Vanakam

Vanakam
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Retiring the flag with the boy scouts

Hello World,


Pack 512 Troop 15 today decided to retire an old flag. We usually hold out meetings at the fire station in Reno and the boys got to learn a little about fire safety rules as well. 


As always my world is a busy and crazy one. Might I add I would not like it to be any different. This week my friend Kim is her from South Africa visiting me. She has been in my life for 9 years and most of that time we have been oceans apart. She has seen me through one of the hardest moments in my life and I was so happy to see her again after two years. We have been doing touristy things like going to San Francisco and driving around Lake Tahoe. We made it back to Reno in time to catch the flag retiring ceremony with the cub scouts. 


When a flag becomes worn or tattered, it is to be replaced with a new flag and the one one is to be reitred in a proper way. This required theflags to be burned in a ceremonial way with the highest respect.
According to the Boy Scouts of America publication 'Your Flag' 'When our national flag is worn beyond repair, cut it into small pieces that will burn easily and completely on a modest, but blazing fire. This should be done in a simple manner with dignity and respect. Be sure the flag is reduced to ashes unrecognizable as a former flag.


There are many many ways to have a flag burning ceremony. My troop did a informal version but the boys learned about the rules about the flag and how it should be retired. Each boy took a turn to read a little about the flag before we lit the fire in a bowl. The boys did a great job and I as a grown up learnt a lot too. If you have a boy I hope you will consider joining the cub scouts. It is a great amazing program.


Here is what our ceremony looked like. Thank you for stopping by.










Here is some flag ettiquette we should all know and teach our kids: ( This was found on the internet ) 



American Flag Etiquette.


Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette. The section of law dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally referred to as the Flag Code. Some general guidelines from the Flag Code answer many of the most common questions:

  • The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
  • The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
  • The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
  • The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
  • The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
  • The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
  • The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
  • The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
  • When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
  • The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
  • When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

I wanted to share this version of the flag retiring ceremony. I read this on the internet and I wanted to share this with you. If you want to read more ways to organize a flag retiring ceremony then you can get some ideas at this link . http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/flagretirement_scouts.htm



I AM YOUR FLAG
I was born on June 14, 1777
I am more than cloth shaped into a design.
I am the refuge of the world's oppressed people.
I am the silent sentinel of Freedom.
I am the emblem of the greatest sovereign nation on earth.
I am the inspiration for which American Patriots gave their lives and fortunes.
I have led your sons in to battle from Valley Forge to the blistering desert of the Arabian Peninsula.
I walked in silence with each of your honored dead to their final resting place beneath the silent white crosses, row upon row.
I have flown through peace and war, strife and prosperity, and amidst it all I have been respected.
"Old Glory" is my nickname; proudly I wave on high. Honor me. respect me, defend me with your lives and fortunes. Never let my enemies tear me down from my lofty position lest I never return. Keep alight the fires of patriotism, strive earnestly for the spirit of democracy. Worship Eternal God and keep his commandments, and I shall remain the bulwark of peace of freedom for all people.
FOR I AM YOUR FLAG!
(Stop here until the colors are completely separated. Then continue:)
My red stripes symbolize the blood spilled in defense of the glorious nation.
Let us retire the Red Stripes — Salute!
(burn the RED stripes)
Two.
My white stripes signify the burning tears shed by Americans who lost their sons.
Let us retire the White Stripes — Salute.
(burn the WHITE stripes)
Two.
My blue field is indicative of God's heaven under which we fly. My stars, clustered together, unify 50 States as one for God and Country.
Let us retire the Blue Field with Stars. — Salute.


Thank you for stopping by.







Thursday, October 6, 2011

Promises, bribes, threats,rewards..what would parenting be without these ?

Hello World,
Don't know how much you know about me and what I do ? Well it would take a long time to list it all. I am sure it is the same for many moms. Some would consider me to be like and onion , but I do not make people cry, then there is the cabbage, but it is stiff and hard, so I would like to be like a rose , nooo that has thorns,, so a Dahlia I shall compare myself to. What am I talking about ? Layers.. I have many layers ( Oh this reminds me of the clip in Shrek, onions have layers, ogres have layers ) My version is Dahlia's have many layers and people have layers, I have layers and layers.

Click here Shrek video clip to see the video clip. I cannot believe that I found this clip just by googling for it. Amazing technology. See I am already off on a tangent. Like many many of you out there I do a juggling act every single day and I wear many hats to achieve all the things I do. 

So anyway I will get to my story. On Wednesday Priyasha was having an emotional morning and was being very clingy. She is in kindergarten and usually rides the bus. Every so often I drop her off at school on my way to the office or to the gym. On Tuesdays I stay and help in her classroom. Well on Wednesday she decided to imitate the old fashion velcro. She clung to my legs and my heart raced with panic. Her teacher looked at me and re-assured me that she will be fine. I felt helpless as she was peeled of my legs. I walked out of the classroom and did not look back till I was out of her site. I stood outside the gate staring at her classroom and sighed a deep ***siiigghhhh**
What's a mom to do ? I did what was right, I keep on trekking.. I went to the gym and did a kick ass workout... all the while thinking of my baby girl.

Drenched in sweat I stopped by the school again to check in on her and she was fine just like her teacher had promised me. So all sounds good right ? Wait, rewind to when she was crying and holding onto me...her little girlfriend Lauren was also crying and holding her mommy. We met Lauren on day one and she is having a really hard time adjusting to being away from mom. Some of why Missy cries is because she sees someone else cry. She is my sensitive one.

I was so heartbroken to see them both cry, I had a GENIUS MOMENT ...NOT !!!! Have you ever open your mouth and said something and then wanted to reach in your mouth and tie up your tongue in a knot... Yep that was me. I bribed the girls and told them that Lauren could come over and have a playdate tomorrow ( Thursday ). Wait there is more and we can bake cookies... Now remember I work, I had two closings this week, 5 active buyers and cub scouts and girl scouts in the works..yeah did I mention I had layers...

So the minute I suggested it, I wondered how the heck I was going to pull it off. Well I did and it was a blast. I had the other mom follow me home and she visited for a while. Then when she left we baked brownies. I chose to go with the package kind to keep this a simple task for five year olds. We also had very little time to pull it off. The girls learned to measure, take turns and be patient. Lauren had to be picked up right when the brownies were ready. I sent her home with some yummy brownies. It was easy enough for the girls.They did make a mess but it is no fun with no mess right ?

 Now I need to work it off tomorrow with my body sculpting instructor wah wah !!

Okay so a very good friend of mine Kelly has a point.
She said This is such a sweet thing you did for two little girls. What memories they will have!!!! "  
She also added " That is so adorable! It may have been a bribe in the beginning, but now it is a wonderful memory in the start of a little girl's friendship "


Kellie thank you for being a great friend and for stopping by for tea today. Kellie started her own blog about motherhood too. Please stop by her blog and say hi. She needs some encourage in our wonderful blog world. You can find her here scoutmomx2.blogspot.com


Hope you enjoy my pictures.







Thank you for stopping by...


Barley Soup and Snowy mornings


Hello World


It is only Oct 6.. it was not even two weeks ago when we said goodbye to summer. I was looking forward to the harvest season.You could feel fall in the air. The kids and I have been dreaming of apple pies, pumpkins and cider. So much to look forward to in the fall season....but the last two days have been cold. I have the heat turned on already. I am so tempted to get the fireplace going too.

This morning we woke up and there was snow on the mountains. Can you see it in the picture. Off course my son decided to take off his jacket at the bus stop. I noticed and yelled after I took the picture heheee ! As for my daughter she out grew all her jacket wah wah !! Well I stuffed her into something one size too small and called it good. Her head and hands did not grow much yay !  So this weekend I am off to do some winter shopping.
I cancelled my appointment with the personal trainer at the gym and decided to work at home.Work in real estae that is and not a work out. I have been running around like a mad woman and needed some time to catch up. So yesterday missy was as clingy as could be and I left the school and wanted to cry ( No I did not, teach me how to again ) It was heart breaking having the teacher peel he off my legs and me walking away. Yes she is the new velcro strap in town. I thought that was supposed to end when we started pre-school and here we are in kindergarten and she is still attached to me. She loves he mama... but I am ready to stretch the cord to all day in school ( wohoooo for me ) I feel guilty that she is in school all day but I really shouldn't , shoud I ???


So yesterday I bribed her and told her if she did not cry when I left then she could have a friend come over and bake cookies..What was I thinking...Oh dear..So I will bake cookies and enjoy the afternoon with her. I had to get dinner under control so I took out the crock pot today.


So much has been going on in the Real Estate world. That is another discussion. So if you need to know about short sales and having the deficiency waived please ask even if you are in a different state. 

Anyway back to cooking for now. This is a super duper easy recipe that I stole from a very good friend. See pictures below and recipe below that.

Thanks for listening to me ramble.. Please leave me your comments. 


Barley Soup

Stew Meat
1 can corn
1 can tomatoes
1 large can chicken broth
1 small bag barley
celery
carrots

open up cans and dump into crock pot with veggies..Cook on low 6-8 hours..

Enjoy !

Eezzy Peezy !

It is now 6pm and dinner is served !


Hope you give it a try. Let me know how you change it and how it turns out.