KISS Family Albums

I have been very busy transferring data and pictures from my old computer to my new state-of-the-art computer with LCD Monitor...
I love it but had 8,000 digital pictures that had to be organized and processed to my CDRom album library...
I ,also, had to pick and choose what I would be using on my new computer...
This requires a better organizational method that is much needed in my work and play....KISS...keep it simple stupid....is ringing in my ears...
New toys require new 'habits'......
Oh, well, it all makes for an interesting and....Good Life!

Happy, Happy, Easter says Joshua 

Real Live Easter Bunny, yea right! 

Family After Easter Feast.... 

Annual Easter Event....minus Marine Pipo 

Why Wait? Now IS The Time….

Do you have someone in your life that is......always there?
Someone that you perhaps are.....too familiar with?
One that you know the good, bad and ugly of life...on a daily or weekly basis? One that can really....’get in your stuff’?
This not only applies to a husband and wife relationship but can be
parents, significant other, children, adult or small, in-laws, relatives,
co-workers...anyone in our network of....close relationships!
We all have such:)
NOW is the TIME to identify their value to.......Y O U!
Search your heart.....if this person disappeared from your life forever,
what would be your ’parting’ words to them?
Or perhaps on another line of thinking.....YOU WON THE LOTTERY!
What would be their significance to you then?
Would you ’need’ or ‘want’ them in your life or would you like to.... as a friend of ours teasingly said.....’get a new set of friends’?
YOU would still be.......Y O U!
There is no escaping that.....people around you ‘serve’ a need in your life one way or other.
I can hear some of my friend’s say....”You’re crazy, girl. I don’t ‘need’ these rebellious teen-agers.”
Believe it or not......you do.
I can prove it to you.
Even the best of human love is insufficient to give us the security and significance we need!
A basic human need in all of us.....is to be needed!
Rebellious persons of any age....teen-agers are just more ‘evident’ in their need because they speak in behavior not necessarily words....and they are very needy.
Rebels say.....”I need to be validated by YOU and OTHERS.
YOU happen to be there.”
Your strength is needed, your wisdom is needed, your patience is needed, you steadfastness is needed, your observations are needed, daily, and most of all......YOUR LOVE IS NEEDED ENDLESSLY!
YOU ARE NEEDED in a way that no one else can replace.
Fill a need in others.....and you WILL BE FULFILLED!
Now I caution you....some of you, my friends and family know to whom I am addressing....DO NOT DENY YOUR OWN NEEDS AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE YOU LOVE!
There can be great danger in being a completely ’self-less’ person.
You can loose... yourself...in the process!
Others will....use YOU up.......IF you let them!
They can become so dependent on your ‘meeting their needs’ that you become a stumbling block to their own growth and maturity.
YOU become fragmented in this process....and there is not much left of YOU for.......YOU!
There is a balance formula here.....called + The Golden Rule+
......DO UNTO OTHERS......AS YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU!!!
Expect others to meet your needs...as you meet theirs!
Define your needs to yourself......and others in your life!
****IMPORTANT****
Be specific. Remember....people are NOT mind readers!
Tell others, not only that ‘I Love You’.....
.........but also, ‘I NEED YOU IN MY LIFE!”
Some of them may drop dead from shock.....
but I guarantee it will BLESS THEIR HEART!
Now during this Easter Season of Love I challenge you...
.....express and communicate to those dear to you one simple statement....
....”I NEED Y O U in my life BECAUSE...
.............YOU ENHANCE MY QUALITY OF LIFE!”
Why Wait?

Thank God for Little Things…..
By: Helen Steiner Rice

Thank You, God, for little things
That often comes our way -
The things we take for granted
But don’t mention when we pray -
The unexpected courtesy.
The thoughtful, kindly deed -
A hand reached out to help us
In the time of sudden need -
Oh, make us more aware, dear God,
Of little daily graces
That comes to us with ‘sweet surprise’
From never-dreamed of places….

Recent Trip was …..Fun for Everyone

Taking a trip to Pensacola, Florida to visit our cousins, Ray & Betty, was a very much needed R & R.Ann and Dockie and Charlie and I rented a van and headed to the Panhandle of Florida.We were greeted with wonderful Southern Hospitality which included a gourmet, nutrition minded cook of 5 star ratings.
Betty…..a woman of wonder….grace….competency, organizational skills…..and co-editor to her husbands published works….some still in progress is my idea of….A Woman of Excellence!
Our travel and entertainment agenda, provided by Betty and Ray, took us the first day to Mobile, Alabama to see the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The next day was a wonderful adventure in 2 of 5 of Ray’s Model A‘s which are in absolutely mint condition…we traveled to the Navy Base Museum for the aircraft exhibit, 2nd largest in U.S. (Smithsonian 1st) and home of the Blue Angels….trading in our Model A’s for our rented van in the afternoon we toured the beach area of Pensacola called Gulf Shores which was hit by the eye of Ivan…..Six months down the road, the scene makes ne….heartsick…..
Mountains of sand had been transferred from each side of the barrier island to everywhere…..in places there was just no sign of the previous existence of anything…not even foundations of former homes…..
No words can describe the sights we saw….to include Dolphin Island which we traveled to the next day…total environments have been…..forever changed.
Each night we returned to Pensacola and another of Betty’s pre-planned gourmet meals….What a delight…
On the third day we all packed our bags and headed to Biloxi, Mississippi. Charlie being the volunteer driver, gave us all a chance to talk and laugh to our hearts content…..
Until…..going on to New Orleans, Dockie, using his trusty new GPS, along with many of our own ideas…..had us trying to cross a body of water without using a bridge…eventually down south we did do this by using a public car ferry in bayou land….and was glad to get it since we were miles down on a point of land trying to follow the waterways by car.
An adventure vacation it was…..that’s for sure….
Using I 10 interstate to return from our vagabond wanderings quickly, we were glad to get back to what Dockie referred to as …’our home’.
All in all it was just what the Dr. ordered for all of us to relax from some of our stressful Florida living….and laugh and enjoy The Good Life with…..Good People.
Thanks, Betty and Ray…We loved it, Krystal’s as well!

P.S. Betty and I set up Ray’s book web site, working late in the night (ask Ray…think our ‘computer fun‘ kept him awake)….His second book will be posted shortly…
To view go to:
http://fortnerpublishingco.blogspot.com/
See pictures below….

Seafood choices galore on the coast of Florida... 

Destin, Florida has great seafood! 

Classy Tweety Bird 

Model A convoy....just 2 of 5! 

Charlie in 'dream toy'..... 

Charlie with one of his 'heroes'..... 

Navy & Army Military Salute to good ole USA... 

All American tribute at Navy Museum... 

Two Bull Gators from Univ. of Fla...view wood carved gator...."double trouble", they are!  

Six months after Ivan.... 

Mountains of sand in Gulf Shores 

Wonderful Southern Hosts, Betty & Ray... 

We truly take a lot for granted. Forget the football "heroes" and movie "stars". Pass this on so that all may know the price of freedom and who REALLY paid it for us.

A Picture Worth 1000 Words.  

A Picture Worth 1000 Words .....

.Subject: The price some pay for our Freedom.....

What really got me was the wedding ring on one of the three fingers on his right hand. Makes you see all the modifications that most of wouldn't even think about but this Marine will have to live with.
God bless him for standing tall and proud in his uniform.
This is one of the most moving things I have received in a long time.
God blesses us each generation with real heroes.
Here are two and this picture should be all over the news
but I have yet to see it.
God Bless such ....Heroes...