The Blue Star Service Banner

Katie received her Blue Star Service Banner in the mail this week and we are proudly displaying it in our front window…

The Blue Star Service Banner was designed and patented in 1917 by World War I Army Capt. Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry who had two sons serving on the front line. It quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in the service.

On Sept. 24, 1917, an Ohio congressman read the following into the Congressional Record: “…The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother – their children.”

During World War II, the Department of War issued specifications on the manufacture of the flag as well as guidelines indicating when and by whom the Service flag could be flown or the Service Lapel button could be worn.

The Blue Star Service Banner typically displayed in windows is an 8.5 by 14-inch white field with a blue star(s) sewn onto a red banner. The size may vary but should be in proportion to the size of the U.S. Flag.

Today Blue Star Service Banners are displayed by families who have a loved one serving in the armed forces including the National Guard and Reserves of all military departments. The banner displayed in the front window of a home shows a family’s pride in their loved one serving in the military, and reminds others that preserving America’s freedom demands much. It can also be displayed by businesses and organizations as well.

There are some sorrowful things in our world and my world right now. It is wonderful to have hope in all God has done for us through Jesus Christ…

Hope you have hope in the one who is able to save all that is lost.

Corinthians 4:16-18

New International Version (NIV)

 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

FFF ~ The Pleasures of Home…

It’s time to stop and consider the good things that we enjoyed during this past week. You can link up with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to share your favorites.

It’s a wonderful privilege to be able to travel and visit with friends and family but it’s always good to return home. Katie and I were in Southern California last week and we had a whirlwind of fun gatherings. On Saturday evening we returned home and Dear was very happy to have his chatty ladies in view. So here are my favorites…

1. On our way to the airport we were able to meet up with my walking buddy from when I was living in Southern California. We met Willow from Willow’s Cottage at a shopping center just South of the airport and we enjoyed a meal together while we caught up. Doesn’t Willow look good? During the year and a half that we have been apart she’s been losing weight while I’ve been gaining weight. Just so you don’t feel too sorry for me in the last month I’ve managed to finally lose some weight. Yippee.

2. On the plane trip home an acquaintance of Katie’s from our former church was one of the flight attendants. It was fun surprise to see each other and get caught up on news. Our friend treated Katie and I with champagne when she heard Katie had gotten married.

3. Oh the joy of sleeping in your own bed again after being away.

4. I’ve been picking blueberries off my bush which is loaded since I returned, too. Since the sun has been shining bright things have sped up in their ripening process. Speaking of growing things my Sweet Peas grew and flourished from the seeds I brought home from Butchart Gardens in April. Sweet Peas make me smile.

5. Driving my own car instead of a rental is another nice thing.

What things stand out as your favorites this past week?

Purple Haze ~

Time to join in with Jenny for Alphabe-Thursday and we are on the letter P.

 

You might have thought my Lavender Festival shots were finished but not so. Today is perfect timing to share photos from Purple Haze Lavender Farm.

The Lavender Festival in Sequim Washington is always held the 3rd weekend in July.

This year because of our strange weather everything was a bit behind. The lavender was not as robust and full as it was last year. Here are two photos from last year just so you get the picture…

The next photo is approximately the same spot taken this year…

The lavender festival is a wonderful event to experience and if you are ever in Washington State the 3rd weekend in July you should consider it…

I hope to get around soon to see what inspired the rest of you with the letter P!

Bag-O-Rama Jamboree ~ Dizzyland

My cousin coined our week of family activities in Southern California as the Bag-O-Rama Jamboree. On Thursday 15 of us descended on Disneyland.

My niece Michelle with her daughter Little Miss Avery.

My brother Leonard and his wife Mandy as we trekked down Main St. to Cinderella’s Castle.

Michelle, Miss Avery and Auntie Vera.

Little Miss Avery watching the Princesses.

In line for It’s a Small World!

My favorite Little Miss Avery Face of the day!

Jack and Hope

 

Nana, Daddy, Little Miss Hope, and Katie…

Lana and Leonard celebrating their birthday early at Disneyland.

A fuzzy night time photo of all 15 of us!

I can’t believe I lasted till the wonderful fireworks show was over. I was very tired but happy to have a great day with family at “it made me Dizzyland”….

Photobucket is still holding many of my photos hostage…

Showers of Blessings…

My mom (Baba) and Katie

My sister-in-law from Dallas with mom.

Niece Melissa with Katie

Sisters by marriage, Katie and Laura. The sweetest sister Katie could ever ask for.

The nieces with Katie and Laura. We are missing 5 nieces in this photo.

My cousin Kathy (Katrina), my mom and my sister Kathy.

My sisters Kathy and Vera flanking my sister-in-laws Mandy and Letty.

Katie with our dear lifelong friend Alice.

My cousin Valia with her daughter Michelle.

Somebody told a great story here. I love the reaction. If I had to guess I’d say my sister Lana is the culprit!

The oldest to youngest sister photo. Kathy, Vera, Ellen, and Lana.

My sister Kathy gave a short devotional about being a married woman. She’s a great teacher!

My mother gave Katie some heirloom linens and other gifts.

Katie got everyone laughing when she whipped out her pocket knife to cut away wrappings. And I do mean whipped as in whipped it open in the air.

These are shoes Katie hung on to from her Grandmother Verna. Verna lived with us when Katie was little and they had a very special bond.

Melissa and Lana…partners in crime.

Michelle and Deb Deb taking a breather…

The girls frosted an all white cupcake for Katie.

My sister Kathy with her two daughters.

My Sister-in-law Christina and our niece Kacie with Katie.

Katie and me with our friends Alice and Svetlana.

The shower committee at the end of the night!…Just kidding….

It was such a blessing to be able to have so many of our family members and friends all together in one place for this event. Thank you all for coming.

A special thank you to Michelle for letting me use some of her photos from the shower. Thank you to all my family members who worked hard to pull it all together. We love you and appreciate you!

Katie’s Wedding Shower Preparations…

There are so many photos of Katie’s shower that I’m breaking them down into categories. The first set I’ll be sharing are the preparations and decorating for the fun event. My nieces and sister Lana were the official shower planners.

My niece Debbee and Melissa baked the cupcakes and made the icing for them.

Debbee and Melissa had the flower decorating technique down for the cupcakes and showed Laura, Michelle and Katie the method and everyone chipped in to get all the cupcakes decorated.

They used the Wilton Tip #104 for these flowers. It’s a petal tip.

The colors for the shower and Katie and Andrew’s wedding are purple, silver and cream.

My niece Michelle took this photo and the one above it…

My sister Lana provided the salads and the beautiful flowers.

Thank you to Michelle for these two photos of Katie at the table, too.

My mom, Katie’s Baba, made the meat and cabbage pirog.

We had a fun afternoon preparing for the shower. The shoes Katie is wearing were her grandmother Verna’s.

Tomorrow I’ll show more photos of friends and family who attended the shower. Hope your day is going well. We have sunshine and clear, clear, blue skies here in the Seattle area. We’ll be barbecuing dinner tonight!

The Humming Bird by Emily Dickinson ~

The Humming-Bird by Emily Dickinson

A route of evanescence
With a revolving wheel;
A resonance of emerald,
A rush of cochineal;
And every blossom on the bush
Adjusts its tumbled head, —
The mail from Tunis, probably,
An easy morning’s ride.

These photos were taken at my Nephew and Niece’s house in Southern California. This little hummer really enjoyed this section of the yard and hung around long enough for me to snap away. I’m linking my Hummingbird to Mary’s Mosaic Monday.

Thanks for stopping by…

Give Thanks ~

Give Thanks

Give thanks
With a grateful heart
Give thanks
To the Holy One
Give thanks
Because He’s given
Jesus Christ His Son

Give thanks
With a grateful heart
Give thanks
To the Holy One
Give thanks
Because He’s given
Jesus Christ His Son

And now let the weak
Say “I am strong”
Let the poor say
“I am rich”
Because of what the Lord
Has done for us

This is one of the songs we all sang at Katie’s shower last week in California. We also sang a couple songs in Russian. A beautiful celebration of what the Lord has done for us…

Sneak Peeks ~

Next week when I’m back in the saddle at home I’ll share more from the Bag-O-Rama Jamboree in Southern California. Today I’m posting some fun expressions from Disneyland and a peek into a wonderful time we had at a flag ceremony in Old Towne Orange.

Today Katie and I fly back to Washington after a fun packed 8 days in Southern California. It’s been a wonderful trip filled with lots of great interaction with family. It will be nice to be home again to relax and reflect on all the good times we had…

Celebrating the Twins!

Today my youngest brother and sister who are twins are celebrating their birthday. The Bag-O-Rama Jamboree invaded Disneyland yesterday and at one point we were 15 strong. We had the twins pose for these shots at the “Happiest Place on Earth”. I survived and even made it all the way to the fireworks before dragging myself home to bed.

 We are having a barbecue at the beach to celebrate Leonard and Lana this evening.

Happy Birthday to you Leonard and Lana. We thank God for all the fun life experiences we have had with you all through the years!