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I'm Already Home... Again |
The Road Home |
Pocket Flip Tips |
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Elaine Dumler
6460 W. 98th Court
Westminster, CO 80021
866-780-0460 - phone
303-430-7679 - fax |
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Note from Elaine
Dear Newsletter Buddies,  December is a fun month (so our newsletter is filled with fun Holiday oriented information), and it is also a month when I tend to reflect on things. I look at all I have in my life and wonder if that's the true definition of Success. I'm pretty lucky, so most of the time it is. In church last week, the minister talked about how we define Success for our own lives, and then he took it a step further. He asked if, along with living a successful life, we were also living a significant life! That was something I hadn't thought of before - the need to have both success and significance in our lives. I know that December is a challenging time for families that are separated by deployments, and it's hard to see the positive side of that. How can you make it easier on you and your family? Together, try doing something significant this season for someone else - something that helps someone else from which you expect nothing in return. If you do it with your kids, you help teach them what a difference they can make in another's life. Try organizing a toy drive, volunteering to serve supper at a homeless shelter or throwing a party through your FRG for community families needing a bit of cheer. The possibilities are endless. I'd love to hear some of what you come up with to do. Email me at Elaine@ImAlreadyhome.com and we'll compile the ideas to spark other acts of kindness in the future. By doing this you'll see that SUCCESS + SIGNIFICANCE = LIFE! Happy Holidays from all of us here at I'm Already Home. |
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 Christmas Trivia Quiz: Have a blast testing your knowledge! - The first president to decorate the White House Christmas tree was ____________________.
- "_______________________" appears on TV more than any other holiday movie.
- Electric lights were first used on Christmas trees in the year ______________.
- More ________________ are sold around Christmas than any other time of the year.
- The first state to officially recognize the Christmas holiday was ________________________.
- "______________" was actually created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1030's for a holiday promotion.
- "__________________" is the most famous Christmas ballet.
- "__________________" was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.
- In 1843, "_________________________" was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.
- If you actually received all the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," you would receive ______ gifts.
( Answers at the end of the newsletter)
If your family has been blessed by a Flat Daddy consider sharing the gift with another family by donating one at www.OperationConnectAFamily.com. |
My Cookie Recipe: Peanut butter Blossoms
 48 Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolates
1/2 c. shortening
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1/3 c. packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 T. milk
1 t. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
Granulated sugar
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Remove wrappers from chocolates. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes 48 cookies. |
Websites to Bookmark
ToTheTroops.USAtoday.com: By pushing the record button on the page, you can create your own personal video message to send to your deployed family member, or as a thank you message to any troop deployed!
createmygift.com/a/xmas-tree-ornament: Help your child(ren) make Flat Brat ornaments' that celebrate each home you've lived in and the one that "home for Christmas"
www.dignityuwear.org: Dignity U Wear strives to create real change in the lives of children and adults in need; change that restores broken spirits' and restores hope, dignity and self-esteem. Visit their website to learn more.
www.noradsanta.org: Where is Santa? Track Santa as he travels around the world!
www.rememberedvoices.com: Remembered Voices download and stores messages from previous recordings of loved one for you to keep.
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Honor the Troops poem
The following poem, written by an unknown soldier, is printed here in loving memory of Christopher "Doc" Anderson and shared by his family. As you read it, we send prayers for safety to all our troops!
Twas the night before Christmas
He lived all alone
In a one bedroom house
Made of plaster and stone
I had come down the chimney
With presents to give
And to see just who
In this home did live
I looked all about
A strange sight I did see
No tinsel, no presents
Not even a tree
No stockings be mantle
Just boots filled with sand
On the wall hung pictures
Of far distant lands
With medals and badges
Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought
Came through my mind
For this house was different
It was dark and dreary
I found the home of a soldier
Once I could see clearly
The soldier lay sleeping
Silent, alone
Curled up on the floor
In this one bedroom home
The face was so gentle
The room in such disorder
Not how I pictured
A United States soldier
Was this the hero?
Of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho
The floor for a bed
I realized the families
That I saw this night
Owed their lives to these soldiers
Who were willing to fight
Soon around the world
The children would play
And grownups would celebrate
A bright Christmas day | They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the year
Because of the soldiers
Like the one lying here
I couldn't help but wonder
How many lay alone
On a cold Christmas Eve
In a land far from home
The very thought
Brought a tear to my eye
I dropped to my knees
And start to cry
The soldier wakened
And I heard a rough voice
"Santa, don't cry
this life is my choice"
I fight for freedom
I don't ask for more
My life is in god
My country, my home
The soldier rolled over
And drifted to sleep
I couldn't control it
I continued to weep
I kept watch for hours
So silent and still
And we both shivered
From the cold night's chill
I didn't want to leave
On that cold dark night
The guardian of honor
So willing to fight
Then the soldier rolled over
With a voice soft and pure
Whispered "Carry on Santa,
Its Christmas day, all is secure"
One look at my watch
And I knew he was right
"Merry Christmas my friend,
and to all a good night"
Written by Unnamed Author |
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Last minute Gift Ideas
- Personalized music
- Board games
- A Candle
- Magazine Subscription
- Kitchen Gadgets
- Wine
- Beauty-related things
- Stationery
- Home-baked anything
- Coffee, Candy
- Gift Card to favorite store
- Simple card expressing your love and appreciation
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Answers to above Quiz Franklin Pierce, "It's a Wonderful Life", 1895, diamonds, Alabama, Rudolph, "The Nutcracker", "Jingle Bells", "A Christmas Carol", 364 |
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Our policy on reproducing newsletter content: Please feel free to forward and share this newsletter with anyone you wish. If you want to reproduce any of the articles included here into you own newsletter, you may do so if you do not change or alter the content and include this line:
"Excerpted from Elaine Dumler's Newsletter and used with permission. For additional relevant content visit www.ImAlreadyHome.com"
From Elaine, Jenn and Tammy |
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