"Christmas in Motion" Holiday Light Show in Pittsville, Maryland

It's that time of year again!

"Christmas in Motion" is a holiday light display located off Route 50 in Wicomico County, MD. Tucked back in the woods of Pittsville, sits a house with an amazing array of lights which are skillfully displayed and choreographed to music. Just tune your car stereo into the station and listen right along with many popular holiday melodies.

This display is also a Toys for Toys collection station and while it is free to visit, bringing a new, unwrapped toy is always a nice idea. There is a mailbox for letters to Santa too.

Visit the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsville-MD-Christmas/124469590999107

One Step Away: Our New Threat

I'm not defending the violence in today's world or making excuses for people who spin out of control and take lives. I'm just pointing out there there are increasing numbers of people out there who are angry; bitter; hurting and disgruntled. So many appear to be just a few steps away from a breakdown, which lately seems to progress to acting out publicly to make a statement. And sometimes that statement is about taking lives, either in a final bid for attention or a desperate wake up call - and I believe it's going to get worse. Maybe all these things that are happening are showing us something. maybe our society is broken because so many people are walking on edge. Phrases such as "he's like a powder keg", "disgruntled employee" and "disturbed" - aren't those words we hear over and over? How many people are actually too close to shattering?

  

We Can All Reach Out to Someone This Holiday Season

For some people the holiday season can be anything but festive. The constant expectations and images of "perfect" family gatherings and homes filled with loved ones can leave many of us feeling empty and deflated.  During the next month let's each reach out to someone who could use a friend.

Life after "Death of a Small Business"; One Year Later

I caught sight of that old familiar excitement again over the weekend - not as passionate or energetic as it once was - but still, it was a glimpse of interest towards something new. I've been struggling to find myself again following the closing a beloved small business after almost two decades.

Days of the Year | National Monopoly Day is November 19th

It started as an innocent Google search for the origin of this holiday, celebrating one of the most loved/hated/adored/despised board games. Ever. Once I started finding amusing graphics, giggling and spitting across the keyboard it was time to share them with you.

Considered by some as "the most popular board game in the world", it is based on a game designed in 1902 by Elizabeth Magie. Published by Parker Brothers in 1935, it's estimated that more than 5 million people have played it. (wow. but they didn't all "play", ha ha)

  

   

 

 

 

YOU'RE WELCOME.

"Operation Yellow Spear" Veteran Suicide Rally Saturday, November 14th

I wish I could have put some of the things I noticed that afternoon into words sooner but I wasn't able to process them right away. It's hard to explain how a stranger's name, written on a 3x5 index card, could mean anything significant and yet on that piece of paper titled "Battle card"were the words "Your hero".


Unsure of what it stood for, I took the card handed to me as we entered the church for a Veterans Suicide Prevention rally, a follow up to a previous "22 Too Many" event. Held in June, that was the first time I came face to face with some of the sobering facts about PTSD, soldiers and silent suffering. That afternoon at a local American Legion was informative and well run by a young man, but to compare the two events side by side was like night and day. I'm glad I got to be a part of both because five months later, standing in a church with an index card in my hand, it's sinking in that this problem isn't going away. And because that young man is even more dedicated to getting the word out now, today a larger number of us are gathered together in support of this cause. Words on posters and used frequently throughout the event were art, love, and grace, three things that were meant to epitomize this mission and steps of healing and assistance.

It was a few minutes into the program when images began to slide across the overhead screen. We saw faces of soldiers; read the words listing names and ranks; saw photos of men and women in uniform who served their country and came home from war. Because here at home - not overseas - is where they lost their battle.We were asked to stand when the name on our card appeared on the screen. As we rose to our feet you could see strangers focusing on the screen, connecting for the first time with a face and a name.



I stood in honor of Cpl Antonio F Trejo, US Marine Corps. Someone I knew nothing about before Saturday is now an index card lying here on my desk as a reminder to pass this on. He was a son, a guy who loved his dog and his Jeep; dedicated to being a Marine. He was a father. He lost his battle with PTSD on August 2nd, 2013 at the age of 25 and yes, now I know who he is; Cpl. Trejo is one of the 22 soldiers who die each day.

I'm not going to go into details about Operation Yellow Spear, because I want to encourage you to visit the site and learn for yourself. I'm just the messenger, bringing you a few words and a link; asking you to check out a newly established organization dedicated to this cause. I already knew that supporting our soldiers who are deployed is a great thing to do - and now I see that being there when they return could be even more important. To that end, please check out, like and share Operation Yellow Spear at https://www.facebook.com/operationyellowspear

News story from local tv station WMDT:
http://www.wmdt.com/news/more-local-news/22-Veterans-commit-suicide-daily/36460578

Site where I found Cpl. Trejo's information:
http://lcpllutzlivetotell.org/2014/08/antonio-f-trejo-25/

Saturday's event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1070671152958166/

"You Find Out Who Your Friends Are" (Actions Speak Louder)

Deep down, I'm sure we all know this already, that when crap hits the fan we're going to see the real side of someone. Right?

A Homegoing Celebration | Goodbye, Mr. Sanchez

It's difficult to put into words just what attending Mr. Sanchez's service was like yesterday. It was something I don't believe many of us have experienced but it was a beautiful ceremony for a man who was so loved. What people gathered to say about him; the words that his. friends and family reached for to tell his story; those are the things that speak to a life lived for others. I didn't think it was possible to hear the word kindness used so often while describing a person, but it was unarguably the most fitting.

Sierra's Story

Sierra was born with a congenital heart defect, Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), and Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). She bravely battled two open heart surgeries before the age of one. Over the next few years Sierra led a happy, fun filled life, doing everything all children her age love to do. 

Then on April 14, 2011 as she glided gracefully up and down the lacrosse field, her life changed forever. Without warning, Sierra had gone into cardiac arrest and had collapsed on the field. If not for a couple of off duty nurses who performed CPR, her life could have been cut tragically short. Sierra was rushed to the hospital, and over the next few weeks she was consumed by tests and studies to find out what was wrong. Doctors at AI DuPont Hospital determined that she had a compressed left main coronary artery, and a pulmonary valve insufficiency. 

 

After recovering from