Memorial Day

Today I am thankful to all those who have sacrificed for my freedom. To those who are in the military. To those who have fought in wars and served this country; and in so doing have sacrificed their time and spent time away from their loved ones. To those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their life.

I am also thankful to those who have sacrificed for my spiritual and religious freedom. For a man named Joseph Smith who sacrificed his life so that I could have and practice my religion. For Jesus Christ who paid the ultimate sacrifice and freed me from the bands of sin and death.

Spencer W Kimball said: "When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be 'remember.'"

Remember... I will try to remember today and always, the sacrifices that have been made in my behalf, and live in a way that reflects that gratitude.

Good Reads...

I've been reading more than normal lately...

Two delights I finished quicker than you can say Golden SNL Girl are these:

Betty White's "If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)"...

This book was a quick read, but well worth it. She shares stories from her personal and professional life and interjects words of wisdom and humor.I was surprised as I read about her desire to be a Forest Ranger. Not too long ago the National Forest Service contacted her and held a ceremony in which they made her an Honorary Forest Ranger. She went on to say that "It truly was one of the greatest moments of my life."  

Something that struck me funny is when she is talking about the 2010 SAG Awards where she received the Lifetime Achievement Award. She says:

"So I said to the audience...

"I look out here and everybody is famous. And I've had the privilege of knowing many of you and working with some of you--I've even had a few of you! You know who you are.

"Afterward, as I was led back to my table, George Clooney was at the podium. He saw me walking across the room and said, "And while I'm here, I'd like to thank Betty White for her discretion.""

That struck me funny.

If you are a Betty White fan, you should really read this book.

Now onto Tina Fey's "Bossypants"...

It begins from her very beginning and being known as "Mrs. Fey's change of life baby" and continues onto her childhood. One excerpt was from her experience starting her period: "Then, it happened. In the Spring of 1981 I achieved menarche while singing Neil Diamond's "Song Sung Blue" at a districtwide chorus concert. I was ten years old. I had noticed something was weird earlier in the day, but I knew from commercials that one's menstrual period was a blue liquid that you poured like laundry detergent onto maxi pads to test their absorbency. This wasn't blue, so...I ignored it for a few hours."

This book had me laughing out loud throughout it's entirety! One of my personal favorite passages was found on page 166 as she is responding to some 'hate mail' she had encountered via the internet. I laughed for 10 minutes over it. (You will just have to buy the book, or borrow it from me to see what was so humorous.) If you are in need of a good laugh, this is a MUST read!

So I hereby put my stamp of approval on these two gems and say add them to your Summer reading list. I know I'm no Oprah and I don't have my own little 'book club' but I've never lead you astray, so trust me on this one...

Apprentice/Dancing

This week reality television REALLY disappointed me...

The first disappointment/infuriation came Sunday night on the season finale of Celebrity Apprentice. The crazy comb-over known as Trump picked John Rich over my personal favorite Marlee Matlin. How could this be you might ask...sadly I do not have an answer for you as I'm still trying to come to terms with it myself.

Marlee Matlin just seems like a class act. There is something about her that is so endearing. It was actually her participation on Dancing With The Stars that really got me into that show. Which leads me to disappointment number two...

Kirstie Alley not winning Dancing With The Stars. This woman was a wonder on the show! She started out large but then took charge. For a 60 year old, this woman has got some pep and pizazz! (All I can say is damn you Hines Ward for stealing the mirror ball trophy this year, as well as my Titans shot for Superbowl contention!!! )

So today I had my day of mourning...

I dressed all in black and accessorized with a sign language "I love you" pin in honor of Marlee and my black and white star scarf in honor of Kirstie

Tomorrow I shall move forward...

Happy Birthday WOG Lori!

Happy Birthday to one of the most incredible people I know...

She is one of a kind. I don't know many as good and kind and compassionate as she is. The woman is full of light and love. If you are trying to be like Jesus, you won't find a better example than her to get you to that goal!

And as a side note: She likes to kick and stretch and kick...cause she's 50!

1,056

One thousand and fifty six...that's how many pounds of food we were able to collect, and send off today, to the Backpack Mission!

My heart is happy...

Bless these precious faces:

Thank you Ms. Diane Durham for being such an inspiration and blessing our lives with your example.

Happy Birthday Bea!

Today is also Bea Arthur's birthday. As true to fashion, we dressed up in her honor...

I went as 'Broadway Bea'...

Here was my inspiration:

Stephanie as 'Casual Bea'...

Two years ago when Bea Arthur died, we threw a Wake/Birthday Party for her. We dressed up as senior citizens and went all out for her including a cake with candles. I took my Golden Girl dvds to work and they played throughout the day. We had a blast.

And guess what...Bea came to her Wake/Birthday Party! How could this be you might ask? Just take a gander at this picture:

Yep, there she is in the background. And nope, it was not planned or timed. The girl taking the picture could not have timed that if she tried. It was Bea making her presence known and letting us know that she was enjoying the festivities right along with us! A golden-paranormal-encounter! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it... :)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday. Oh how I miss him...

This was his 40th birthday...

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Ma,

Happy Mother's Day. Thanks for all you do for me. And no matter what I may threaten, I promise not to send you to Shady Pines...

Love, Pussycat

A lovely mother-daughter picture taken at 'Wicked.' Me and Ma with her best friend Sylvia and her daughter Victoria.

Cell Phones, Fed Ex, and God

My phone broke. All of the sudden it was like it was having a grand mal seizure. Numbers and letters and symbols would started typing across the screen like it was possessed.

After a trip to my local Verizon store a nice lass got me all set up to get a new one. She said it would be Fed-Ex-ed to me within two days. It was. But I wasn't home when they came by so I had to go to one of their main warehouses and pick it up myself. No big deal, right?! (Before you answer this, remember it is me we are talking about, and for me things end up always being an adventure and a bit more complicated than it is for the majority of mankind...)

The address seemed simple enough, yet I was having quite a confusion filled time finding it. I had approximately 14-ish minutes to find their establishment before it closed. When all of the sudden a Fed Ex truck appeared out of seemingly no where.

So I followed it...

Within minutes this is what I saw:

It made me think...how many times has God sent someone into your life at the moment you needed them most? Now I'm not saying God sent that Fed Ex truck, (I doubt my cell phone and me being directionally challenged was at the top of His list of 'important things to focus on') but then again maybe He did. And I highly doubt the driver was aware that he helped the idiot in the Blazer behind him.

So it is with people in our lives. Our paths cross and whether it is for a brief moment or for a lifetime, those who walk with us at times lead us, and help us get where we are going.

I am thankful for those people who are the Fed Ex trucks in my life. Those who were placed in my life and teach me or lead me to an important lesson or understanding. I am better for knowing you and hope to someday be able to express just what a huge difference you've made in my life...

So let' s go out and live with kindness and love, and just maybe we might be someone's Fed Ex truck...