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Author: Les Patterson

Monday Morning Boost: To Be An American Citizen

Monday Morning Boost: To Be An American Citizen

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The Fourth of July, Independence Day, offers us the chance to reflect on what it means to be an American. There are lots of easy answers, such as, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as boldly declared in our Declaration of Independence. It’s popular to attempt to sum up what it means to be American in meme-worthy words and phrases: Freedom. Patriotism. Red, White, and Blue. The Flag. Some define America by activities, such as parades, fireworks, picnics, camping,…

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Monday Morning Boost: This Is Leadership

Monday Morning Boost: This Is Leadership

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A few thoughts on leadership… LEADERSHIP IS CHOOSING TO START Leadership is choosing to start where you are at. Yes, you must recognize your circumstances but do not let them define or limit. Choose to focus on your potential and then act according to your potential, not your limitations. Leadership is getting back up, rising and rising again, after you are knocked down, trip and fall, or totally screw up. “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams….

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Monday Morning Boost: My WHY For Being A Father

Monday Morning Boost: My WHY For Being A Father

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Being a dad is the greatest frustrating joy ever! Seriously! In real seriousness, I love being a dad. I have 5 incredible kids who are all grown up now. They each are living good independent lives. Each in their own way is making a difference in the world. Isn’t that the greatest gift a father could ever receive? I love this thought from Ann Landers: “It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them…

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They Are My WHY

They Are My WHY

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A little gem on this day of honor for the good fathers in our life. May we live up to what they hope we can be… THEY ARE MY WHY BY Les Patterson They are my WHY On Fathers Day And every other day They are my REASON For getting up And getting going They are my JOY As children And as adults They are my LOVE No matter what No matter why They are my LIFE It’s pretty simple…

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Monday Morning Boost: I Am Not An Afterthought!

Monday Morning Boost: I Am Not An Afterthought!

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Birthdays are so awesome! You see, every birthday we become more better, more cooler, more awesome, more good looking, more purity, or, in my case, a more handsome! Or maybe we just become more weird. I tend to get all the cool stuff mixed up with all the weird stuff. Or maybe, as I get older, I better realize I am not an afterthought! I like what the great actor Anthony Hopkins thinks… “None of us are getting out of…

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Monday Morning Boost: The 11 Men of Lava Hot Springs

Monday Morning Boost: The 11 Men of Lava Hot Springs

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The names of the 11 men were unknown to me. But the asterisk next to their names told me all I needed to know. *Killed In Action Elisa and I were spending the remainder of the weekend in Lava Hot Springs in Idaho after speaking Saturday morning at a singles retreat* at Steadman’s Ranch just a hop, skip and jump down the highway (find the asterisk further on for more details). We enjoyed spending time together Saturday night recuperating in…

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Monday Morning Boost: Standing For Those Who Stood For Us

Monday Morning Boost: Standing For Those Who Stood For Us

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Memorial Day is the day we remember those we love and honor those who, in the sacred words of Abraham Lincoln, have “laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.” Two of those who have paid that costly price are Marine Lance Corporal Michael Allred and Army Sergeant First Class Ronald Wood. Both sacrifice their life while serving our country in Iraq, serving the cause of freedom, standing for the Red, White and Blue. Michael grew up just…

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Monday Morning Boost: Why We Take Pictures

Monday Morning Boost: Why We Take Pictures

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Sometimes pictures are just pictures. Then sometimes, pictures piece together a story of family, generations, special occasions, and love. Such was the story Saturday when our family gathered to celebrate a baby to come for Rebecca and Taylor. Baby Boy Call, due to arrive July 16th, will be the first grandchild for Taylor’s parents Todd and Anita Call and the second grandchild for Elisa and me. Sometimes pictures capture important moments, like when soon-to-be new mother Rebecca opened a gift…

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Monday Morning Boost: Perfectly Imperfect Miraculous Mothers

Monday Morning Boost: Perfectly Imperfect Miraculous Mothers

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Nature is full of miraculous examples of mother animals caring for their young. Orangutan mothers, for example, watch over their young for six to seven years, creating one of the strongest motherly bonds found in nature. Polar bear mothers also generally spend two years with their offspring, even digging dens into deep snow drifts to keep their cubs protected from the harsh winters. African baby elephants are raised in a matriarchal society where other females help a calf get up…

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Monday Morning Boost: Baghdad to Beijing to Rio

Monday Morning Boost: Baghdad to Beijing to Rio

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Melissa Stockwell’s journey to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2016 Olympics in Rio began in Baghdad on April 13, 2004. A first lieutenant in the US Army, Stockwell was just three weeks into her deployment when a roadside bomb blew up her Humvee while she was leading a convoy in Baghdad. The explosion caused her to lose her left leg which gave her the infamous honor of being the first female soldier to lose a limb in the…

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