are still reporting cases at a frequent pace, reminding us of era that brought many wars and poor industrial standards.

Light a Candle

2009-07-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

Four weeks ago today we lost our Lolly Pop Kid.

On Thurday July 23rd it will be exactly a month.

This is a very tough week.

Please join me in lighting a candle for Lolly. Click the link below to view my candle and light one of your own.

Light a Candle

Military Monday - MarineParents need your vote

2009-07-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

Marineparents.com is a wonderful message board started by a Marine mom in 2003 when her son was deployed to Iraq. She wanted more information and the board was born. Now over thousands of parents as well as other family members connect daily with each other. Parents can offer each other support, guidance and love. Everyday new families join with many starting on the recruit board when their son or daughter goes to boot camp. I found this board to be extremely helpful and sometimes I knew what my son was doing at bootcamp before he had a chance to either write me or phone me.
Marineparents would greatly benefit from the $3,000 that will be donated to one charity from Squidoo a forum for writers to build lenses similar to blogs. There is no need to registar to vote.
Here is the link to vote. Here is a link to the Marineparents lens.

Please take the time to help Marineparents win! Hurry voting is today and tomorrow only!

No Ma'am, Yes Ma'am

2009-07-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

This is just a thought but when Barbara Boxer was speaking with Black Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Harry Alford she must have forgot to have him call her Senator as he was answering her with, "Yes Ma'am or No Ma'am."

BTW he also ripped her a new a**. Yes Ma'am!

Today we sent our hearts to Heaven.

2009-07-11T23:27:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today Lolly Pop Kid was born. Today we celebrated his birthday without him.

Two years ago today our lives were a little fuller. Today they are a lot emptier.

Two years ago today I became a grandma for the second time. Today I feel stripped of that honor.

Two years ago today four people became a family. Today that family is forever changed.

Two years ago today I touched vibrant red hair. Twelve days ago I touched it for the last time.

One year ago today I watched Lolly eat a Lolly Pop. Today I watched Lolly's balloons go to heaven.

One year ago today I watched Lolly open gifts. Today we watched Lolly receive gifts in the sky.

Twenty years ago I watched two children play. Today I watched two adults, one consoling, one grieving.

Twenty years ago I sat with a friend and watched those children. Today I sat with a friend and watched those children.

For two years I watched two people love their son. Today I watched two people love their son.

Two years ago today we celebrated a life. Today we celebrated a life.

Today we sent our hearts to heaven.

What I Learned Today

2009-07-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

Today is two weeks since our Lolly Pop Kid went to heaven. I will be honest, it still hurts just as bad as it did that day. I do not believe it will ever feel any better.

I got up this morning and got dressed for work, made my lunch and then sat down on the couch to wait for the time to leave. The news was on TV with coverage of the upcoming services for Michael Jackson. I have to admit that when I learned of his death two days after Lolly left us I felt disgusted, angry and frustrated. Why? Well the media hype for one. The other thing was watching all those people with their flowers, balloons and messages for someone they really did not know. I felt hurt and envy because we really lost someone we knew. It felt unfair.

As I sat on the couch I soon realized that I would not be able to go to work today. My thoughts were only on Lolly, my daughter and family...all of our family. I just knew that I needed to be with myself today. So, I tried to resist watching the coverage fearing it would just be a giant spectacle and would only make me feel worse...but, I am inherently nosy so I kept watching.

Now I do not know if MJ was a good or bad person. I can only conclude that only God knows what is truly in someone's heart, but whatever the case I am sure any question about that has been rectified by now. That being said, as I watched the service and listened to the music and speakers one thing came across to me. Lolly's service and MJ's service had one common thread. They were about love. Pure, simple love. I realized that just like our family, MJ's family's hearts are also broken. They are feeling this horrible pain right now and like us, always will. So, I guess there was a few reasons I could not go to work today.

I needed to be reminded of compassion.

I needed to be reminded not to envy.

I needed to be reminded to look to love and not anger.

I needed to remember to trust in God.

Maybe Lolly is learning how to MoonWalk in Heaven.

Maybe MJ is learning what it is like to be a simple, carefree child.

We Have an Angel

2009-06-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

I am writing this post to tell all that I probably won't be blogging for awhile.

On Tuesday my grandson, Lolly Pop Kid went to heaven. It was very sudden and unexpected. Our hearts are broken. We miss him so much. If you wish please say a prayer for his mommie, Cinderalla, his daddy, Tango and his sister Butterfly.

And that's all I have to say about that...

Rest in Peace our sweet Angel

Military Monday - Soldier for a Day

2009-06-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

This post is near and dear to my heart because it demonstrates that our military not only participates in honorable actions overseas, but also here at home. But there is another reason I wanted to post this story.

When my granddaughter, Butterfly was four years old we were shocked and devastated to find out she was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was a very trying time for our family and I won't go into details because that is a post for another day. Thank God she has been in remission since six weeks after the diagnosis. She completed her treatment and is now a very happy, sweet eight year old and we give thanks every day to have her with us.

Kayla Collyer-Platzer is a fifteen year old teenager. Her dream was to join the army in the future and follow her sister's footsteps. She was diagnosed last month with stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Nicole Vandall, sister of Kayla, who is stationed at Fort Greely, told her commanders of Kayla's diagnosis and her wish to become a soldier. They jumped at the chance to make Kayla's dream come true and so Nicole told Kayla she would be her "secretary for the day" and then Nicole and the other soldiers surprised Kayla by making her a "soldier for the day."

Kayla experienced a ride on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and she practiced physical training in the morning and got to shoot an M4 carbine. The full story can be found here. There is a video here

Kayla's prognosis is good but still please pray for her during her fight against cancer. So next time you thank a military member remember that they don't just fight wars in foreign lands. They fight here too.

Just a Fun Ole Friday

2009-06-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

Well, today I don't have anything very profound to speak about, just some announcements and comments concerning my life.

First of all: Ta Da

I just ordered a new computer! Yes, I decided to take the plunge because:

#1 My computer is about 5 years old which makes it ancient in computer land.

#2 I am pretty sure my current computer has a few creepy crawlers because it does not always cooperate.

#3 New computer comes equipped with a wireless router so I can take that sucker in my bathroom/walk-in closet/"3rd" bedroom (those of you that have seen it know what I mean) if I so desire.

It should arrive either Monday or Tues. Here is a picture of my new favorite piece of electronics.

Ohh yes baby, it's red.

In other news, I have an update on the arrival date of Hippie Guy and Flower Child's twins. Looks like the second week of August if they don't decide to make an appearance earlier. All is well with mother and children and Hippie Guy no longer has a deer in the headlight look. So we are looking forward to the birth and the baby shower next weekend with family and friends.

Other great news is Sgt. Red should be arriving from the Sandbox in the next couple of weeks. This has been a long year deployment and his family especially Crafty will be glad to have him home. His detachment was successful in the training of Iraqi Army soldiers. Apparently the IA no longer have trouble handling their own weapons as they have quit shooting themselves in the foot so to speak. Congratulation Sgt Red and the rest of your team!

LCpl Honda had been out floating with the Navy for about a week now in preparation for his upcoming deployment. Haven't heard anything but I expected that.

So I saved the best news for last. Cinderella called the other night to tell me that she will be a college graduate on Oct 23, 2009!!! Way to go Cinderella. We are all so proud of you!!!! Look forward to seeing you in your cap and gown! (and beware, because I am sure you remember what you did to me at my graduation) ;) She also told me that she bought Miley Cyrus tickets for Butterfly and will surprise her with those in Sept. So everyone SSHHHH!!! It's a secret!

I think that is about it except Happy Father's Day to all. Be seeing you on Sunday Dad!

I am going to leave with a joke that was sent to me by my SIL, Ocean Girl (yea sweetie, you got a bloggie name now!) It is about Forrest Gump and considering the name of this blog I just had to post it here. Enjoy All!

FORREST GUMP GOES TO HEAVEN.The day finally arrived.
Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven.

He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself.
However, the gates are closed,
and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.

St. Peter said, 'Well, Forrest,
it is certainly good to see you.
We have heard a lot about you.
I must tell you, though,
that the place is filling up fast,
and we have been administering
an entrance examination for everyone.
The test is short, but you have to
pass it before you can get into Heaven.'

Forrest responds, 'It sure is
good to be here, St. Peter, sir.
But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam.
I sure hope that the test ain't too hard.
Life was a big enough test as it was.'

St. Peter continued, 'Yes, I
know, Forrest,
but the test is only three questions.
First:
What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second:
How many seconds are there in a year?
Third:
What is God's first name?'

Forrest leaves to think the questions over.
He returns the next day and sees St. Peter,
who waves him up, and says,
'Now that you have had a chance
to think the questions over,
tell me your answers'

Forrest replied, 'Well, the
first one --
which two days in the week begins with the letter 'T'?
Shucks, that one is easy.
That would be Today and Tomorrow.'

The Saint's eyes opened wide and
he exclaimed, 'Forrest,
that is not what I was thinking,
but you do have a point,
and I guess I did not specify,
so I will give you credit for that answer.
How about the next one?' asked St... Peter.

'How many seconds in a year?
Now that one is harder,' replied Forrest,
but I thunk and thunk about that,
and I guess the only answer can be twelve.'

Astounded, St. Peter said, 'Twelve?
Twelve? Forrest,
how in Heaven's name could you come
up with twelve seconds in a year?'

Forrest replied, 'Shucks, there's
got to be twelve:
January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... '

'Hold it,' interrupts St. Peter.
'I see where you are going with this, and I see your point,
though that was not quite what I had in mind....
but I will have to give
you credit for that one, too.
Let us go on with the third and final question.
Can you tell me God's first name'?

'Sure,' Forrest replied,
'it's Andy.'

'Andy?' exclaimed an exasperated
and frustrated St Peter.

'Ok, I can understand how you
came up with your answers to my first two questions,
but just how in the world
did you come up with the name Andy
as the first name of God?'

'Shucks, that was the easiest
one of all,' Forrest replied. '
I learnt it from the song,
'ANDY WALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.'

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates,
and said:
'RUN Forrest, RUN.'

Give me a sense of humor, Lord.
Give me the ability to understand a clean joke,
To get some humor out of life,
And to pass it on to other folks.

Yes Ma'am

2009-06-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am

Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am

Sorry.

I could not control myself.

*UPDATE*

The really nice and much smarter than me military wife at Most Certainly Not had to chutzpah to get Boxer's address and post it. I am reposting it here too. So get your pens and papers movin'.

Ma'am (Barbara Boxer)
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553
(202) 224-0454 fax

Keep 'em Safe

2009-06-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

I came across an article about an 11 year boy whose father is deployed to Afghanistan. Xavier Johnson misses his dad very much just as many other children that have parents deployed to war zones.

Xavier found a way to cope by making a rap song about his father's deployment. He preformed the song at a number of military talent shows and he and his father, Capt. Alfonso Johnson made a video and posted it on YouTube.

I found it very inspriring and I am sure most of you will too. If you are military and have children please let them watch this video. Perhaps it will make them feel a little more comforted knowing they are not alone. Many of these kids feel exactly as Xavier does.

Even if you are not military please pass this video on.

Thank you Capt. Alfonso Johnson for your service and thank you Xavier for having the courage to express your feelings along with the talent to put it in a song.

Wordless Wednesday - Twins

2009-06-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

Military Monday - Soldier Gets Silver Star for Afghan Battle

2009-06-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

With blood gushing from his head and covering his legs, Staff Sgt. Sean Samaroo thought he was going to die.

So Samaroo said "good-bye to my wife and son" out loud.

But Thursday, 11 months after that searing battle in Afghanistan, the Army paratrooper, flanked by his wife, Natasha, and 13-year-old son, Dylan, received the Silver Star medal for heroism.

"There were a lot of heroes out there and some of them didn't get recognized as much as me," Samaroo said following a ceremony at Fort Jackson. "But I'm pretty thankful and honored."

The amiable 35-year-old Oklahoma native received the nation's third-highest award for his heroism during an early morning attack July 13 at Wanat, Afghanistan.

Badly outnumbered, Samaroo and some 50 U.S. soldiers stopped 200 Taliban fighters from overtaking their patrol base during a four-hour fight in the Waygul River Valley of Konar province.

The unit from Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, suffered nearly 75 percent casualties. When the fighting ended, nine soldiers were dead and 27 were wounded. An estimated 40 Taliban were killed and a comparable number wounded.

Samaroo is one of 11 soldiers who fought at Wanat to receive a Silver Star. Two soldiers were awarded the medal posthumously.

Congratulations fo Staff Sgt Samaroo and the rest of the 11 brave soldiers. Thank you all for your service.

Read the rest of the story here.

Quote of the Week - Flag Day 14 June 2009

2009-06-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

- Francis Scott Key -

Absolutley Amazing!

God Bless America