Bringing Ashley Home!

I watched a movie on Lifetime last night entitled, Bringing Ashley Home! It was based on the true life story of Libba Phillips. Libba searched for her sister Ashley who was a bi-polar drug addict. Since, Ashley was an addict, Libba ran into many obstacles, first and foremost, the police refusing to file her as a missing person.

Just like John Walsh and others, Libba used her experience as a platform to help others. She started the organization, Outpost for Hope. Outpost provides resources for those who are looking for the "missing, missing", those that are missing but go unreported.

I am always inspired by those that take a tragic situation, and turn it into something good. Libba Phillips is one of those people!

150th Anniversary of the Civil War!

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War! It is an amazing part of U.S. history. I have become a Civil War buff over this past year, as I did a Unit Study on it with my son for school. I especially was fascinated by the large number of women actively involved in the war, many disguising themselves as men so they could engage in the fighting.

Recently, I started watching additional movies and documentaries and started reading yet another book, The Blue and The Gray by Thomas B. Allen.


I found this older movie with the same title, The Blue and The Gray. It was filmed in 1982 and I'm sure many wouldn't like the quality, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was done in the same time period as Little House on the Prairie and Roots and had some of the same actors star in it. I was also amazed at how accurate a lot of it was, despite the fact that it wasn't a documentary.

After watching Ken Burns' wonderful Civil War documentary, I ended up purchasing it and plan on watching it again.

Previously:
~Women in the Civil War
~Studying the Civil War

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!!