Amongst The Broken Dreams...

(Photo source © AP Photo/Brian Skoloff)

As one owner who thought her mountain cabin has gone up in smoke this Summer, I can only imagine the heavy heart of Thumper's owner when he thought her lost!

Officials no longer let residents return in Middletown, California, since the fire erupted Saturday about 100 miles north of San Francisco, scorching thousands of acres and reducing more than 800 homes to ash.
Amongst them a 76 year old man named Ross thought he lost his best friend...

When a journalist offered to check out the area, I imagine he never guessed the outcome!

As you can see in the above photo this Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, Associated Press reporter Brian Skoloff pets "Thumper," a 70-pound lab, moments after the dog crawled out from beneath a crawl space of her owner's home, covered in ash and soot.

You can read the whole story (HERE) and see Thumper on her way to be reunited with her master!

Way to go Brian!!

For Lucienne

(Photo source HERE)

You probably know how it feels...Wherever you are, you find yourself yearning to be elsewhere...

SKYPE helps of course but it is not the same as being near your loved ones. And sharing daily news means you feel what the others experience and you want to help, knowing all you can do from afar is offer prayers and encouragement.

And sometime you are so thoroughly confused you need a little help...just to keep sane...

I found the above print and could not resist sharing: it features a Corgi and MAC the Corgi gave his seal of approval!

And now I repeat...again and again...

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

(Source St Francis prayer)

Note: This post was written for a dear friend who only a few months after being the victim of a hit and skip accident (yes, the driver actually left the scene) and suffered countless brain surgeries as a result now slipped in the bathroom and broke a vertebra... 

Our prayers goes to you Lucienne!

Ucommon: Find Your Voice, DVD review

Overview:

When the students of Rosewood High School lose their theater, music and dance departments due to budgets cuts, they create their own. Struggling to find the right script, music & choreography the students get advice from an uncommon source; the Bible!

Each student becomes uniquely influenced as they discover that God takes them personally. Equipped with unique talents, they bond together to prepare the perfect production by exploring the diversity of parables taught in the Bible. Fighting overwhelming challenges, the teens fight against political correctness to defend their privilege to worship, meet and perform.

Will months of constant bullying by the establishment defeat the production and dismantle their faith?Armed with expert legal counsel and unexpected help from Christian music’s finest, these teens realize what it means to be…UNCOMMON!

My thoughts:

Released on 1 Septembre 2015 Uncommon is definitively the sort of movie reminding you that we too often take the path of least resistance. Why else have we failed to oppose a school system where God has no place?

When do we take a stand for what we believe into? When do we fight back and really show our children what can be achieved when we 'love one another as He loves us'?

The story behind this movie is not the sort that will break the box offices by all means but you will remember and appreciate the earnest acting and familiar faces. The heartening message behind UNCOMMON will inspire anyone who believe in peace.  Our world has turned a blind eye on violence and bullying too often, particularly in our schools. Let's share this movie with any young adult to show them it is 'cool' to make a difference and fight for what is right!

A good family movie earning 5 stars! 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the DVD courtesy of EDIFY MEDIA Inc. as part of the series promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

75 Years Ago

They were very young,  they were incredibly brave and as Churchill said: "Never before in human history was so much owed by so many to so few."

It was 1940 and on that critical 15 Septembre, Royal Air Force pilots fought desperately to withstand the onslaught of the Lutchwaffe as they attempted to gain control of British air space.

Of these 2936 courageous young men, 544 lost their lives, many were killed in action, others were missing, never to be heard of again.

At war since 1939, Britain stood firm and never gave up despite the many losses of lives. Four months later, the longest single battle fought in the air was abandoned by Nazi Germany.

It took another five years for peace to return and too many dreams were lost.

(Photos source HERE)

Today we remember and salute these valiant R.A.F. pilots!

We Shall Never Forget...

"The future beckoned and it looked promising. That promise was quickly dimmed, however, on a bright, sun-filled Tuesday morning in September when four airliners were hijacked.

Two of the aircraft struck the financial nerve center of America, one struck at the heart of the U.S. Armed Forces and the final airliner, allegedly aimed at the very head of our government, slammed into the Pennsylvania countryside.

On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly  3,500 people lost their lives in less time than it takes to watch the average movie. The world was changed forever."

(Photo source and excerpt HERE)

So much has been written about that fatal day yet how to express the bewilderment and sadness which follows...

In thoughts and prayers with the many families who faced such a tragedy,

The Best Of News...

A simple phone call can bring such wonderful news...
Our mountain cabin made it through the wild land fires!

It was reported that firefighters brought a bulldozer to build a firewall, clear trees and brushes and thus prevent any substantial loss to our 20 acres.
We are forever in their debt! Their tremendous courage and thoughtfulness helped us to retain a little piece of paradise.

Thank you Folks and God bless!!!!

Of Men And Heroes...

(Photo source Omak Chronicle)

It seems only yesterday I received news in Brussels telling me our mountain cabin was right in the middle of one of the worst raging fires in the history of Washington.
Thanks to a helpful British Airlines representative, I was able to change my ticket and I am now standing by to hear whatever news can be gleaned. So far, nothing can be ascertained.

One thing is for sure, whomever placed a sign above his or her home reminding our fearless firefighters that 'This is just a home, please save yourselves' was right on...

A heartfelt thank you to all firefighters and volunteers who are still fighting to contain wild land fires everywhere!
Our prayers goes to the families of Richard Wheeler, 31, Andrew Zajac, 26, and Tom Zbyszewski, 20, killed on 19 August.

More info (HERE)

(Photo source HERE)