5k Run For Orphans!

My son and I, and a friend of mine and her sons are all running a 5k this Saturday, April 9th! It is for an awesome cause, orphans in the Dominican Republic.

Saying Goodbye to World War I's Last Doughboy!

Photo Credits: KC Star

He didn't seek the spotlight, but when Frank Buckles outlived every other American who'd served in World War I, he became what his biographer called "the humble patriot" and final torchbearer for the memory of that fading conflict.

Frank Buckles enlisted in World War I at the age of 16 and died on February 27th at the age of 110. He was born here in Missouri, but was raised in Oklahoma and died in West Virginia. He went to numerous recruiting stations until he convinced the right person he was old enough to enlist.

There are two other World War I veterans still alive from outside America. The survivors are Florence Green in Britain and Claude Choules in Australia.

Buckles was remembered at a ceremony at Liberty Memorial here in Kansas City this past Saturday, March 12th. Richard Myers, a former Air Force general and the onetime chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said,

"Frank Buckles passing means that there are no more living memories of World War I. So it is important for all of us to keep this memory alive."

President Barack Obama ordered that the day Buckles is buried that all U.S. flags on official buildings be lowered to half-staff. A burial is planned at Arlington National Cemetery.

Kansas City is honored to have the only World War I museum and it was an honor to have a ceremony for him here.

The Donald Rumsfeld Interviews about His Memoirs--Known and Unknown!

If you're not being criticized, you may not be doing much.

The Path you didn't take is always smoother.

Well, you know, I've listened to him (Vice President Joe Biden) for so many years. There's not much he hasn't said from time to time.--Donald Rumsfeld

I will be updating and adding to this post as Rumsfeld does more interviews. He is going to be on Hannity's show tonight, so I will definitely be adding that. I have always had a special place in my heart for Rummy, and I am so glad to see him come out with his memoirs.

The Rumsfeld Papers

Rush's Interview

Rumsfeld Foundation


Diane Sawyer's interview with Donald Rumsfeld

Previously:
Conservative Profile #6--Why I Love Donald Rumsfeld

Remembering Ronald Reagan's 100th Birthday!

Don't You Miss the Authentic and Heartfelt Humor of Ronald Reagan? YES!!

Ronald Reagan holds a special place in so many Americans' hearts. He is also beloved internationally as well. Just recently, I talked to someone who lived in Germany when the Berlin wall came down, and I asked what the German people thought of Reagan. They, of course, had a favorable view of him.

Also, the more time goes by, the kinder history is treating his presidency and legacy. Contrast that to say, Jimmy Carter, where, the more time goes by, the more damage we see he has done.

Mike has been having a Reagan Centennial Celebration celebrating Reagan's 100th birthday. It reminds me of how Mike and I first connected in the blog realm. He was writing about Reagan and linking to everyone else who wanted to as well. That is when I wrote my 3 part series on what Ronald Reagan meant to me.

I was young when Reagan was president and unfortunately I didn't pay much attention at the time. I came to love Reagan much later. Yet, I was amazed at how distraught I was when I learned of his death.

Speechwriter Peter Robinson's book, How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life speaks for a lot of people. He inspired and changed generations of Conservatives and gave them hope.

Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin both spoke at the Reagan Ranch Center in honor of Reagan's birthday! I could not think of two more fitting people to honor Reagan.  Mike recalls the awesome partnership that Thatcher and Reagan had together.

Related Links:
Americans Recall Reagan Legacy on his 100th Birthday
Why I Love Ronald Reagan--Part 1
Why I Love Ronald Reagan--Part 2
Why I Love Ronald Reagan--Part 3

Veronica's Voice Opens Magdalene Manor to Help Women Escape Prostitution!

"I'll never forget the dark pit God reached into and pulled me out of. Even after I was out, my heart still pained for my sisters that were still lost, trapped, tricked, or caught-up in "the life". So I started VERONICA'S Voice to be a light for these wonderful women still surviving in the darkness."

-Kristy Childs - Survivor, Foundress VERONICA'S Voice

The KC Star reported on the opening of Magdalene Manor and I was encouraged to learn of the ministry to women by Veronica's Voice. Below is an excerpt:

The first residents will move into the house, called Magdalene Manor, at an undisclosed location in Kansas City. The home will augment the existing Veronica’s Voice safe center, where clients receive services and support, Childs said.

Childs believes there is only one other similar residential facility in the country for victims of the commercial sex trade, and Veronica’s Voice is only one of a handful of organizations like it in the country.

The persistent perception that prostitution is a victimless crime is belied by the lives of the 8,000 women and girls she has spoken to since founding Veronica’s Voice in 2000, Childs said.

The organization is named for one of those victims — Veronica Neverdusky — a friend of Childs’ who was 21 in 1993 when she was strangled and dumped in Kansas City’s Penn Valley Park.

Kristy Childs is an inspirational woman and its wonderful to know that Kansas City has a place of refuge for victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.

Happy New Year 2011!

Some of my favorite posts from 2010!!

1) A Conversation with President George W. Bush in Kansas City!!

2) Lunch with Condoleeza Rice!

3) 2010 Election Victories!

4) Women in the Civil War!

5) Ronald Reagan's Faith

6) I Heart Paul McRyan!!

7) Two Rock Star Republican Governors!!

8) Inspirational Woman #1--Liz Bohannon!

9) 2010 Clay County Republican Lincoln Days!

10) Winning America Back with Sarah Palin, JC Watts and Fred Thompson!! and the Pics

11) A Review of "I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced"

12) Taking Our Country Back w/ Sean Hannity and Karl Rove in KC!

13) Sudan--Global Day of Prayer!

14) Remarkable Women Profile #1--The Iron Lady--Margaret Thatcher!

15) Scott Brown makes history-wins U.S. Senate Seat in MA 52% to 47%


Previous Posts:
2009
2007

Horrific Flogging of Woman in Sudan!

Via Gateway Pundit:

Societies that treat women badly, are dangerous societies.~~Condoleeza Rice

I have been outspoken about human rights abuses in other countries, especially against women. Sudan is plagued by genocide in Darfur and their human rights' abuses are atrocious. Sudan is run by Omar al-Bashir, who was listed as the world's 2nd worst dictator by Parade Magazine last year.

Sudan needs our prayer, and the women in the Middle East and other countries need our help and prayers as well.

Friday Night Lights!

Friday Night Lights is my latest addiction! It is a great show!!

My 2010 Book List!

I am finishing up my books on Women in the Civil War. I have loved learning about the courage and bravery of these amazing women.

As soon as I am done with my latest book, I am going to embark on Bush's book. I am looking forward to it.

Below I have my final list for 2010. 

Here are the books that I have read:

1) Going Rogue: An American Life~~Sarah Palin
2) 365 Ways to Live Cheap!~~Trent Hamm
3) Sarah~~Kaylene Johnson
4) Margaret Thatcher, Britain's "Iron Lady"~~Doris Faber
5) Madam Prime Minister~~Libby Huges
6) Margaret Thatcher~~Bernard Garfinkel
7) Praying God's Word~~Beth Moore
8) Finding Peace in Life's Storms~~Charles Spurgeon
9) I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced~~Nujood Ali w/Delphine Minoui
10) The Girl Friend's Bible~~Cathy Hamilton
11) Wit and Wisdom of the American Presidents~~Joslyn Pine
12) Our Presidents...At a Glance~~Rolf Benj. Vinmont
13) Clarence Thomas~~Vicki Cox
14) Uncle Bert~~Hulda Hoover McLean
15) The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life~~Charles Spurgeon
16) The First World War~~Paul Dowswell
17) Tad Lincoln~~John D. Weaver
18) Uncharted Territori~~Tori Spelling
19) The Official Record of the Oklahoma City Bombing~~Oklahoma Today
20) Finger Lickin Fifteen~~Janet Evanovich
21) A Pictorial Biography Ike~~William F. Longgood
22) Women in the First World War~~Neil Storey and Molly Housego
23) First Ladies of the White House~~Nancy Skarmeas
24) Plum Spooky~~Janet Evanovich
25) Fields of Fury~~James McPherson
26) Harriet Beecher Stowe~~Henry Elliot
27) I'll Pass For Your Comrade~~Anita Silvey
28) Women at the Front~~Jean F. Blashfield
29) Spies! Women in the Civil War~~Penny Colman
30) Dr. Mary Edwards Walker~~Bonnie Goldsmith
31) Women in the Civil War~~Larry G. Eggleston
32) The Practice of Praise~~Charles Spurgeon

Here are the books on CD that I've listened too:

1) Feminist Fantasies~~Phyllis Schafly
2) Blue Skies, No Fences: A Memoir of Childhood and Family~~Lynne Cheney
3) The Downing Street Years~~Margaret Thatcher
4) Roots~~Alex Haley
5) Hand of Providence~~Mary Beth Brown
6) The Long Road to Gettysburg~~Jim Murphy
7) U is for Undertow~~Sue Grafton

Previously:
Book List 1
Book List 2

Stephanie Plum's 12 Days of Christmas!!

Its time for a little levity!! You won't get the significance of the video unless you are a fan of Janet Evanovich's book series about Stephanie Plum.

Its a great series that is similar to Sue Grafton and Mary Higgins Clarks' books. Yet, Evanovich throws in some great comedy and romance. I literally laugh out loud every time I read one.

I will issue a warning though, there is a lot of language and some "adult" issues that are discussed in the books.