Portraits in Courage

I hope you will all take a few minutes during this very busy Christmas season to view this.

It is the Air Force Portraits in Courage, Vol . V. by General Norton A Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the USAF. I adore his opening line: “ The indomitable character of our Nation is typified by ordinary people who accomplish remarkable deeds in the face of daunting challenges.”

So many amazing heroes, touching stories, some lived, some did not. Our David is included in this tribute.

US Air Force Portraits in Courage, Volume V

I am so grateful to and pray for our men and women in uniform. I wish them all a blessed Christmas as well as their families that sacrifice so much.

ALIVE DAY MAY 11 2010

Tomorrow we are celebrating David’s 1st ALIVE Day! Let me tell you,  we are the happiest families on earth….David’s and ours.  We thank God and count our blessings on a daily basis that our David survived his EOD explosion in Afghanistan.  It has been a long and difficult year for David and Liz. They have made us all proud with their stoic perseverance,  David’s maybe 30- surgeries,  their daily struggles (which make most of our struggles look like a dream), their founding of the amazing Wii’s for Warriors, and their commitment to each other in their first year of marriage. The wonderful welcome home.  Their special Christmas Eve.  And, on occasion, I do believe, my Liz has kicked a butt or two.  Go Liz! You are an inspiration to all us girls, wives, and Moms!

Most of the world had no idea what EOD was until the Hurt Locker won awards.

Last weekend was the Memorial EOD Weekend in Fort Walton, FL.  Liz and David flew down to participate in this solemn ceremony. David is ALIVE. 16 other EODs are not.

Please watch this amazing video that was just made to memorialize all the fallen EODs this past year. The song: “In the Middle of the Night” was written for this tribute. It shows what our amazing EODs do, when the music changes, half way through, you will see pictures of the fallen EODs and their families. All of these brave men were added to the EOD Memorial Wall on the first of May.   The Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation is another great place to visit. There is even a picture of our David receiving his Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

 

Thank you to all our EODs, who “In the middle of the night, while the others are in bed, they go out and do the job where the angels fear to tread”.

 

Love you, David and Liz! Happy Alive Day!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder….

Yes, I have been absent when it comes to blogging. A MONTH of absence! And I have missed ya’ll! This past month has been a whirlwind of cleaning up the yard and having repair work & painting done to outside of my home. We experienced the longest coldest winter temps ever. Everything in my yard that was subtropical was dead! So sad and so much clean up work to do. And I’m so glad it’s finally over.

I have not even attempted to work on any of my never ending slipcovers and other indoor projects. As soon as I get back from vacation in two weeks, I promise I’ll be a sewing DIVA! For me, stepping away from projects and then returning to them is therapeutic. When I’m on vacation this coming week, I’ll be dreaming of white slipcovers. Yes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

And of course being absent from my children makes me miss them so much! So we will be spend next week with Liz and Dave at the fabulous National Harbor.

We have rented a condo at ONE HABOR PLACE.

On Wednesday night, my birthday, Liz and Dave are treating us to the Lexus Presidents seats at Nationals Park for the game against the Colorado Rockies. We will take the water taxi from National Harbor, up the Potomac, directly to the stadium.

While the boys will be playing golf most days, Liz and I will be mostly shopping and planning for their new home that just bought in the DC/MD area. Yes, joy of all joys, they will be moving out of their tiny hotel type room in the Mologne House at Walter Reed. Their first home to be:

When I reminisce back this past year since Dave’s accident in Afghanistan, I overwhelmed by all that they have gone through. I’m amazed and so proud of all that they have accomplished. They have a wonderful future ahead of them. I miss them every day and can’t to spend a wonderful week with them having fun!

One other fun thing I want to do in DC is go to the 2010 DC Design House. I’m ready for some fabulous inspiration and want to come home with dozens of creative ideas floating in my head.

I missed you. And I hope my absence made your heart grow fonder… for me!

THE WELCOME HOME on Monday

The time has flown by since Liz & David landed last Monday. We have been so busy and this is my first chance to get on my laptop.

It was all amazing…at least 100 people at the airport…..

Liz shedding a tear or two while David and his Mom hug

Local television crew and newspaper reporters

Liz’s Grandmother & David

The Patriot Guard Riders blessing

Think this is one of David’s teachers from his high school

David and his Granny and his sister Jamie

We had Gulfport police escort and the Patriot Guard Riders

Then we got to Diamondhead where there were at least a different 100 people lining the streets, waving flags, and cheering

Sea Coast Echo article

SEARCH RESULTS
Last Updated: Dec 24th, 2009 - 10:59:46

---

News
Hero’s Welcome
Solider returns home to hero's welcome

Staff Sgt. David Flowers waves to crowd as his vehicle enters the Diamondhead community Monday.

Banner at my home

The lunch following …

Checking out David’s leg and Halo Fixator. Uncle George flew in from California to be here for the homecoming through Christmas.

These Patriot Guard Riders were so wonderful! There were 12 bikes and 3 trucks carrying an additional 6 Riders.

Some of them drove all the way from New Orleans early that morning in cold, foggy weather

These are some of the greatest guys ever, all survivors and heroes of the Vietnam War. All of them gave us their cards, and said if we ever need anything, they would be there for us!

Granny and one of the 2 LADY Patriot Guard Riders

Bikes parked outside my home

and down the street.

This played on the local news, I hope the link still works. It was such a wonderful homecoming!

http://www.wlox.com/global/story.asp?s=11713203#

Home for Christmas

One more day till Liz and David fly home. That is, if the snow goes away in DC and Reagan National opens back up!

We are so excited and have a big group of family & friends ready to greet them Monday at the airport. The local Patriot Guard Riders will be there to officially welcome David home and escort us all safely to our house. We are having a lunch for everyone here immediately upon our arrival home.

This article came out yesterday in our local newspaper:
Injured soldier will return home - Local - SunHerald.com

Christmas Tour of Homes with the Nester

 

Joining Nester for her Christmas Tour of Homes with the Nester! Loved your video, Nester!

Holiday Linky Friday with the Inspired Room

 

Home for the Holidays with Southern Hospitality

Hooked on Holiday House Tour with Hooked on Houses

Be patient, I wanted to give this little update on one of my garlands…I decided to try to flock this one. A brief explanation of how I made FLOCK….then tour to follow.

Used the old tried & true Ivory Snow Flake flocking recipe. Except you have to buy Ivory snow soap bars and make your own flakes now. Ivory Snow stopped selling their flakes back in the late 90’s. 

 

It’s all done with a mixer, then I “painted “ snow on with a brush.

 

I’ll post new pictures with the decorations back on this garland later. Let me know if you want this FLOCK tutorial.

 

ON to the home tour….

It’s a special, happy, and joyous Christmas this year as as we thank God that we have all made it through those bleak days that began on May 11 this year. Liz and David will be home for 2 weeks from Walter Reed. They arrive in about 11 days. Son is arriving in 4 days… so HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS is such a blessed feeling this year.

I’ve changed and added a few things since 2008. If I had more time there are 2 big things I want to change….will do next year. It involves flocking!

Front door….added some zesty lime green this year.

Got these 2 fillers with stick lights on sale at the end of last years season to in my urns.

These two cascading garlands are new and if even one of them falls again, they are going back in the attic. I posted about it here and will explain more in a later post.

Liz and David's room, ready and waiting. We had to move furniture and lowered the mattress to make things easier.

While all my other garlands and trees are on timers, I bought this HOLIDIAY LIVING 3 count wireless remote system for daughter’s room. That way she can easily turn off the 2 garlands without disturbing them or causing another crash down. I put the 3rd remote outlet on one lamp at the bedside. Although all lamps in entire house have a wall switch that is hot wired to the bottom electrical outlet, this little remote should make things easier for them

I love these string or maybe straw glittered and pearled stars.

Son’s room with seashell garland. New this year and so fun!

The new little flocked tree. She is so cute!

She is perfect for this room, she’s a slim tree, only 5 1/2 feet tall and she doesn’t take up too much space.

I used brown and copper ornaments that I had. These icicles are actually plastic and have been painted many times.

Some old copper and gold bead sticks as a topper.

Love the contrast of the white flock with darker ornaments.

I’m in love with flocking and white trees now! Yes, it’s a little messy but only every time you touch it! HA HA! We'll have to keep Bailey, the BIG BLACK DOG out of here!

Glitter balls and an old garland of silver beads that I cut up.

Tree in living room. For some reason it has a bluish cast. I love the ornaments though, so next year, this tree will be FLOCKED! Wish I had time to do this year! I think that will look amazing ….a flocked white and green tree with aqua, brownish, and copper ornaments.

New cascading garland on the mantel. I made this one after Grandin Road sold out of cascading garlands. It was simple to do and looks almost as good as the 2 in Liz’s bedroom that I did buy from Grandin Road.

The green of this garland looks good, not blue like the tree next to it.

Garland in the front hall.  THIS IS THE GARLAND THAT I’M FLOCKING RIGHT NOW…..UPDATING SOON!

This will get flocked next year also, it has that bluish cast that I don’t like.

I’ll never be able to improve on this in the kitchen. I love it year after year...... winter whites, icicles, silver glittered grapes, pearl fruit…

There are at least two strands of lights out on this. Waiting and debating to decide if I should take it apart to fix.

Sink window, can’t get the camera light right on this shot.

The dining room is all different this year. Read here.

I like it! We’ll see what kids think.

One of the three light strands went out after all ornaments were up. Had to totally take it apart and redo to fix.

There are a few more things I have not finished. God willing, if nothing else falls down or burns out, I‘all be on schedule.

Painting beaded fruit a lovely shade of metallic pearl white.

Thanks for visiting, I may have a few more things accomplished in a day or two. Make sure you visit the Nester and  all the other party goers. Thanks for hosting another great Christmas party!

Looking forward to view your home tours!   Have fun decorating….