SMART Goals, Great Expectations, & New Year Resolutions for a Happy New Year 2024! Goals and expectations, while closely related, have distinct meanings and applications, especially in personal, professional, and organizational contexts. Please get out a pad to write your thoughts as you review the following as soon as you have any inkling that any of this makes sense for you. SMART Goals: Definition: Goals are specific objectives that an individual, group, or organization strives to achieve. They serve as targets for one’s actions and decisions. Goals are typically well-defined, measurable, and have a set timeframe for achievement. Characteristics of

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Happy New Year! Setting SMART Goals Amid Great Expectations for New Year Resolutions

Dear Customers, Vendors, and Friends, The first Christmas began with a glorious song from angels, “Hark! The Herald Angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!!”  At Christmas did you ever wonder what that joyous singing was all about?  Angels sang to announce the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ!! This song conveys a message of joy and celebration, exalting the birth of Jesus Christ.  A message we uphold during Christmas and throughout the year. Our Christmas wishes we send to you.  To our friends, we thank you for your friendship; to our customers, we thank you for your business; and

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Merry Christmas 2023

Happy Thanksgiving 2023, and let’s emphasize the spirit of giving! As we celebrate this special day of gratitude, we can emphasize the spirit of giving – reflecting on how we can continue to make a positive impact in our families, among our friends, and in our larger communities. Here are some ideas for acts of kindness and giving for thirty days, spread out through next year, to help establish the spirit of giving – a giving mindset and a great giving exploration: November 23, Thanksgiving Day 2023 Many families really do take time to express what they’re thankful for, including

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Happy Thanksgiving 2023, and let’s emphasize the spirit of giving!

Thank you for your service. Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11, holds a special place in the heart of our nation. It’s a day dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. These individuals have made significant sacrifices to protect the freedoms and values that we cherish as a nation. As we commemorate Veterans Day, it’s essential to reflect on the importance of this day and the ways we can show our appreciation to veterans. SAN ANGELO, Texas — Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith, 17th Training Wing, renders a salute

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Happy Veterans Day 2023 – Thank You for Your Service

Happy Labor Day 2023! This day serves as an annual commemoration of the labor movement’s contributions to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Importantly, it’s a time to reflect on significant milestones that have shaped our current work environment. The journey to secure workers’ rights has been long, and many of the benefits we enjoy today are a direct result of decades of activism, advocacy, and sometimes, upheaval. 40-Hour Workweek The concept of a 40-hour workweek is largely credited to the labor movement, which campaigned for shorter work hours to replace the grueling schedules that were commonplace during

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Happy Labor Day 2023!

The phrase “toward a more perfect union” comes from the Preamble of the United States Constitution, a document that embodies the ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice that we celebrate every 4th of July. This phrase captures the aspirational nature of the American project, an ongoing endeavor to create a nation that continually improves and refines itself, a work always in progress. It acknowledges that perfection may not be achievable, but the aspiration itself is worthy. The 4th of July, or Independence Day, marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which declared the 13 American colonies as a new

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Happy Independence Day 2023 – Toward A More Perfect Union

Memorial Day is a time to remember and “Honor the Fallen” – those who have sacrificed their lives while serving in the military.  Memorial Day is also an opportunity for families to honor and remember all their ancestors who have passed away. Recognizing the contributions and sacrifices made by those who came before us helps to deepen our understanding of our roots and strengthen our connection to our history and culture. Many cultures around the world have unique traditions for honoring and celebrating their ancestors. By incorporating these practices into our own Memorial Day celebrations, we can create a more

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Happy Memorial Day weekend – Honor the Fallen

Using Technology to Add Old-Fashioned Ambience – Merry Christmas 2022 Enhance the senses and sensations for a Merry Christmas, 2022 style.  Little can beat the aromas of a Christmas dinner cooking, or the tastes of Christmas cookies – including your favorites – shared during a holiday celebration with loved ones. Kids playing add to the visual and auditory delights.  The tactile senses earn high marks with a quotient of human warmth given long overdue hugs and handshakes.   Now we have a “tech” addition to the tastes and smells, the sights, sounds and touch of the holidays – YouTube. If you’re

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Technology plus Vintage Art for a Merry Christmas 2022

Happy Thanksgiving Day Traditions Thanksgiving Day traditions vary widely, I’m sure.  In preparation for this holiday post, I looked up a lot of them.  While they included many great traditions, some of which we practice in our home, a couple of my favorites were missing. First, the common traditions that we practice here are no doubt among the most common across the country. Macy’s Parade starts the day, very much as a background to the cooking and last-minute calls about who’s to bring what and when they’ll be here. It’s the ‘official’ start of Christmas movies and Christmas music playing

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Thanksgiving Day Traditions

Veterans Day 2022 – and every year – falls on November 11th. This is the day when you should absolutely thank a veteran. Memorial Day is to remember those who died serving. Veterans Day is for thanking those who are still with us. This year our son, Sean “Sarge”, is a civilian. He and many like him, think they have done nothing noteworthy or deserving of recognition. I contend that the Armed Forces are huge machines, requiring large numbers of support personnel to be effective. Every cog in the machine serves a necessary function. Some are worthy of special honors.

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Veterans Day 2022 – Thank you for your service!