Culture
Could Be A Christmas Card – Part II
Over the weekend, we got out some of the Christmas decorations. I took a picture of some blue ornaments in a box and managed to get a self-portrait as a bonus.
Could Be A Christmas Card – Part I
I took this photo of a poinsettia we brought home from the flower shop. Pretty enough to be a Christmas card, right? Click on the image for a very large view.
Yellow Ribbon America Rosie Christmas
This year we selected Yellow Ribbon America’s Rosie Christmas campaign for our annual toys donation. We’re donating some new toys that we bought at our local merchandise liquidation discount store. The destination for these toys is to the children of our deployed California National Guard service men and women. There is also the opportunity to gather up your already-watched DVDs and donate them to the deployed troops. You may also donate gift cards to the cause.
This is a great way to get your Christmas giving endorphins! If you live in California, or are going to be here in December, click on Rosie’s picture to find your nearest drop-off location.
Giving Thanks to Our Troops
This was our post last Thanksgiving Day. It is just as appropriate today as it was a year ago.
We often think about and pray for our troops across the globe. And our efforts go beyond just thoughts and prayers since we routinely support charities such as Wounded Warriors, Soldiers Angels and the USO. Please, if you are able, send our troops a little support as a way of saying thanks for what they do. Keep it going all of this holiday season if you are able.
You should also keep the families of these wonderful men and women in your thoughts and prayers, since they will be celebrating without their loved ones.
Neil Cavuto of the Fox News Channel offered this poignant and insightful thought about those serving in our defense:
Giving Thanks to Our Troops
By Neil Cavuto
I cannot imagine eating Thanksgiving dinner in a mess hall. In a foreign country. In a hostile foreign country. Away from family. Away from friends. Away from all I hold dear.
I cannot imagine wondering whether this meal might be my last. Or the buddy sitting next to me won’t always be with me.
I cannot imagine going through what our soldiers go through every day. But especially “this” day. When we should all give thanks. But they barely have the time to eat. Before they’re back on the line. Back protecting us.
We who debate their role. Some of us who even mock their cause. This isn’t about a war. This is about those who fight it. And endure it. And live through it. In a place we forget. On a day we should not.
I am very lucky to have this day with my family. My creature comforts are secure precisely because theirs are not. It’s not fair. It’s not right. It just is.
They are due our thanks every day. Our prayers all days. But they are due both, especially this day. It’s amazing to me that those paid so little, give so much. Never complaining. Always giving. So that we can sit down in peace. While they stand guard, in war.
May God bless and protect all of our men and women in the armed forces.
Halloween Kids
For us, Halloween is for the little kids. These are a few of the many colorful, cute and entertaining costumes we saw last night. We had a caveman, a little blue-eyed red critter(?), Spidey, Tigger and a sleepy teddy bear. Cute!
