Category: Welcome


Blue Fridays

Most of you know how I feel about forwarded emails, however, when I got this one I felt I should share it here.

Blue Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the ’silent majority’ We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday — and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once ’silent’ majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked ‘What can we do to make things better for you?’ is .’We need your support and your prayers.’ Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.


First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
marine 1

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey’s body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine’s casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: ‘See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what’s going through their minds, knowing that they’re on the plane that brought him home,’ he said ‘They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They’re going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.’


Second Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
marine 2

The night before the burial of her husband’s body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of ‘Cat,’ and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. ‘I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,’ she said. ‘I think that’s what he would have wanted’

Cinderella’s Secret

Mark has done it again.  He’s a genius…he told me he was and I think he’s right.  He recently started working on my website for Cinderella’s Secret and it looks fabulous!  Check it out – http://cinderellassecret.com

Now if only he would get this site on track!  Then maybe I would stop changing the template every few weeks!  =D

Thank you honey!

Love ya -

Crossing the finish line

Mark and I talk a lot about goals on our blogs. It’s understandable since we have both learned that without goals we are as lost as last year’s Easter egg, but with goals we seem to get anything we set our hearts on. Being the impatient person I am, I had to learn an important thing about realizing change:  it is not linear.

We all enjoy watching good movies or reading books that make it seem that there is a straight line between getting where you want to go from where you are now.  We think that line looks like this:

Identify your goal → Identify your options → Make a list of steps →  Take a series of linear steps to get there  →  Don’t quit  → Arrive at goal

There may be times when it works out that way.  We certainly advocate for having identified goals and a list of steps on how to get there. We also suggest you continue taking those steps, day by day, and not quit until you get what you are wanting. But rarely does it happen so simple and clean like that. Instead, we find ourselves energized one day and stuck the next.  We make huge progress then it goes on the back burner for a while. We experience a series of “good luck” then it seems nothing works out right. But if we continue on, eventually we do get there. What we find when we arrive is that all those distractions and detours actually enhanced our goal, taught us valuable lessons, and gave us the stamina to maintain the goal once we receive it! It is true; the messy journey on our way ends up being full of jewels for us!

What about you? Do you have goals or are you just living life in a rut where your day to day existence is all about getting through the day? Now is a great time to start dreaming and planning.  Start out small – pick just one small goal that you would like to accomplish before the end of the year.  Where would you need to be in 6 months in order to meet that goal on time? Where would you need to be in 3 months? Now that you have some smaller “mini-goals” write down the steps you need to take to accomplish your target by May. Then just do it.  Don’t fret if you go through slow periods or you feel unmotivated at times. Just remind yourself of why you want that goal – then get moving again.  Remind yourself often of your progress to keep you encouraged. Don’t quit! If you keep on a consistent path, enjoy the journey, and keep the jewels you pick up along the way – you will find yourself accomplishing more and more.finishline

Google Docs

I know I don’t normally talk about techie things….well, I did that piece on Google taking over the world – but I like to leave all the tech subjects up to my son, Andrew. He’s a pretty smart guy. I’m not sure I could have created this blog without him.

Andrew and his wife, Catherine, have started a blog too. You can check it out at http://techbarn.org.  Recently, Catherine added an article to the site which I found very interesting!  She provides a nice tutorial on using Google Docs….a service that I found to be very helpful since I can write, edit, and store all my articles in a place where I can access them from anywhere. You can also share documents – which is nice, since Mark and I can both reach a copy of our budget, make changes and update it from anywhere too!

Take a stroll over to Catherines article at http://techbarn.org/2009/12/google-docs/ – then take some time to see what the nerd has to say. (He doesn’t mind that I call him that! Nerds will soon be running the world.  I guess they already are.)

Happy New Year!

Ok. Here we are. The year 2010. When I was a kid, this year was depicted in futuristic movies and cartoons – I must say, it looks nothing like what was predicted.


A couple of things got me to thinking over the holidays. First, my sweet daughter-in-law, Catherine, shared a tradition that was started by her grandmother. She called them “Christmas bricks.” They are wrapped up boxes of chocolate covered cherries that she had on hand to give to everyone who visited – so they wouldn’t go home empty handed. I loved the thoughtfulness of this gesture and I hope it sticks as a tradition in our family.


Next, someone gave me a Christmas journal. It holds 25 years of memories of Christmas celebrations. Very thoughtful as well!


Finally, my son, Andrew, posted a witty thought for his Facebook status:

“Stop the press, hold the phone. Save your tweets and leave the home. Visit a friend, say hello. Send some snail mail, the Earth won’t mind. Your mom will thank you for giving the time. Save the TV, talk with your family. You’ll never see a re-run because life is unscripted.” – Me 2009


My family’s lives have changed quite a bit in the last few years. I think we are finally getting accustomed to all the changes.  We’ve experienced divorce, re-marriage, family blending, moves, job loss, career changes, births and death.  It’s been tough. But as families are supposed to do – we stuck together, provided support, and loved each other through it all. It is all about relationships. Traditions are nice, as long as they don’t cement you into a rigid way of thinking. Strong relationships sprinkled with a bit of tradition are what helped us get through these last few years of change.

I decided to begin a new tradition for myself – as inspired by Andrew. I’m going to make it a point to handwrite a letter, purchase a postage stamp, and snail mail it to a handful of people who have touched my life in the last year. I’ve already identified 12 people so far that I want to personally thank for being in my life. I’m grateful for many more – but honestly – I’m handwriting these letters! On paper! Imagine that.  If you aren’t one of the 12 this year – maybe you’ll make the cut next year!  I’m just kidding, of course. I now have hundreds of people reading this blog every day and for that – I am very grateful!  Thank you so much. I wish I knew each one of you by name – instead of only an ISP address! I want to encourage you to let me know who you are – email me or post a response. I would love to tell you directly how much I appreciate you all!


May 2010 be Your Year to find Happily Ever After!


Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.  3 John 1:2

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