Train Up Tuesday: Red, White and Blue Summer and Remembering

This past Sunday marked a milestone for my family.  It has been 30 years since my father passed away.  I guess you could say he "won" his battle with cancer in the ultimate healing.  I was only 5 at the time, but I'll NEVER forget the flag ceremony at the end of the funeral (my Daddy was a Marine Sergeant who died from complications of a brain tumor, no doubt resulting from work in his line of duty).  To this day, I still have a soft spot for veterans and active servicemen.  

The few memories I have of my father are still quite vivid, for I've replayed them in my mind over and over and over throughout the years.  My younger brother had just turned two a few weeks before Memorial Day that year, so he has no memories, only photos and a few stories.  There isn't much to speak of regarding Dad's extended family (adoption and other situations limiting that) so memories of his childhood are non-existent for us.  So, to commemorate this year, I relied on social networking (FB) and asked friends who knew him way back when to fill us in on any details, stories, glimpses into our Dad's life.  It was WONDERFUL to get back several responses.  Sunday morning, my brother and Mom and I sat down to breakfast together and I shared those stories.  It opened up opportunities to hear some things from my Mom that she might have otherwise not thought of sharing.

Memorial Day is special to me, because I'll NEVER forget.  Perhaps you've lost someone special and close in your life.  Maybe someone special in your life has lost someone.  Don't be afraid of memories.  Don't be afraid to explore them.  Don't be afraid to share them.  Most of our older adult friends have no idea what their little memories of our father mean to my brother and me.  "You look just like him." "You have his eyes."  "You walk like him."  "He was so kind and a gentleman."  "Your father was a good man."  Those simple phrases - they mean a world to some people!  They let you know a life mattered and didn't go unnoticed.  And for children who may not have rich memories on their own, it helps with healing, with putting "pieces together", and with helping to "never forget".  That can be a fear on its on - forgetting.  "What if I can't remember a smell, a voice, a laugh, a touch?!"  Stories from friends and loved ones aid in keeping the memory close to the surface in a good way.

As I've posted before, May through September can be a special time for patriots - Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July (my Daddy's FAVORITE!), Veteran's Day.  Don't let it all "jumble together".  Go to a ceremony.  Visit the grave of a fallen veteran and reminisce.  Drive down a Main Street and see the flags.  Go to a parade.  Celebrate your liberties. Buy a meal for a veteran.  Send poppies.  Make some Americana crafts.  Share stories, listen to stories of veterans.

Make the most of all of it this summer!  May it be a Red, White, and Blue one!  

-Ashlie

Train Up Tuesday: Celebrate the Flag!

Has today just passed you by? I mean, did you wake up thinking..."just another Tuesday"? Did you know it is "Flag Day"? Does it matter? I have a love/hate relationship with the spring/summer holidays from Memorial Day through Veterans Day (with D-Day, Flag Day, 4th of July) all of it wrapped up in these nice, beautiful seasons. On the one hand, you have a great 5 months to celebrate the greatness of patriotism. On the other, you have a lot of people (including myself) who see it all get jumbled up into "one" idea of celebration. Each of these holidays mark very specific points for our country - honoring the fallen brave servicemen and women, remembering specific attacks, the "adoption" of our flag, our country's "birthday" of freedom, honoring those who have served. It is a beautiful time indeed, but it is so easy to gloss over all of it and not take time to make each of these days special.

In the past, I've not really made a big deal over "flag" day. I'd like to change that. Last year, we visited my Dad's grave on Memorial Day weekend (he was a Marine and actually passed around that time many years ago) and went to our first 4th of July parade . I've not found a lot on "Flag Day" in the way of crafts, but perhaps these links will get you started:

Enchanted Learning has quite a few great printables to help you.

Apples 4 Teacher has SEVERAL links to help you talk about Flag Day and to make things for celebrating.

I think this would be a fun flag to make... "Let freedom ring"


...but I don't know my boys would be able to do much in helping me with it. So, our craft will probably be basic and made from whatever craft bits I have on hand.

Maybe, if your family enjoys exploring "The Flag", you could talk about making your own family flag, filled with symbols that mean something to you, your interests and your values! I'd like to do that at some point with my family. Perhaps revisiting the idea every few years to see if anything changes.

Hope it's more than just another Tuesday for you!
Ashlie

Stay at Home Saturday: Memorial Day Savory Smackerels

So...we've been doing a "get outta yo suppatime rut" series but we're gonna take a little break for some  Memorial Day weekend celebration inspiration. Here are some quick, go to, easy concoctions that definitely have a "wow" factor and won't be anything but crowd pleasers...or at least conversation pieces!

Patriotic Appetizer

For the Caprese lovers in your group, the first tray is blue corn chips, sliced tomatoes, and mozarella cubes topped w/ mozarella cheese cut into stars. The other tray is black olives, cherry tomatoes and balls of fresh mozarella. Remember--it's alllllll in the presentation!

Patriotic Side/Entree

Believe it or not, this patriotic persuasion comes from the Mexican side of the spectrum--Taco Salad! Click here for this Taste of Home specialty.



Patriotic Dessert
Ingredients:
•20 ice cream sandwiches (regular, strawberry or neopolitan)
•1 12 oz. jar hot fudge sauce
•1 8 oz. container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
•red, white and blue sprinkles

Preparation:
1.Cut one ice cream sandwich in half. Place one whole ice cream sandwich and one half of an ice cream sandwich side by side across the short end of a 9 x 13 pan.
2.Next to those ice cream sandwiches, arrange 8 more ice cream sandwiches lengthwise, to cover the bottom of the pan.
3.Place hot fudge sauce in a microwave-safe container. Heat on high for 30 seconds. Spread half of the sauce over the ice cream sandwiches.
4.Top with half of the whipped topping.
5.Repeat layers: ice cream sandwiches, hot fudge sauce and whipped topping.
6.Freeze, uncovered 2 hours. Cover with foil and freeze another hour.
Makes 24-36 servings.

Wanna add some flair to the top? Get some bluberries and strawberries OR raspberries and bring out the inner patriot in you!

We would LOVE to hear your ideas and see pictures of your patriotic creations so PLEASE send them to roofwithaview at gmail dot com!!!!! We will share your ideas as July 4th ideas for our fellow sisters. :)