Few people need the ability to learn and teach important skills more than Patriotic Moms.  So this TED talk is a gold mine for us.

Josh Kaufman specializes in teaching people from all walks of life how to master practical knowledge and skills. In his talk, he tells how his first child inspired him to approach learning in a whole new way.

Josh believes that if you put 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice into learning a skill, you will be astounded.  You just need to:

1. Deconstruct the skill.  Break it down into its smallest component parts.  Determine the essential parts to achieve your goal and practice them first.  That will allow you to improve your performance in the least amount of time possible.

2. Learn enough to self-correct.  Get 3 to 5 resources about what you are trying to learn.  Learn just enough that you can actually practice and self correct as you practice.  Get better at recognizing when you are making a mistake and then do something a little different.

3. Remove practice barriers, including distractions like TV and the internet.  

4. Practice at least 20 hours.  Committing to 20 hours helps you overcome the initial frustration barrier we all face and stick with your project long enough to experience the rewards.  

You can use these four simple steps to learn anything.  Start by gathering the necessary tools and skills to get started.

The major barrier to skill acquisition isn't intellectual...it's emotional.  We all feel stupid at the beginning of learning a new skill, and feeling stupid isn't fun.  But it's worth it.  All it take is 20 hours.

What do you want to learn?

"The President is in danger of losing his moral authority to lead the nation."

~Rand Paul

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will not run for re-election in 2014.  In this video she explains why to her friends and supporters.

Though not everyone agrees with her political positions, most informed Americans respect Michele Bachmann as a leader of character and courage.  Her influence in the Tea Party movement cannot be overstated, and the Tea Party is changing the course of history in America.

Michele is a wonderful example of a mom who saw a need and went to work to make a difference for our great nation.  We express our gratitude to her for her untiring efforts.

May God bless her as she begins a new chapter of her life.

Remembering the price that's been paid by so many men and women to preserve our liberty helps remind us of our heritage and how important it is for us to do our part.

May God bless all those who have given their all to keep our nation free!

When we think of heroes, what comes to mind? Some fictional good guy flying around in the latest big-screen comic-book adventure? Perhaps, but with the arrival of another Memorial Day, I’d like to suggest someone more fitting: a U.S. Navy SEAL named Mike Monsoor.

As former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld reminds us in his new book, “Rumsfeld’s Rules,” the SEALs go through the toughest training of any military unit in the world. It shows. Consider what happened with Mike.

Mike hailed from a family that knew a thing or two about service. His father was a Marine, and his mother was a social worker. He grew up fighting asthma, but persevered in high school to make the football team and become a superb athlete.

In March 2001, Mike made the courageous decision that millions of men and women, his father included, have made: to serve our country. He enlisted in the Navy.

Three years later, he passed the rigorous training that less than one-third of his fellow trainees finish to become a Navy SEAL. He was now a frogman, one of the members of the Navy’s elite forces. In spring 2006, he was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, where he served as a machine-gunner and a communications operator in military operations against insurgents.

Through 35 heated firefights, his SEAL team remained undeterred by the enemy. On Sept. 29, 2006, Mike was providing security at a sniper lookout post with some other SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers. As Mike and his team scanned the area for the enemy, an insurgent threw a fragmentation grenade at the team’s position.

The grenade hit Mike in the chest before falling to the ground. In an instant every man on that roof could have died. But Mike would not let that happen.

President George W. Bush described this SEAL’s act of courage at Mike’s Medal of Honor ceremony:

“Mike had a clear chance to escape, but he realized that the other two SEALs did not. In that terrible moment, he had two options — to save himself or to save his friends. For Mike, this was no choice at all. He threw himself onto the grenade and absorbed the blast with his body. One of the survivors put it this way: ‘Mikey looked death in the face that day and said, you cannot take my brothers. I will go in their stead.’”

Mike died 30 minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast. He’d saved the lives of his two teammates and the Iraqi army soldiers on that roof. This courage was not lost on his SEAL brethren. Mike’s funeral is thought to be the largest public gathering of SEALs in the history of the United States.

As the casket was taken from the hearse to the grave site, SEALs lined the path and slapped their Tridents, a pin with the official symbol of having completed SEAL training, onto the top of Mike’s coffin. Mr. Bush said, “The procession went on nearly half an hour, and when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten.”

No one really understands how the bold colors of a hero’s soul are formed, but we do know that without heroes, our nation would not endure. As Winston Churchill said, “Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because it is the quality that guarantees all others.”

Americans are courageous in many ways. There were the firemen who ran into the burning towers on Sept. 11, 2001, lugging their gear up dozens of flights of steps in an attempt to do what they’d sworn to do — protect and serve. There are the police and the military, running toward danger when others run away.

Few of us have that level of courage. Yet we demonstrate it in different ways. We say what we think, and we stand up for our beliefs. We’re willing to risk the criticism and the scorn of people who don’t share our ideals. When we’re wrong, we admit it.

When we think of the example of Mike Monsoor — and others like him, out there risking their lives for us, day after day — can we do any less?

Looking for some meaningful ways to observe Memorial Day with your family?  Here are a few ideas.

Family barbecues are wonderful, and with a little extra effort we can help our children understand their heritage, the price that has been paid for their freedom, and the real reason why we set aside this special day.   

You could even observe a "Memorial Week" and share a short story, quote, or inspirational message each day in a morning devotional, as part of family dinner, or before a fun family activity.  Over time, family traditions help build family unity and special memories together. 


Serve a Red, White, and Blue Breakfast

Decorate your table with patriotic decorations.  Serve waffles, cream, strawberries and blueberries for a red, white, and blue breakfast.  Talk about Memorial Day and what it means.  Read a Memorial Day Proclamation or a special Memorial Day message.


Attend a Memorial Day Parade

Take your family to a local Memorial Day parade.  You can find one in the U.S. Memorial Day Parade Directory.  Talk with your children about the price that's been paid for our freedom, and why it's important to honor those who have sacrificed to keep our country free.


Visit the Cemetery

Visit a nearby veteran's cemetery.  Many communities have a veteran's cemetery or a memorial for those who have fought for our country.  Talk to your children about the price of freedom.  Teach them that not everyone can or should serve in the military, but each of us has a sacred duty to give our time and effort to preserve liberty in America. 


Interview a Patriot

Talk to a person who has served in the military.  Thank them and ask questions about their experiences.  If you don’t know anyone in the military, you might visit someone in a local veteran's hospital.  You could give them a small gift or treat.  Be sure to express your gratitude for their service.


Write a Letter

Do you know a family who has lost a loved one serving in the military?  You could write them a letter of gratitude for their sacrifice to our country.  If they live close by, you could visit them and express your appreciation for their service.  You could take them a card, flowers, or a small gift.  Just knowing you are thinking of them and are grateful to their family could be a blessing for them. 
 

Learn More about Memorial Day

Learn more about Memorial Day.  Watch a video about the history of Memorial Day or a Memorial Day tribute.  Or watch an inspiring presentation like The Price of Freedom.


Have a Special Campfire Commemoration

Build a campfire and gather around for a special family time.  Share your feelings about Memorial Day and those who have given their lives for our country.  Children could read or recite special Memorial Day quotes.  Sing your favorite patriotic songs.  If you want, you could roast hotdogs or marshmallows, make s’mores, or serve other fun refreshments.

From the site:  "The Price of Freedom is first and foremost a tribute to those who served in World War II and the loved ones they left behind. It could be called a piece of musical theater, since its story is told largely through song, but it differs from traditional musical theater in a few key ways.

First, it is performed as a concert—not as a dramatic piece—with just 9 actor/singers and an orchestra. There are no costumes or sets to distract from the message. Rather than perform as the characters in the stories, the actors perform in tribute to them, with nothing but the words and music written to tell their stories.

Second, the performance has a 'documentary' element to it. The actors’ stories are brought to life by authentic newsreels, photos and radio broadcasts from the time period, which transport the audience back to era of the 'greatest generation,' and make the experience that much more real.

Lastly, there is no dialogue or physical interaction between the characters. The interaction takes place entirely through letters written between the battlefield and the homefront. In this way, we watch each character’s very personal and intimate reaction to the events of the story as they unfold. We hear the words they wrote and see the meaning behind them.

All of these elements combine to make The Price of Freedom a very unique and powerful blend of original music, documentary footage, and simple storytelling to create an emotional message of hope and gratitude.

The concert follows three stories that ultimately intertwine: an expectant wife sending off her husband to Europe (David & Arline), a widowed mother seeing her only two sons off to the Pacific (Mrs. Miller, Steven and Jack), and a young girl sending her boyfriend off to fight (Shep & Ellen).

The Price of Freedom is the result of a collaboration between composer Rob Gardner and songwriter McKane Davis. The show first premiered in November 2002. Since then, it has been performed live for audiences across the country. The response afterward from the tearful patrons is invariably: 'This is something that everyone in America needs to experience.'"

Note:  The Price of Freedom is divided into 12 videos here.  If you can't see all of the videos, click the tiny "Read More" link on the right below.

(If you can't see the rest of the videos, please click the tiny red "Read More" link below.)

Love this joyful Memorial Day reunion!  Memorial Day is the day we remember and 
pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our country free.  

May God bless and comfort all the families with loved ones who will never return!

Col. Tom Manion, USMCR (Ret.), wrote in The Wall Street Journal about the remarkable men and women in uniform and what they give for our great nation. He should know -- his son gave his life in Iraq in 2007.

"I served in the military for 30 years. But it was impossible to fully understand the sacrifices of our troops and their families until April 29, 2007, the day my son, First Lt. Travis Manion, was killed in Iraq.

"Travis was just 26 years old when an enemy sniper's bullet pierced his heart after he had just helped save two wounded comrades. ...

"While my son's life was relatively short, I spend every day marveling at his courage and wisdom. Before his second and final combat deployment, Travis said he wanted to go back to Iraq in order to spare a less-experienced Marine from going in his place. His words -- 'If not me, then who...' -- continue to inspire me.

"My son is one of thousands to die in combat since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. ...

"When my son died in Iraq, his U.S. Naval Academy roommate, Brendan Looney, was in the middle of BUD/S (basic underwater demolition) training to become a Navy SEAL. Devastated by his good friend's death, Brendan called us in anguish, telling my wife and me that losing Travis was too much for him to handle during the grueling training regimen.

"Lt. Brendan Looney overcame his grief to become 'Honor Man' of his SEAL class, and he served in Iraq before later deploying to Afghanistan. On Sept. 21, 2010, after completing 58 combat missions, Brendan died with eight fellow warriors when their helicopter crashed in Zabul province. He was 29.  Brendan and Travis now rest side-by-side in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. ...

"Even after more than a decade of war, these remarkable men and women are still stepping forward. As the father of a fallen Marine, I hope Americans will treat this Memorial Day as more than a time for pools to open, for barbecues or for a holiday from work. It should be a solemn day to remember heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, and also a stark reminder that our country is still at war."

This song is dedicated to all men and women, past and present, 
who so valiantly fight for our safety and freedom.  Thank you!