Dana Perino reveals lesson in forgiveness learned from President George W. Bush

<script height="355px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=b171980b65ae4996bffea4da902c7846&ec=VkNW9oaDpgPAKKtidR0V174Gvdt_HfSW" width="465px"></script><br /><br />Politics is full of betrayers. There's always those who will turn but, until it happens, we never know which ones it will be. Dana Perino shares in this <a href="http://www.cnsnews.com/mrctv-blog/eric-scheiner/dana-perino-reveals-powerful-secret" target="_blank">video clip</a> a long-held secret about how President George W. Bush urged her to forgive a colleague who had betrayed the president.<br /><br />She also reveals that President Bush said to her he knew she would not do the same. Those who are loyal are a rare few.  A lesson learned early on was that if you have one friend in politics, you're rich.<br /><br />Dana's revelation about GWB is yet another example of why I admire the Bush family and their leadership style....

betrayal Dana Perino forgiveness friendship George W. Bush Dana Perino reveals lesson in forgiveness learned from President George W. Bush

Politics is full of betrayers. There's always those who will turn but, until it happens, we never know which ones it will be. Dana Perino shares in this video clip a long-held secret about how President George W. Bush urged her to forgive a colleague…

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Family

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzorHewOrd8Hc2eJe9qzC4OPPcQEuV7a25gwpqO5mIrIs8o0VOD-OfhcgECPXy-RM-Pegm1N6b4Vp940LOvCCPCkbFKkDXwkEwgRcsO0pErREIalOJgkAhdS5fvnUQ7zHrgRWw_JGMdN_/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzorHewOrd8Hc2eJe9qzC4OPPcQEuV7a25gwpqO5mIrIs8o0VOD-OfhcgECPXy-RM-Pegm1N6b4Vp940LOvCCPCkbFKkDXwkEwgRcsO0pErREIalOJgkAhdS5fvnUQ7zHrgRWw_JGMdN_/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Birthday celebration on the deck.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHPxekV8ETst-1R3yFUrmFzkwn8fToyZqKKTF-nRK_zN6sEYjbDUzLBTv4tv9iYq0qlyB0LXcOkcecssR1YWbampUGe8kokAN1HOXMPCrnuT2-nZtxoQskXLBoulA4GGjCNesCXXHTdN1/s1600/1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHPxekV8ETst-1R3yFUrmFzkwn8fToyZqKKTF-nRK_zN6sEYjbDUzLBTv4tv9iYq0qlyB0LXcOkcecssR1YWbampUGe8kokAN1HOXMPCrnuT2-nZtxoQskXLBoulA4GGjCNesCXXHTdN1/s400/1a.jpg" width="163" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He brought flowers for his grandmother.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3XlfYOTpPQxp6qGLqYPg-RI_Mfy9NybScY7tpZitknfZ46o1EHerETS9mzoPX8xCvzjOy9J7CXnLPd1ZXZ600awQ_diSued9_rxCJqQif97qoTLdZttSm5IR0uo1VYqoSjGcu-V1NPl0/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3XlfYOTpPQxp6qGLqYPg-RI_Mfy9NybScY7tpZitknfZ46o1EHerETS9mzoPX8xCvzjOy9J7CXnLPd1ZXZ600awQ_diSued9_rxCJqQif97qoTLdZttSm5IR0uo1VYqoSjGcu-V1NPl0/s640/2.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mom with the beautiful flowers from cousins Lynn and John Osborne in Chesterfield.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbUaXJRojMov-ppJ4QZS9qS5Qa8FAGlcZo9BlAkT6X5ZIir8qCD0jgeu_YaZ8ElH95OE6_Zps8_R8V1aAq6UD8v_seH_gqPyZXRPYJTklP8VAJLbi7F2d_-RElH66inB3w-EQ_s9VLwa3/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbUaXJRojMov-ppJ4QZS9qS5Qa8FAGlcZo9BlAkT6X5ZIir8qCD0jgeu_YaZ8ElH95OE6_Zps8_R8V1aAq6UD8v_seH_gqPyZXRPYJTklP8VAJLbi7F2d_-RElH66inB3w-EQ_s9VLwa3/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiG6pRjJn7L3j_P-wxJ-5nvfY-ixCVZqujVxjI5-4ax2f2rSqHLpTfBSgy6kMslb5W0j2XQAbPrL1GQ_cz9VFprMrNVUrXce6SHqgLVxNImr9icdEotdrrmhbqOBACKhwoS6DTick6BqT/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiG6pRjJn7L3j_P-wxJ-5nvfY-ixCVZqujVxjI5-4ax2f2rSqHLpTfBSgy6kMslb5W0j2XQAbPrL1GQ_cz9VFprMrNVUrXce6SHqgLVxNImr9icdEotdrrmhbqOBACKhwoS6DTick6BqT/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUYWYs0emmlvK4qnSNEFekqfM3NTljJunoGLutNMxylf5ILmYJf7Hmu0_Umf1AmLcVLg4lG9XNEYlewtrG811NPh4zcWHAardNsXTv36qRvDb6yo8pGqMWzMk1fCDmfSBXIP5zS6vqiqG/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUYWYs0emmlvK4qnSNEFekqfM3NTljJunoGLutNMxylf5ILmYJf7Hmu0_Umf1AmLcVLg4lG9XNEYlewtrG811NPh4zcWHAardNsXTv36qRvDb6yo8pGqMWzMk1fCDmfSBXIP5zS6vqiqG/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dinner was marinated pork chops and corn on the cob from the grill, boiled Yukon Gold potatoes and sliced tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and grilled flat bread. Summer eating is some kind of good with all the fresh produce.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuMvQlGre56lv0dJiat56_e6XYxAkA0sWuEpyihxKkdcAlErLKr0ZeC00Oa2F5COqORkfkxo4uBgMvgfwPKUc8GJHMog5NkOfzbQd9Yvj8NK9IV63P5LNstC0YTBuElvlDAtclRzKoSSO/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuMvQlGre56lv0dJiat56_e6XYxAkA0sWuEpyihxKkdcAlErLKr0ZeC00Oa2F5COqORkfkxo4uBgMvgfwPKUc8GJHMog5NkOfzbQd9Yvj8NK9IV63P5LNstC0YTBuElvlDAtclRzKoSSO/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Gourmet birthday cupcakes for the birthday folks ... both my parents and SWAC Husband.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAOy6-pPoWtRdNrAiAh-aIpuPtJvKrXhr2ja5rCsFy8uWhTK2NmGt2olzMjIy1roQCnxp_ttTcSt7XiGoEn2X6hB4Peo6CBEJ3HzBw1Nu-fdnt5PPHToDUnAtfmedUf6mcFTyJgPi0Iyi/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAOy6-pPoWtRdNrAiAh-aIpuPtJvKrXhr2ja5rCsFy8uWhTK2NmGt2olzMjIy1roQCnxp_ttTcSt7XiGoEn2X6hB4Peo6CBEJ3HzBw1Nu-fdnt5PPHToDUnAtfmedUf6mcFTyJgPi0Iyi/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>SWAC Son brought flowers for me, too, even though he and I are February babies.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWPMnCTgN5zyPLSytmMi49DrggXI5kuqwlBsMp6ezC0Iy8toE0vqPEIq1WW8oLb5X4sSR6r405B2lCfodRhPnNBl5wdvG6bK63OfFR4ZgxcavHbVPlGtQxGJWKEv87fksLmX6xjPF0hEN/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWPMnCTgN5zyPLSytmMi49DrggXI5kuqwlBsMp6ezC0Iy8toE0vqPEIq1WW8oLb5X4sSR6r405B2lCfodRhPnNBl5wdvG6bK63OfFR4ZgxcavHbVPlGtQxGJWKEv87fksLmX6xjPF0hEN/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My bookworm parents rocking and reading on the front porch.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUSwklR_qZWszUqKtYODYjP7eHPQCknvcKTprEOH66OvQIymupSiQwnhhZe_n9wlXoE1FXowDJjtqG1TSJb3VWR7FnosuKmIuSaWIdTK-YjXO41310D95lbNlHOy9WxcJgWjjdaICV_Y-/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUSwklR_qZWszUqKtYODYjP7eHPQCknvcKTprEOH66OvQIymupSiQwnhhZe_n9wlXoE1FXowDJjtqG1TSJb3VWR7FnosuKmIuSaWIdTK-YjXO41310D95lbNlHOy9WxcJgWjjdaICV_Y-/s400/2.jpg" width="167" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stepping out in the back yard.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINo4_GuMbUBTyS3GtjcsOedZkyDIKW8b0AfkdTuCqR6bd72R_9YuGdSqmlGQkDL7v6GmUa0wrI-WNdKxKgtu6DjtfHy35UzlfttimPc9RjH8uqqmkgYub2WPxIwhRIDJQ79maICdDp2I5/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINo4_GuMbUBTyS3GtjcsOedZkyDIKW8b0AfkdTuCqR6bd72R_9YuGdSqmlGQkDL7v6GmUa0wrI-WNdKxKgtu6DjtfHy35UzlfttimPc9RjH8uqqmkgYub2WPxIwhRIDJQ79maICdDp2I5/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They like to roam the yard and woods when visiting, checking out the plants, trees, and flowers they have passed along to us over the years. They like to check out the garden, too, and both love tomatoes so we sent them home with a load of freshly-picked produce.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AY84rFTSXCCa0HeFJxBsm83iLj4pvNAMRk7j4Om-kMXCs6UMrOnlLIvriAnrCnwUbk7rpkEUAkh_fF8fzKJrP5RqOy4GusUP20pgBBY3YO72KCKpeWEfexKb_f8WehG4zAAO5SABA9Bu/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AY84rFTSXCCa0HeFJxBsm83iLj4pvNAMRk7j4Om-kMXCs6UMrOnlLIvriAnrCnwUbk7rpkEUAkh_fF8fzKJrP5RqOy4GusUP20pgBBY3YO72KCKpeWEfexKb_f8WehG4zAAO5SABA9Bu/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have a Country Mouse and a City Mouse for parents ... both grew up with different background experiences ... but both love the outdoors.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-H3lvpAvu-jMxmsTWkn163kY93e_asSGtWlT_XKAFbVwBI145SV-zJXdxBiEkaNiKreRnvomC8gMUH948XTYkRi8UfVV7M1M0U3U1XH2ZCVvWXmZUXbRsAwlU_E7t0fkp1etMuxSwMhW/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-H3lvpAvu-jMxmsTWkn163kY93e_asSGtWlT_XKAFbVwBI145SV-zJXdxBiEkaNiKreRnvomC8gMUH948XTYkRi8UfVV7M1M0U3U1XH2ZCVvWXmZUXbRsAwlU_E7t0fkp1etMuxSwMhW/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My parents were in town this week for a visit. We were celebrating birthdays and family. They are in their 80s and still perking right along and, while visiting, they didn't really want to go anywhere but, rather, just talk, read, and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Shenandoah Valley. <br /><br />So that's exactly what we did. SWAC Son joined us as we celebrated the birthdays on Monday with dinner on the deck ... grilled pork chops and corn with goodies from the garden -- boiled Yukon Gold potatoes as well as freshly picked tomatoes and cucumbers, along with strawberries, blueberries, and peaches. Oh -- and gourmet cupcakes for the birthday kids -- strawberry-topped cupcakes for my folks and key lime-flavored for SWAC Husband.  And gorgeous flowers for Mom from SWAC Son and cousins in Richmond. It was a feast on the deck overlooking the back yard, woods, and mountain ridge, and so we lingered until dark, talking and enjoying the cool evening breeze.<br /><br />It was a good week and we were thankful that the weather cooperated with low humidity, low temps, and a breeze, and even the rain showers were gentle enough to sit on the porch and read. I set up the video camera and recorded Mom talking about family history, something we need to continue next time we're together, and took notes that will be added to our genealogy books.<br /><br />They are part of the World War II generation, a sad, fascinating time in American and world history, and each personal perspective of that time as teenagers is unique ... one graduating high school and going straight to work ... the other graduating high school and attending Virginia Tech before the Navy pulled him into the war. Victory gardens, ration coupons, gas shortages, loss of a sibling during the war ... they know it up close and personal. <br /><br />Family and the Shenandoah Valley. It doesn't get much better....<br /><br /><i>Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell</i><br /><i>August 2013</i>

Augusta County Blue Ridge Mountains family friendship parents Shenandoah Valley World War II Family

Birthday celebration on the deck.He brought flowers for his grandmother.Mom with the beautiful flowers from cousins Lynn and John Osborne in Chesterfield.Dinner was marinated pork chops and corn on the cob from the grill, boiled Yukon Gold potatoes a…

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George H.W. Bush ... class, loyalty, love

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJX8wYJ407sarcpr-cdro58HRRZQAtEXBfsNGlJxdxNeZkcyY-gPoRsfFn0NupeCsdu-Wggcqggee6pMRkaZmI3vXdRyWtPXi7G9K9Ns_APO7TMYeqGWH7oLkbsEXxwZLe09kE_C5fCAyT/s1600/George+H.W.+Bush+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJX8wYJ407sarcpr-cdro58HRRZQAtEXBfsNGlJxdxNeZkcyY-gPoRsfFn0NupeCsdu-Wggcqggee6pMRkaZmI3vXdRyWtPXi7G9K9Ns_APO7TMYeqGWH7oLkbsEXxwZLe09kE_C5fCAyT/s640/George+H.W.+Bush+1.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="userContent">President George H.W. Bush, 89, and his entire security detail shaved their heads in solidarity with the two-year-old son of one of his security guys. That's loyalty, class, and love all rolled into one....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2dpgSQWg3o_7qOmgRh7kCX6SA5J25O6RExlvqLkyNZ1UpOw2YT7fEDhzHU6yl8a4fw1_wSc500hiG798dttmbOadA4nDGffAUn9k5aSny-StkWyWUvIms99hO9xq15AzUClnoIeYuyvl/s1600/George+H.W.+Bush+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2dpgSQWg3o_7qOmgRh7kCX6SA5J25O6RExlvqLkyNZ1UpOw2YT7fEDhzHU6yl8a4fw1_wSc500hiG798dttmbOadA4nDGffAUn9k5aSny-StkWyWUvIms99hO9xq15AzUClnoIeYuyvl/s400/George+H.W.+Bush+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> <span class="text_exposed_show">KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE -- President George H. W. Bush this week joined members of his Secret Service detail in shaving his head to show his support for the two year-old son of a detail member who is being treated for leukemia and started losing his hair.<br /> <br /> The 89 year-old commander-in-chief took the unusual step earlier this week after learning, and seeing, that many members of his security detail had already gone under the razor to show their support for young Patrick, whose father Jon is a member of the Bush Protective Division (BPD). (Surname being withheld per family's request.)<br /> <br /> BPD members have also launched a website at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patrickspals.org&h=kAQHXkGjx&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.patrickspals.org</a> to assist with Patrick's medical bills, and organized the Inaugural Patrick's Pals Motorcycle Benefit Run on August 10th in Kennebunkport -- a 50-mile motorcycle ride through the Maine countryside followed by a lunch and silent auction to raise funds for Patrick's treatments.<br /> <br /> Once President and Mrs. Bush learned of this "Patrick's Pals" effort, they made a donation and President Bush volunteered to shave his head as well. The Bushes lost their second child, Robin, to leukemia 60 years ago this October at the age of four.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show"><i>Photos from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/georgebushfoundation">George Bush Presidential Library</a></i> </span></span></span>

class friendship George Bush Presidential Library George H.W. Bush love loyalty George H.W. Bush ... class, loyalty, love

 President George H.W. Bush, 89, and his entire security detail shaved their heads in solidarity with the two-year-old son of one of his security guys. That's loyalty, class, and love all rolled into one.... KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE -- President Georg…

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Jenna Bush Hager reveals 5 life lessons learned from her grandparents

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bsE6rsJGcnkGSvJyhVDGaGZhiMd7lWuTy5VSHNVlKaoqltlJLe0agF0aj9FjwtFUKlziO9cY_fsTAnVJi4eZTE1UawjBfmsTPwo7INgkTskSBlc-bsGXVCxoqTNrMG5hVqFg-zZQYXiq/s1600/Jenna+Bush+2+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bsE6rsJGcnkGSvJyhVDGaGZhiMd7lWuTy5VSHNVlKaoqltlJLe0agF0aj9FjwtFUKlziO9cY_fsTAnVJi4eZTE1UawjBfmsTPwo7INgkTskSBlc-bsGXVCxoqTNrMG5hVqFg-zZQYXiq/s320/Jenna+Bush+2+baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Jenna Bush Hager, one of the twin daughters of former President George W. and Laura Bush who is married to Henry Hager, son of Virginia's former Lieutenant Governor John Hager, recently shared <a href="http://www.today.com/allday/jenna-bush-hager-5-things-i-learned-my-grandfather-grandmother-1C8819779">five life lessons</a> that were passed along from her grandparents. Those grandparents are former President George H.W.  and Barbara Bush.<br /><br />Be sure to <a href="http://www.today.com/allday/jenna-bush-hager-5-things-i-learned-my-grandfather-grandmother-1C8819779">read Jenna's article</a> for her expanded explanations of the five life lessons passed along from George and Barbara: <br /><br />1. Don't talk too much about yourself.<br />2. Have lots of loyal friends -- and be one.<br />3. Laugh.<br />4. Love.<br />5. Write handwritten notes.

Barbara Bush family friendship George H.W. Bush George W. Bush Henry Hager Jenna Bush Hager John Hager Laura Bush Jenna Bush Hager reveals 5 life lessons learned from her grandparents

Jenna Bush Hager, one of the twin daughters of former President George W. and Laura Bush who is married to Henry Hager, son of Virginia's former Lieutenant Governor John Hager, recently shared five life lessons that were passed along from her grandpa…

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Especially true in the shark tank known as politics

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZPeAjdf1NiaNhs1Mb_EoQVFknH9K6Q7XYNcgjAYe_aQMmcTePwuRqproO4JFsbf6c5uV_mlTaD6IM03ZTayJeVqiYqfNy90ssisXlOcJC81TVzpFX9O9yBwmytC3yxxZgLDWJCDkcYKw/s1600/wedding+birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZPeAjdf1NiaNhs1Mb_EoQVFknH9K6Q7XYNcgjAYe_aQMmcTePwuRqproO4JFsbf6c5uV_mlTaD6IM03ZTayJeVqiYqfNy90ssisXlOcJC81TVzpFX9O9yBwmytC3yxxZgLDWJCDkcYKw/s200/wedding+birds.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">"Making a hundred friends is not a miracle. The miracle is to make a single friend who will stand by your side even when the hundreds are against you."</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><i><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">--Unknown</span></i></b></span></div>

friendship Especially true in the shark tank known as politics

"Making a hundred friends is not a miracle. The miracle is to make a single friend who will stand by your side even when the hundreds are against you."--Unknown…

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Father's Day 2013: 'One More Day' ... with Dad

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyYFRVjhz7uof1EPnUo0V1LX2QdyTUWVBm8ZO9V1q96-4MjfZ5bg4JYN_pvZz_MxzX1raOHgop13P2tRjYBs8T5nde8Sa5V2zx28hPQkdp7fv-jwjiyvWQSs8H5CDuaTp8lrMi98UcLOo/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyYFRVjhz7uof1EPnUo0V1LX2QdyTUWVBm8ZO9V1q96-4MjfZ5bg4JYN_pvZz_MxzX1raOHgop13P2tRjYBs8T5nde8Sa5V2zx28hPQkdp7fv-jwjiyvWQSs8H5CDuaTp8lrMi98UcLOo/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Shenandoah National Park as the mountain laurel blooms. My dad had two places on earth he loved more than anywhere else: the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.</i></div><br /><i>[My annual Father's Day remembrance of my dad....]</i><br /><br />It's Father's Day and, once again, my dad is not here to be with us. He passed away in 1975 at the age of 51.<br /><br />There's a country song by Diamond Rio called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuE1XJ_uqOs">"One More Day"</a> ... and every time I hear that song I think of my dad. It has been years since cancer took him from us and, yet, a word or song or thought can bring me to my knees as I continue to feel the loss of a man I admired and respected and miss to this day.<br /><br />He was a simple man, the oldest of five children growing up in Amelia County, Virginia ... a child of the Depression who quit school after eighth grade to help support his financially-strapped family.<br /><br />According to many pundits today, he should have felt sorry for himself and given up on life or blamed society. But he didn't. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, traveling to exotic places in the South Pacific as a gunner on the <i>USS Wisconsin</i>. He came home to Chesterfield County, Virginia, after the war, settled down, married, and raised three daughters. He wasn't the CEO of some company ... but to us he was more.<br /><br />He was funny, easy-going, and hard to anger ... but when he angered, look out. He was a stern disciplinarian who had a thundering velvet hand when we had misbehaved. He was a deacon in our church and a Sunday school teacher for most of his adult life. He played baseball on his company's team, and he taught us the game.<br /><br />My dad loved to camp in the Shenandoah National Park along the Skyline Drive. Because my parents couldn't afford pricey vacations, they took us to the mountains from the time we were young. Dad was a naturalist before it became fashionable. He was mindful of nature, teaching his girls to leave the flowers for others to enjoy. He taught us to pack out our trash, be respectful of the animals that lived there, and enjoy that beautiful part of Virginia.<br /><br />We still enjoy that beautiful part of Virginia. At the age of one, my parents took me for my first camping trip to Big Meadows Campground ... and we've been at it ever since ... and living in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains is a dream come true.<br /><br />Though not physically with me, I carry Dad's memory and honor him by remembering and practicing what he taught all those years ago.<br /><br />And that's why the Diamond Rio song can bring me to tears in a heartbeat ... if I could have just one more day with him it would be sitting around a campfire in Shenandoah National Park ... one more time.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuE1XJ_uqOs">"One More Day"</a><br />By Diamond Rio<br /><br />Last night I had a crazy dream<br />A wish was granted just for me, it could be for anything.<br />I didn't ask for money or a mansion in Malibu,<br />I simply wished for one more day with you.<br /><br />One more day, one more time...<br />One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied.<br />But then again, I know what it would do<br />Leave me wishin' still for one more day with you.<br /><br />First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl,<br />I'd unplug the telephone, keep the TV off,<br />I'd hold you every second and say a million "I love you's"...<br />That's what I'd do with one more day with you.<br /><br />One more day, one more time...<br />One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied.<br />But then again, I know what it would do<br />Leave me wishin' still for one more day with you.<br /><br /><i>Originally posted on Father's Day 2007.</i>

Blue Ridge Mountains family Father's Day friendship mentoring Outer Banks Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive Father's Day 2013: 'One More Day' ... with Dad

Shenandoah National Park as the mountain laurel blooms. My dad had two places on earth he loved more than anywhere else: the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.[My annual Father's Day remembrance of my dad....]It'…

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'Those who don't know the value of loyalty ...'

"Those who don't know the value of loyalty can never appreciate the cost of betrayal." --Anonymous<br /><br /><br />

betrayal friendship loyalty 'Those who don't know the value of loyalty ...'

"Those who don't know the value of loyalty can never appreciate the cost of betrayal." --Anonymous…

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