Daniel Benson Nolff - who gave his life in service of our country on October 29, 1966
We also thank the members of our family who fought for freedom under our flag.
Claude E. Harper -- POW WWII
John L. Coleman (July 24, 1994) -- WWII
Richard Elenbaas (Sept. 4, 1970) -- WWI
Web Elenbaas (Sept. 4, 1999) and Larry Hagen (Dec. 26, 2008) -- The Korean Conflict
Henry "Butch" Nolff (July 4, 2003) -- Vietnam (escorted my Uncle Dan's remains home for burial)
And those who also served.
J. Alan Coleman, USMC
Don Harper, US Army
**I'm sure there are more I may have missed and I apologize. Your service is none less important than anyone else, I simply was not certain of who served for what branch and/or where. I felt it best not to post any information rather than incorrect/incomplete information.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Split Seconds
Our pool is open for this year! And I remembered why we typically wait until later in the summer to open it. Helicopters! They're everywhere and they're still falling and I hate them! They get all over the cover, they sink to the bottom, they clog up the filter and get stuck in the vacuum bag!
Jacob and Jeremy took their first swim on Tuesday while I was at work. Jacob and I went for a dip last night and it was great. Until one little second just split.
Jacob can touch the bottom of the pool this year with about 2 inches to spare. Jeremy had told me that Jacob was in the pool without a tube when they swam but, I put Jacob in the tube when we first got in because I knew I needed to do some skimming and couldn't give him my full attention. When I was done skimming, I pulled him out of the tube and was watching him show me how big he was walking in the pool by himself (holding my hand). In the corner of my eye, I saw a big clump of helicopters falling from the tree and it brushed my arm as it came to land in the pool. I was watching Jay, grabbed the hunk of helicopter, looked right, threw it out, turned back and Jacob was GONE! I looked down and he was under the water. I saw his little brown head in contrast to all of the blue from the pool liner. I didn't panic (my heart didn't even leap, oddly) but reached down and pulled him up by his underarms and he did a "GASP!" as I pulled him up.
"Mommy? Why'd I slip?"
"It's slippery sometimes. You're okay. And that is why you never, never, never go swimming without Mommy or Daddy."
"Don't let me go? K, Mommy?"
We're very careful with/in/around the pool. Making sure Jacob is through the tube or one of us is hanging on to him. We enforce that he's not to even be by the pool without Jeremy or I. We take the phone out with us when we go in - just in case and set it on the arm of the chair by the ladder that holds our towels. I know CPR (I could use a re-certification) and took the child's course as well. Seriously, I turned for a split second and he'd slipped under.
It can happen that fast!
You can think that you watch your kids really well, and I do - for Jacob to be out of my sight is rare. You can think that you're careful and this won't happen to you - I did! My kid went underwater in a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a second that I turned. I thank God that I did do everything right and I was right there when it happened but, let me tell you I never thought it would happen to me and I certainly never believed it would happen that fast.
Enjoy your summer, enjoy the water - and please, please be careful with your kids in the water. If you already think that you are (like I did) I hope you'll remember this and think again.
Jacob and Jeremy took their first swim on Tuesday while I was at work. Jacob and I went for a dip last night and it was great. Until one little second just split.
Jacob can touch the bottom of the pool this year with about 2 inches to spare. Jeremy had told me that Jacob was in the pool without a tube when they swam but, I put Jacob in the tube when we first got in because I knew I needed to do some skimming and couldn't give him my full attention. When I was done skimming, I pulled him out of the tube and was watching him show me how big he was walking in the pool by himself (holding my hand). In the corner of my eye, I saw a big clump of helicopters falling from the tree and it brushed my arm as it came to land in the pool. I was watching Jay, grabbed the hunk of helicopter, looked right, threw it out, turned back and Jacob was GONE! I looked down and he was under the water. I saw his little brown head in contrast to all of the blue from the pool liner. I didn't panic (my heart didn't even leap, oddly) but reached down and pulled him up by his underarms and he did a "GASP!" as I pulled him up.
"Mommy? Why'd I slip?"
"It's slippery sometimes. You're okay. And that is why you never, never, never go swimming without Mommy or Daddy."
"Don't let me go? K, Mommy?"
We're very careful with/in/around the pool. Making sure Jacob is through the tube or one of us is hanging on to him. We enforce that he's not to even be by the pool without Jeremy or I. We take the phone out with us when we go in - just in case and set it on the arm of the chair by the ladder that holds our towels. I know CPR (I could use a re-certification) and took the child's course as well. Seriously, I turned for a split second and he'd slipped under.
It can happen that fast!
You can think that you watch your kids really well, and I do - for Jacob to be out of my sight is rare. You can think that you're careful and this won't happen to you - I did! My kid went underwater in a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a second that I turned. I thank God that I did do everything right and I was right there when it happened but, let me tell you I never thought it would happen to me and I certainly never believed it would happen that fast.
Enjoy your summer, enjoy the water - and please, please be careful with your kids in the water. If you already think that you are (like I did) I hope you'll remember this and think again.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
What is Reiki?
I mentioned here a few weeks ago that I had attended a community Reiki night. I also had said that I really enjoyed it, I felt really good afterward, I felt energized, happy, joyous and much, much more.
I know that Reiki is a 'new age' term. It has nothing to do with 'occult' or 'fortune telling' or 'witchcraft'. I found a description online and I thought that it explained my experience and my afterthoughts much better than I could. If you're in pain, stressed, tired, or run down. Give it a try. I promise it won't sentence you to an afterlife down below.
What is Reiki?
The International Center for Reiki Training
A Brief Overview
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.
Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.
An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life.
Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.
While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.
While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.
I know that Reiki is a 'new age' term. It has nothing to do with 'occult' or 'fortune telling' or 'witchcraft'. I found a description online and I thought that it explained my experience and my afterthoughts much better than I could. If you're in pain, stressed, tired, or run down. Give it a try. I promise it won't sentence you to an afterlife down below.
What is Reiki?
The International Center for Reiki Training
A Brief Overview
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.
Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.
An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life.
Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.
While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.
While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.
Monday, May 24, 2010
It's a girl!
I had posted it to Facebook and then I realized that some read here and not there, there and not here so I should probably put the news here too.
Our puppy was born Thursday, May 20/Friday May 21. Polly went into labor about 11:45 PM on Thursday. She gave birth to 9 adorable chocolate lab babies. 6 females and 3 males. We had made the first of the list so her owners are giving us pick of the females. I can't wait until Jacob sees all of those puppies!
As of today, they are healthy and squirmy but, their eyes and ears are not open yet. They're doing very well and Momma is too.
Our girl (I'm not going to mention her name until we have pictures) will come home with us mid-July.
Jacob picked out her first pink collar this weekend. We also set up her crate - mostly so Jacob could grow tired of playing in it before the puppy came home to use it. He played firetrucks in there for a good hour.
We're very excited for this addition to our family. We've been looking/waiting for her for awhile. I know it's not going to be perfect and this dog will probably frustrate me as much, if not more than Jacob does and I can't even fathom what the two of them together will do to my nervous system. I know training is going to be tough to say the least but, I think my boy and his dog will both be very much worth it in the end. :)
Our puppy was born Thursday, May 20/Friday May 21. Polly went into labor about 11:45 PM on Thursday. She gave birth to 9 adorable chocolate lab babies. 6 females and 3 males. We had made the first of the list so her owners are giving us pick of the females. I can't wait until Jacob sees all of those puppies!
As of today, they are healthy and squirmy but, their eyes and ears are not open yet. They're doing very well and Momma is too.
Our girl (I'm not going to mention her name until we have pictures) will come home with us mid-July.
Jacob picked out her first pink collar this weekend. We also set up her crate - mostly so Jacob could grow tired of playing in it before the puppy came home to use it. He played firetrucks in there for a good hour.
We're very excited for this addition to our family. We've been looking/waiting for her for awhile. I know it's not going to be perfect and this dog will probably frustrate me as much, if not more than Jacob does and I can't even fathom what the two of them together will do to my nervous system. I know training is going to be tough to say the least but, I think my boy and his dog will both be very much worth it in the end. :)
Friday, May 21, 2010
All things girly
In the past couple of weeks, I've noticed a big interest (on my part) in all things 'girly'. This is serious, folks! I don't wear pinks or purples or anything even close to them - and after a shopping spree a few weeks ago, you should see my closet! I bought a button up with pink/purple/chocolate plaid and a purple tee for underneath. I bought a vest with greens and fuscia plaid - and a fuscia lace-trimmed tee to go underneath. I was really disappointed that a certain pink sweater was not available in my size. :(
I don't understand what has happened to me. And I know you're wondering what has happened to me. You think that's bad? Get this:
The girl dog. I'm tired of being the only girl around here! Need I say more? (BTW - our puppy was born late last night/early this AM).
I've bought a couple of bottles of new perfume. I've been sudsing up with my collection of Bath and Body Works, rotating through them all (and now shopping for more). This morning, I even tried one from Mary Kay - I didn't think I'd like it as it was a sugar scrub (they tend to scratch me - and the fact that I know this, is why I'm here, writing this), Simply Cotton but, it smells so clean!
I'm now addicted to Avon (thanks Lori). I am buying make-up (I have eye shadow! Whodathunkit?) and skin creams, etc. It's odd, I know. I love the smell of the new face wash and lotion I bought combined with the new make-up. I bought the whole collection of their mineral make-up line. I also marked out the new campaign (order book) for my next order! Bring on more shower gels, another perfume and mascara!
It's not that I smelled bad before, at least I didn't think I did...?
What's next? No, no, no, no, no! I'm not buying ANY dresses! Get that thought right out of your mind!
I don't understand what has happened to me. And I know you're wondering what has happened to me. You think that's bad? Get this:
The girl dog. I'm tired of being the only girl around here! Need I say more? (BTW - our puppy was born late last night/early this AM).
I've bought a couple of bottles of new perfume. I've been sudsing up with my collection of Bath and Body Works, rotating through them all (and now shopping for more). This morning, I even tried one from Mary Kay - I didn't think I'd like it as it was a sugar scrub (they tend to scratch me - and the fact that I know this, is why I'm here, writing this), Simply Cotton but, it smells so clean!
I'm now addicted to Avon (thanks Lori). I am buying make-up (I have eye shadow! Whodathunkit?) and skin creams, etc. It's odd, I know. I love the smell of the new face wash and lotion I bought combined with the new make-up. I bought the whole collection of their mineral make-up line. I also marked out the new campaign (order book) for my next order! Bring on more shower gels, another perfume and mascara!
It's not that I smelled bad before, at least I didn't think I did...?
What's next? No, no, no, no, no! I'm not buying ANY dresses! Get that thought right out of your mind!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
What I've learned
I've been going on and on and on and on about this photography class. It's time I put my money where my mouth is.
This was taken last night on my way home. I used the 'auto' mode on my camera.
This was taken with the camera in manual mode adjusting the aperture, shutter speed and the ISO. This. This is what my eye really saw.
I spent quite a bit of money on a camera. Yes, others have spent more. I can't understand why one would spend so much on a camera and only use the 'Auto' mode. These 5 minutes on the side of the road in Allegan County reminded me why I bought my camera, what I want it to do and why I'm spending the money to learn to take the pictures of what I want to see, not what my camera thinks I want to see. Good-bye AUTO!
This was taken last night on my way home. I used the 'auto' mode on my camera.
This was taken with the camera in manual mode adjusting the aperture, shutter speed and the ISO. This. This is what my eye really saw.
I spent quite a bit of money on a camera. Yes, others have spent more. I can't understand why one would spend so much on a camera and only use the 'Auto' mode. These 5 minutes on the side of the road in Allegan County reminded me why I bought my camera, what I want it to do and why I'm spending the money to learn to take the pictures of what I want to see, not what my camera thinks I want to see. Good-bye AUTO!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
It's all been uphill
I'll say the same thing about this Mother's Day that I have said about every Mother's Day..."Next year will be better!" We'll talk about it again next year.
It's all been uphill from there though! Seriously. I am happier than I've been in a long time. I have more energy. I just feel good. And I'm still exhausted! I love this time of year, when I get CRAZY busy!
I guess, I've been doing a lot of things for me. A lot of de-cluttering. A lot of sorting, organizing and cleaning out. It feels so good to get out from under so much.
I went for a massage last week. And I loved it! I highly recommend it! Jeremy gave me a 1/2 hour for Christmas. I have vowed to myself that I will be going back - regularly! The best thing about her is she has kids, Jacob's age and her husband is home and will supervise the kids playing. I've known these people since I moved down here. I know their (his) parents, his sister, and all of the extended family. It's not like they are strangers.
My on-line auctioning has been going very well. I'm closing in on $250 in sales in the past 3 months. I can't believe the money I've made on the things I've sold (that sounds like I'm selling garbage). Clarification - I didn't think my old clothes could be worth that much to someone else. I've set a goal for an average of $80 a week and I have consistently met that goal. The only drawback...I'm running out of stuff to sell! Jeremy thinks I should turn it into a business ie. I take something from you and I sell it, charge you a fee, then give you the money. I'm not sure about that.
My photography class has been fantastic. I was really scared at first, I was the only Nikon in the room amongst all the Canon Rebels. I was afraid I wasn't going to learn anything about my camera. And then they started trickling in. One, two, and three more came! Whew! The class went so well that the instructor said "You are all more advanced than I thought. We covered all of my material. Next class we'll just answer questions and do some shooting." Class starts at 6:30PM and I can't get there soon enough!
I've been hitting yard sales already! I found a couple of old runner sleds at a yard sale. I'm planning to photograph our Christmas card this year. I also bought a box of old cameras - really old cameras. I've had a lot of ideas for pictures of kids and families and I've been writing down my visions. I don't know where this is going to go but, I can tell you that I'm following Someone Else's lead. I'll be starting the intermediate class in the next session and I have another 6 week workshop this fall. The hardest thing is balancing Jacob, Jeremy's schedule and shooting time.
I packed and sent another box of books to the library. They will shelve what they can and use the rest for their book sale. This is the 2nd box I've donated. I also donated a box of toys to a local day-care. I've also packed away a lot of toys to save for Jacob's kids. I feel good about that. It's warming just to give.
Our puppy is coming around August. She's due mid June. We are in for a chocolate (lab) female. Jacob is very excited. We've been preparing for her to join our family. We have a name for her, dishes, a crate, some toys. Actually, this morning Jacob was "sleeping with 'her' shark." I don't know if I've said her name in a previous post or in conversation but, we're hanging on to it until she's here though if you ask Jacob, he'll tell you.
Lots going on and more to look forward to.
It's all been uphill from there though! Seriously. I am happier than I've been in a long time. I have more energy. I just feel good. And I'm still exhausted! I love this time of year, when I get CRAZY busy!
I guess, I've been doing a lot of things for me. A lot of de-cluttering. A lot of sorting, organizing and cleaning out. It feels so good to get out from under so much.
I went for a massage last week. And I loved it! I highly recommend it! Jeremy gave me a 1/2 hour for Christmas. I have vowed to myself that I will be going back - regularly! The best thing about her is she has kids, Jacob's age and her husband is home and will supervise the kids playing. I've known these people since I moved down here. I know their (his) parents, his sister, and all of the extended family. It's not like they are strangers.
My on-line auctioning has been going very well. I'm closing in on $250 in sales in the past 3 months. I can't believe the money I've made on the things I've sold (that sounds like I'm selling garbage). Clarification - I didn't think my old clothes could be worth that much to someone else. I've set a goal for an average of $80 a week and I have consistently met that goal. The only drawback...I'm running out of stuff to sell! Jeremy thinks I should turn it into a business ie. I take something from you and I sell it, charge you a fee, then give you the money. I'm not sure about that.
My photography class has been fantastic. I was really scared at first, I was the only Nikon in the room amongst all the Canon Rebels. I was afraid I wasn't going to learn anything about my camera. And then they started trickling in. One, two, and three more came! Whew! The class went so well that the instructor said "You are all more advanced than I thought. We covered all of my material. Next class we'll just answer questions and do some shooting." Class starts at 6:30PM and I can't get there soon enough!
I've been hitting yard sales already! I found a couple of old runner sleds at a yard sale. I'm planning to photograph our Christmas card this year. I also bought a box of old cameras - really old cameras. I've had a lot of ideas for pictures of kids and families and I've been writing down my visions. I don't know where this is going to go but, I can tell you that I'm following Someone Else's lead. I'll be starting the intermediate class in the next session and I have another 6 week workshop this fall. The hardest thing is balancing Jacob, Jeremy's schedule and shooting time.
I packed and sent another box of books to the library. They will shelve what they can and use the rest for their book sale. This is the 2nd box I've donated. I also donated a box of toys to a local day-care. I've also packed away a lot of toys to save for Jacob's kids. I feel good about that. It's warming just to give.
Our puppy is coming around August. She's due mid June. We are in for a chocolate (lab) female. Jacob is very excited. We've been preparing for her to join our family. We have a name for her, dishes, a crate, some toys. Actually, this morning Jacob was "sleeping with 'her' shark." I don't know if I've said her name in a previous post or in conversation but, we're hanging on to it until she's here though if you ask Jacob, he'll tell you.
Lots going on and more to look forward to.
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