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BratConnect, the power to connect!
I am a 100%, through and through, Brat. My dad joined the Air Force right out of college around 1971 and retired 30 years later, in 2002. I was born at Nellis AFB, Nevada where the Lt and Mrs (aka Dad and Mom) brought their brand-new baby home to Indian Springs, Nevada (which is now Creech AFB, NV). I started Kindergarten at Howard AFB, Panama … made a “few” more moves (six more to be precise) before finally graduating high school at Keflavik NAS, Iceland. I have friends all over the world. Friends from elementary school, junior high, high school that I can’t help but wonder, “Where they are now?” I…
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My Definition of Perfection
Here in northeastern Ohio we have a wonderful park-system called the ‘Metroparks’. They are small parks scattered throughout the area, run by the local counties. My favorite park is just 10 minutes north of us and makes for some wonderful walks at all times of the year. The Autumn season is glorious with the changing of the leaves; vibrant reds, golds, yellows and oranges, my favorite colors! We took the opportunity this weekend after church to head up as a family to get a picture. We got three or four good ones but I have to admit this is my favorite: At first I thought, “Wow, what a picture-perfect shot…”, a family of six,…
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“A Cause Worth Doing” – DoD Roundtable
“A Cause Worth Doing” – DoD Roundtable I have never heard the Afghan people described as resilient and intelligent. I pictured them as tough fighters who over time always managed to make the foreigners leave (ie., the British and Soviet invaders) after a long fight but the guest at today’s Roundtable brought a different perspective. He also described this war as a “cause worth doing”. With 38 years experience as a US Marine (active and civilian), Mr. Dave Clifton, senior advisor, Ministry of Interior, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A) certainly brings a wealth of experience to his job supervising a team of advisors that coach Afghan leaders on ministerial…
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Creamy Pepper Pot Soup – Tasty Tuesday
Magic ingredients can turn a overflow of peppers into a tasty filling lunch that can be cooked up from scratch in 30 minutes. The magic isn’t quite Disney, or David Copperfield, but still transforming from counter top or refrigerator extras to steamy bowl full of goodness! And, this soup is for two, not twenty! Substitutions are allowed and encouraged when making your very own homemade from scratch: as you know where the senses are! Should you have the urge for some extra heat, use hotter peppers. A child sharing that pot with you… mild jalapenos and NO Hungarian Wax peppers are the key. I like to walk the fence… just…
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Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Depression … I’ve lived it, breathed it, been held tightly in its grasp wondering when I’ll be allowed to come up for air. Eight years ago was a very dark period of my life. I did suffer from depression after my first son, Baby *E*. I spoke to my OB/GYN at my 6 week check-up and was put on an antidepressant. I am thankful for the medication but in many ways I wish there was more to it then that. I wish there was some sort of six-week required psychological counseling, not just a “be sure to see a counselor if it gets worse” from my doctor. The medication…
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Push Back… Hold Forward… Integrity
It is flu season, or at least I have heard the forecast, similar to a hurricane coming this way. Get ready! So we went forward. After seeing TV ad after TV ad about going into local pharmacy to get the shot, Dale and I decided to take a ride. Not being one who looks forward to pain, shots, pokes or whatever, I let him go first! We whipped out our military IDs; which is all that we need to show insurance when picking up medications at 2 local places here in Michigan. The registered nurse who sat at the table looked at cards, our faces and asked “What is this?”…
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Wordless Wednesday: Reaching for the Sky
Apple Picking Season – 2010Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there. – Bo Jackson byLeanneonWednesday, October 06, 2010Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary Life:Goals,Leanne,Wordless
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They Are Making A Difference – DoD Roundtable
They Are Making A Difference -Period. Exclamation! Our service members and their NATO allies are making a difference in Afghanistan according to Maj Gen Stuart Beare of the Canadian Armed Forces. That is how he ended the Roundtable discussion with DoD Bloggers this morning! There is no confusion for those in country why they are there and what their mission is according to the general. General Beare is the Deputy Commander – Police, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A). I asked the general what was the biggest milestone that had been accomplished in the last couple of months. I was surprised by his quick response: A new Minister of the…
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Tasty Tuesday Banana Pepper Gratin
Summer is so over… so very over. Temperature dipped to the twenties; leaves are brilliant red, orange with faded yellow edges; sunshine hours have slipped to dark morning and evenings. Autumn is here.. no doubt. The gleaner in me came out this weekend when I heard of the temperature forecast. Dale and I picked anything living out there that could be touched by a freeze. Whoa, I already have packed a peck of pickled peppers into the pressure cooker. My imagination has been running overtime as to how to use plant after plant that over produced this year. Yeah for that… but I can’t let them die on the plant.…
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A Life Changing Moment
We never know where our lives are going to take us! Particularly for our service members and their families! Yep, we never knew when the next orders were going to arrive and where we would be heading till the last possible moment it seemed (we had a couple of PCS orders that arrived within 2 weeks of report date for the next assignment). Growing up I had enjoyed seeing airplanes but this northern Indiana farm and steel worker family’s kid had no idea he would be in the Air Force flying aircraft for 30 years defending this wonderful country. So I was enjoying life with a bit more of a…
