Just to share ~ "The Red Balloon Comes Home"

 
   

Some of you may have received this in your email, I know I did

from my bother in law who rarely sends me anything but family

news and pictures.  He said that he and my sister both thought that

I would love to read it ~ they were right.  What wonderful men and women

we have in our armed services that fight for our safety every day. 

Not only do they have the worries about what is going on around them

but the things we have no idea about going on with their loved ones. 

 And no surprise ~ this is an example of the heart they have! 

It is a very touching story and one I thought you would like to read 

if you had not received it in your email or seen it in Newsweek.

 

"The Red Balloon Comes Home"

Chief Petty Officer Dain Anderson, Navy

 

  ....... ...............                  

 

written by:...............

........ Kristi Anderson

 

 

My husband, Dain, said goodbye to our four kids in 2005, heading to Iraq. Our son Daimon, then 2, felt lethargic. He had an E. coli infection and was critically ill. Our son Dawson, just 11 months old, also came down with the same disease. Thank God they survived! Dain was distraught at being away and dealing with possibly losing his two boys.

After they both got better, Daimon received a red balloon at a birthday party. As he left with his Grandma Bev, the balloon flew into the sky. He was upset, but she said, "Do you think the balloon is going to Iraq to give Daddy joy?" That made Daimon feel better. We told Dain about this. Two weeks later, he e-mailed us a beautiful picture of him holding a red balloon, telling us how happy he was to receive what his son sent. When Dain returned home just before Christmas 2006, he came off the plane carrying a red balloon. I've never seen such joy in a child as I saw in Daimon that day.

 

 

 

Wishing everyone

a wonderful week

full of love, laughter,

and special moments

shared with those you love!!!

Must read blogs ~ Johnoh's Humor

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Laughter is good medicine and the place to get the best Medicine is a visit to Johnoh. Although John writes some very informative, educational blogs as well, his humor is the top!!!! Here are a few samples guaranteed to have you rolling on the floor!!!


link to The Male Ego


link to The Last American Caveman


link to Have You Seen Cheries Boobies

Must read blogs ~ Oh God, My Life

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Another series too good too miss!!! Such eye openers ~ you can't leave these without taking something with you! No way to list all of these as she is continually adding to this series with happenings in her life! Wouldn't want to miss a one of them!!!!!


link to 1 of series


link to 4 of series


link to 6 of series


link May 18 of seriers


link May 26 of seriers


link May 29 of seriers


link June 4 of seriers

Must read blogs ~ Africa

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

This is first in a four part series that will touch your heart and maybe change your life forever! Mitch is a fine writer that has really out done himself this time!

link to part I

link to part ii


link to part iii


link to partIV

PICTURE PERFECT FRIDAY ~ EXTRAVAGANCE

 

 

 

 

LINK to PPF EXTRAVAGANCE SITE

 

 

Hat Creek ~ tucked away off a little road in Northern California.     Easy to drive right over and not even know there is so much beauty below.   A perfect place for a picnic with someone you love, but most of all a wonderful example of God's love ~ ~ ~  So much love has He for us, in fact, that He created such extravagant beauty in the world for us to enjoy.

 

 

"Where there is no extravagance

 there is no love,

and where there is no love

there is no understanding."

~Oscar Wilde

GREAT HAPPINESS . . .

    "If we discovered that we had only 5 minutes left to say what we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied by people calling other people to stammer that they loved them."
  ~ Christopher Morley      
!

 

Not long ago I answered a telephone call from an old friend I'd not heard from for a long time.

"Hi, Steve," he said. "I just wanted to see how you're getting along."

For whatever reason, our paths had simply not crossed for months. It was good to talk with him. I wondered why we hadn't kept in touch better.

Toward the end of the conversation, he said, "If you need me in any way, I'll be happy to help out." And he meant it!

That call came at just the right time, as they so often do. I needed
those words of encouragement. I hung up the phone feeling a satisfying lump of warmth in my chest.

And that day I re-learned something important about life: life is
primarily about people -- not plans and schedules, not to-do lists and a million tasks left undone -- it's about people.

To love and to know that we are loved is the greatest happiness of
existence. And happiness seems to be something that is in short supply for too many of us! My friend reminded me that it is never enough just to love; we must also express it. What good are our affectionate feelings toward others if we don't find ways to let them know?

George William Childs put it like this: "Do not keep the alabaster box of your   love and friendship sealed up until your friends are dead.  Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them and while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier. The kind things you mean to say when they are gone, say before they go."

Happiness ... may be just a phone call away.

               

~ from "Your Life Support"

~ Steve Goodier

 

 

 

"No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever."

~ Francois Mocuriac

 

 

 

Have a wonderful Week

Call someone you miss & love!!!

I Left My Heart . . .

   

 

 

 

Sitting at the airport in Sacramento thinking back over the last ten days...

I find myself smiling but very sure that it is the memories of the many adventures, the beautiful country, the really wonderful people and not the leaving part that has created this smile.  Not the leaving part for sure, as my heart is not wanting to leave at all.  It belongs here. . .     In fact, it insist upon staying!!!

Everyone has been  so wonderful ~ even the gentleman that checked my bags was so very pleasant. As he smiled and laughed, I was thinking I should be here seeing someone else off ~ certainly not checking my bags!  For every minute with the people that I spent time with was absolutely wonderful.  So right.  Just way too short of a time, but than for some of them a lifetime would not be long enough.  And those I wanted to see but didn't get to . . .

Don't know how the pilot will take the, "Oh no, we're going to have to turn this plane around!!! I left my heart back there!  I must go back, yes, and stay because as we all know, Home is where the heart is!"