Seasonal Giving (should be 365)

I can be such a tool at times.

WHY do I (and probably a wholotta others) get all into giving and charity only during the holidays and slack off in our daily thinking about it during the rest of the year?

There is ONE PERSON, that hasn't missed a beat in her from-the-heart campaign to make sure our troops are taken care of daily. 365 days a year. Nonstop, even though she has her plate full with other matters in her life.

All hail Dorothy LORI, the one who truly reminds us that there is no place like home.

The never ending giving of her time, effort, organizational skills and love is felt by our soldiers serving our country, our home, their home.

Please, visit her and do what you can to help. Even if it is spreading the word and the links so those who can may give time, money, or donations for the boxes she is putting together.

$10.95 will send one box to a soldier and you can donate via PayPal
Or any cash/charge card donation can be sent via PayPal (or snail mail!)

If you are in her area and can help with this tremendous project, or have further questions you can contact her at:

ljstewart (at) gmail (dot) com

If you want to donate items, here is a list of suggestions.

Toys For Troops

Toys For Troops on Flickr

Toys For Troops Blog

So, this "tool" is going to get out of the box and make a donation to Lori's on going effort to see that as many troops as possible receive a box filled with food, CD's, clothing, personal items, etc. for Thanksgiving AND Christmas.

Who's in? Who's going to join us?

YOU? Yeah ... YOU right there!

JUST DO IT ... it will give you a "feel good" peace in your heart.

Memorial Day Weekend

The gateway to summer.
Beer's and sports.
The family BB-Q's.
Planting and pruning around our homes.

I wish everyone was home to celebrate,
to remember, and to thank the men and women serving our country.

(Home ~ By Chris Daughtry)

Bullets with Pictures

• Bryan, Friday, dressed for a wedding.
  

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• Caitlin and her boyfriend Ray, Mothers' Day.
  

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• Bently seeing a fish for the first time.

• 

• Bryan is moving home ... with Bently ... TEMPORARILY.
  

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• Quinn will be happy Ben is moving in.
  

• 
  

• Me, not so much
  

Bryan's lease is up and he doesn't want to sign a new one. He wants to move to Arizona. He is in the process of getting information on training and hiring in to work Border Patrol. Recruiters are coming to the metro Detroit area in June. If anyone has any information they'd like to pass on about this, I'd appreciate it. (The sooner the better, *smiles) He's looking at New Mexico, Arizona.

The BEST Mother's Day Story / Photo on the web:

Lori and her son Brian, home from Iraq

If Only ...

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee;
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies.

Well, I'm all grown-up now,
And still need help somehow.
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.

So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up Christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.

Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.

This my grown-up Christmas list.

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end, oh.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
This is my only lifelong wish .

This is my grown-up Christmas list.

It Doesn't Matter if You are For or Against the War...

Yesterday, when I read Kevin Charnas post ... when I looked at the photo ... (the article about the photo is on daddytypes) ... when I watched the video he posted ... (yes, watch it, and if you have already seen it, watch it again) ... I was reminded of this, that I saved from YouTube last year.



No, I don't want to hear if you are for or against the war we are in, because what matters now is that we support our troops.

Edit Noted: After I read this at Lori's site, This Just In, I thought I would forward the link to you. Please read it. Lori has a son Brian, that is serving in Iraq for us. Thank you Brian.