Love Finds You in Victory Heights, WA COUNTDOWN 4 More Days!

"These were very sad times--also thrilling! On the Base watching the airmen marching--tears emerged freely as well as a lump forming in the throat. These were OUR boys--eventually going to war! ... How many would return?" Quote from a memoir of the time. I'm constantly impressed with the courage and strength of those WWII folks--both those who went to war and those who stayed home. So much we can learn from them.

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, WA COUNTDOWN! 7 More Days!

"You call this a happy family? Why do we have to have all these kids?" This quote from It's a Wonderful Life cracks me up. We remember Jimmy Stewart for his movie roles, but did you know he was a decorated bomber pilot in WWII as well? He flew 20 combat missions, won 3 silver stars, and was ultimately promoted to Brigadier General! Who knew?

When he signed up, he was five pounds under the weight requirement, so he rushed home and ate everything fattening he could find, then went back and was allowed to sign up. It was just in time, because he almost missed the cut-off for flight school.

What I love even more is that on his missions Jimmy Stewart carried a copy of Psalm 91 given to him by his father. He said, "What a promise for an airman. I placed in His Hands the squadron I would be leading. And, as the psalmist promised, I felt myself borne up."

I found lots of cool old pictures of Jimmy Stewart on this site. Good info. too.

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, WA COUNTDOWN! 9 More Days!

Newsflash! GOVERNMENT FREEZES ALL SALES OF COFFEE! Gasp! Can you imagine? This really happened in October of 1942. Coffee addicts were hoarding their grounds, so the gov put a stop to it! Then the rationing began--1 lb. per person every 5 weeks. Oh, it was a dark time.

So what was a person to do if they couldn't get their coffee? The Black Market! Yup, organized crime began counterfeiting ration books and coupons. I suppose folks REALLY needed their coffee (I can kinda sympathize!). Another option if you NEEDED coffee was the delicious re-brewing idea. Save those grinds, you could use them for tomorrow's java. (Bluck!) Also, those who were getting married or having birthdays could always request coffee coupons for their gifts.

Hmm...I'm off to Starbucks. All this coffee talk is making me thirsty.

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, WA COUNTDOWN! 10 More Days!

"He's the bee's knees!" In the 1940s and earlier this (and even more bizarre phrases like it) meant "the best, most excellent." I've mostly seen these quirky terms squealed in old movies by silly girls about boys they think are cute--or bellowed by fellows: "Why, that girl's the cat's pajamas." Ha ha! I love it. Maybe we should revive these quaint old sayings. They're so much more clever than, "he's hot" or "you da man."

However, the other ones I found with the same meaning might not catch on today:

Cat's Whiskers
Flea's Knees
Cat's Meow
Eel's Ankle
Elephant's Instep
Snake's Hip
Kipper's Nippers
Sardine's Whiskers

Can't imagine calling someone, the eel's ankle. Maybe I'll stick with the bee's knees.

See you tomorrow!

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, WA COUNTDOWN! 11 More Days!

In honor of our July 1 book release, I'm posting a World War II fact every day.

With Father’s Day tomorrow, I thought I’d talk about my dad, Jim Howard. He passed away back in 2002, receiving a veteran’s funeral for his service in WWII and the Korean War. My dad was in the Navy during WWII serving on a fuel supply ship. According to him, he was with the American fleet on the way to invade Japan when they got word that the War was over. He said there was lots of drinking and celebrating, as you can imagine. Dad wasn’t overly proud of his service, didn't talk about it much. But it was pretty awesome when the elderly soldier saluted his casket and handed my brother—also a veteran—the flag.

I sometimes think about how blessed my dad was to make it home safe from his tours of duty, so many dads didn’t. I imagine the kids who spent Father’s Days without their daddies. And how many are today?

Let’s remember those fathers who’ve sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and also the one’s serving in the hot desert while we barbecue and enjoy our families.

One way to remember our troops is to pray for them. I start by praying for those I know personally or who have relatives I know. Then I say a general prayer for all the troops. And, especially today, I'll pray for the families as well.

Another way to support the troops is to write to them. Here's a SUPER easy and free way. It literally takes less than two minutes. It's a Web site called, Let's Say Thanks

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, WA COUNTDOWN 12 More Days!

One last Rosie the Riveter tidbit. A famous picture of Rosie by Norman Rockwell appeared on the Saturday Evening Post. Big arms, rivet gun--her foot even rests on Hitler's Mein Kampf. After this, Rosie became popular as an icon, and more women worked in the factories. Over 40,000 B-17 bombers were built. The "Army at Home" (what they called the war workforce) really did their job!

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, WA, COUNTDOWN! 13 Days to Go!

More about Rosie the Riveter. She's just so awesome I had to share more! Did you know Rosie the Riveter wasn't a real person? It all started with a song, "Rosie the Riveter." Listen to this and watch the video. It's short and has some great footage or those awesome Rosies building airplanes, tanks, and ships! More about how she became an icon tomorrow. Yea for Rosie the Riveter(and Rosalie Matthews in Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington!).

Oh, and if you have any Rosie stories--about grandmas or friends--PLEASE share!