Happy Memorial Day!!

               
                                                                   "Lest We Forget"

                                          
                                             William Edward Donahue - Veteran of World War I

                                                  
                                                   Joaquin Gomez - Veteran of World War II

                                           Basil G. Fassbender - Veteran of the Vietnam War

Happy Birthday, Eric!!

Happy birthday to my first-born son!  Eric is my oldest child and the difference between him and his younger brother are obvious to all who know them.  Eric is my musician and adventurer.  He started playing the clarinet in middle school and then decided to learn the bassoon in high school.  When asked why he chose the bassoon (or bazooka, as his lil brother used to call it), he replied, "because no one else in school plays it."  He also taught himself to play the accordion and joined a polka band all the while playing the bassoon (and recently, the oboe) in various orchestras.  He went on to get bachelor's and master's degrees as well as a phd in music. He decided in high school to be an exchange student and went to Brasil for a year upon graduation.  This was his first big adventure away from home alone on top of the fact that he could not speak Portugese.  He started in Tiger Cubs at the age of 7 and then informed us that he would be an Eagle Scout someday.  A goal he did achieve just as he said he would. He got married to a wonderful girl and then moved them both across the country to Nevada where neither of them had ever been.

My husband and I have been so lucky.  Both of our sons have grown into fearless, adventurous, smart, kind and loving men.  We are so proud of both of them.

So, Eric, you were the first born who was the recipient of our trying (maybe) too hard to get it right and the mistakes first time parents do.  Yet, when we look at you now, we see the boy who grew up to be the man we hoped you would become.

Thursday hint from God

I have been having a very "down" week.  It seems that all the negatives have been coming to the surface and invading my thoughts.  Try as I might, I haven't been able to put them away and see the positives in life.  So this morning when I saw this on facebook, I realized that God was trying to send me a little hint to hang in there.  He's working on it for me.

Update:  Just a few hours after I posted this, my neighbor came over and brought me a small bouquet of daffodils that had sprung up in her yard.  She thought they would brighten my day.  It just made me believe even more strongly that God is working on things for me.

God's hint thru my neighbor's gift

Mother's Day 2018

Mom and me

I love lists!  This is something my mom taught me.  She loved lists too!  I grew up finding lists everywhere...on tables, hanging on the refrigerator, sticky note on the bathroom mirror as well as in my purse, on my bedroom mirror and in the pocket of my coat.  So whenever I can make a list, I do. It organizes my thoughts, keeps me on task and gives me a good feeling when I read it.

So in honor of Mother's Day, here is my list of what I learned from my mom about motherhood.

1.   Say "I love you" everyday.
2.   "let it go, let it go" (a mother's mantra)
3.   Let them know that you are there for them no matter what.
4.   Being disappointed in them is a better punishment than a spanking
5.   Let them know they can tell you anything, good or bad or weird or graphic
6.   Motherhood is a lifelong & beyond commitment.
7.   Make home a place they will always want to come back to.
8.   Motherhood is the toughest job and worth every moment.
9.   No matter how old your children are, they are still your babies.
10. Our greatest accomplishments are our children.

 “The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.”-Saint Therese of Lisieux.

Me and Eric

Me and AJ

What a way to start the week!

What ever happened to customer service?

It's amazing to me how many people who work in the services business (be it retail, restaurants, repairs, etc.) find it difficult to be pleasant and courteous to a customer.  It also doesn't seem to matter whether it is in person or on the phone.  How many times have you been in a store and tried to find someone to wait on you only to be told, "that is not my department" or "I will find someone to help you" and then you never see them again?  Have you been ignored because they assume you are just looking and don't intend to buy or that you do not look like you can afford to buy what they are selling?  Then there are those who take your order in a restaurant and once you have your food, they are nowhere to be found.  Trying to get your check sometimes takes longer than getting the food.  On the phone, You need to play push button tag to get where you want to be and even then no one can answer your question or you get an answering machine, leave a message and no one bothers to call you back.  Then there is that wonderful tone in their voice when they do speak to you that gives you the impression that you are bothering them. 

I am a customer!  I want to give you money!  That alone should make these people treat you courteously but it does not.  They obviously have so much business that they do not need ours. 

Let me remind those people that the best advertising for a business is "word-of-mouth".  Remember that bad reviews can be just as important to a business as good reviews.

Happy May Day 2018

The snow is melting away!  The temperatures have been in the 60s and 70s!  The birds, squirrels and chipmunks are running around!  Spring has officially come to the Upper Peninsula!  And to make it even more official...I put away my snow boots yesterday!  Ta Dah!!