Memorial Day 2010

As you go about your day today I hope you pause and reflect for a moment on those who have paid the ultimate price for our nation and the freedoms we each enjoy through their service in the armed forces. I also hope you will remember that for every man or women who died in service to our nation they left behind spouses, children, parents, and siblings who still grieve and who are still in the process of healing.

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Not all who have fallen are brought home but it is good to know that they are honored were they fell. The American Battle Monuments Commission administers, operates and maintains 24 permanent American burial grounds on foreign soil where over 124,000 U.S. war dead have been interred.

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Manila, Philippines

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North Africa, Tunisia

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Aisne-Marne, France

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Cambridge, England

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Aisne-Marne, France (2,289)

Ardennes, Belgiumn (5,329)

Brittany, France (4,410)

Brookwood, England (468)

Cambridge, England (3,812)

Corozal, Panama (5,364)

Epinal, France (5,255)

Flanders Field, Belgium (368)

Florence, Italy (4,402)

Henri-Chapelle, Belgium (7,992)

Lorraine, France (10,489)

Luxembourg, Luxembourg (5,076)

Manila, Philippines (17,202)

Meuse-Argonne, France (14,246)

Mexico City, Mexico (750)

Netherlands, Netherlands (8,301)

Normandy, France (9,387)

North Africa, Tunisia (2,841)

Oise-Aisne, France (6,012)

Rhone, France (861)

Sicily-Rome, Italy (7,861)

Somme, France (1,844)

St Mihiel, France (4,153)

Suresnes, France (1,565)

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Grace & Peace

Flower Power

"Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get."

- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

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"Some people worry that artificial intelligence will make us feel inferior, but then, anybody in his right mind should have an inferiority complex every time he looks at a flower. "

- Alan Kay

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Flowers are pretty incredible creations and I really enjoy seeing just how wonderfully constructed they are. Not only do they serve specific purposes as host plants for insects and as nectar sources for bees and butterfly's but they quite pleasing to the eye. I also really enjoy taking close-up digital images and then zooming in to see the wonderful detail of their construction.

Lily

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Butterfly Bush

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Daisy

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Daisy

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Columbine

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Grace & Peace

Backyard Birding

"I gave my life to become the person I am right now. Was it worth it?" - Richard Bach

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"God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest." - J.G. Holland

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I have always loved watching birds and whenever I am outside I am usually looking about for them. I also enjoy watching flying insects such as butterfly's, dragonfly's and bee's as well as bats. They are amazingly and wonderfully created and I love that the creation of birds was specifically commented on in Genesis chapter 1 versus 20-25.

"And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day."

I have been blessed to be able to spend quite a bit time outdoors this Spring and I have really enjoyed taking a few pictures of.....you guessed it.....birds.

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Blue Jay & Red-bellied woodpecker

(and a squirrel)

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Carolina Chickadee

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Eastern Bluebird

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Northern Cardinal

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Grace & Peace

Crawfish Boil 101

So you may be wondering just what does it take to put on an authentic Louisiana crawfish boil so I thought I would show you.

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You start with a sack or two of Louisiana's finest crawfish.

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Next a take a large pot filled will water, add Zatarain's seasoning and heat it up.

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After a good rinsing or two or three....add the crawfish to the basket.

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Find one genuine authentic Louisiana crawfish boiler "chef?".

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Combine all the ingredients, bring to a boil, turn off the heat and then let them soak, and soak, and soak.....

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Sit yourself down and enjoy!

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And lastly but most important, don't forget to thank the hosts!

Thanks Stan & Gayle!

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Grace & Peace

Mothers Day 2010

“Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children.” - Billy Graham

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Grace & Peace

FSU Class of 2010

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

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"You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you will be the guy who'll decide where you'll go. Oh the places you'll go."

Dr. Seuss

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This past Friday evening Amanda graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelors of Science. It has been a joy and a blessing living out the past four years with her and I cannot wait to see the places she'll go. There are more pictures uploaded to my Picasa web albums if you are interested.

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Grace & Peace