HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Worry looks around......

Sorry looks back......

Faith looks up.......

This angel is sent to you with love.....Have Faith

CINCO de MAYO

The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, and it should be. Mexico declared its independence from the mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810.

The holiday has been celebrated in the United States at many organizations. One method of honoring our decedents, was to have a Mercado, which is Spanish for Open Air Market. This is one of the methods Internal Revenue Service (where I retired from) had of honoring our decedents from Mexico. The open markets would feature handmade Pinatas', original foods, paper flowers, and other items, mostly handmade by employees. It was a fun time for everyone involved. The celebration established the concept of working together, and understanding the history of the employees we worked side by side with every day. The money earned was put into the Employee Assistance Fund, for employees that may need help. The Mercado did many things; it taught us about our Mexican ancestry, taught us teamwork, respect for one another, and the responsibility we had to help our fellow employees that may be in need.

Mexicans never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That's why Cinco de Mayo is such an important holiday and party ! A holiday and party that celebrates freedom and liberty.

VIVA ! el CINCO DE MAYO !!

~ MAY ~

Do you remember back in childhood

How we loved the first of May

When we left our flower-filled baskets

On doorsteps, then ran away?

Do you remember how the gayest basket

Was for the one we loved the best.

And in it went the blossoms

That were fairer than the rest;

Such a beautiful and gracious custom

Somehow lost along the way.

But its memories come surging

As we welcome in the May.

by: Milly Walton

HOLY WEEK

Monday is the start of Holy Week.

The cleansing of the temple in the Holy City of Jerusalem is thought to have taken place on this Monday.

Tuesday of Holy Week is the day when the churchmen tried to trap Jesus into making a blasphemous statement.

Wednesday is the day when Judas, a disciple, betrayed Jesus so Jesus could be captured.

Thursday of Holy Week is associated with the Last Supper. It is the day before the crucifixion.

Good Friday is the day when Jesus was crucified. It is the day that Christians believe that Jesus sacrificed himself for the sins of men.

The day following Good Friday is called Holy Saturday. The day comes at the end of forty days of fasting.

Easter Sunday is a day of rejoicing and happiness. It is the third day after the crucifixion. It is the day that Christ rose from the tomb, and showed himself to his disciples to carry out his work.

SPRING EQUINOX ~ MARCH 20, 2009

The word "equinox" is derived from the Latin word meaning 'equal night' and refers to the time when the sun crosses the equator. Day and night are equal everywhere in the world. The March equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, and the start of autumn in many parts of the southern hemisphere.

SPRING

In emerald shoes Spring pirouettes

Upon a crystal stage;

Then lifts enchanting hands to free

A singing scarlet page.

From barren stalks she draws bright flags

As sun spotlights her art.

And with a violet-scented kiss

She melts King Winter's heart.

by: Louise Hajek

AN OLD IRISH PRAYER

Wishing you always ~~

Walls for the wind ~~

And a roof for the rain ~~

And tea beside the fire ~~

Laughter to cheer you ~~

And those you love near you ~~

And all that your heart might desire ~~

LITTLE THINGS

I have but to close my eyes

And in memory I see

The little things, the Irish things

That are so dear to me;

The shamrocks we used to gather

At dawn on St. Patrick's Day.

The books we used to read by candlelight,

My father's pipe of clay;

And though I've traveled many lands,

Nowhere did I find

Little things to stir the heart

Like those I left behind.




Mary R. Hurley

GEARING UP FOR THE BIG DAY !!!

If you haven't guessed, if you don't know, I am Irish to the core. My name, Patricia Ann, is Irish.

My Mother and her family were true Irishmen. Mom's family immigrated from Ireland in the early 1800's. My heritage includes Burn's, Clark's, Enright's, and Kennedy's. Now, you can't get any more Irish than that !!!

When Mom and Dad were alive, Dad always bought Mom three green carnations for St. Patty's Day !! Now my husband does the same for me !! Now that's an Irish tradition.

It is true, when Irish eyes are smiling, you can feel the warmth of spring and hear the angels sing !!

MARCH

Hear the madcap March winds run,

Bent on gay and boisterous fun:

Laughing, whistling, blustering, swirling.

Shrieking, blowing, twisting, whirling;

Rushing with a threatening roar,

Rattling casement, banging door;

Shaking, waking flower and tree.

Running wide and high and free;

Calling, shouting far and near;

"Wake up ! Wake up ! Spring is here ! :

By: Katherine Edelman

VALENTINE'S

Valentine's Day is a day of love,

For showing that we care,

And if we read the Bible,

God describes love there.

If we speak like celestial angels

From heaven up above,

All our words mean nothing

If we don't have Christian love.

Love is patient, love is kind;

It doesn't brag or boast;

Love conquers pride and envy;

It is never self-engrossed.

Love is not rude or angry;

Forgiveness counters wrong;

Love stays away from evil;

It sings a truthful song.

Love is full of trust and hope;

It always perseveres;

Love never fails; It's faithful

To the Bible it adheres.

And if you give this kind of love

To your special Valentine,

You'll be loving right in harmony

With God's own sweet design.

by: Joanna Fuchs

www.poemsource.com

WINTER SUNSET

As though reluctant to retire

And yield her reign to eventide,

The setting sun turns into fire,

and tints the country side.

Then as she slowly sinks from sight,

She calmly calls the earth to rest

And gently tucks into the west

The coverlet of night.

by: Barbara Burrow

FEBRUARY

When February tires of her somber dress

She tucks ice diamonds in her hair

With charming carelessness...

Sometimes she enfolds herself

In cloak of ermine snow...

And always, at her waist she wears

A Valentine-red bow !!!

by: Mary R. Hurley

JANUARY

Branches shiver naked in the breeze

Above the silver wavelets of a rill.

Snow-white quilting hugs low round the trees

As winter flaunts her power and her skill.

Unlike emblazoned twilight of a May,

When angels finger-paint each amber cloud,

The January dusk is palest gray

Yet every bit as beautifully endowed.



by: Mary Volk

OH HOLY NIGHT

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

THIS CHRISTMAS

Mend a quarrel, seek out a forgotten friend.

Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.

Write a love letter.

Share some treasure.

Give a soft answer.

Encourage youth.

Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.

Keep a promise.

Find the time.

Forego a grudge.

Forgive an enemy.

LISTEN.

Apologize if you are wrong.

Try to understand.

Flout envy.

Examine your demands on others.

Think first of someone else.

Appreciate.

Be kind - be gentle.

Laugh a little more.

Deserve confidence.

Take up arms against malice.

Decry complacency.

Express your gratitude.

Go to church.

Welcome a stranger.

Gladden the heart of a child.

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.

Speak your love.

Speak it again.

Speak it still once more.

And last of all, remember the mentally ill need our love and support.

God bless you all and have a wonderful 'Christ'mas and the happiest of New Years.

BRAGGING RIGHTS !!!

Hello everyone, and Merry Christmas to you and yours. I am going to brag a bit, but I hope no one will mind. We are starting to receive pictures of the grand children and their families. Also, we have pictures taken that I want to share with everyone. I hope no one will mind, but we are so proud of them all. You will find you have to scroll down to see them all, but I think you will find it worthwhile. You will probably have to keep checking back, because every day we receive more pictures !!!!

We wish you a very Happy, Holy Christmas season, and a New Year filled with the best of everything.

This is my Christmas wish for you and yours this holiday season. Let us all pray that our new President will succeed in the daunting task that lies before him and his administration. Please pray that Heavenly Father looks over him, guides his steps, and holds him in his loving arms.

SOME MORE REASONS..FOR THE SEASONS

Matt, Joel and Emme

Some more of the reasons for smiles this season. Guess who is behind the camera......Mom !! The gingerbread house is so cute !!!

PEYTON WITH SANTA CLAUS

Isn't this what Christmas is for....the little children....and their belief in Santa Claus. Too soon we grow up.....and loose the magic of Christmas.

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM

THE EMBERS GLOWED SOFTLY, AND IN THEIR DIM LIGHT, I GAZED ROUND THE ROOM AND I CHERISHED THE SIGHT.MY WIFE WAS ASLEEP, HER HEAD ON MY CHEST, MY DAUGHTER BESIDE ME, ANGELIC IN REST.OUTSIDE THE SNOW FELL, A BLANKET OF WHITE, TRANSFORMING THE YARD TO A WINTER DELIGHT.

THE SPARKLING LIGHTS IN THE TREE I BELIEVE, COMPLETED THE MAGIC THAT IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE. MY EYELIDS WERE HEAVY, MY BREATHING WAS DEEP, SECURE AND SURROUNDED BY LOVE I WOULD SLEEP. IN PERFECT CONTENTMENT, OR SO IT WOULD SEEM, SO I SLUMBERED, PERHAPS I STARTED TO DREAM.

THE SOUND WASN'T LOUD, AND IT WASN'T TOO NEAR, BUT I OPENED MY EYES WHEN IT TICKLED MY EAR. PERHAPS JUST A COUGH, I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW, THEN THE SURE SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS OUTSIDE IN THE SNOW. MY SOUL GAVE A TREMBLE, I STRUGGLED TO HEAR, AND I CREPT TO THE DOOR JUST TO SEE WHO WAS NEAR.

STANDING OUT IN THE COLD AND DARK OF THE NIGHT, A LONE FIGURE STOOD, HIS FACE WEARY AND TIGHT. A SOLDIER, I PUZZLED, SOME TWENTY YEARS OLD, PERHAPS A MARINE, HUDDLED HERE IN THE COLD.ALONE IN THE DARK, HE LOOKED UP AND SMILED, STANDING WATCH OVER ME, AND MY WIFE AND MY CHILD.

'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' I ASKED WITHOUT FEAR, 'COME IN THIS MOMENT, IT'S FREEZING OUT HERE! PUT DOWN YOUR PACK, BRUSH THE SNOW FROM YOUR SLEEVE, YOU SHOULD BE AT HOME ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE! FOR BARELY A MOMENT I SAW HIS EYES SHIFT, AWAY FROM THE COLD AND THE SNOW BLOWN IN DRIFTS.

TO THE WINDOW THAT DANCED WITH A WARM FIRE'S LIGHT THEN HE SIGHED AND HE SAID 'IT'S REALLY ALL RIGHT. I'M OUT HERE TO STAND AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE, THAT SEPARATES YOU FROM THE DARKEST OF TIMES.'

NO ONE HAD TO ASK OR BEG OR IMPLORE ME, I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE LIKE MY FATHERS BEFORE ME.

MY GRAMPS DIED AT 'PEARL ON A DAY IN DECEMBER,' THEN HE SIGHED, 'THAT'S A CHRISTMAS 'GRAM ALWAYS REMEMBERS.'

MY DAD STOOD HIS WATCH IN THE JUNGLES OF NAM', AND NOW IT IS MY TURN AND SO, HERE I AM.

I'VE NOT SEEN MY OWN SON IN MORE THAN A WHILE, BUT MY WIFE SENDS ME PICTURES, HE'S SURE GOT HER SMILE. THEN HE BENT AND CAREFULLY PULLED FROM HIS BAG, THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE...AN AMERICAN FLAG.

I CAN LIVE THROUGH THE COLD AND THE BEING ALONE, AWAY FROM MY FAMILY, MY HOUSE AND MY HOME.

I CAN STAND AT MY POST THROUGH THE RAIN AND THE SLEEP, I CAN SLEEP IN A FOXHOLE WITH LITTLE TO EAT. I CAN CARRY THE WEIGHT OF KILLING ANOTHER, OR LAY DOWN MY LIFE WITH MY SISTER AND BROTHER....

WHO STAND AT THE FRONT AGAINST ANY AND ALL, TO ENSURE FOR ALL TIME THAT THIS FLAG WILL NOT . '

'SO GO BACK INSIDE' HE SAID, 'HARBOR NO FRIGHT, YOUR FAMILY IS WAITING AND I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.'

BUT ISN'T THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO, AT THE LEAST, 'GIVE YOU MONEY,' I ASKED, 'OR PREPARE YOU A FEAST?' IT SEEMS ALL TOO LITTLE FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, FOR BEING AWAY FROM YOUR WIFE AND YOUR SON.

THEN HIS EYE WELLED A TEAR THAT HELD NO REGRET, 'JUST TELL US YOU LOVE US, AND NEVER FORGET.' TO FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS BACK AT HOME WHILE WE'RE GONE, TO STAND YOUR OWN WATCH, NO MATTER HOW LONG. FOR WHEN WE COME HOME, EITHER STANDING OR DEAD, TO KNOW YOU REMEMBER WE FOUGHT AND WE BLED. IS PAYMENT ENOUGH, WITH THAT WE WILL TRUST, THAT WE MATTERED TO YOU AS YOU MATTERED TO US'.

Written by: LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN

30th Naval Construction Regiment

OIC, Logistics Cell One

At Taqqadum, Iraq