Warm Heart Wednesday and My BoJon Heritage with Direct Selling Companies/Pink Saturday

 Please visit Jenny and Warm Heart Wednesday. This was an easy one for me. I can tie this into My BoJon Heritage  This old memory from my old neighborhood as a child and our Catholic school always warms my heart.

Seventh Grade, Mrs. Martha Sandstrom. I am in the second row, the third girl on your right with the super short flippy do! I still see and/or talk to many of these kids to this very day. I will put up an old black white photo daily if I can get into my old habit and blog, blog, blog!

I was thinking about Direct selling companies, and those I have been with in the past and I decided for some reason to post each day something with each 26 letter of the Alphabet! I will challenge myself to get this down in the next 26 days! I will start tomorrow.

These lists are a small percentage of the thousands of direct selling companies you can join or simply view and purchase their products. Did you know that Avon is the number one direct selling company with over 11.3 billion dollars in sales in 2011 alone!

Oops, sideways! My friend Cindy Miller-Jones begged me to do House of Lloyd with her and together we did it until I moved to Denver in 1983. I started up with Linda, a mail carrier here but she and her hubby, also a postal employee were going through a horrible divorce and it lost the appeal. Harry Lloyd was an awesome man who  put his faith before his company and when he passed away his children ran the company into the ground, bankrupt and out of business. It was so  sad, they carried a line of very reasonably priced porcelain dolls. But many younger ones want what their parents had but they want it "right now"! I will always smile because Cindy shared this fun company with me.

After House of Lloyd I tried Avon. It was ok but I never made much money because I bought everything I tried to sell including their clothing! I will say this about Avon, I own many pieces of their costume type jewelry and I have pieces dating back to 1972 that are still as beautiful as ever.

Although this is an old kit, Princess House was a good extra money venture for me. I truly fell in love with their product and I had a good upline. Jonel White helped me achieve so much and she was always so helpful. Although she passed away unexpectedly in 2010, I will never forget her and the many friends I made through this company. I also made some decent money too.

I spent about a year with Beauticontrol but will always love the MaryKay products better. Beauticontrol was fun for a handful of people who supported me but I never made any lasting ties with the people in the business or the company.

I never became involved with this company but I do love the Scentsy products. Many years ago a co worker had a cousin in Texas who was selling this produce and I purchased a warmer and some melts. I have always loved their product but in order to get into this company they want you to go through your consultant and often there are too many pushy people doing businesses today and I don't have the time or energy to be hassled by some of the overly eager consultants. I think if you like a product you should be able to do it. I don't think they need to force you to be with people you aren't familiar with but that is just my thoughts. My consultant in Texas left the company so she could not be helpful to me.

Mary C. Crowley was the most amazing lady who founded the Home Interior company. She was also the sister-in-law of MaryKay Ash the founder of Mary Kay Products. I have most of the books Mary wrote and I admired her because she was such a wonderful Christian women. When she passed away her children and grandchildren also ran her company into the ground. So sad, she cared more about empowering women and witnessing to them and counseling them then she did making millions. A nurse who cared for Mary while she was at Baylor Hospital in Texas said Mary witnessed for the Lord until she drew her final breath. Although I was never directly involved with this company I made two wonderful friends from all the shows I hosted and attended.

This company, Younique ( a great marketing gimmick) is relatively new (2012) and was founded by a brother and sister team. They are a make up company and their products seems to be excellent. They list each and every ingredient and what that ingredient does. I would love to know more about this company and find out the demographics, do they serve a wide range of ages or do they cater only to the younger set? The company encouraged me to talk with one of their presenters and collect information. But before I make a purchase I want my questions answers.

I do love direct selling companies. I recently attended a show hosted by my friend Lorna. It was this company:

Premier Jewelry! Oh my goodness, we had so much fun.  I chose to take a surprise gift and won a beautiful necklace that is retired from their line. I am going to be hosting a show in the near future. The consultant, jewelry lady, Kasia was so much fun, I felt like the Princess House days, being around someone who has so much enthusiasm ! The way she presented her product and the games we played were great fun.

A gal I know here is very successful in this company. They seem to have a great product too. My niece Holly is involved in this company and loves it. Essential oils have been around for a long time and they do have many great healing qualities.

When it comes to direct selling companies, there are hundreds to choose from. These are just a few of my favorites and a few of the companies that I spent time with. Do you have any direct selling companies you love? Before you leave please make an effort to visit Pink Saturday because I know you like visiting the pinkies and you can tell Beverly you saw some pink here too.

THANK YOU VETERANS

My grandma Steblay's cousin Frances who lost her only child, son Bruce Pavlin in World War II. 

My husbands father was also in WWII in USN but he was a survivor and he was at Pearl Harbor. His younger brother served eight years.

Kathleen P. "Kathy" O'Gane is my friend. She was in the U.S. Navy in the 1970's. Her sister Marlene and late brother Michael were also in the US Navy and if I am not mistaken Kathy's dad, Buckley "Buck" O'Gane was also a Navy man. Thank you for your service Veterans.

 "It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. "Author Unknown

My nieces, Karla and Holly, who lost their dad Bob Hoffert last February 2014, often speak of his time in Vietnam. They always say they will never know the demons that tortured him.

My uncle Tom Binder was in the Army Air Corp. Uncle Edward "Munson" Trontel was an Army man. My Uncle Sam Cosimano served in the U.S. Army as does his youngest daughter Juliane's son Julian. Please pray for Julian during these troubling times in our world as well as all Vets. My hubby's cousin Carolyn served as a nurse in Desert Storm leaving her husband and children stateside while she served our country. His Uncle Virgil was a pilot during WWII. 

Please share any of our BoJon relatives here too with me. I am honored to honor our Veterans.

"This nation will remind the land  of the free only as long as it is the home of the brave." Elmer Davis

My cousins Sissy and Kristi lost her dad Jesse when they were very young. He served the US Army at Vietnam and perished from complications from Agent Orange.

My late brother-in-law Gary Ricklefs was an Army man too.

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

John McCray May, 1915

 My Tata Rose sent her husband off to war in the first World War. Did you know all the Pechek men, six of them, served in various military service and they returned home. Brother Inky was at the Death March in Bataan in April 1942. He was there along with "Tiddles" Mramor and his brother Felix.  Tiddles passed away nearing his 100th birthday and always told me, "War, is a terrible thing." His brother could never get past the horrors of it all and took his own life when he returned home.

Please come over and share your stories with me Thank you.

While you are here, leave that comment so you are entered in my giveaway ending November 29th. Thank you 

"People"/ The Pool Hall Gang and Other BoJon Memories

My daughter recently came across a photo from 6/15/1928 with my dad and several of the neighborhood fellows. They were all quite young and they were standing in front of Kanob's Pool Hall. The photo is 87 years young so I am going to show you a couple of the copies my hubby made, he tried to lighten them up as one gentleman is standing in the doorway and you can see the light colored shirt of someone standing behind him. I think some of these BoJon fellows were camera shy.

Left to right Frank (Coyna) Anzlovar, Fred (Coogan) Pechek, Mike Rozich, STan (Stalk) Zabukovec, Louis (Blue) Zabukovec, Ed (Doggie) Perse, Bill (Hot) Mohar, Rudy Malincheck, Ed (Haize) Kocman John (Midget) Zupancic

, 

This was my grandmother Cecilia Kralj Steblay's cousin Frances Marjanovich and her son Bruce F. Pavlin. Bruce was an Electricians Mate 1C in the U.S. Navy and he perished in WWII. He was the only child of this lovely strong willed lady.

Frances and her second husband John (right) lived in San Jose, California. Here is here a photo of them with Bruce probably sometime before he left for war. Frances was born February 29, 1895 and she passed away September 8, 1979 in Pueblo. She is buried at the Roselawn Cemetery. I believe Bruce passed away 6 October 1941. He entered the U.S. Navy 12 December 1939. He was on the U.S.S. Lexington 13 December 1939. They aircraft carrier was sunk at sea during the battle of the Corral Sea 8 May 1942. There are two USS Lexington's and I believe this one might have carried Bruce to his final mission before he lost his life serving his country.

These earrings came from Yugoslavia. I was the recipient of these beauties when Frances passed away. She was a kind heart. I have seen a few sLOVEnian women wearing these earrings and I wonder if there is any history behind these. I am not even sure where to start researching them. They almost seem like there is a face of a snake or something on these earrings. They are gold and have that French closure on them. I am sorry I could not get a better shot of these. If anyone knows a history behind these please share it with me.

I hope you will visit Ms. Jenny and everyone who joins Alphabe Thursday and share your favorite posts with the letter "P".

Until next time...

Noelle's Story/ Our Marriage/Roger and Noelle Together Always

Although I shared Nick as part of our Alphabe Thursday message last week I added Noelle's story here because she and Roger are celebrating fifteen years of marriage today. Noelle, being the good BoJon/Irish girl that she is, held her wedding in our hometown of Pueblo so my mother, who was elderly and had difficulty traveling could sit front and center and see one more of her grand daughters marry. I tell you this story because when my mother met Roger she told Noelle to be nice to him because he was a good man. Let me tell you, BoJon women had a knack about these things. My folks would have celebrated 50 years of marriage August 29, 1985 but dad passed away April 5, 1985. It is  a bittersweet memory.

Noelle and Roger enjoyed a traditional sLOVEnian wedding, a typical BoJon tradition. They were married at St. Joe's Hall in the Grove and we celebrated with wonderful food and dancing. Noelle took a turn way from the traditional BoJon wedding food, fried chicken and spaghetti, instead sharing Mexican (her dad's favorite) and lovely roast beef and ham. They had a beautiful champagne fountain and a cool DJ so we were all able to dance the night away.

Three of dad's sisters, Anna, Mima and Gela. Auntie Mima in the middle was a cook! Wow! IN her heyday she catered more weddings and political events in our hometown than anyone else! She was a dream cook. Dad always said he no longer could eat Italian dishes because when his big sister was betrothed to Uncle Sam Salvo, she practiced on the phamily, and he got tired of eating all those dishes! She perfected them and as a kid I was able to work many of the wedding and dinner events that she catered along with her sister-in-law Frances. I learned at a very young age, 9 or 10 how to set the silverware properly and set a beautiful dinner table. We all pitched and worked hard and auntie would reward us with some cash and of course, all her tasty dishes, especially those darn Italian cookies! No one has ever duplicated her style that I know of. She would share her recipes, it was just that she did not know how to cook for 10 people! She cooked for hundreds. I wish I had photos of those ladies cooking up a storm. My mom and several other aunties always helped her with these events and all of the kids were put to work. I  learned so much during my younger years, especially how to be a hard worker!

Noelle and Roger are a great couple. They have an awesome phamily and that is what it is all about:

Andrew, the photo bomber in the middle of Christal and Alex and their three kids, Jaslin, Alexis and Devin. Roger and Noelle are very blessed.

Andrew, Christal and Colton with baby Jaslin 2003.

Andrew, Tarrah, Roger and Colton. -2014-

The gender reveal party 2015.

Tarrah's dad, Grandpa Scott thought Michael fit perfectly in this pot. This baby is amazing, he is so sweet and quiet. Love this little phamily.

I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring. ~Liz Armbruster


Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man. ~Rabindranath Tagore

So please stop by Ms. Jenny and visit the wonderful world of the Letter "O" which I have share din Noelle and roger's story and the letter "N" for Noelle.

Memories are made of this/ Happy Birthday Nick

August 19th,  my favorite Auntie Ang Jacklovich Steblay would have had a birthday. Born in 1914 she would be 101!  That is unbelievable! It seems like yesterday that she was riding in my car and we were laughing and talking and she was teaching me many life lessons. This was on her wedding day. She wore the loveliest suit and was was a woman ahead of her times. She was very unconventional. This was one of her siblings, her sister Anna Jacklovich Predolich, the grandmother of my dear friend Rob.He grew up in Bojon town right with me and not too long ago he shared this photo on Facebook for Throw Back Thursday:

Oh my goodness, Rob was a little fellow and I was not that much older. I treasure this photo and am so grateful for him for sharing it with me from so long ago. I noticed the Christmas decorations in the background, including that cool cardboard fireplace. Rob's mom Anna and her mom decorated so wonderfully. Many nice memories with the Predolich phamily on Santa Fe . Their neighbor Rose Blatnik and her son Buddy were the nicest folks. Rose made the most beautiful dolls from dish detergent bottles and dressed the in the most magnificent clothes. I have one somewhere around here. On the other side of them was John Mihelich's grandmother and aunt Jane  Dolgan. Beside their house was Uncle Bear's filling station and then his home with Auntie Gela. I know cousin Jeannie told me Uncle Bear built their first home on Hill Place and later the Glavich family lived there but my sister and I were reminiscing and she was very young but remembers either a two story house or an apartment building on the corner of Mesa and Santa Fe and Chico who worked for cousin Danny at the filling station lived there at one time with his phamily. Maybe cousin Jeannie or Mike can fill in a few blanks on that 1144 S Santa Fe property.

22 years ago today these are words I heard from my doctor at four o'clock P.M. Nicholas Carl Robinson made his entance into this big ole world. He has given us many years of countless joys, we have suffered trials and happy moments and are very proud of him and the young man he has become.

Nick loved watching this program when he was small. I have kept all the books and memories from the days of Arthur the Aardvark!

Running became Nick's passion (orange) and he ran two years with the Cowley College Tigers and ran in NYC at the Armory in the Track and Field Nationals 2014. He has a two year degree from this little school which was a huge blessing for us when Nick first headed to college.

Nick was a little fellow sitting with Santa long ago. Where does time go?  In the memory file hidden inside our hearts and minds that is where II know it must go.

Nick was on top of the world at Chautauqua Park this summer hiking with his big sister Rebekah and nephew Colton.

Nick loved Easter and those chocolate bunnies. He was about two years old here.

Nick and I enjoying Colton Edward, our tiny grandbaby June 7, 1996. Nick was going to turn three.

Nick, in his Kentucky Wildcat Blues with Bret, Hannah, Brittany and Jeremy. Noelle fondly calls this photo the Larry's....if you knew Jeremy you would know who Larry is!

I hope you enjoyed this Bojon Heritage post today. I am going to try to keep writing as long as you come back and read. Have a wonderful day. This is for Ms. Jenny and those participating in the letters "M" for memories are made of this and the letter "N" for Nick. 

"Bullies" Even in BoJon Town

You know I was recently at my friend Pamela's blog : Pamela. She has a beautiful place I like to go for encouragement and kindness.  Recently she acknowledged that she had bullied someone in school a long time ago. I was reading the previous comments and a flood of feelings came over me. Bullies are everywhere. I am not condoning the Columbine killers here, but at a young age they were bullied too. One of them had a very strict father who had served in the military and although the young man wished to be like his father, he was tormented instead. I do not even know words to use for bullying that leads to  further violence and even mass murders! But I do know the pain of a bully. As a kid in the 6th grade, walking home from school one day, I was attacked by a girl who lived near my home. She attended Edison public school and was a bit rough around the edges. She slammed me up against a wrought iron fence, on Mesa Avenue.  It was the home of the Hiza's. I went to school with their grandkids, the Krasovec's. She accused me of saying terrible things about her mother! Her mother had been ill for a long time and she passed away while we were still young. It hurt my heart because my friend Karen high tailed it out of there and left me with this bully! She hung me up on that wrought iron fence and I was still one of those shy kids so I did nothing to fight back! Today I might have laid her out on the sidewalk, because after a while you just can not take it anymore! But the worst part about it all was the fact that I never said an unkind word about her or her mother! I was raised better than that! Yet it hurt me to think someone did say unkind words about her mom and said I was the gossip! You know if I saw that girl today, I am not sure I would want to be on the same side of the sidewalk as her. It hurt me deeply.

I am not perfect. I have had my share of talking about someone else. I doubt anyone, anywhere could say that at some point in their own life, they  never gossiped .  When I was working the miserable job that cut me loose last November I saw and heard things that were so unkind and rude. It made me sad to think an educated man like that doctor would participate in such gossip but truthfully, there are men who are every bit as bad as women when it comes to gossip!

Once I walked into our break room and heard the doctor carrying on about a patient who was an unwed mother. His office manager at the time was very ignorant. She was not raised properly, I do not believe, and the two of them were having a grand time laughing and making fun of this lady. I was stunned by their insults because they both knew myself and another woman in the office, were unwed mothers at one time. My father was a very wise man, he would say , "be glad God is your judge and not people around you!" Amen dad! That is a very truthful statement. The doctor had lived with his wife over twenty years before he proposed marriage.  His office manager married a divorced man! There is a boat load full of insults and meanness in both of their own situations!  I never felt truly comfortable with either one of them after that. If you ever feel yourself in this type of situation there is a ton of Scripture to help you sort out your feelings. Surprisingly, it made me feel much better and I took to surrounding my work space with Scripture and lots of positive and  happy things for the rest of my time there. Here are a few: The Book of James, Chapter 3, Deuteronomy 32:33, Psalm 55:21., Ecclesiastes 10:11. Check them out before you have the urge to gossip.

I was raised by wonderful, kind, God fearing parents. They were really goodhearted and they were not gossiping, evil spewing people! They were about as close to the Lord as you could get. Anything good, decent and kind I learned from them. As a child we were not allowed to bad mouth or "bully" anyone. Even if I was  not fond of someone I was always polite because that was how I was raised. Today too many people lavish praise alone on their children and the kid thinks the world revolves around them. Bullying happens, and what frightens me today is the fact that kids will destroy someone's desire to live by their hatefulness and evil doings. I am so glad I was a raised in a simpler time when people respected each other and kids minded their manners and their parents.

I am going to miss posting these daily but since I have to take a quick road trip to Kansas so we can store Nick's things until school starts, I guess a small break will be nice. Next week we will go on vacation with most of the phamily. It will be a different feeling, Lots of change. Nick heading back to school on August 10, the day we get back from our little mini vacation. That feeling you have after returning from vacation, feeling a little sad that you can not enjoy some more relaxing time. Still hoping to find a decent job and moving from the summertime into the autumn. Life moves forward.

I have said it before, I appreciate all the input from all the wonderful people who took the time to help out. Keep writing those memories down with the wonderful stories. Share your photos. Don't let your heritage slip through your hands. Keep talking about it, we all owe it to those you went before us.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, a great finish to the summer and you keep writing and thinking of all the wonderful memories you have shared. I am sorry I ended my 31 posts on a more difficult post but I felt like I need to share it. Mike Barnett, my great cousin who started me on this path of our heritage once said, I Never said all BoJon's were nice!" There is an occasionally bad apple in everything in life. I just think bullying is such an overlooked problem in schools today. You can't just tell a kid stick up for someone, someone, like an adult needs to be around to control the situation. I think people want kids to solve difficult problems by themselves and this is one of those problems that you can's smile and say, it will be ok. We all need to stand together and stop bullying for good! Have a great evening and thanks for stopping by!