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Vision a 20 20 Deal and Bright Hope for Tomorrow
Vision with age is supposed to diminish. Yet, life hones, shapes and directs vision by allowing light in, fracturing those simple rays. Prisms are laid out complete with memories of faces, places, smells and sounds. Vision for the future crescendos with strength of the past, desires of present but can be walled in by anxieties unseen. Vision takes ‘challenge’ and uses it like a battering ramp against the walls of prejudice, loneliness, touches of arthritis and other cob webs! Life requires so much work to be able to see. On our own we can be spooked by the moonlight and blinded by the sun. Grasshoppers can still be giants. That…
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Stepping Out with Faith on a PCS
While moving books from one book shelf to another, there in the shadow of much larger tomes was a beloved book that I read and reread decades ago: Psalms of My Life by Joseph Bayly. The binding is broken and pages are yellow. This little book traveled with me from college days to the present. How fitting that when I took the book marker out, it was on #18, A Psalm on moving to take a new job. My goodness, Dale and I did that 18 times. And 18 times I needed this page!A Psalm on moving to take a new job by Joseph Bayly I take this stepLordin faith.Faith that…
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WWII Veterans Centerpoint
I captured a moment. It wasn’t what I came to see, yet it was perfect. In mesmerizing calm we walked around the monument, and it is monumental. Schools of school classes were in Washington DC for civics 101 in real life. To some students viewing the WWII tribute, it was ancient history. Our family is blessed with survivors: Navy, Army and Army/Air Corps. The names of battles brought frightening images to conversations to so many who were walking in groups.Then across the center point, a slow moving, wheel chaired, cane supported group of seniors assembled. They weren’t there for my camera, or the 30 other cameras that flashed. They were…
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Protecting American Lives and Property: The Air Force Reserve Command – DoD Roundtable
Protecting American Lives and Property: The Air Force Reserve Command – DoD Roundtable It is easy to forget the quiet professionals, not to recognize those who treat you politely or give you great customer service. Sometimes we are too busy or we just fail to respond when we should say thank you. This could not be truer than for three Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) C-130 aircraft missions that we rarely hear about because they are quietly and professionally doing their jobs in the background of natural or manmade disasters such as hurricanes, large fires, insect infestations and oil spills. They mitigate the disasters with unique (and sometimes venerable) equipment…
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Spouse’s Corner: Traditions – The Backbone of the Holidays
By now the decorations are up, the menu is being set, the cards and invites are purchased and stamps have been budgeted. Well, maybe in a perfect world. But the thought process has traveled down that project list. We hold traditions to keep the family on track as to what the family does: traditions help define family values and heritage. Some of these traditions can be left by the wayside without hesitation. I grew up in a Norwegian household. Lutefisk was always there on the table, but not anymore! Now I don’t even know if it is available in Michigan where I live. Oranges and walnuts were stuffed in our…
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Renting or Buying? How to Make that Decision during a PCS!
As we get ready to celebrate the Holiday Season, military families know what the next “season” is going to be! “Waiting for orders season” for about one third of us each year and most orders arrive in the late winter/early spring for a summertime PCS! Unless you were the Kissingers, who seemed to get a lot of “you will appreciate this assignment”, so don’t complain about the 2 week notice type of orders. But with the PCS comes the difficult issues of what to do about housing! Certainly tough choices for a military family and we thought it would be a timely subject. MilitaryAvenue has a long standing relationship with…
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“We’re not going to be able to fight our way out of this conflict” – DoD Roundtable
“We’re not going to be able to fight our way out of this conflict”, said Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph R. Beam, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. The DoD Bloggers Roundtable met with Beam on Thursday morning to discuss Non-Commissioned Officer training for the Afghan National Security Forces. The message that Beam brought is that leader development is critical to the war effort which is the focus of NTMA. A real challenge is an effective personnel development program for NCOs and creating the NCO force that the Afghans need in order to have an effective fighting force. He described morale as good and that the Afghans want to protect their…
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Moments made and not forgotten
Sweet Baby Boy Love2 weeks old and already has stolen my heart! Sleepy 10am naps in a baby swing Smiley gas bubbles Nursing moments, minutes turn to hours, that I hold so very dearly Arms and legs moving on their own accord Tiny Toes for ‘This Little Piggy’ Little hands grasping my fingers with all their might My husband interacting with his youngest son, the product of an unfailing love Sweet little pajamas on, swaddled up in a blanket Bedtime snuggling on my chest I may be sleep deprived, bleary-eyed, and a bit out of sorts … but there is nothing that can describe this kind of love! – Leanne…
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A Walk in the Shoes of a Wounded Warrior
Have you ever been confined to a wheel chair? Recently, I had to have surgery on a foot and the doctor prescribed no weight on the foot for a month. Easy enough, let me have those crutches and I will move around I thought! Then came the devastating news! I just didn’t have a lump removed from my foot it was cancer. I visited a couple of doctors for care and one took the cake for lack of patient comfort and bedside manner! Ok, this is an almost exact quote if not the exact words. I have to say I was in a bit of shock but I did have…
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Wordless Wednesday: BabyBoy’s Heart-beat, Music to a Mom’s Ears
Since I have gestational diabetes I go in for a “non-stress” test twice a week to make sure baby is moving around and has a strong heart-beat. I pulled out the hand dandy camera-phone to get a quick keepsake of the sound of the miracle inside me. – Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com MilitaryAvenue.com Resources: Are you having a baby?byLeanneonWednesday, July 21, 2010Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary Life:Leanne,pregnancy
