The Heros In My Family

What is happening to our world?  How did it get this messed up?  Looter and rioters destroying communities and families, and then blaming the police and government?  Then calling Bruce Jenner a hero?  Now, don't get mad, this is not about the government, or transgender-ism, or race.  It's about changing ourselves, and there by changing the world around us.  And acknowledging the real hero's in our world.  The police who defend the innocent, the firefighters who save those in trouble, and the soldier that defends our freedoms.  Including the freedom of peaceful protest.  Today I would like to honor my family hero's...my firefighters and soldiers.

Tyler and Krystal Alderman....my granddaughter and her husband who serve (and served) in the Navy.

Mikaele Anderson...my grandson in law serving in the Navy.

Nick Coniglio...my nephew who served in the National Guard, and now serves as a volunteer fireman right next to his father, my brother-in-law Felix Coniglio.

My step-son Carl Huntington...a volunteer firefighter, and his son, my grandson Austin who serves by his side.

Alec Huntington...my grandson who serves in the Army.

Chuck Huntington....my step-son who serves as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.

Tim Haley...my nephew who serves as a paramedic and his son Jarrod Forsyth who served as a police officer, and just lost his life in a freak training exercise.

To you all...

thank you.

And now on a lighter side, a few weekends ago, we packed up our kids and traveled to New York for our nieces wedding.  We stayed with Chuckie, and he gave my Brandon a thrill of a lifetime.  He took him out for a ride in the fire truck!

He will talk about this....forever!

Who are you proud of?

Be blessed,

Debbi

Those where the days, my friend

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today, and since I have been relegated back to my dinosaur desktop computer, I thought I would take a walk in memories.  With pictures.  Lucky you, lol.

This is my mom...Nana...hard at work at the Allentown Art Festival in Buffalo, NY.  It was probably the late 60's or early 70's.  That's my brother Butch (when he had hair, lol) and me in that stylish plaid skirt with matching knee socks.  If you think that's fashion fun,  check out this...

here I am again, sometime in the mid 80's.  Yep, permed hair and red wire rimmed sunglasses...what a fashionista.  My style has always been my own. hahaha.

And this is my baby, best friend, hubby Chuck, on base at the Navy.  I've always been drawn to a man in uniform, but it was usually a policeman, and not in a good way. lol just kidding (sort of).  This was probably late 50's or early 60's.  The great thing about this picture, is that while our grand-daughter was in boot camp for the navy, she was stationed at the same base Chuck was at, so we sent her this picture.  And she recognized the area.  :0)

Ok, that's it for memories today, time to get back to work.

Be blessed,

Debbi

Two Hens and a Chick

Well, it's been way too long and I have been so off my schedule, but now...

I'M BACK!

Did you miss me?  :0)

Let me show you one of my favorite shops over at The Craft Star...

Two Hens and a Chick.  I just love that name, and their banner just makes me smile.

This shop is owned by Shana Jensen and check out what she creates....little people!

Isn't he just adorable????  I have grandchildren in the military, and all 3 of them are in the navy, which is why I picked this navy man.

Shana created him from a re-purposed light bulb, how creative is that?  She has a little light bulb man from every branch of the military.

In addition to service men, Shana has also created animal friends.  This cute turtle named Mosey was created from a vanity light bulb.

And just in time for the holidays....a handpainted brick!

This would be a great door stopper, or just a fun decoration under the tree.

If you enjoy these items, just click on any link to visit her shop and get them for yourself.

Until next time...

Be blessed,

Debbi

what happened to our history?

Todays post is a bit of a rant...first let me tell you the background story/reason for my rant.

I am a firm believer that "those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it" (Winston Churchill), and while our American history is full of evil...it is also full of hope, and love, and justice, and when our children are not taught the full history of their heritage, they are bound to make the same mistakes.  I am very proud of my military family...past and present...that give their lives for our freedom...the freedom to learn from our past and to bless the future of our children.



This is my dad...Chester Raczka.  He served in the navy during WWII, and was stationed on the USS Lexington and the USS Wasp, both of which sunk.  He also fought in the Battle of Midway.  I am so proud of him.  My husband Chuck was also a navy man, as is my grand-daughter and her husband, and another grandson-in-law.  I also have a grandson in the army, plus numerous nieces and nephews.  And I am so proud of them all.  Now the reason for my rant....last night at the dinner table, Hannah and I were talking about all sorts of things.  Somehow we got on the subject of my dad, and I told her that he served in the war.  She asked if it was like the show M.A.S.H. and I told her that was the Korean War.  She asked if that was the one with Hitler, and I responded, no, that was WWII, to which she responded "oh, that's Hogans Heros".  How sad that she is learning history from sitcoms on our classic tv stations and not from her teachers at school.  I had asked her before about her classes at school, and today they are not teaching American history, but they are teaching about world cultures and land masses and people groups.  Really?  People groups?  How can our children avoid our past mistakes as "people groups" if we don't tell them, and teach them, our history, good and bad.  I remember being in elementary school (grade K-6) and learning the 50 states, and their capitals, and even the flowers, trees, and birds.  I also learned about the pilgrims and the Revolutionary war, and the Indians and the move west, (including the wrongs we did to the Indians), and so much more.  When,and where, are our children learning that today?

I for one will be teaching my children more myself.  Time for visits to museums, and history videos.  What about you?  How will you help teach our future to not repeat our past?

Be blessed,

Debbi

 

It's Yankee Burrow Storytime - Remembering

full moon rising

Despite the late hour, I could not sleep.  So here I sit, on the front deck of the cabin and watch the reflection of the full moon sparkle on the water as it peeks through the clouds.  And I remember....

I don't want to remember, it hurts to remember, but still I remember...

I remember a time when I was happy, and my life was good.  A loving husband, a warm home, and a new baby, everything I was always told would make me feel complete.  And they were right, I was complete, and completely happy.

family wall art

I close my eyes, and the memories rush in.  There was a time, a long time ago, my mother would wait for me to get home from school.  Always interested in my day, always asking questions about my classes and my friends.  As a teen, I pitied her.  I thought, how sad, to not have your own life, but to be stuck at home, day after day, trying to find happiness through your children.  In all my 16 years of wisdom, I tried telling Mom that she needed to get a job, a career, a life.  Mom would just smile, pat my cheek, and tell me that loving and caring for me and my Dad was her career, one that she would never trade for anything the world had to offer her.

navy wedding cake topper

And then it happened...to me.  I first saw him on the campus of Stallings University.  He was all decked out in his navy uniform, handing out flyers for the local Navy Recruiting Office.  There is just something about a man in uniform.  He offered me a flyer, our eyes met and our fingers touched, my heart didn't stand a chance.  He asked me out for coffee, my mind screamed "no...run", but my heart just smiled and I agreed.  Coffee led to dinner, which led to weekends, which led to marriage.  Now I understood my mother, her smile, her contentment.  Then he was called to active duty.

I sigh, and shake myself.  Rising from the deck chair, I head back to bed, hoping, praying, for the dreams to stop.....

To be continued....next Thursday at the Yankee Burrow Storytime. 
Just click on the link below each picture to purchase these items for yourself.

Be blessed,

Debbi  

my heros

I first wrote this post last year, and while several things have changed since then, the one thing that has not changed is my pride...in my family, and in my country!
Today is Veterans Memorial Day. A day where we honor those who have fought to give us the rights and kind of life some of us just take for granted. But not me. I am a very proud American, and all that this country stands for. I remember at each and every parade, when the flag passed by, my mom would stand and cover her heart. We celebrated flag day in elementary school, and learned American history, the good and the bad. And I am proud of each and every loved one that has served, or is still serving, our country, and I would like to share them with you. Starting with my father, Chester Raczka. Isn't he just handsome? He was a navy man, and I think that is why I have always loved the navy uniform.

And this is my handsome hubby, way back in boot camp. He was a navy man too. They say you marry your father, hahaha. They both also loved shopping at the Goodwill. :P Chuck wasn't able to stay in the navy very long. He found out the hard way that he gets violently sea sick :( But he was proud of the time he did spend in the service. Just a few years ago we took a trip to Charleston, SC, to try and find his navy base. It was pretty cool to hear him talk about those days. He was recently honored at our church, along with the other military members, with a wonderful plaque. We need to get back to honoring those who served to keep our freedom. This is not a day for just a picnic. There are too many families missing loved ones today.

Now, my brother, Michael Raczka, was a marine in Vietnam. I was only 8 when he graduated from high school (picture on left), and I don't remember much about that time. I do remember my mom knitting him this huge blanket with a rat in uniform, cuz I guess that's what the other soldiers called him. And I remember watching him walk off the airplane when he got home from the war. He moved to CA shortly after that, here he is with his beautiful wife, Ginny.

This is my nephew Nicholas Coniglio. He just recently served 3 tours in Iraq in the Marine National Guard. He drove a Humvee, which made his mother (my sister) very nervous. We used to talk about him having a target on the roof of his Humvee. I'm sure getting 3 tours in Iraq was not what he expected when he signed with the National Guard, but he served his country well. Him and his wife Colleen just had their first child, Nunzio. Yes, he named the baby Nunzio, hahaha. Here is Nunzio today...handsome just like his daddy.

This is our grand-daughter Krystal Alderman with her husband Tyler. They met in boot camp. And, yeppers....the Navy! In fact Krystal went to the same boot camp that my husband went to, which he thought was really cool. They are both still serving, but Krystal will be done soon. They are expecting their first child next spring. Here is is...Tyler Michael. He joined us on May 17th. My great-grandbaby!

This is our other grand-daughter Shannon (Krystal's sister) with her Navy (oh yeah) husband Mikaele Anderson. They met thru Krystal and Tyler. Talk about keeping it in the family. We are waiting for Mikaele to come home from his last tour in Afghanistan. And Shannon just gave birth to their first son, Christian. Here's a recent picture of Christian. Getting his teeth, and now starting to walk. Life goe by way too fast.

This is another grand-child, Alec Huntington. He recently graduated from high school where he was part of the ROTC, and then went straight to boot camp, but he picked the Army (boooo hahaha). He is in school, and we get to see him when he comes home during school breaks. We also have several other family members in the military. Our great-niece and her husband, Joanne and Ronaldo Colon, her sister and husband Amy and Josh Kelly, and there are many many more, but if I mentioned them all this blog post would turn into a book.

When I first posted this story, I neglected to include my cousin, Jim Rath. Or Big Jim as some liked to call him. He was a Navy man too, and just recently passed away. He was sooooo strongly patriotic, and also very loving and giving. I believe that is a trait all our service men and women have, because you have to have a love for others to willingly put yourself in harms way, for other people who will never actually meet. All of our gone loved ones are dearly missed. Everyday.

So, when you're out and about today, and see a service man, go to them and tell them "Thank you". Because unless you've been in the military, or have a loved one in the military, you will never fully understand all they give up, because they love this country.

Debbi

A tribute to my Veterans

I first wrote this post last year, and while several things have changed since then, the one thing that has not changed is my pride...in my family, and in my country!
Today is Veterans Memorial Day.  A day where we honor those who have fought to give us the rights and kind of life some of us just take for granted.  But not me.  I am a very proud American, and all that this country stands for.  I remember at each and every parade, when the flag passed by, my mom would stand and cover her heart.  We celebrated flag day in elementary school, and learned American history, the good and the bad.  And I am proud of each and every loved one that has served, or is still serving, our country, and I would like to share them with you.  Starting with my father, Chester Raczka.  Isn't he just handsome?  He was a navy man, and I think that is why I have always loved the navy uniform.

And this is my handsome hubby, way back in boot camp. He was a navy man too. They say you marry your father, hahaha. They both also loved shopping at the Goodwill. :P Chuck wasn't able to stay in the navy very long. He found out the hard way that he gets violently sea sick :( But he was proud of the time he did spend in the service.  Just a few years ago we took a trip to Charleston, SC, to try and find his navy base.  It was pretty cool to hear him talk about those days.  He was recently honored at our church, along with the other military members, with a wonderful plaque.  We need to get back to honoring those who served to keep our freedom.  This is not a day for just a picnic.  There are too many families missing loved ones today.

 Now, my brother, Michael Raczka, was a marine in Vietnam.  I was only 8 when he graduated from high school (picture on left), and I don't remember much about that time.  I do remember my mom knitting him this huge blanket with a rat in uniform, cuz I guess that's what the other soldiers called him.  And I remember watching him walk off the airplane when he got home from the war.  He moved to CA shortly after that, here he is with his beautiful wife, Ginny.

This is my nephew Nicholas Coniglio.  He just recently served 3 tours in Iraq in the Marine National Guard.  He drove a Humvee, which made his mother (my sister) very nervous.  We used to talk about him having a target on the roof of his Humvee.  I'm sure getting 3 tours in Iraq was not what he expected when he signed with the National Guard, but he served his country well.  Him and his wife Colleen just had their first child, Nunzio.  Yes, he named the baby Nunzio, hahaha.  Here is Nunzio today...handsome just like his daddy.

This is our grand-daughter Krystal Alderman with her husband Tyler.  They met in boot camp.  And, yeppers....the Navy!  In fact Krystal went to the same boot camp that my husband went to, which he thought was really cool.  They are both still serving, but Krystal will be done soon.  They are expecting their first child next spring.  Here is is...Tyler Michael.  He joined us on May 17th.  My great-grandbaby!

This is our other grand-daughter Shannon (Krystal's sister) with her Navy (oh yeah) husband Mikaele Anderson.  They met thru Krystal and Tyler.  Talk about keeping it in the family.  We are waiting for Mikaele to come home from his last tour in Afghanistan.  And Shannon just gave birth to their first son, Christian.  Here's a recent picture of Christian.  Getting his teeth, and now starting to walk.  Life goe by way too fast.

This is another grand-child, Alec Huntington.  He recently graduated from high school where he was part of the ROTC, and then went straight to boot camp, but he picked the Army (boooo hahaha).  He is in school, and we get to see him when he comes home during school breaks.  We also have several other family members in the military.  Our great-niece and her husband, Joanne and Ronaldo Colon, her sister and husband Amy and Josh Kelly, and there are many many more, but if I mentioned them all this blog post would turn into a book.

When I first posted this story, I neglected to include my cousin, Jim Rath.  Or Big Jim as some liked to call him.  He was a Navy man too, and just recently passed away.  He was sooooo strongly patriotic, and also very loving and giving.  I believe that is a trait all our service men and women have, because you have to have a love for others to willingly put yourself in harms way, for other people who will never actually meet.  All of our gone loved ones are dearly missed.  Everyday.

So, when you're out and about today, and see a service man, go to them and tell them "Thank you".  Because unless you've been in the military, or have a loved one in the military, you will never fully understand all they give up, because they love this country.

Debbi