April Showers Day 29

Things have been a hopin' round here, so this might just be my last "shower photo".  It was taken out back on the trampoline one fine spring day.

A nice perk for the military folks..

Earth Day

Happy Earth Day to you all!

This movie opens today..  

I'm thinking a little field trip might be in order.  Wanna come?

Great Earth Day crafts can be found here.

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.  ~Native American Proverb

Softly call the Muster, let comrade answer 'Here'

I'm feeling a little homesick, so I thought I'd share with you one of my most treasured memories and honored traditions of my alma mater, Texas A&M.  

Every year, on the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, Aggies come together all over the world to remember fellow Aggies who have passed away that year.  Being a military family means that we've been able to attend Muster Ceremonies all over the U.S.  It's always a good time and a bit emotional

I still remember vividly the Aggie Muster my family went to in Ohio where I got to answer "Here" for my dad.  

Sec Def Gates was at A&M last night to honor our fallen Aggies:

Former Aggie president Gates remembers the fallen

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- An emotional Robert Gates, U.S. secretary of defense and a former Texas A&M University president, led the annual
roll call of fallen Aggies by saying the names of 22 former students who died in military service.

He began the tradition with its four most sacred words: Softly call the Muster.

Gates left the school in 2006 when former President George W. Bush asked him to head the defense department. The audience was asked
Tuesday night to stand and answer "here" in place of the soldiers. Some of the fallen were recent graduates whose diplomas he had signed.

"It's good to be back home," said Gates, in an online story Tuesday by the Houston Chronicle. "My head and my work are in one place, but my
heart is in another -- in Aggieland."

Gates, who did not attend A&M, did not talk about current news or military developments. He praised Texas A&M.

"Muster is the greatest of Aggie traditions," said Gates. "Muster is the essence of Aggie culture and spirit. The ceremony has no parallel in any other institution in America -- not in the armed forced, not in the CIA, not in business, and certainly not in any other college or university."

Gates said if Bush had not called, his public service career would have ended at the school.

The Aggie Muster tradition is carried out on April 21. More than 300 locations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, participated this year.
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Brought to you by the HoustonChronicle.com

For more in formation on Aggie Muster, look HERE.

Photo credits: Stacy Reeves Photography

I Heart Faces-week 15 "Self-Portrait"

Ummm, yeah... HUGE challenge for me this week, but I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet.

Challenging because I am nevah evah in front of the lens, aaand if I am, I usually hide behind five monkeys... and a husband... and a princess and whatever else I can find. Being nekked with all my wrinkles and such in front of the camera gives me hives.

I'm itchin' right now.

Two: Never have taken a self portrait. VERY HARD to do. You should see some of the shots in my camera. I think I almost dropped the camera 456 times.

Anyoldwho (hey, that's me!)  here it is.  Oy!

Alright, you've wasted enough time here..  so go HERE to check out the beautimous self-portraits.

April Showers

Lacrosse ball:  1

Toddle Monkey: 0

I really need this baby to. Be. A. GIRL.

Don't you agree?????

aannd, did you happen to notice all action ceasing momentarily when they thought I  was coming up the driveway???

Bruuthaa!  Or should I say, brothers!

eta: There was no harm inflicted on  persons while making this video.  

Never you mind what happened to said persons after I saw the video.... 

I Heart Faces-week 14 Amateurs

UPDATE:Never in a million years would I've expected this.  My photo was chosen THIRD in this weeks contest.  I'm thrilled.  So many great photos.  Love this new (to me) blog.  Great tips there too!  Big congrats to all the winners!

Just came across this site and decided to throw my hat in the ring.. gotta come up with a pic lickety-split like..

Aha.. Spring.. time at the park for my littles....
You can see all of this week's talented entries here.

April Shower of photos-guest photographer

I let One take the camera with him the other day. WITHOUT me. He came back with some great springtime shots, the following is my favorite...

April's Shower of Photos

The "We've been having so much fun lately, there hasn't been time to post" edition:

Easter Greetings!

Blessed Easter to you all. Alleluia, He is RISEN!!

It is finished...

April's Shower of Photos-day 9

Love, love, love baby feet..

April's Shower of Photos -Praying

Praying you all are having a very reflective and meaningful Holy Week.
 

April's Shower of Photos-- "HERE'S YOUR HELP!"

In lacrosse, my boys are told to shout that phrase when they're open, ready to assist their fellow player. 

Wouldn't it be great to hear THAT in our daily life??

While cooking and the phone rings and some one is at the door and the baby is at your heels crying..

"Here's your help!"

When your husband is deployed and all five of your children come down with the rotavirus and then YOU get it...

"Here's your help!"

When you've just PCSed to a new duty station and you find out that your husband has stage 3 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and you're both informed that without immediate treatment he's got about a month to live....

"Here's your help!"

When you're in the depths of despair, thinking what a poor job you are doing as a wife and mommy to this beautiful family that God has blessed you with.. having thoughts that you just don't deserve such love...

and in the previous situations, I try to stop and remember, that indeed, we do hear this in our everyday lives....
"Here's your help!!"

April's Shower of Photos

That's right folks, you heard it here...

Soulwow.com

check it....

Ht:The Ironic Catholic

Into the Twittosphere....

Ha, haa, ho, ho, he, heee, he.....

"I just twotted all over the place.."

"This is how our generation communicates--with detached bite-sized yippity yap."

"You can become a twitter-lebrity!"

Twittle!

eta:*language warning*  I was laughing so hard when I first saw it, that I missed two words..

April's Shower of Photos day 3

JP 2, We miss you!

So, record number of posts today: 4, I think.

But I couldn't let the sun set on today without a little tribute to our family's favorite pope. Four years ago today he was called home.   We miss you Papa.

April's Shower of Photos day 2

Canon Rebel XTi
50mm lens
AV:f/5.0
Shutter speed:1/800
ISO:400

April's Shower of Photos

Jennifer at S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen is hosting another April's Shower of Photos.  The goal is to post one photo each day in April.  I kinda cheated and renamed yesterday's Wordless Wednesday to suit the challenge.

Anyhoo, there are some really creative folks out there with great themes.  I'm going to challenge myself to post only black and whites-- big ol' challenge since springtime bursts with such  beautiful colors.  But I'd really like to get better with B&W, and normally wouldn't focus on doing so, unless challenged.  

Oh, and um, yesterday's photo doesn't count.  

'Cause I just decided my theme, you know....

And I reserve the right to change it...

If I so choose...

It's called whimping out of a challenge 'creative licensing'.

April-- Month of the Military Child

A Poem For Military Children

I am a military child
My hometown is nowhere, my friends are everywhere
I grew up with the knowledge that home is where the
Heart and family are, with no dependence on the dwelling.
Mobility is my way of life.
Some would wonder about my roots,
Yet they are as deep and strong as the mighty oak.
I sink them in quickly, absorbing all the area has to offer
And hopefully giving enrichment in return.
Travel has taught me to be open,
Shaking hands with the universe.
I find brotherhood in all people.
Farewells are never easy.
Yet even in sorrow comes the strength and ability to face
Tomorrow with anticipation.
If when I leave one place, I feel that half of
My world has left,
I also know that the other half is waiting to be met.
Friendships are formed in hours and kept for decades.
I will never grow up with someone, but will mature with many.
Be it inevitable that paths part,
There is constant hope that we will meet again.
HT:ReAlDaPh

eta: I also wanted to let you know of a special prize giveaway for Military Kids sponsored by United Concordia (Tricare Dental).

To enter, simply click here and complete the contest entry form between 8 a.m. March 27, 2008, and midnight April 23, 2008. Entries will be accepted via online submission only. Winners will be selected at random.

Prizes will be awarded to military children of varying ages. Within each age category, first, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each of the six TRICARE regions:

* North
* South
* West
* Europe
* Latin America and Canada
* Pacific

Wordless Wednesday (April showers, day1)