Feeling patriotic? You should be! It seems summer brings out the best in pride for our nation. Memorial Day was in May, June 14th was Flag Day and July 4th is right around the corner! Red, white and blue is the theme for summer outdoor cookouts and parades. We love our country all year long, but especially during the summer when we get to relax and enjoy the great outdoors!

Now is the time to remember too those that are fighting to preserve our freedoms far from home. Yes, we think of our troops during the Christmas holiday season, but we should be remembering them now too! They aren’t enjoying the family barbeques or fourth of July parades. Why not let them know they are in your thoughts by sending patriotic Thank You cards.

Gather your friends, business associates or just bundle up a collection all on your own and send an unexpected batch of thoughtful patriotic greetings to those that would most certainly appreciate them this summer!

My daughter recently graduated from high school, hooray! She proudly sent graduation invitations to many friends and family members, not fully realizing the many well wishes that would soon come her way. The truly exceptional remembrances came from those not even on her send list. Those unexpected congratulations were a true delight.

What impressed me though was her unprompted sending of thank you cards! What a proud mom I was when I noticed her writing thank yous before I even had a chance to suggest it. Of course, at an early age she was taught to write thank you cards for birthday and Christmas presents, often with constant reminding, but I was pleased to see she, on her own, realized that graduation presents called for this same courtesy.

How about you? Do you and your children send thank you cards? A thank you doesn’t have to be just for gifts received. Thank you cards are great whenever a show of appreciation is called for. Set a good example and remember those deserving with a thoughtful greeting. It will bring a smile to you and to the lucky recipient as well as set a great example for your children!

Memorial Day is this Monday, May 25 and although most of us will get the day off from work, I suspect the majority will not necessary celebrate the day as it was intended- as a day of remembrance for those that served our country. So, here are some suggestions for honoring those that helped secure our freedoms:





* Attend a local memorial service honoring our veterans.

* Visit a cemetery and search for a headstone of someone who served in battle, leaving flowers in their honor.

* Observe a moment of silence at 3 pm local time.

* Wear something patriotic.

* Display an American flag, flying it at half staff until noon.

* Send patriotic Thank You Cards to someone who has served or is serving in the armed forces.

Enjoy the holiday and remember those that have and are serving our country!

Graduation invitations and graduation announcements send word of your accomplishment. One is for inviting friends and family to the ceremony itself or a party afterwards. The other lets everyone know you have achieved a goal.

See this helpful article regarding Graduation Invitation Etiquette as you get ready to mail both out.

Congratulations, graduate!

Graduation is a year round event. True, the majority of students graduate in May or June but many graduate mid-year and plenty graduate from all sorts of programs with all kinds of degrees or certifications all year long. A graduation signifies an achievement to be celebrated.

It is an honor to be included on a graduate’s mailing list and although gifts should not necessarily be expected, it is proper etiquette to remember someone special with at least congratulations cards. A small gift is nice as well if you choose to send one. See the complete article here and this recap for popular graduation gift suggestions:

•Money. Who wouldn’t appreciate a bit of cash?
•Jewelry. Something personalized marking the date of graduation is a keepsake to last a lifetime.
•Practical. Gifts that help the graduate along their next step in life are useful and appreciated.
•Books. Books are nice remembrances and I don’t mean textbooks.
•Personalized. Note cards with their name personalized on them make great thank you cards or cards for any occasion.

However you choose to honor the graduate, keep it heartfelt and include best wishes for their future. They deserve it!