JennsThreeGraces: troops

Showing posts with label troops. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Merry Christmas - Loaves and Fishes!

just sayin....

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life.

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And so with that said I'd like to explain my thought on the above.

I've been home for weeks because of knee surgery and it is not my style not to be busy!

So I've had to continue to come up with ideas on a limited budget to keep the holiday roll going along! Yesterday was a perfect day! Just can't explain it - it was a high energy day from start to finish and not about me. It was about the pleasure you get from others. I've read other bloggers and they have such caring, creative ideas on how to touch someone else's life. I took tips and made up some of my own. It takes a village after all right?

A co-worker is having financial probs and this is not the time of year to have to worry even more about every day household supplies plus making Christmas nice with two children so I made a trip to ... yes! the Dollar Tree

Look what you can do!

and for the troops...

Then I made goody tins for the animal shelter ...

they need donations all year long!

and my friends were gifted with mini containers
for their critters!

I found pretty loaf pans for $1 each at
Michael's and bought dessert bread mixes -
wrap them up in a pretty bag for my friends with kids =
a family snowy day baking project is born!

See... loaves and fishes =
pass ideas on!

I found these little guys and bought plastic gift bags at the dollar store...
packed them up in a bigger Christmas bag and off they went to a local shelter for the kids.

cute or what?!!!

No time...

Have the time... try this recipe...

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, pecans, almonds and sunflower kernels; set aside. In a small saucepan, combine the oil, honey, water, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Remove from the heat; stir in extract. Pour over oat mixture and toss to coat.
Transfer to two greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans. Bake at 300° for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 13 cups.
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1/2 cup) equals 284 calories, 18 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 111 mg sodium, 29 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 6 g protein.

26 Servings

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 45 min. + 45 cooling

Some years I don't have the time I'd like or the energy, imagination and heaven knows the extra cash. I work two jobs so I know how tough this economy is. I hope I don't sound as if I'm preaching to do, and do and do. But I've seen what faith can do. I've witnessed little things bring joy to someone's life. So today and yes, several days lately... I had joy and some fun ideas ... a little extra cash and I went for it. Maybe tomorrow I won't be able to buy a bag of dog for for the shelter but I know I can make some of my cards to donate to our local hospice center and all it took was supplies I already have and my time.

So why did I have the best day...I'll tell you sometime...

OK, GOD is so AWESOME!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Veteran's Day Memories and Thanks!

Making a Veteran's Day Special...Because YOU are!

1. At 11 a.m., observe a moment of silence for those who've fought and died while in service to the country
2. Display an American flag
3. Attend a Veterans Day parade
4. Thank a vet for his/her service
5. Send a letter to troops through the U.S. Department of Defense Website
6. Work in a homeless shelter or soup kitchen
7. Visit a veteran's grave or pick up trash at a veterans cemetery
8. Visit with the family of a veteran who's serving overseas
9. Visit with a wounded vet at a local VA facility
10. Donate to the USO, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars USA or other organizations that honor and assist vets

Send A Thank You:
Send a personal thank you to a soldier still serving. Anysoldier.com provides opportunities to create and send care packages to those abroad.

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UNO CHICAGO GRILL - UNO's is offering a 19.43 percent discount off their entire food bill (excluding alcohol), no matter how many family members and friends they dine with, to all active duty military and veterans from November 7 through November 11. The percentage off is a nod to the year the company was founded, 1943.
7-ELEVEN - Free, small Slurpee drinks will be given to active, veteran, and retired members of the military and their immediate families at participating 7-Eleven stores on Friday, November 11. In addition, to thank active troops for their service, slurpee trucks will arrive at Norfolk Naval Base on November 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. as part of 7-Eleven, Inc.'s 'Operation Thank You. '

To honor current and retired members of the armed services, all national parks and wildlife refuges will remain open and offer free entry to vets and their families.

T.G.I. FRIDAYS - Buy one entree, get one free, for all U.S. military personnel and veterans on Friday, November 11. The special is valid only at participating locations.

Help Soldiers Call Home: Staying in touch with loved ones while abroad is key to survival, though the costs of calling home from Afghanistan or Iraq are incredibly high. Cell Phones For Soldiers is trying to change that. Each week the organization donates 12,000 calling cards to soldiers, providing enough money on each card for an hour of conversation.

APPLEBEE'S - Applebee's is offering a free meal for veterans and active duty military on November 11 in honor of Veterans Day. The restaurant is offering a choice of seven Signature entrees.

CHILI'S - Chilli's is offering a free meal for veterans on November 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The restaurant is offering a choice of seven entrees.

GOLDEN CORRAL - Golden Corral is offering a "thank you" dinner to anyone who has served in the U.S. Military as part of their 2011 Military Appreciation Monday. The dinner will be held Monday, November 14 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

HOOTERS - All veterans and active duty military personnel can receive 10 free boneless or traditional wings, with purchase of a drink, all day Friday, November 11.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE - Veterans and active duty military can select a free entree from a selected menu and a choice of a free Coca Cola product, iced tea/sweet tea, or coffee on Friday, November 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thank you to all who have served, are serving, have lost loved one in whatever branch of the military. War is a terrible thing because it means loss. As a mother of two sons - I can't imagine them not being on this Earth. I also want to take a moment to remember and think of family that are here and gone who have served in my family and are friends.