Our Break Room

Presentation at the Memorial Day Service in Lyons, WI  – 5/29/2017

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending the Homecoming Parade at Mitchell International Airport for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.  This moved me to write something for today and share with all of you.

While it was a joyous occasion unlike our gathering today, the feelings of remembering those who had died and the sacrifices they made surfaced in my heart.  I pondered the future of our Memorial Day Service.  What will it look like in another five years, or even ten years?

The Honor Flight homecoming was a very heartwarming, moving, and awesome experience to say the least!  Recalling the lives lost in battle, gratitude to our Almighty Father for sparing these soldiers another day and the chance to return home to their families, tugged at my emotions.

The expression of support for our country and our veterans was awe-inspiring.

100’s, maybe 1000’s of family and friends came out in full force, displaying the Red, White and Blue, to welcome our Veteran’s home from their day spent touring the memorials in Washington DC.  For most veterans, this was just one of the many surprises for them throughout the day.

There were 90 veterans and their guardians on the flight that left at 5:30 am from Mitchell International.

• 13 of them were World War II veterans, 1 woman-12 men.
• 76 were Korean Veterans all men.
• They ranged in age from 74 years to 98 years old.
• Coming from 17 Counties across 3 states
• and from all branches of the Service.

These veterans have played a large part in the freedom’s we enjoy today.

The opportunity to welcome them home and thank them for their service is truly a great privilege and open to anyone.

The opportunity to support this project, through volunteering or donations, is also available to anyone. I would encourage you to participate in some manner.

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is now accepting applications for Vietnam Veterans in addition to the World War II and Korean veterans for the Fall trips.  If you know a veteran please encourage them to apply.  They will not be disappointed.

 So, what will our Memorial Day Service Look Like in the Future. 

Unless you are closely connected to a service person, Memorial Day often times depicts remembering those from past wars: Civil Wars, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam etc.  The current conflicts going on today and in more recent years often times aren’t recalled as readily.

While the fatalities have declined considerably and are no-where near the numbers from past wars, today’s military is not exempt from losing those that continue to fight for our freedom.

According to iCasulaties.org this year alone, 11 US lives have been lost as a result of war.

31 lives have been lost since we last gathered a year ago.

And…since October 2001 – U.S. Department of Defense reports approximately 6900 US lives have been lost in war.

This does not include those that suffer from PTSD and other war related trauma and illnesses.

I feel it is our duty as a citizen of the United States of America to continue to remember these brave men and women for years to come.

Thank you to our Local American Legion Post 327 for their participation today.  As you can see their numbers are dwindling.

Today our World War II veterans are few and far between and the number of Korean Veterans is declining as well.

Again, I ask…What will our Memorial Day Service look like in another 5-10 years?

If you know a veteran that has served our country in any military capacity I would ask you to encourage them to join their local Veteran’s Post to help carry on the Memorial Day traditions across the nation.

I would encourage you to teach your children about the importance of remembering those that died fighting for our freedom.

As a child part of this Memorial Day Service, here in Lyons, included all of us jumping on the back of pickup trucks after the service and going to the cemeteries to place flags on the graves of veterans.  We would comb through the cemetery and search out the metal grave markers depicting the branch of service, respectfully placing a flag at their final resting spot.  A somber reminder of what this day is all about.

While today is not Veteran’s Day it is a good day to thank all of our Veteran’s for their service to this great country!  We thank their families for their commitment to stand behind their soldier.

It is a day, specific, to remember those who served our country and gave freely the ultimate sacrifice of death.  We thank those who served and are no longer with us.

In closing, please bow your heads and remember the following who have died since last Memorial Day.

*bold print identifies those that have died since January 1, 2017. 

Please remember their families who mourn their loss this first Memorial Day without them.

God Bless America

With respect and love,
Linda

Enjoy!  Happy Monday.

Lisa B.

As a child and teen growing up I loved little children!    When I was thirteen my mom, dad and three other siblings welcomed a baby sister to our family. Many families in the community knew I was capable of taking care of an infant so they would request my babysitting services. With many requests I was nicknamed the “town babysitter”.  I wore that title proudly and today enjoy running into some of the toddlers I helped take care of.

At age eighteen I welcomed my first son into this world.  Newly married, being the mom was a whole lot different than being the babysitter.  24/7 this child was my responsibility.

Mothering is an extremely important job! I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

A year later I welcomed son #2 and seven years later #3 arrived.  All unique blessings.

Each one had their own idiosyncrasies as well as many similarities.  We faced accomplishments together, we faced challenges together.  Tried and true we stuck by each others side.

Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day I can proudly say that together WE HAVE MADE IT!  We have made it through the trials and tribulations of childhood, the teen years, and into adulthood.  Each one of them becoming responsible young men that I love deeply.

If you are a mother, grandmother, step-mother, surrogate mother or a person that someone simply calls you mother CONGRATULATIONS you have been BLESSED with the most greatest accomplishment of all times. Wear your title proudly, you’ve earned it!

AND…. Don’t forget to LOVE deeply!

Happy Mother’s Day to All!

Linda

This quote brings back memories of days with my Grandmas.

My mom’s mom of German decent, lived with us periodically.  While she didn’t have much financially she was always able to share wise advice.  At that time however I was somewhat of a rebel child and I wasn’t very receptive to it.

She had innate intelligence and “eyes in the back of her head”.  Some days were difficult as we had two women, mom and grandma, telling us what to do, when to do it and correcting us if we were doing something we really shouldn’t have been.

If only I knew then what I know now!

She truly loved us through all of that and only wanted what was best for us.

My dad’s mom on the other hand watched from afar, she lived just a few blocks away, but really didn’t get involved in telling us what to do on a daily basis. She guided us by her actions of soft and kind words, serving us warm baked cookies, going to church regularly and having a deep faith in God.  A loving kind gentle soul.

Both of my Grandma’s have given me some of what it takes to be a good mom and grandma myself.  I hope I’m living up to their standards.

I adore my three grandchildren, a thirteen year old grandson, and eleven year old boy and girl twins. Although  they live only a few blocks away their lives are so busy with baseball, basketball, football, theatre, horseback riding, and their friends that I feel I don’t really get enough time with them. Time passes by so fast.

When I can I do try to share with them what I think to be good advice. I wonder if they too are rolling their eyes like I once did and how they might feel about it a few years down the road.

They are all kind, caring individuals. Their parents have raised them well. I just hope I had a little bit of an influence in that area too.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Grandma’s everywhere!

Linda

Paleo Avocado Tuna Salad

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 Servings: 1 – 2 servings

Ingredients

·         1 avocado

·         1 lemon juiced, to taste

·         1 tablespoon chopped onion to taste

·         5 ounces cooked or canned wild tuna

·         sea salt to taste

·         fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

1.    Cut the avocado in half and scoop the middle of both avocado halves into a bowl, leaving a shell of avocado flesh about 1/4-inch thick on each half.

2.    Add lemon juice and onion to the avocado in the bowl and mash together. Add tuna, salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Taste and adjust if needed.

3.  Fill avocado shells with tuna salad and serve.

Used with Permission.  avocado-tuna-salad

Happy Easter Week!

Lisa Barnett

Have you ever read a great book and thought, boy, so and so should read this? Or, I wish I would have read this a long time ago! Or… possibly even, this was a waste of time!

In an effort to share my newly acquired interest and love for reading I would like to invite you to share book reviews on “Our Breakroom Blog”.

Please prepare your book review including the following information and email to linda@pmaworks.com for consideration and posting

Title:______________________________________

Author:____________________________________

Date Started: _______________________________

Date Finished:_______________________________

Category:
Health   Immunization   Business   Personal   Diet  & Nutrition  Finance  Other

What was the book about?

What did you like about the book?

Were they any parts you didn’t like?  Discuss.

What was your favorite part of the book?

Would you recommend this book?      Yes      No

Rating:  How many stars would you rate this book      1      2     3     4    5

Video Here:

09/18/2016

Lisa Barnett

Enjoy!

Lisa B

Changing the World seems like an inundated task for one person.  But if everyone works together to make small changes synergy kicks in and great strides can be made.

I recently lost a high school friend to domestic violence and alcohol abuse.

Coming from a very small community these things just don’t happen in our lives.  The reality has struck however that YES domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse is a very real thing in our world and even right here in our own backyards.

My friend and I had drifted apart through the years, but I always remembered the “spunk and fire” personality she had in high school.

After graduating I settled down to have a family she went off to the Navy. She returned from the Navy to the small town I live in and along with her was her son who was my youngest son’s age.  They grew up together and became great friends and remain great friends today.

Even though we had drifted apart her death has left a huge hole in my heart that possibly I could have done something different along the way to help her choose a different path.

In searching for some music for a prayer vigil for her I came across this song, “Try to Change the World“, and I find it very fitting to apply to my life in general.  It is up to us to “Try to Change the World”!

With drug abuse at it’s highest levels ever we are losing our children left and right.  Many of these cases are directly related to the common use of prescription drugs.   Chiropractic has always said NO to Drugs.  We need to continue to preach that crusade.

The time is now to “Try to Change the World”!

Will you do your part?

Audio: Try to Change the World by Johnny Reid

Linda

Are you tired of the same ole’ thing for dinner each and every night?

At my nephew’s ball game last night my sister brought up the topic of eating the same things over and over for dinner and asked whether any of us moms, aunts or grandmas had any ideas for something new to eat for the upcoming 4th of July holiday weekend.

The “Googler” that I am I thought I’d try to find something for her, and me as well, as my family is getting pretty bored too.

Here are some recipes I found that had been shared by the chiropractic profession from across our great country.

• Dr. John Piazza’s blog: Have-a-healthy-fourth-of-july-with-these-recipes/
• Pfaff Chiropractic: food-for-fuel/new-weekly-recipes/fourth-of-july-recipes.html
• Myers Chiropractic Facebook Page shared the following link: homemaderecipes.com/19-easy-4th-of-july-recipes/
• Well of Life Center: welloflifecenter.com/2011/06/creamy-coleslaw/

Enjoy, be safe and may your 4th be a “blast”!