the day after....

First I want to thank EACH and every one of you that took the Beloved Keepsakes "Thank a Veteran Challenge"! Being a wife of a Veteran it truly means more to me than you can possible know..... SO thank you, thank you, thank you if YOU thanked a Vet yesterday!

BUT...

I have to tell you I am terrible disappointed that so few people actually took the time out to thank a Vet. I am hoping and even praying that more people actually followed through with the challenge and just didn't comment here on my blog. (I really really really hope that is the case.)

The reason I say this...is well, in this day and age there is such a complacency about the war. About soldiers... Whether you agree with the war, whether you agree with the President - it really shouldn't matter. What SHOULD matter is that there are people who LOVE this country enough to risk their LIFE for it. To risk their life for you! Some of these people (like my husband) were not even born in this country yet they are risking their lives for it.

Maybe that's why. Maybe because my husband lived in a country where they were not free, where there was war on their streets, where they actually had to have ARMED guards take them to and from school - that he realizes what a GREAT thing we have here and thus, he is willing to defend it.

I worry about what our county is turning into, I really do..... Let me just throw out some numbers here.... and you tell me what you think.

I asked that everyone take the challenge to thank a Vet yesterday - I said I was hoping that I got 50 comments about how people took me up on that challenge... Needless to say I was VERY disappointed as I only had 17 people comment - NOT EVEN half what I had hoped for. I have to admit that was very very disappointing..... But..... What is even worse -

I had 247 visitors at my blog yesterday. 247 INDIVIDUAL visitors. Of those 247 visits..... The free file that was offered yesterday was downloaded a 154 times......

And I only got 17 comments from people who went out of their way to thank a Veteran.

Wow....... ponder on that one for a little..... pretty scary if you ask me.

(I'll be out of town tomorrow visiting my BFF - so no freebie Friday tomorrow! You'll have to come back next week for that!)

Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!!

We also specialize in pre cut/ pre assembled scrapbooking titles, diecuts, embellishments and keepsakes (including our NEW photo Stars). Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!!!!

Wow... here it is... Veterans Day! A day where we have the chance to take time out to thank those who have served, who are serving and who will continue to serve so that we may enjoy the life and the freedom we have today. Today is a bitter sweet day for me. While I think there is nothing more important than taking the time to actually thank the people who allow me to live the life of freedom that I do. It is a day that makes me miss my husband even more!

But to celebrate today there are a couple of things I want to share with you...

First up - This whole week I have issued a plea to take the "Thank a Veteran" challenge. In this challenge I have asked that you find a Veteran, a service member who has served or who is serving and find a way to honor them. A way to thank them! I am hoping above all hope that you have done so!!! And not only that you have done so but my BIGGEST hope is that you will encourage others to do the same!

So to help you do so - I am offering a FREEBIE on my blog today... but here's the catch. If you download the freebie I would love it if you would post this website either on your blog, your own personal website or on a forum that allows you to post freebies. Tell everyone that there is a FREEBIE here at Beloved Keepsakes for today and today only - and ask them to take the "Thank a Vet" challenge while they are here downloading it! (For more information about the "Thank a Veteran" challenge you can click HERE to see Sunday's post!)

Then if you have followed through with Thanking a Veteran - I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for you to post a comment here on my blog how you met that challenge. It could be anything from you went up to your Grandfather and thanked him for his service in WW2 - to you went to the Veterans Day Parade and you shook as many Vet's hands as you could and you told them very sincerely "Thank You!".....

I would be ABSOLUTELY THRILLED, no BLOWN AWAY if I can get 50 comments of how YOU thanked a Service Member today!!!!

Additionally, as a thank you, all my military designs are 35% off today at VDBC! I have 25 designs that are dedicated to the different branches of the military! If you haven't ever seen them before I encourage you to go take a gander at them!!!

And lastly I want to share a tribute with you that I made for my own husband and shipped to him in Afghanistan to be opened and viewed on this special day!

But before I get to that - Here is today's FREEBIE!!!

Same rules as always apply: This design is covered by my TOU (terms of use). If you do not have a copy of these TOU please make sure you download it HERE before downloading the freebies!

This design is only available for a short period of time (24 hours) - once it is no longer available here it will be available in my section of the VDBC Store for purchase!

Please do not share this file. If you know someone who might like to have it, then send them HERE to get it!! (Thanks sooo much!)

Sorry this file is no longer available for free download.

I think this design would be PERFECT to document what YOU did today to THANK A VETERAN!!!

Now before I go, here is a very very very special tribute to my own dearly beloved husband who is currently serving somewhere in Afghanistan. All the photos in this slide show are of my husband an span a time period of the 20 years he has served in our military. From Mogadishu, Somalia, Iraq to Afghanistan - I can not tell you how incredible proud I am of my husband.

Happy Veterans Day Major Andrew Bruce McDonald! I love you and I am so proud of the man you are and your wiliness to keep me and the American people safe and free.

Thanks for stopping by - now get out there, spread the word and ABOVE ALL ELSE no matter what your opinions are on the war or what your thoughts are about the President - THANK A VETERAN TODAY!!! One small act of gratitude from you will provide a lifetime of encouragement for them!

Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!!

We also specialize in pre cut/ pre assembled scrapbooking titles, diecuts, embellishments and keepsakes (including our NEW photo Stars). Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

One more day....

So we are one day away.... one day away from Veterans day. A day set aside to remember service, honor, bravery, duty, and sacrifice for the greater good. A day to remember those who have served, who are serving and who will continue to serve so that we may enjoy the life and the freedoms we have today.

To celebrate Veterans Day, tomorrow I will be offering a free file here on my blog. Additionally all my "Military Cutter Designs" will be 35% off at the VDBC Store for one day and one day only!

Also, I will be paying a VERY SPECIAL Tribute to honor my own husband on this very special day while he is serving so far away in harms way! Trust me - you DO NOT want to miss this one!!!

Over the last few days I have made a plea... A plea that each and every one of you find a Veteran and find a way to honor him/her, to thank them and to tell them you are so proud of what they do, what they have done and what they will continue to do!

If you took me up on this challenge I would LOVE to hear about it.... so tomorrow I am asking that if you were BRAVE enough to accept my plea, to accept my challenge - please leave me a comment and tell me what you did! It doesn't have to be a BIG thing - just a small act of kindness, of appreciation. I know I keep harping on this but trust me when I say - one small act of gratitude from you will provide a lifetime of encouragement for a service member. (Hey I'm an ARMY Wife, I KNOW these things!!!! LOL)

So tomorrow's the big day!!!! Make sure you come back.....

Before I go I want to share one last video with you.... I swear if this one doesn't motivate you to take on my "Thank a Veteran" challenge then.... well then nothing will!




One more day - take the challenge.... come on! It is the least you can do for someone who has done SOO SOOO SOOO very much for you!

Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!!

We also specialize in pre cut/ pre assembled scrapbooking titles, diecuts, embellishments and keepsakes (including our NEW photo Stars). Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

So...

Have you been thinking about my Veteran's day plea? Have you found a Vet? Have you decided how to honor him/her? You only have a few more days!!!

So here is my second installment of favorite video's.....



Once again I urge you to take up my plea - find a Veteran in the next two days - find a way to honor them, to thank them and to tell them you are so proud of what they do, what they have done and what they will continue to do! There are so many ways to do this... send them a card, buy them a meal, bake them a cake, applaud them as the walk by you in an airport - OR just go up to them and shake their hand and say sincerely "THANK YOU".

I can't tell you how truly honest I am being when I say - one small act of gratitude from you will provide a lifetime of encouragement for a service member.

Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!!

We also specialize in pre cut/ pre assembled scrapbooking titles, diecuts, embellishments and keepsakes (including our NEW photo Stars). Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

Sunday, Sunday...

Oh what a day.... A day of rest. A day of family. A day to worship. I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! Please enjoy your time with your family and your friends. It is priceless, it is fleeting and it is a blessing that so many do not enjoy. A freedom that most of us never think about. That most of us take for granted.

As you know we will be celebrating Veterans Day here in the US on Wednesday. For some, Veterans Day represents a day off from work. For others, it's not even a holiday…it's just another Wednesday. And for others, the day recalls a passing awareness of significance (I mean the banks and the post office are closed right?), but not much beyond that.

But for the true American patriots among us, this day evokes a very deep and personal reverence. It combines elements of pride and sadness, and—always—respect. It is a sacred day. A day set aside to remember service, honor, bravery, duty, and sacrifice for the greater good. It is a day to remember those who have served, who are serving and who will continue to serve so that we may enjoy the life and the freedom we have today.

I encourage you, no I plead to each of you to make an effort. To go out and find a Veteran. Past or present and say "thank you" for your sacrifice and your service to our great country. For without these brave men and women we would not live in the land of the free! We would not enjoy the lifestyle we have and rest assured there would be bombing and war on our own streets.

As we draw close to Veterans Day I have decided to share a few of my favorite video's honoring our hero's. And on Wednesday I will be featuring a very special video that I made as a tribute and sent over to my very own Veteran. My husband who has served and continues to serve to protect our freedoms.

So on that note here is the first of my favorite's. This was actually released in 2006 and here we are three years later in 2009. The war is forgotten for the most part, American's have become complacent. But could you imagine what life would be like if we still honored our hero's in this way? WOW...

Once again I urge you to take up my plea - find a Veteran in the next three days - find a way to honor them, to thank them and to tell them you are so proud of what they do, what they have done and what they will continue to do! There are so many ways to do this... send them a card, buy them a meal, bake them a cake, applaud them as the walk by you in an airport - OR just go up to them and shake their hand and say sincerely "THANK YOU".

Trust me when I say - one small act of gratitude from you will provide a lifetime of encouragement for a service member.

Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!!

We also specialize in pre cut/ pre assembled scrapbooking titles, diecuts, embellishments and keepsakes (including our NEW photo Stars). Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!