Steeler Fans are Crying

Some say that rain on your wedding day symbolizes the tears of a girl's ex-boyfriends. Tonight, when the Ravens defeated the Steelers 30-17, the tears of the Steeler fans poured down from the sky at my house.  Hope we don't get flooded.

Congratulations, Baltimore.  You deserved the win.

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Game Changer Year, 2015

It never fails. Every year I almost miss a holiday because I am so involved in whatever may be capturing my attention at the time. In 2014, I almost missed New Year's Eve! I suppose that there would have been many jokes about Rumplestiltskin throughout 2015 and I would have survived the teasing but I am happy I only need to make the confession to you and didn't sleep through the party.

I am happy to move into 2015 free of harassment from friends and family and have decided that this year would be my game changer year. No more of the close calls of forgetting to get the Halloween costume! I found a nice 2015 pdf calendar that we can use and I've made mental notes of the weekdays of each holiday with hopes that my subconscious will work as my personal assistant.

Have a happy and well planned 2015!

2015 Holidays

Jan 1 (Thursday) New Year's Day

Jan 19 (Monday) Martin Luther King Day

Feb 14 (Saturday)Valentine's Day

Feb 16 (Monday) Presidents' Day

Apr 5 Easter Sunday

Apr 13 (Monday) Thomas Jefferson's Birthday

May 10 (Sunday) Mothers' Day

May 25 (Monday) Memorial Day

Jun 21 (Sunday) Fathers' Day

Jul 3 (Friday) 'Independence Day' observed

Jul 4 (Saturday) Independence Day

Sep 7 (Monday) Labor Day

Oct 12 (Monday) Columbus Day

Oct 31 (Saturday) Halloween

Nov 11 (Wednesday) Veterans Day

Nov 26 (Thursday) Thanksgiving Day

Dec 24 (Thursday) Christmas Eve

Dec 25 (Friday) Christmas Day

Dec 26 (Saturday) Day After Christmas Day

Dec 31 (Thursday) New Year's Eve

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The Long Trail Home and Semper Fi Fund Anniversary

I do not know where people gain their inspiration, there are times that I do not even know where my own comes from. I do know that sometimes frustration causes me to take action. Today is one of those days.

Today my husband had his 90 day check-up for the intracranial aneurysm that he had repaired. The doctor told us that he was very pleased to see that all test results showed that the procedure had been successful and he did not need to see my husband for another year. What amazing, great news for myself and my family! How could I possibly complain?

Well, I can. I have been following The Long Trail Home since May, 2014 and though Matt Littrell and his team have been through various perils, he is no where near the 7 million dollars he wanted to raise for the Semper Fi Fund. Every day this man and the Semper Fi Fund crosses my mind.

On the way to the hospital today my son was telling me about a friend of his that claims the government and the military have done bad things. The friend thinks he would have a better life if he were to live in a different country. I can't imagine.

First thing that comes to my mind are my First Amendment rights. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press: or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

By voicing his opinion to my son, this kid just used one of these rights. He used another while he and his small group of friends were peaceably assembled discussing the unconscionable wrongs of the world. You've probably met a kid like this, one that is forming opinions based on their limited knowledge of living their entire life in these United States. He doesn't have any idea what life would be without these rights and Matt was willing to defend them with his body and soul. Matt's okay with that but he really wants to help soldiers that were not as fortunate as he.

Tonight I ask you to please stand up for your rights and prove this kid wrong. He is young and doesn't understand.

This November, the Semper Fi Fund is celebrating its 10^th anniversary with the 10 for 10 Challenge which is a matching campaign with the possibility of raising $10 million for wounded, critically ill and injured veterans. This challenge which was issued by The Bob & Renee Parson Foundation with support from GoDaddy and will be one of the largest matching campaigns in the history of veteran nonprofits. Through December 31, 2014, all donations to the Semper Fi Fund and America's Fund will be matched, dollar for dollar.

Please donate to Matt's Semper Fi fundraising page.  It's a great way to show we care and a wonderful way to help make history.

As of today, there is no news to report about the recovery of the saddle stolen from The Long Trail Home.  The media in Phoenix did a report about the missing saddle but I guess somebody needed it more than Matt, even though it was very personal to him.  The team is less than 400 miles from Camp Pendleton and I am sure he has raised awareness of veterans and their needs after returning home after deployment.  

Before Matt started his ride I hadn't really heard much about the Semper Fi Fund.  In the past few months I have taken the time to learn more about the organization.  It was refreshing to learn that the Semper Fi Fund has been awarded the highest rating from watch dog groups for charities and though some may immediately assume that they only provide help only to Marines, they actually work with all service branches and retired service members.  

Please donate to The Long Trail Home fund raising page.

Missing Saddle, Believed to be Stolen From The Long Trail Home

While camping in Payson, Arizona a saddle belonging to Matt Littrell of The Long Trail Home was stolen from a campsite at the Payson Rodeo Grounds sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2014.

If anyone has information in regard to the missing saddle please contact Chief of Police Donald B. Engler at (928) 474-5177.

Please share so the saddle can be recovered.

The Long Trail Home fundraiser for Semper Fi Fund

The Long Trail Home facebook page

~Thank you

Dixie Off Road Photography

For the past few year I have attended the annual event of the Sheriff's JeepFest in Jasper, Georgia. I'm guessing that I have grown especially fond of the JeepFest because it reminds me of my younger years when I participated in unorganized four wheeling events. Okay, I really had no business being out in the woods four wheeling around as if I knew what I was doing and I know that part of the excitement was probably the risk of getting caught but these are different times and we are well beyond the statute of limitations.

The JeepFest is a well organized, fun event for people of all ages and though my time there this year was especially limited I was still able to have a great time thanks to Dixie Off Road Photography being kind enough to share pictures on their facebook page. It's not the first time Dixie Off Road Photography caught my attention so I contacted them in regard to their full line of services.

Here's the great news for you! Whether you use your equipment for agriculture, mining or excavation Dixie Off Road Photography of Monroe, Georgia is happy to provide their services throughout the United States. If you want to display the qualities of your business Dixie Off Road Photography can capture the essence of it through their photography. Contact them on facebook or their web site DIXIE OFF ROAD PHOTOGRAPHY.

Photos by Dixie Off Road Photography, Monroe, GA

Take on the Bear for Semper Fi Fund

As you know I have been following The Long Trail Home and trying to help promote them so that Matt Littrell will have a successful mission of raising money for the Semper Fi Fund. I am completely impressed with Matt. He started this crazy journey on a wing and a prayer when he left from just south of Camp LeJeune, NC in the spring. He did not have a publicist, an established schedule and I do not believe he even had much food. He did have a good friend, a facebook page, a horse and a destination, Camp Pendleton, CA.

Initially, I thought Matt was following a dream and I questioned how he expected to have success. I even wondered if in fact he would be able to accomplish the mission that he had assigned to himself. Sure, he was a Marine but I live in Georgia and it gets really hot. He planned on camping but I am afraid of the bear in my backyard and that is not even mentioning the mosquitoes, nor the poisonous snakes.

Matt has been a great sport about his long trail home. Actually, he did complain about the mosquitoes but he wasn't in Georgia when that happened, he was a little farther west. Even then he made mention that it was bothersome to the horses and he was concerned about their well being and comfort. Matt is a gentleman. He knows that his horse is his means of transportation and prioritizes the animals.

As I have sat back and watched the news from the safety of my home I have wondered why the media didn't recognize this Marine at every corner he passed. Why were people not noticing that this gentleman had a mission? It finally occurred to me that there is a strong possibility that others in this country may be more afraid of that bear in my backyard than I. Matt was out there with it! He also served over there where we are okay with our children not knowing about. Using the bear as a metaphor, we never want any child to be out in the backyard with the bear but Matt didn't care.

When Matt got home after his two tours in Iraq he knew that rejoining society would not be easy and he soon realized that others needed help too. Rather than waiting for the government to take action he decided to do something. Once again, Matt wasn't fearful of that stupid bear. After all, he had been part of the few, the proud, the Marines.

I would like to challenge you today. You already have the only tool you need, yourself.

I challenge you to share Matt's story with everybody you know. It doesn't matter if you like the person or not, share his story. Our wounded service members and their families need everybody to help. It's your turn to take on the bear!

Please donate to the Semper Fi Fund

and challenge others to take on the bear.

https://fundraising.semperfifund.org/fundraise?fcid=249300

You can follow The Long Trail Home on facebook through the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/Thelongtrailhome