Welcome to my #SummerGiveaway

Personally I LOVE LOVE LOVE Summer.

I love that you get to see all the wonderful colors the season offers.  You get to wake up to the sun and come home from work "in the light" (which to me is spectacular).  And not to mention all the fun Summer sports and "down time" events.

I can't wait to be able to lay in the sun and swim in the pool.  I know LOTS and LOTS of sunscreen/sun lotion, but still to feel the sun on my skin without having to have HUNDREDS (or what feels that way) of jackets, sweaters, coats, boots, etc on is perfect.

To celebrate the start of Summer (which is coming this month) I am having a Welcome to Summer Giveaway.  It's not part of a Giveaway Hop (so you really need to help me promote this one) and I will give you an extra entry.

What can you win?  Well its a mystery .... HOWEVER it is definitely something by Vera Bradley and THAT is pretty special.  Don't you think?

I hope you will be sharing this one - I really want it to be a great success "on my own" so that I can offer more and more giveaways to you.  I have already picked out the surprise gift, that has a value over $35, but I bet if it is a HUGE success I could be persuaded to add more to the box ........
Sometimes Mysteries are super sweet and "under your control".

Tupperware BBQ special

If you are interested in being prepared for the upcoming (or is it here already) BBQ season, here is a great deal for you.  You can check it out on my Tupperware Site or Message me and we can plan out your order.

I have the Vent 'N Serve pieces and use it ALL THE TIME.  I am always making just a little bit "extra" when I make meals for hubby and I so that I can use my piece for lunch the next day or two.  Sure does save me from paying $10 or more to go out to lunch while at work.  Think about it - how much do you spend on lunch when you are working?  How many leftovers (or as we call them planned overs) do you have each week that could be used to save you $$ at lunch?

The Red-Hot Serving set is definitely going to be at my house before this is over!  I think it would be great for BBQs on the deck ... everything will be in 1 dish instead of 4 (and that means less to clean up).

That Salad Bowl set is PERFECT for a picnic crowd, and at that price ... its PERFECT.  I bet you could use it for all kinds of salads and not just the "green" kind.

Remember this is only available until June 13th, so if you are interested, don't be dilly dallying .... I don't know if it will be available later in the season or at any other time this year.

Check out these and so much more for your BBQ season on my Tupperware WebSite.  Have you checked out all our new products and colors for all of you who didn't like the old colors ... or wanted something more!

Why you find people in your life

I had done a copy of this for my son when he graduated from college, which of course seems like a lifetime ago.  So many things have happened since then.  So much has been accomplished, so much yet to be done. So many people have come and gone in all our lives ... sometimes it is good to remember that everyone comes into your life for a Reason, a Season and sometimes a Lifetime.

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life
for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it.
It is real.
But only for a season.

 LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to
accept the lesson,
love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
 — Unknown

For all of those who have been in my life 

whether you are still here or not, 

I know that all of you had a Reason for being there 

it was because of you that I found my wings 

and learned how to fly!

and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart

You are NOT broken

I think that there are some people, women and young girls more often then others so it seems, who think that they are not capable of doing great things.
They are not "capable" because of something that they did that was "wrong" or "incorrect".

I would love to have this shared with everyone - 

every woman, every child, every person 

to prove that they CAN.

You ARE a SURVIVOR.

You CAN make a DIFFERENCE.

Show everyone what you CAN DO

Help me Spread The Word.

You should only have ONE regret

This one is perfect.  So many people allow others to tell them that they can't do something ... and they believe them.  Then they look back and regret that they didn't at least try ... Nope not me - not anymore.

Will there be regrets at the end of your day?

Memorial Day 2014

I saw this a few days ago and just knew it was something that needed to be shared.
It is a little long, but oh so worth every word.  Grab a few tissues before you read this - trust me.
I had previously shared a post called ""A Final Tribute to our Military - Angel Flight" that goes "hand and hand" with this post.

The TRUE reason that we should be celebrating this "holiday"...

In a letter from an airline pilot, he writes of his "Angel Flight".

My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. On this flight." (H.R. Stands for human remains.) "Are they military?" I asked.

'Yes', she said.

'Is there an escort?' I asked.

'Yes, I've already assigned him a seat'.

'Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck. You can board him early," I said..

A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.

'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.

We completed our pre-flight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin. 'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .

The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.

Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a
Secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I
Saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. 

There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.  The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans.. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.'

I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told
That all traffic was being held for us.

'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the co-pilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to
make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was
clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.

They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these USA, Canada, Australia New Zealand, England.

Foot note:

I know everyone who has served their country who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.

Please share this after saying a short prayer for our service men and women. They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.

'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us..bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.. In Jesus Name, Amen.'

Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.

GOD BLESS YOU!!! Bring the rest home safe and sound. We need to be there for them now more than ever.

Thank you.  I wish I could thank you all personally, but that is not possible.  Please accept this as my personal Thank You, you deserve so much more.

My hope is that one day, there will be no need for any of our men and women to give the Ultimate Sacrifice, but until then .... I'm happy and proud to see the respect that is given to them.

Dads and Grads Giveaway Hop 2014

I have to thank Planet Weidknecht and Leahsaysviews for always pulling together a great group of bloggers to do these giveaway hops. They are always fun and include some really great products for everyone.

Welcome to the

Dads and Grads Giveaway Hop

Hosted by Planet Weidknecht and LeahSay's Views

From May 26-June 8

Every participating blogger is hosting their own giveaway worth at least $25.

You can visit the list of bloggers below and enter to win every prize!

I was thinking that Dads are often shortchanged in the giveaway department
there are things for moms and kids, but not always dads
So for the BBQing Dad I have the prize for you

How about the must have
Tupperware Season-Serve Container







a Quick Shake Container 



and a new Clip n click Silicone Brush
for all those BBQ and Marinade creations
a $50 value!

Marinades make food taste great―but what a mess they can be. No more, thanks to Tupperware innovation! Put meat or vegetables in the container, pour over the marinade and close with top cover. Now, simply turn it over every three or four hours. Special grills on top and bottom ensure marinade flows―plus meat, fish and veggies stay extra fresh, even overnight. A long-time favorite!

Just use the super easy Rafflecopter form below