NOTE: I wrote this for my personal blog 'Notes While Surfing' and realized that my cousins over at Heycuz.net might be interested. So, I'm reposting it here.

Are you going to go out of town for the Labor Day weekend? This year, we're getting four days off. We are going to be visiting with some family at least one of the days. So, its a great time to put my new mobile apps to use. I got an iPhone last Christmas (thank you dear hubby!) and its really made life easier. The "Around Me" app alone really saved us when we were in Texas this summer for my nephews wedding and couldn't locate the hotel. After the third time around the block, I pulled out my phone, put in the name of the hotel and it showed us exactly what turns to make to get there. Really cool.  Playing with "Around Me" some more, we found local museums and other hot spots. As an addicted genealogist, of course I had to pull up directions for the local libraries and cemeteries.

by John McCrea

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I used to spend the days leading up to Mother's Day wringing my hands. What on earth could I get for my mother as a gift that would show her how much I appreciated all she had done? My mother would always say, she didn't need anything. "I have too many knick-knacks, and flowers always die," she would say.

Traditions are forever changing in our family and Easter is no different. We'll be celebrating with an Easter basket exchange and a large family dinner.