“When cardinals appear, angels are near.”
There is an old saying that when a cardinal appears in your yard, it’s a visitor from heaven, a sign of beauty in the midst of darkness, hope in the midst of sorrow, and renewal in the midst of winter. It’s Christmas Eve and of course, my mom and dad wouldn’t miss it!
"Real love stories never have endings." - Richard Bach
On September 12, 1959, Bob Larson and Kay Olson got married 💍 Today, they’re dancing in Heaven ❤️ Happy 60th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!
(321/365) "I am blessed, chosen, adopted" - Ephesians 1:11
Superman, Marilyn Monroe, Steve Jobs, John Lennon, Nelson Mandela, Presidents Clinton and Ford, Ingrid Bergman, Maya Angelou, Babe Ruth, Richard Burton, Truman Capote, Eleanor Roosevelt, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Jack Nicholson, Debbie Harry, Eric Clapton... and ME!
(315/365) “Veterans, thank you for bravely doing what you were called to do so that we can safely do what we’re free to do.” – Unknown
One hundred years ago today, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the treaty was signed to end the First World War. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th Armistice Day to pay homage to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who gave their lives in service of their country. In 1954, President Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day to honor all service men and women.
One day is never enough to thank these American heroes for their bravery and their dedication to defending our freedom. Everyday when I proudly stand to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, I thank them with all my heart and I think about my dad. I am humbled by the courage it must have taken to enlist in the Navy when he was only seventeen years old, to leave his family, and to travel around the world to defend our freedom on the USS Salt Lake City during World War II.
Last year, the Brink family took my dad's dog tags along on Paul's Honor Flight. I always wished my dad could have had that experience and I'm so grateful to them for sharing their day with us!
September 23, 2018 (266/365) • "The Quiet Company" - Northwestern Mutual
My mom worked at Northwestern Mutual in the late 50's and 60's, decades before the post-modern tower that now dominates the Milwaukee skyline. She lived on Knapp Street with her friend, Jeannie — yes, just like Laverne & Shirley! She wore cat-eye glasses and sweater sets with pearls, and she often ate lunch at George Watt's Tea Room (Oh, how I miss that!). Before she quit working in 1968 to start a family (me!), she bought her daughter an insurance policy for which I just paid the $28.50 biannual fee. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour the new NML Tower and to take in the awesome view from the top, as part of Doors Open Milwaukee. From 22 stories above Milwaukee, I couldn't help but feel a little bit closer to Mom 💙
PS: I'll be featuring more of Doors Open Milwaukee 2018 throughout the week. #doorsopenmilwaukee #domke
