MEMORIAL DAY ~ MORE THAN A BBQ

Originally called Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to honor the fallen Union soldiers.  By the 20th century Memorial Day included all Americans who had made the supreme sacrifice in all wars. Memorial Day is actually May 30th but in 1968 Congress passed the uniform holidays bill which moved four holidays, including Memorial Day, to a Monday in order to create a three-day weekend.  


This year we will celebrate Memorial Day on May 28th.  Many will be away for the long weekend camping, boating, visiting family and friends out of town.  While some will stay home to work in their yards and have the traditional Memorial Day BBQ.  


Let's all attempt to stop at some point during this busy holiday weekend to remember those who gave the supreme sacrifice so that the rest of us can live in a free environment.  Let's also remember the families and friends of those who have not and will not return from war. 


Remember Freedom Isn't Free~
Many Have Died So That We May Live In A Free Country

MOTHER'S DAY 2012

Julia Ward Howe was the first to proclaim Mother's Day in 1870.  In the United States it's celebrated the 2nd Sunday in the month of May.  Today Mother's Day is celebrated in almost every country in the world but not all celebrate the same day as the USA. 

I feel blessed to have had a wonderful mother.  She was such a sweet lady and I miss her so much.  She passed away on October 8, 1987.  The picture below was taken in August 1942, a month after my dad left for service in WWII. 

I want to take this opportunity to wish a Happy Mother's day to all the moms, step moms. foster moms and those dads who had to be both mom and dad to their kids.     

Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

Seven Years ~Seems Like Only Yesterday......

......that I posted my first AOL JLand entry. Yup it was May 6, 2005.  My first entry was brief; This will be my first entry.  I have been inspired by my daughter and grandgirl.  They both have great journals but then they are home all day to create & write.  I am still working full time and in fact have to be to work in 12 short hours from now. So will make this short & sweet.  One thing I'm looking forward to this summer is my 45th class reunion.  I've only missed one reunion and that was the year I felt I was too "chunky" to go.  The next day, I was so sad that I missed the event.  I made a vow I'd never miss another one. This year...I'm still "chunky" and I have been on the treadmill but I'll go no matter what.  Until next time..   There were two comments to that first post and I never did really get to know those two people.  But my second post a few days later also got two comments.  They were from Sandra and Linda ~ and to this day I still have contact with both of them...they are both on Facebook and I've actually had the pleasure to meet Linda and her sweet family in person.  


In the last seven years we've all been thru so much together. We shared the joys of new grandchildren, shared the sorrows of loosing loved ones, we've prayed for each other when illness or tragedy has hit and shared the sorrow of loosing some of our own dear ones from AOL JLand/Bloggerville.  The three I knew well were; Bill of 'Just Plain Bill.' 

Bill was such a great guy....he was a friend to all who crossed his path.  I will always remember his love of golf and his family.        Then we lost our dear, sweet Lori.  Lori and her husband had made plans to come to Vancouver, B.C. where Bob and I were going to meet up with them. We had talked on the phone and she kept saying she would be better come Spring and she'd see me that summer. 

But alas cancer took Lori not only from her loving family but from those of us who loved her here in Bloggerville.   The last time I talked with her dear Chuck, he was still reeling from the loss of his precious wife. 
The last person that I want to mention is Frances Lawson.   Frances didn't have a Blog but she was a Blog reader and so faithful to leave comments.  

I was blessed to talk with Frances by phone many times and share notes and cards thru the mail with her.  She was a dear lady. Her passing on March 28, 2012 is still a fresh hurt in the hearts of many. 


We've all been witness to the courage of Krissy and J0hn as they have traveled thru some dark valleys.  We've all been thankful for the many kind gestures of Guido way up there on his island.   Those of us who have lost dear pets have been blessed by Sugar's kind words and the Pet Memorial page she set up for us to remember our precious Furr babies.   We've heard Barbara in Texas and Jimmy in Florida sing to us.   We've been privy to Robin's travels as she follows her Air Force husband around the country and now across the pond to England. We've been the recipients of colorful tags from Donna and Sugar .....now tell me where else could you find such special people? There are so many more of you who have touched my life the last seven years.  I actually love Facebook because I feel we've grown closer thru that medium. 


Besides Linda and her family down in Fresno, CA......I've also been blessed to meet Trees from Canada, Monica from here in Tacoma (we actually worked at the same place for awhile & had the same supervisor) and I've shared a few meals with Joann down in southern California.  My biggest dream has always been to travel around the USA and meet each and everyone of my  Blogger friends and after that head over to the U.K. to meet our Blogger friends over there.  


I want to thank all of you for your precious friendship and comments over the years.  I'm not going to promise that I'm going to be more faithful about posting entries and commenting because I've said it before and I always fall short.  I'll just say~I'll do my best. 


 ♫♪♫ Thank you for being my friend ♪♫♪

Community Photo Challenge~Transportation

One form of transportation I wish I could take more often.   I took this picture in Juneau, Alaska.   

Join May's Community Photo Challenge at;  http://communityphotochallenge.blogspot.com/

Community Photo Challenge~Tulips

             The subject for April's Community Photo Challenge is ~ Tulips

You can enter too!!  Just follow the link below to enter or to see the other entries.

            http://communityphotochallenge.blogspot.com/2012/04/community-photo-challenge-tulips.html

Sunny & Warm April Sunday

It's a warm & sunny April Sunday in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  Yesterday was the same and I got so much done in the way of yard work.  Yesterday I mowed the front yard, finished cleaning out my garden, planted some petunias and cleaned out the area where I store my garden tools, etc.


Today, I've emptied out and thrown away some old broken planters, hung up two of my already planted hanging baskets, washed a couple loads of sheets & blankets and hung them on the line and planted the bush green bean seeds.  Later after dinner I'll get the back yard mowed and then turn on the sprinkler. The tomatoes I planted the other day are looking a little droopy so it's time to get them watered.
Last year at this time we were vacationing in Arizona so I didn't get any planting done until we get home the middle of May.  It feels good to be ahead of the game this year.  


I'm looking forward to Tuesday movie day with my BFF's.....we're going to see 'The Lucky One.'  I've already read the book so I am anxious to see how the movie stacks up to the book.    

Wednesday I'm taking my grandson to lunch for his birthday....he was 21 on April 19th.  I started taking my grand-kids out for birthday lunch when they were about 4 years old.  I used to take Harrison to Seattle on Amtrak for lunch ~ I did that for  about 5 years until he decided trains weren't his favorite thing anymore.  His interest switched to planes when he was about 10. So we started making birthday trips to the Boeing Flight Museum in Seattle, the Olympia Flight Museum and the restaurant at the small airfield in Gig Harbor, WA.  I really love spending this time with just them alone......                                                




And Friday I'm looking forward to having lunch with two gals I've known since the 1980's.  After divorces we meet in the adult singles Sunday School class at Tacoma's Life Center Church...we've remained close friends since then. 


I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and that only good things happen in your life in the coming week.