CRAZED MIND: United States

Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts

Let's Say Thanks

A great way to say Thanks to the troops.

And for Free too!

Go to Let's Say Thanks by Xerox.com,
pick out a card,
sign it and press send.

The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3^® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops^®.

The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.

A Day to Honor

Thanks to the Dept of Veterans Affairs for the poster.

Today is Veterans Day.
Today we will have such an honor.
Today we remember.

In our lil town here in Texas we have a yearly ceremony to honor the veterans. It is not fancy but it is moving. At our local high school there is an assembly. Where the students pay tribute to the veterans. We sit quietly and watch them file in. Many old and stooped over. Often with canes, wheel chairs and aids. But there is also the mid age coming in too. Standing tall with a hat or a pin or a vest on, reminders of their time served. And now we have young men and women attending. Dressed in full uniform. Home for a visit, just beginning their tour or having returned from doing their duty.

You see students wipe tears. Others quietly move down the bleachers to hug one they honor. Many place their hands over their hearts. Most hold their breath. It is a quiet time to see so many file in.

Then there is introductions, speeches and much much music. Tributes are paid and a flurry of kids who rush the men and women to say they love them. I am telling you it is quite moving.

Today, I get to help. My Dear Hubby is the commander of our local AmVets organization. And it is arranged to help transport the 20+ veterans from the local nursing home. Half are in wheel chairs. Thankfully the school district is helping provide a handicap bus for them to be transported in. Afterwards we will travel to the local DAV building. There members are putting together a lunch for these folks. Then we will help them return to the home they now have. I hope I can do a service today. I hope I can convey how proud I am to be able to help in a small way. I hope I can let them know how much I honor their service.

There is Gold in Them Thar IRA's

Times are tough around here as well as every where else. Dear Hubby came home last night and told me about his IRA. I stuttered for a moment. Yeah, silly me hears words wrong. I could not figure out what he meant. Was this about some rifle association or Iraq war? No, duh, it is about our retirement. Well, I thought we would have to get a rifle and go to some war to ever get any money to retire on any way.

Image via Wikipedia

But instead he is sharing how he is putting money into his IRA account to help us later on. I did tell you he was my Dear Hubby. How thoughtful to know he will have to support me in our old age. But I of course got all curious and looked things up online. I found out there is also gold IRA. Yes I said GOLD. Now why didn't he get one of these accounts? So then I wanted to know how to put gold in an IRA. Is there a gold 401k somewhere that I could buy. Surely not!

But yeah there really is IRA gold and a web site that will tell you how to put gold in my IRA . Well not mine but in yours. Of course I wouldn't mind if you wanted to contribute to my retirement plan. So what are you plans for paying for those golden years? Saving in an IRA? Or are you stashing all the good stuff under your mattress? Tell me.

Author Kelton had plenty of Fort Worth admirers | News | Star-Telegram.com

Image via Wikipedia

Shared via AddThis

My Dear Hubby and Grandma were sadden to hear of the death of Elmer Kelton. He is an icon in western writing. And having roots in my birth place of Pecos Texas is just another link. DH has read Mr. Kelton for the majority of his adult life. And grandma has addition ties through Pecos. So we morn this passing and just wish to encourage those who enjoy wholesome western writing to pick up one of Elmer Kelton's books sometime.

The Double Cousins Book Review with Ashley

The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the the Missing Watch by Miriam Jones Bradley

My dear Ashley, Nessa's daughter helped me with a review of this new mystery. Ashley is 9 years old and loves to read. She was very interested in reading a new mystery. This is written along the lines of a Trixie Belden mystery.

Ok Ashley, what is your general opinion about this book? "It's awesome."

What's awesome about it? "It is a great book with a good mystery and stuff."

What is your favorite thing about this book? "That the cousins were solving the mystery together."

Is there anything about the story unexpected? "The homeless man named Slim who arrived after jumping on a the train."

Why would another child want to read this book? "The reason I would say is because it is like your solving the mystery with the cousins and Slim."

Did this book expand on God? "Yes, it expanded more about God when Slim came in the picture. When one of the cousins was asking questions about God and his plan."

Ashley feels this book would be hard for little kids to understand, but ages 8 years to 15 years old would enjoy this mystery. If your interested in how cousins work together and family relationships you will learn more during this story.

I appreciate Ashley helping me review The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Missing Watch. I know that I found the story intriguing even as an adult. I will be glad to share this story with my grand daughter as she grows older too. It will also be interesting to find out if this develops into a series of Mysteries like Nancy Drew did.

You may also enjoy sharing a Christian based story with your children. This would be a good chapter book to use as night time reader.

This is a WinePress Publishing and is listed as Juvenile Fiction/Mysteries & Detective Stories. Retail price is $11.95 in the United States.

In an intriguing tale of forgiveness and acceptance, Miriam Jones Bradley tells the story of five cousins, seeking to unearth the one hundred year old mystery surrounding a long lost relative, an old pocket watch, and a mysterious hired man. Set against the backdrop of a Nebraska ranch, "The Double Cousins and The Mystery of the Missing Watch" takes the reader through an adventure led by young sleuths. In a culture that overwhelmingly portrays a fractured family unit, Bradley offers a story of love, acceptance, and unity. “I believe that in today's world, with the decline of the family unit, this book can make an impact on children,” says Bradley. “Whether they have an intact family or not, they can learn the importance of family connections while learning good Biblical and character truths.” Bradley’s young heroes learn many lessons as they solve the family mystery, mainly that God can and will forgive us when we fail and that we should never judge someone simply due to his past. “My goal is to provide a Christian answer to the Bobbsey Twins/Trixie Belden mysteries I remember from my childhood,” says Bradley.

Bradley has worked as a nurse for the past twenty-four years and has been heavily involved with Children's Ministries. She has taught and led numerous children’s programs and spends as much time as possible with her twelve nieces and nephews. Bradley has a heart for children and desires to provide exciting, captivating, but traditional stories for children that establish important character truths. She and her husband, Dr. Bruce Bradley, make their home in Newberry, SC, where she works as a Utilization Review Nurse at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.

Thanks Nessa

Here I am with Dan and Nessa reading a "hysterical" marker noting that we are at a Blue Star Highway. We are all fans of history and enjoy reading the Historical Markers where ever we go.

HA HA HA Nessa thought she was going to escape my camera but I caught her anyway. I just love her natural curly hair and her energetic smile. It is great to have a best friend and a neighbor all rolled up into one.

Here I am again! TA DA I don't care if I am in a bathing suit in a photo. As long as I am getting wet then life is good. We were in Colorodo Bend State Park playing in the natural springs and water falls. How cool is that!

Dear Hubby and I were goofing around walking across this chasim on a large pipe. Notice the stick to keep our balance. It was so wonderful to have time to play as adults and not be in charge for a little while.

Isn't Nessa and Dan the cutest couple ever. I want to thank them again for the great weekend we had last weekend. It was so relaxing and a fun time to pal around together as friends, neighbors and

He is Off to the Beach

Myrtle Beach Resort here comes the Lil Man! Yes, my grandson Landon should be arriving this next weekend for his big seaside debut. He is being escorted by his protective mommy and his bikini wearing 5 yr old sister. She is really ready to hit the waves. I am really glad they are having such a great chance to go on this vacation.

I hear that the Myrtle Beach Resorts have so much to offer for family vacations. I hope they get to go to Ripley's Aquarium too. Lil Man loved seeing all of the fish at Sea World. But I am not too thrilled about the Alligator Adventure. I can just see all those lovely fingers and toes being snapped at. EWWW!

It is great that his other grandparents have checked out the Myrtle Beach Accomodations. I think they are putting together a family fun package so the kids and grand kids will remember this for a long time to come. I will be eagerly awaiting all the stories and photos that will come back to Texas too!

HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE

**I am leaving in the morning for a 4 day vacation. Nessa will guest post for me. She will be doing a "Where in the World is Lynette?" Who ever guesses where I went will win a special give away when I return!! Good Luck!**

Today is the celebration of our great country with a kickoff of fireworks and parties.

Image by cheukiecfu via Flickr

I wish to say Happy Birthday to the good Ol' USA also!
But I want to share why the 4th of July is especially good for me.

I have shared that this is the 3rd marriage for my Dear Hubby and I.
Well we meet in unusual circumstances.
I had traveled to my mom's lil town in the middle of Texas to say goodbye to my 2nd cousin.
His death was very hard on Granny M as they had been more than relatives, they had been close friends for over 25 years.
Deaths often make us look around us and see how we and our family members have aged.
And I was not any different.

At the funeral there was a "honorary pallbearer", a man who was more than rail thin.

Image by BL1961 via Flickr

He looked as if the wind would knock him over.
He was young (well my age compared to the others around) but using a cane to move around.
I noticed that when it was time for the lowering of the casket this gentleman stood tall and gave a solitary salute.
Afterwards there was the usual meal hosted by the local AmVets as my cousin had been their commander at the time of his death.
I had helped my great Uncle get his plate and sat with him sharing some stories.
(He was always a great flirt with the ladies, even I was under his charms.)
I noticed the same rail thin gentleman helping an elderly lady with her plate too.
They joined at the end of our community table.
And then I heard him talk, laugh and I looked up at him.
His eyes where shining.
His voice sounded like a deep treble ringing.
I was enthralled.
I knew I wanted to talk with hm and worked up how to join in on their conversation.

When it was time to leave I joined my mom, Granny M, at her local cafe.

Image via Wikipedia

I could not stop thinking of the gentleman with the cane.
"Mom", I asked?
"Would I be too forward to call him and ask if he would join me for a cup of coffee?"
"Mom? Do you know his name?"

So I worked up the courage to call this stranger and see if he would like to continue our conversation?
Only to receive the answering machine.
It had been so hard to get the nerve up to call already.
But I could not stop thinking of him.
So finally I tried again.
He answered, surprised to find out who was calling.
"No" he said.
I was embarrassed.

He was going with his family out to celebrate the 4th of July.

Image via Wikipedia

The towns party had been rained out on the 4th so it was being re staged tonight.
Would I like to join him?
I did not even think.
I said Yes!

That night we sat in the middle of the football field in small town Texas.
And we talked, smiled, flirted and our relationship blossomed.
All under a sky filled with Fireworks.
The same fireworks that was bursting inside of me....and within my Dear Hubby too!

So as you can guess, Dear Hubby and I share every 4th of July together.
We sit on the same football field every year.
We sit, talk, laugh and every year we still watch the fireworks.
And every time we still feel the same fireworks within us too!

Going on a Road Trip

This next week Dear Hubby and I are going on our first vacation alone!
We are so excited.
We are planning a road trip for 4 to 6 days.
And we are not telling anyone where we are going.

Image via Wikipedia

JUST AWAY!

So that means we could end up anywhere at all.
We could drive north where it is much much cooler.
Get out of this Texas heat.
Heck, we could find cheap hotels in Niagara Falls and pretend we are on our honeymoon!

Or we could stay in the south since we already acclimated to the heat.
I know I adored the time I spent in Louisiana before.
If we could get a New Orleans accommodation then we would be able to stroll the French Quarter.
Sightseeing all that has been rebuilt in that town would be quite interesting.

Or we could just stay here in our own great state of Texas and tour the hill country.
I have family and friends all over the area.
Also it would not be hard to find a hotel in and around the many big cities we have.

I just know that we are excited and can not wait to start our adventure!

My Brother's Get Away

My brother travels with the snowbirds. Honest and this is how he makes his living. Don't know what a snowbird is??? Well that is the term for the RV lifestyle that travels from the north to the south to get away from the harsh winters. And this summer my brother has set up in his home away from home to work repairing the a/c units in these RVs.

Image via Wikipedia

When I asked him where he was going this year he had a few places in mind. You see there are RV parks all over this country. One of them is a RV park NC where they have a beautiful lake, tall lush trees and even cabin rental for those without a traveling home. Since I have family in the Carolina's this would be a great place to set up camp, so to speak.

I know the NC RV parks have many extras to draw in summer settlers. Some things that I would enjoy are the bingo hall, the dance pavilion (oh how I love to dance), the game room and a pool and sauna. I know that I use to look at the RV lifestyle as one where you escaped civilization to be a vagabond. But I know now that it is a way to actually re bond with your family and look at this beautiful world while you still can.

The RV Park North Carolina was not the one my brother chose. I wish it was. Maybe I could have joined him for a lil break. But instead he is in beautiful Ruidoso New Mexico. Hey, Juls you loved it there for vacation didn't you? Well maybe he will go to North Carolina next year.

Pages

Let's Say Thanks

A Day to Honor

There is Gold in Them Thar IRA's

Author Kelton had plenty of Fort Worth admirers | News | Star-Telegram.com

The Double Cousins Book Review with Ashley

Thanks Nessa

He is Off to the Beach

HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE

Going on a Road Trip

My Brother's Get Away

Total Pageviews