A Day Of Remberance

On this final Monday of May we are reminded of those that gave their life to serve. From the time of our Civil War to and through this day we commemorate all of the lives that are lost to the efforts of war. No matter what name that might have been given to that war. 

Memorial Day 2013

What drives a person to serve our country in such a way? Pride? Integrity? Love of country? Selfish-less? Gratitude? Need to help others? Courage? Faith? Right thing to do? Ability to sacrifice? No matter what it is we should always be thankful for those that do serve. We must do this. Let's never turn our backs from these brave souls.

Not to many of us like to see our family members nor friends go off to fight for some cause. But they do, and it is our responsibility to give them every bit of support that we can muster. We can support those serving and still hate the battle.

Today, May 27, 2013 we give our thanks and gratitude to all those that gave their life to give us our ability to live as we do.

"Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er,

Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking,

Dream of battle fields no more,

Days of danger, night of waking."

Sir Walter Scot

Partial listing of wars involving the United States of America:

American Revolutionary War

Northwest Indian War

Franco-American War (Quasi-War)

Barbary Coast War

Tecumseh's War

War of 1812

...

Mexican-American War

American Civil War

Spanish-American War

...

World War I

World War II

Cold War

Vietnam War

Gulf War

War On Terror

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_States

If you would like to see all of the list of wars just follow the above link. You will probably be blown away as I was.

The words may seem trivial and small but they are from my heart:

Thank You!!!

Elaine

  

A Mother's Special Day

Wishing all Mothers, Step-Mothers and Grandmothers a Blessed Mother's Day

"What a Friend We Have In Mother"
Author Unknown

"What a friend we have in Mother, who will all our secrets share.
We should never keep things from her, tell her all and she'll be there.
Oh, what tender love she gives us, when in sorrow or despair.
Tell her gently, whisper softly, she will listen, she'll be there.

Day by day as she grows older, she's the nation's guiding star.
Don't forget the prayers she taught you, you will need them where you are.
Though her hair has turned to silver, send her flowers sweet and fair.
Drop a card or send a letter, she'll be waiting, she'll be there.

When her eyes have closed to slumber, gently kiss her icy brow.
Fold her hands upon her bosom, she will rest in heaven now.
When your days are dark and dreary, and your cross is hard to bear.
Do not let your memory fail you, think of Mother, she'll be there."

I lost my Mother many years ago. Actually 48 years ago. (I decided to calculate it.) My goodness, it doesn't seem that long ago that I remember her taking care of me when I cut my finger with a reed. Yes, I had to have stitches. I was always into something. When she allowed me to take things apart to see how they worked. When she watched as I was thrown into the pool to learn to swim. (A friend of ours told her that was the best way for me to learn to swim.) I have not forgotten that lesson in life.

For all of the good times we had together, you are missed.

Mother, You are truly missed.


"6 years: Mom knows everything!
8 years: Mom knows alot!
12 years: Mom really doesn't know everything!
14 years: Mom knows nothing!
16 years: Mom, what mom!
18 years: Mom is outdated!
25 years: Maybe Mom knows!
35 years: Before deciding, let's ask Mom!
45 years: I wonder what Mom thinks!
75 years: I wish Mom was here to ask he...r!"
- xlasax

The yellow rose is for my wonderful Step-Mother. She will never know just how much I feel blessed that she came into my Father's life and eventually became my Step-Mother. For over 45 years she has put up with my shenanigans, love of life, ups and downs and just growing up. She has been there...

I leave you with this humorous Mother's Day video

Please remember to tell your Mother, Step-Mother and Grandmother just how much you care. Don't just send flowers or a card. If possible, talk to her and let her know that you love her for all that she has given  you.

Elaine

Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year

Good bye 2012 

Hello 2013 

Another year is going down in our history and a new year is coming to us. On this night of wishing in a new year I reflect back on the year that is leaving. 

2012 for me was a trying year full of unwanted news and surprises that I could have done without. As I look back I see myself growing in understanding and gratitude, what it takes to survive and keep going. I learned many lessons about life and that nothing is worth giving up for. 

Even at my age I still strive to learn and grow in wisdom so as not to swindle up, dry up and give up.

My 2013 Wishes For You:

That You Realize That Life is Good!!!

That You Hold Your Family and Friends With Appreciation and Love!

Know That Fear and Stress Will Come But You Have The Power To Overcome!

Be Forever Grateful For All Even The Smallest Things and Especially For Those Things That You Already Have!

That You Will Be Not Afraid To Say "I Love You"!

That You Learn To Relax and Enjoy Life!

That You Will Sleep Like A Baby and Await With Energy and Vigor!

That You Will Have Enough!!!

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives,
room by room,
drawing up a list of work to be done,
cracks to be patched.
Maybe this year,
To balance the list,
we ought to walk through,
the rooms of our lives,
not lurking for flaws,
but for potential."
Ellen Goodman

2013 Sydney New Year's Eve Fireworks 

Happy New Year 2013

From Me To You,

Elaine

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

With all of the rush and stress of preparing for Christmas I wish you many blessings. Getting all of the presents ready to be torn apart. Christmas trees being put up and dressed up. Menus being planned and food being bought. Perhaps even travel is part of your rushing around. Making sure that everything is done and ready for that special day. All of this has become a part of Christmas. I hope you make fun out of it like I do instead of a chore. 

I love this time of year because there seems to be a different sense in the air. A sense of glee,  unselfishness and peace. Let's try to keep this sense within us throughout the coming days and years. I realize that it may be hard but we can't change some things and those things that we can change let's make an all-out effort to do. 

Perhaps this feeling of peace comes from the fact that this is the day we celebrate the gift given to us through the birth of Jesus Christ.

Did you know that Christmas has been a federal holiday in the USA since 1870? The USA is not the only country that celebrates Christmas. Christmas is celebrated around the world each year both on a religious level and also a secular level. It is a time that is important to all people on earth.

It has become so commercialized that many people in all their hurry to get things done forget what Christmas really is. How could we remember with all of the commercials and special sales that are before us every where we look. Our email is even full of more spam with ads during this season. Some websites run more ads trying to entice us to click and buy. Truth be known we probably do spend more money this time of year than any other.

I have seen very few ads say Merry Christmas. How about you?

When out and about and someone says Happy Holidays to you how do you respond?  Today while paying to have my van washed the girl taking my money said Happy Holidays to me. That was nice of her but I was waiting for it and responded with Merry Christmas. I have gotten to old to care about 'political correctness'.

I have to agree with Ray Stevens in his new video below:

My wish for you: 
That the blessings of Christmas be with you throughout the coming year and for all the years to follow.  May the Spirit be with you to lead you in all your ways. May you have food to eat and a roof over your head for shelter. May you find comfort when stressed. That you know that you are loved.



May we all learn to live in peace and to love each other regardless of our differences.

Merry Christmas

Elaine

Festival of Lights: Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah began tonight at sunset and will continue for eight days, ending December 16 at the setting of the sun. On the Hebrew calendar the dates would be 25 Kislev to 2 Tevet in the year 5773.

Each day a candle is lit by the shamash, located taller, lowest candle or to the side, (on the nine branch candelabrum commonly called a menorah (The candelabrum for Hanukkah is called a hanukkiah to distinguish itself from the seven-branch menorah used in the Temple and described in Exodus 25.) 

On the eighth day all eight candles be burning. 

Hanukkah is also referred to as Chanukah, Chanukkah, Chanuka, Festival of Lights and Festival of Dedication.

"We light these lights for the miracles and the wonders, for the redemption and the battles that you made for our forefathers, in those days at this season, through your holy priests. During all eight days of Hanukkah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them except for to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations."

Hanukkah also referred to as Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. 

The Maccabees successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. According to the Talmud, a late text, the Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting.

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"We thank You also for the miraculous deeds and for the redemption and for the mighty deeds and the saving acts wrought by You, as well as for the wars which You waged for our ancestors in ancient days at this season. In the days of the Hasmonean Mattathias, son of Johanan the high priest, and his sons, when the iniquitous Greco-Syrian kingdom rose up against Your people Israel, to make them forget Your Torah and to turn them away from the ordinances of Your will, then You in your abundant mercy rose up for them in the time of their trouble, pled their cause, executed judgment, avenged their wrong, and delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and insolent ones into the hands of those occupied with Your Torah. Both unto Yourself did you make a great and holy name in Thy world, and unto Your people did You achieve a great deliverance and redemption. Whereupon your children entered the sanctuary of Your house, cleansed Your temple, purified Your sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holy courts, and appointed these eight days of Hanukkah in order to give thanks and praises unto Your holy name." ~~ Translation of Al ha-Nissim

May the warmth and glow of each candle bring you peace...

May your heart and home be filled with blessings...

May we all re-dedicate our life to meaning of this season...

Happy Hanukkah
Elaine

This post is not intended to give the full meaning of Hanukkah. All information in this post was gathered from the resources listed below. If there are errors in this post concerning Hanukkah I do apologize.

Resources:
1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/07/hanukkah-2012-dates-rituals-history-and-how-to-videos_n_2257645.html

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

3. http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102819/jewish/Chanukah-Recipes.htm