MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE

I wrote this for Memorial Day

a few years ago but I think it is

relevant every day.

This means even more to me now that I am

volunteering at the VA Center here. 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is here once more,

We fly the flags above our door,

We plant our flowers that mark the grave,

Of every soldier that was so brave,

They fought for freedom for everyone,

Many lives snuffed out by a sniper's gun.

We proudly march in our little bands,

As daybreak filters across our lands,

But I wonder if we can truly see,

What cost it was to make us free.

Confederate soldiers fought the Yanks,

Some brothers fought brothers in those ranks,

To free the downtrodden that were lost,

To free all men at any cost.

My father was a medic in World War One,

A war not talked about by anyone,

Some men lost limbs and some were gassed,

Some picked up by comrades, others  bypassed.

World War II! How tragic indeed,

People standing by watching others bleed.

Souls thrown to the winds with no remorse,

Foreign government standing on their own course.

Vietnam was not a war they said,

Then how come so many soldiers ended up 

dead?

No heroes welcome for them in sight,

They slunk home in the dead of night.

Should I go on-with Korea & Desert Storm?

Iran? Afghanistan? Are you getting warm?

Do you feel the pain you see in their face?

Does it make you squirm in your warm, safe 

place?

I've just one more thing I'd like to say,

It's about celebrating Memorial Day,

Look around and everything you see,

Was paid out in blood so that we are free.

Put your hand on your heart,

For the blue, white and red,

Raise your eyes to the flag,

Say a prayer for the dead.

Because of a soldier I can have my say,

So ~God Bless you this Memorial Day~

A special thank you to my nephew, Scott, 

my father, my Uncle Samuel, my foster brother,Gene,

my old schoolmate, Tom Babcock and

my friend I met blogging, Kurt Keys.

And To All Our Soldiers-

A PRAYER REQUEST FOLLOW UP- REST IN PEACE, KENNY~

A week ago Sunday

I posted a request for 

PRAYERS FOR KENNY

and his family.

(Sissies' Shabby Cottage)

Sadly, he went from diagnosis

to death in just a few days.

A tragedy?  Yes--

A blessing?- Maybe--

I believe he is beyond

all pain and suffering

and is in a better place.

He will not have to experience

any more excruciating pain from 

CANCER.

Sissie said his passing was peaceful

and filled with much love and many tears.

Even though they believe Kenny

is in a better place,

it does NOT mean that his

earthly family is not riddled with 

pain and heartache.

Please pray for all of them

as they lay their husband,

brother, dad, granddad

to rest.

If you are not a "pray-er",

please wing some good wishes

and sweet thoughts their way.

Thanks to all of you

and I know that 

Sissie is so very thankful to 

all of you, too. 

REFRESHING ROSES--FROM WITHERED TO WORTHY OF DISPLAY

Now this may be an

OLD TRICK.
It's one I have used for years

but there may be a few of you

that don't know about it.

I love roses...

any color...

and form...

single petal..

ruffled...

cabbage style..

you name it and put

rose in the name of it

and I will love it.

I especially love 

WHITE ROSES.

What do you do when the

bloom is off the rose?

Well,

sometimes I dry mine.

After drying they usually look

like this.

And this...

Want to fluff them up and make them purty?

You do?

This does NOT make them look

like fresh roses-

it just opens them so they are not

tightly furled.

HOW?

Well, the answer is as close as 

your tea kettle.

Put it on and let it build up steam.

Unfortunately, I don't have 

a steaming tea kettle

so I used a measuring cup heated 

to boiling in the microwave.

The direct stream of steam

(isn't that a cute play on words...stream of steam)---never mind...

from a tea kettle works

MUCH BETTER.

Hold the flower over the steam

and watch it furl open.

You may have to tease it open with

your fingers but the result

will look like this.

Have to go -

My doorbell is ringing.....

What?

No-No-

You know I wanted white roses.

click on image for photo credit

Anyone want a red rose delivered?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Anyone?

A PRAYER REQUEST FOR SISSIE'S BROTHER---KENNY

I really have a

love/hate war going on

when I do these posts.

First of all-

I LOVE that I can do them

and maybe do a little bit of

good in this world.

Secondly-

I HATE that I need to do them

because it means someone is

in desperate need of prayers and

uplifting good wishes.

I have followed 

Sissie's Shabby Cottage

since shortly after I started blogging.

We have become friends over the years

and we have prayed for her son, Jeff,

on my blog as he dealt with some

medical issues.

Today~Sissie is asking for prayer

for her dear brother, Kenny.

Kenny has cancer.
Sadly, he has to make some 

serious decisions about his health--
his treatment options are very limited.

Diana and his wife, and all the siblings

are just devastated at what he is facing.
His children are heartbroken.

Please pray for this dear man,

he is a husband, a dad, a grandad,

and I am sure that he is so much more

that that-but that is what I know.

Pray for healing.

Pray for peace.

Pray for his family, too.

I know that Sissie will be so 

very appreciative.

If you are not a pray-er,

please wing your healing thougths

and good wishes his way.

I believe that we are all connected

in this universe we call home

and those connections 

can be healing.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

PICK YOUR FAVORITE RESULTS- SPRING WEDDING TABLE

Wondering who you will be

sitting next to at the

wedding of a bridezilla

sweet niece?

There are some snarky gals here

looking to change tables-

always a few in every crowd, folks!

~Without further ado~

Table #1-Pink & Planked

Wow!  You gals loved this one!

Jenn,Pamela-I thought she was going to have a heart attack before she made a decision-,

Raindrops(yep-that's her name & thanks for playing along for the first time), Debby, Linda  ALaCarte, 
Debbie-aka Cottage Hand Me Downs, Kim, 
Lorrie she wants to sit with YOU for dinner but move to #2 for dessert-go figure,
Jeanie,Sandie, Donna, Pam, Pogonip, Deborah,
Karen(aka Beatrice),Noreen, Patty, Jann, 
Leena (if we can drag her off the beach),Katie, Janice 
KarenAnn (she is going to change after mucking out after the horses--I think),

Table #2-Lavender Love
Diane-I knew FOR SURE that she would pick this one-being as her blog is Lavender Dreams!
Tete, Lesley, Sally, Penny, Debbie (aka Mt.Mama),Julie,
Louise, Mildred, Cheryl, Lorraine, Lea, 
Connie(aka Nonnie), Carla, and Tina.


Table #3-Square Plates/Sweet Tapers
Kathy, Vee (who offered NO chitchat-right to business that gal),Bobbie, Lauren, 
Dear LV-who thought she might be sitting alone, and  
Rose (she settled here because I DID NOT HAVE a turquoise choice and will probably bring her own turquoise napkin)!

Table #4-Good Grey-V
I hope y'all caught that title-because the ribbons on the table ended in a V cut-Pretty clever that I picked up on that, huh?

Anyway-here we have Jada, and 
Katie Isabella (she's a cat and says if she doesn't like you she is moving to table #1)
That would leave us with the 
TWINS: Gay & Kay....okay-they aren't really twins but their names do rhyme.

TABLE #5-RUSTIC WITH DAISIES
Hello- BillieJo, Lisa, Patti,
Sugar(wonder if she is as sweet as her name sounds), 
Jettie(always trouble), Fran, Cecilia and 
Missy-Who rattled on about a wedding she is going to and should she ask someone where to sit but finally picked the motley crew at this table.  Lucky you NOT

TABLE #6-GET YOU SOME COLOR
Dawn, bj, Debbi(aka Beach Gypsy) AnnMarie, 
Linda (my choice-lol) and someone that goes by
MostlyMa (don't you wonder what the rest of her is?) 
AND-I am putting Ron and his cocktails at this table just to stir things up a little.

TABLE #7-WHITE-ALL I SEE IS WHITE
Well, folks, here sit my traditionalists!
Here you will find my dear friends 
Sylvia, Susie, Theresa, Debra, Sandi, Janice, Fabby, Sheri, Denise, Phyllis, Carolyn, Kris, Michelle and  
Liz-she had 3 different tables she wanted to sit at--so if she moves, don't act surprised.

And DAVID-He said he would choose a table based on what was being served.  
Is that just like a man, or what?

I had such a good time doing this.  
You are ALL so much fun....even when I
MAKE FUN OF ALL OF YOU!
Have a great Thursday
and I will catch up with you soon.

PS- If I missed anyone-I am so sorry.
I went through the list twice but 
I do these late at night and usually
miss something!

MOTHER'S DAY-Written for those that are LOVED and those that are NOT LOVED

I have published this before but

I believe that someone new might

find comfort in the words written here.

You know Mother's Day is a special

day for many people.

However, 

not everyone was blessed to have

a wonderful mother.

To them, Mother's Day is a mockery,

an injustice because of

 all the hurts they

have suffered.

Blogging is not all sweetness

and light.

There are deep, dark pains

that hide beneath some of

the smiling faces...

aches that are too

deep to share with anyone.

I think this piece I wrote

addresses both sides of the

coin.

Mother's Day

Some of us have been blessed with wonderful Mothers.

Some of us have Mothers that were not quite so admirable.

Some of us have Mothers that praised us and adored us,

Some of us have Mothers that never said a kind word.

Some of us have Mothers that loved us unconditionally.

Some of us have Mothers that loved us only

if we met all her expectations,

and even that was not enough.

Some of us have Mothers that smiled readily.

Some of us have Mothers that never found much to smile about.

Some of us have Mothers that~

whatever we did~ it is more than they hoped for.

Some of us have Mothers that

no matter WHAT we did-it was never 

"quite right".

Some of us have Mothers that had a charmed childhood.

Some of us have Mothers that were raised in pain & shame.

Some of us have Mothers that

 need us & want us in their lives.

Some of us have Mothers that are needy

 and we seldom see them.

Some of us have Mothers that complete our lives.

Some of us have Mothers that

leave us aching, wanting and empty.

Some of us have Mothers that stand

on this side of the Great Beyond.

Some of us have Mothers that have passed

 over this earthly barrier.

Some of us will emulate our Mothers.

Some of us will vow to never be

anything like our Mothers.

Some of us are happy and fulfilled,

no matter what kind of Mother we had.

Some of us will never be happy

even if we were nurtured by an amazing Mother.

Today I am blessed to be a Mother.

My daughters are blessed to be Mothers, too.

Today I vow that I will be

the best mother (and grandmother) I can be.

Today I vow that I will love

as deeply as I can those that share my life.

Today I know that I am blessed indeed~

Today I hope that you find blessings

in your own life-

and love your Mother

even if it is just because she gave you life.

~Happy Mother's Day from Me to You~

©Nana Diana 

PLEASE PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DEAR BLOGGING FRIEND-MARY

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY BEAUTIFUL TARA LYNN

While I was away in Florida

which is supposed to be the 

"most magical place on earth"~

A LITTLE MAGIC

happened right here at home.

My beautiful daughter,

TARA LYNN

got engaged to 

GLEN.

Her ring is beautiful-

I will try to get a close up of it soon.

But the ring isn't the important thing,

is it?

The important thing is that they 

love each other

and we love both of them.

He asked her to marry him in front of  her

THREE DAUGHTERS

at the coffee shop 

where they went for the first time

to "talk".

You know what that means?

There's a wedding in the works!

I can't wait!

By the way-

Coming up in a day or so--

another

PICK YOUR FAVORITE TABLE

blog post.

Can you GUESS what the theme

might be?

REHABBING AN OFFICE- MY NEW VENTURE IN LIFE

Right after the first of the year

I signed on for a new venture!

My son thought this old dog (me)

might still be able to hunt

so he asked me to partner up with him,

another friend, and MyHero

for a two year period.

At the end of two years

MyHero and I will bow out 

and the "boys" will take over.

MyHero has had his broker's license 

since 1976.  

In WI you have to work under a broker

for two years until you can become

a broker--

--thus the two year commitment

on our part--

Although MyHero will continue to work 

as a chaplain at the hospital.

I will work full-time at the office.

ANYWAY--

that's the background.

We rented offices downtown that needed 

TOTAL REHABBING.

First I will show you something 

PRETTY

and then I will get down to the 

NITTY-GRITTY!!!!

That sits on top of my file cabinet-

no candles yet- they are still at the house...sigh...

The rest of the place 

is pretty much rustic and retro thanks to 

The Boys!

These are SOME of the before/after shots.

I will do more of them as we get the rest

finished and decorated.

There is a conference room

and another area not shown here.

My office:

The Back Room:

The Entry Hall:

This is a reverse shot-before is looking down the hall-

after is looking in thru the door that replaced the 

solid wood one.

Don't you love the old ribbed glass?

The main office:

My office is the "window" 

on the right side of the before picture

 just this side of the 

server/bar area.

Old office torn out-

New Seating Area:

My son worked round the clock

to get this up and running.

In between all the remodeling 

he managed to make

5 sales and list properties.

I am so proud of how hard he works.

Our daughter-in-law also 

got her license and we have

another new man starting this week.

We will cap the office at 6 people

at this point in time.

I forgot to take a picture of our sign

and our website is just up but not

functional yet.

Here is the link to it if you want to take a peek.

KOS REALTY GROUP

In between all of this I did manage to 

sneak away to Florida

for a few days!

And just to leave you with a smile-

My Irish Princess Daughter 

decided a party

was the perfect time for

everyone to wear their old prom dresses

or bridesmaid dresses.

This was her prom dress in 1996--

and Bright Eyes wore her pageant dress-

another princess in the making?

YOU BETCHA!!!

Have a wonderful day and

bear with me as I get back into

THE SWING 
of blogging.

I have thought of quitting but then realize

that I love all of you guys so 

I KNOW I WOULD MISS
ALL OF YOU---

So---for the time being you are 

STUCK WITH ME!!!

ps- I have SO MUCH to tell you 

and will try to do that in the 

upcoming days!