Some fought a hard “war over there” on land, in air and sea.

Some slogged through bug-filled jungles that would daunt a nurse like me.

Some came home safe, some came home lame, and some simply did not. [...]]]> The VA Parking Lot

Written by my sister, Michele Ramsey

Some fought a hard “war over there” on land, in air and sea.

Some slogged through bug-filled jungles that would daunt a nurse like me.

Some came home safe, some came home lame, and some simply did not.

So why aren’t there any “beemers” in the VA parking lot?

Some walk with slow and halting gait, tho some still stride along

with head held high, shoulders back, ears tuned to some old marching song…

“Around Her Neck” a ribbon worn in honor of his name….

“When Johnny Marched Back Home” again the world was not the same.

He made the world a safer place in battles bitter fought –

so why no shiny Caddies in the Veterans’ parking lot?

Just your average parking lot at the VA down the street,

where the “chronic lungs” and the amputees and the volunteers all meet.

The families come to visit, to encourage, and to pray.

Then doctors and the nurses work long and hard each day

Try to “patch ‘em up again” a task with heartache fraught.

And still no brand new Lexus grace the Veterans’ parking lot.

Lots of cars with special tags and some disabled vans,

colors: red & white & blue on rusty greys and tans,

Smiling waves, and friendly nods, maybe just one empty spot -

They’re awfully busy there you see – at the VA parking lot.

Written in Honor of my Dad – C. Wendell Meyers, US Navy, WWII

There’s a reason I do what I do…..I love Toddlers! They are so bright and inquisitive. They never cease to amaze me. And you know, they never stop being special to me. Even when they are in High School and refuse to acknowledge that I knew [...]]]>

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted [...]]]>  

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle..

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, ‘Later… Now go get washed up for dinner.’ There would have been more ‘I love you’s’ More ‘I’m sorry’s.’

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!

Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what
Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us…

A friend of mine opened his wife’s underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:  ‘This, – he said – isn’t any ordinary package.’ He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. ‘She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or [...]]]>  

A friend of mine opened his wife’s underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:  ‘This, – he said – isn’t any ordinary package.’
He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.
‘She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on , she was saving it for a special occasion.
Well, I guess this is it.
He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral home. His wife had just died.
He turned to me and said:
‘Never save something for a special occasion.
Everyday in your life is a special occasion’.

I still think those words changed my life.
Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be an experience to be lived up to, not survived through..
I no longer keep anything.
I use crystal glasses every day….
I’ll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it..
I don’t save my special cologne for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.
The words ‘Someday….’ and ‘ One Day…’ are fading away from my dictionary.
If it’s worth seeing, listening to,or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now….
I don’t know what my friend’s wife would have done if she knew she wouldn’t be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.
I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.
I’d like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.
It’s these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come..
Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.
Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.

It has been a difficult few days – have you noticed – and the end is not yet in sight.  But I felt to write to you all and let you know how much I love you.  There are forces at work to try and drive us irreparably apart, and [...]]]> To all my dear ones,

It has been a difficult few days – have you noticed – and the end is not yet in sight.  But I felt to write to you all and let you know how much I love you.  There are forces at work to try and drive us irreparably apart, and I want to encourage you to hang on to each other.  No matter which side of this issue we support, ultimately the important thing is to support, encourage and strengthen these amazing relationships we have. 

Folks who work side by side are finding themselves bitterly angry with each other over this issue.  Family members are sharply divided over this issue.  The state is filled with non-Wisconsinites on both sides who feel they have come to support their particular “group”.  Truth be told, they bring more confusion and division.  But, when this is all over and whatever the outcome is, arrives on our doorstep, we will all feel the impact.  The non-Wisconsinites will go home and we will all have to take the steps into the next days, weeks and months together.

And so, friends, family, those who are closest to my heart, let us resolve to be at peace with each other and take peace with us wherever we go.  When those around us speak angry, divisive, accusatory words, let us strive to be filled with calm. Let us care more for each other even than the final outcome.  Politicians come and go; laws are written and re-written.  But truly the strength of our families, our communities, our states and our nation is found in the strength of one hand holding another.  Hands that hang on in spite of differences of opinion.  Hands that bring meals in times of need. Hands that reach out and lift burdens. 

On this day, I wanted to be sure to tell you all -  I am more blessed than I can say to hold your hands and feel your hands holding mine!
Love, Tanya

This evening, [...]]]> Have you ever wondered whether God cares about you as an individual?  About the things you do and those you love?  About even the little things and tiniest details of your life?  If you have ever wondered, let me tell you a story of just one time, one tiny incident, one little detail.

This evening, my daughter just happened to be teaching her final Friday evening Zumba class at the day care-beginning next week, classes will be on Monday.  I almost didn’t go to class because I was kind of tired.  Class began just a bit late.  When we were about to finish up, Jenny went to the door of the room to change the music and heard water running.  She looked out of the room and discovered the bubbler gushing water.  It had only been two or three minutes since we last used the bubbler, but the floor was flooded and water was rapidly running to every corner.

Because Jenny just happened to be teaching her final class this Friday, we heard the water running.  Because I just happened to go to class, someone was there who knew how to shut the water off.  Because class started a bit late, we were still there.

If we hadn’t been there, the water could have run for hours, flooding the entire center, doing unbelievable damage, closing the center for God Himself only knows how long, affecting all our families and our staff!

Because God cares, we have a clean floor, a bubbler that is shut off and being repaired, and a center that will be open Monday morning!  Just in case you were wondering!

Love, Tanya

Isn’t life interesting.  You plan, save, buy insurance, look to the future with optimism, feeling fairly confident that you have prepared for every eventuality – and [...]]]> The older I get the more I have discovered how little I actually control.  In fact, the only thing I can have complete decisive control over is………my own attitude!

Isn’t life interesting.  You plan, save, buy insurance, look to the future with optimism, feeling fairly confident that you have prepared for every eventuality – and then life happens!  Stuff that you never expected, didn’t know existed and had no idea could actually impact your little corner of the world decides to make an appearance.  And now, what do we do?

One of our dads lost his job at the beginning of the summer and he had a very interesting perspective.  He told us that they saved an amazing amount  of money this summer because he didn’t have to spend much of anything on gas, meals and other superflous expense that comes with being employed.  He is an avid gardener and has enjoyed expanding their vegetable gardens this summer, supplying the family with fresh veggies.  He even lost 20 pounds because he was eating in instead of out.  Now, while being unemployed was not a permanent solution for their family, his attitude was optimistic and positive!  What a perspective!

It reminds me of this little story.  There was once a small child riding in an elevator, standing beside her daddy.  As the elevator went up story by story, more and more people got on.  Pretty soon the elevator was very full.  The air became stuffy and the little child could not see anything worth seeing.  She was crowded  and had no place to move.  Maybe the elevator was stuck,  because she could no longer see the numbers above the elevator door!  She wasn’t even sure where her daddy was.  In fear she called out and held up her little hands.  Her father heard her voice, looked down and saw the distress on her face.  He gently reached down, picked her up and held her in his arms.  Suddenly, there in her father’s arms, she saw over the top of the heads of people in the crowded, stuffy elevator, discovered the door was still opening and closing and knew it would soon be their turn to exit.  Perspective makes all the difference!