With Mother’s Day just around the corner it reminded me of the old “MOTHER” acronym, you remember the one:
“M” is for the million things she gave me,
“O” means obstacles she overcame with me,
“T” is for the tears she shed for me,
“H” is for her heart of gold;
“E” is for her everlasting spirit,
“R” is for remembers me at all times and occasions.
Put them all together, they spell
“MOTHER,”
a word that means the world to me.’
Then I began to think, as I often do, about those who serve this country and how Mother’s Day takes on a VERY special meaning for them during their deployment, as it does for the mother’s of our warriors as well. I wondered…as a Mother, how does it feel to have a son, or daughter constantly in harm’s way? What does it feel like to watch your child willingly go off to war and fight for their country? I can imagine it is equal parts Pride and Fear. At some point, as mothers, we have to loosen up our grasp on our children regardless of how much we may not want to. Although our children grow and start families of their own, we never really let them go. We may loosen the grasp, but we never truly release it. I can certainly see how supporting your child as they volunteer to go off to war can give a whole new meaning to Mother’s Day..almost redefine it. For most children, both young and old, Mother’s Day may mean little more than calling mom, or making her breakfast in bed, or simply doing something out of the norm. However, Mother’s Day for a military family can be one of the most important days of the year for both mother and child. It’s the time to say, “Thank you. Mom. Thank you for bringing me up to love my country and love my family.” For as much as fathers are looked up to, mother’s share equally in the molding of their children’s ideals, personalities and allegiances. They are as responsible for instilling love of family, God, liberty and country as much as the fathers in this Nation.
What about being a Mother IN the military? We must not forget the thousands of mothers who are on active duty right now, away from their family…away from their husbands and children. What does Mother’s Day mean to them? Imagine willingly leaving your family behind to follow a call to duty. That is something that most of us could never fathom. As a mother, I certainly can’t truly imagine what it would feel like to board a plane, knowing that there is a chance that my family may never see me again. Being away from your children for a few days can be painful enough, but for a better part of a year? That is an unbelievable sacrifice for country. Remember that this Mother’s Day there are thousands of mothers in the services who are eagerly waiting to hear from their family and are counting the days until the get to hold their children again.
So, for the thousands, upon thousands of Mothers either in service, have a child in service, PPL Motorhomes thanks you. I thank you. We should all thank you for showing the true strength of mothers here in the United States of America. We will never forget, or understate your sacrifice and wish all of you a truly Happy Mother’s Day!
April 22, 2013 is Earth Day . What does Earth Day mean to you? Do you even know what Earth Day is? Do you know what it is about? Have you really thought about the impact that you make on this planet? I mean, have you REALLY thought about it? It’s not enough for just some of us to take responsibility for recycling, not littering, using less fossil fuels and caring for all of our flora and fauna.
I know that being and RVer can be a double edged sword sometimes. Here we are, with the urge to travel and explore, but that takes, in many cases, a lot of fuel. As a consequence we are not only using fossil fuels, but we are also emitting toxins into the air. Even further, when we visit our favorite parks and forests, I know that we do our best to leave as small of a footprint as we can, but we still have trash, refuse and black and grey water residuals to take care of.
Now this doesn’t me that as RVers we are hypocrites. I think that, in fact, we are quite the opposite. More than most we are very cognizant of the type of carbon foot prints we leave in the areas we visit. We are also some of the first people to make donations or contribute to the conservation of wildlife and forestry! I know many RVers who are members of conservations groups. I also know that they are leaders in their neighborhoods when it comes to recycling and spreading the word of how and why we should keep Texas beautiful.
I think that the bottom line is that when it really comes down to it, everyday is Earth Day. When we go RVing, I for one really am really grateful for everything that we get to see and do outdoors. It’s always a shame to see the slow deterioration of our planet and the places we like to visit. We all should be hypersensitive to the condition of our environment. Not just when we are are RVing, but all of the time.
All of us here at PPL Motorhomes are proud and happy to have the ability to anywhere we want, anytime we want…for now. It’s up to all of us to keep it that way. Remember, April 22nd, 2013 may be Earth Day…but so should every day be for that matter.
Hello, RV Nana readers! I wanted to write a quick post to tell everyone that, “It’s time to celebrate”! This month marks the 1 year anniversary of the opening of our fantastic PPL Motorhomes location in New Braunfels. This location is a popular destination for all Central Texas RVers. If you are an RVer, and you are looking for just about anything in the RV world, well, there’s a really good chance you’ll find it at PPL Motorhomes.
The great thing is that with our PPL Motorhomes location in New Braunfels, our Central Texas customers now have more accessibility in regards to buying a new RV, putting their RV on consignment and shopping 10′s of thousands of RV parts and accessories. If you haven’t been to the new location, and you live in the area, I think you will really like what you’ll find!
Finally, Happy One Year Anniversary to all of our friends, co-workers and customers at PPL Motorhomes in New Braunfels TX! Now, who has the cake?
I’m constantly amazed at how much the great state of Texas has to offer travelers of all types. You can literally find nearly every type of land formation and climate from the Gulf Coast the the tip of the Panhandle. That’s why I’m shocked when I hear people sometimes saying things like, “I wish Texas wasn’t soooo big”, or “There’s not much to do in Texas”. Are you kidding me? There are thousands of miles of things to do in Texas. If you are having trouble making a trip plan for this holiday season, or after, one of the best sites you can visit is http://www.traveltex.com/.
This site literally has every event that is happening across the state. If you are thinking about planning a statewide trip, take a look at Traveltex first. It is chock full of things to do and to see. In fact, if you plan right, you can tour Texas in it’s entirety and see everything from mountains to coastal plains. You can take part in small town events and big city activities.
If you plan on traveling during the holidays, there are drive though forest Christmas light displays in East Texas that will know your socks off. There are flea markets, antique showcases and craft shows galore. Here are a few videos to show you what you are missing.
A trip across Texas this holiday season might be exactly what you need to decompress after a long year of hard work. It’s time to take a look around you, around your city and around your state, jump into your Houston RV and see what you’ve been missing. There is so much to see and do, I don’t expect to ever hear, “What is there really to do in Texas, anyway”?
It’s that time of year again at your consignment RV and RV parts store, PPL Motorhomes is collecting Teddy Bears for the Cuddles For Kids Teddy Bear Drive for the Missouri City and Houston Police Department Clergy Teams. For years, police officers have collected and distributed teddy bears to children to comfort them at a crime or accident scene and these bears often become the child’s best friend. We will be accepting teddy bear donations for their worthy cause.
Last year PPL Motorhomes donated over 800 bears and strives to increase their donation this year to 1,000 bears with your help. To kick off this year’s drive, PPL will again donate one teddy bear for every RV sold in November and December. So, if you are looking for the perfect consignment RV, now is the best time to get it!
Plus, come to PPL Motorhomes on December 15th from 1pm-3pm for pictures with Santa. Don’t forget to bring teddy bears to stuff the RV for the Cuddles For Kids Teddy Bear Drive.
“War is Hell”. There’s no other way to describe being in an armed conflict. It’s not pretty, it’s not clean and it scars not just people, but entire nations. Though this year’s Veteran’s Day fell on a Sunday, and today being Monday, I thought to myself, “Is our gratitude as a country for service rendered relegated to just one day”? “Do we go another year before we are, for lack of a better word, “forced” to recognize both our combatants and non-combatants that serve, or have served?” “Shouldn’t EVERY day be Veteran’s Day?”
For hundreds of thousands of families across America it is. Children wake up every morning knowing that their Mom, or Dad isn’t going to be there to make them breakfast. Those same children go to bed every every night knowing that they still have to wait to be tucked in by their soldier Mom, or Dad who is away from their family in order to protect ours. Husbands and wives have to carry on with their daily routine as if their lives were actually normal. Their Veteran’s Day is every day.
Now imagine when combat veterans come back from one of their many duty assignments. When Vietnam vets came back, they were spit on and called names all because they served their country. Whether they agreed with the politics behind the war efforts or not, they were all treated the same, as pariahs. That is unforgivable. Returning Vets today certainly get a better homecoming than they did in Vietnam, maybe it’s because of the shame, maybe it’s because we understand what today’s soldier has to face, but it certainly still isn’t the type of homecoming and respect they deserve. As I said before, EVERY day should be Veteran’s Day.
War changes people, there’s no mincing words here. Watch these videos and maybe you’ll get a glimpse of what it’s like to try to return to civilian life after being in combat.
If you know a veteran, thank them everyday for their service. Honoring our soldiers both past and present shouldn’t just be relegated to one day of barbecues, it should reside somewhere in your mind at all times. Never forget that those that came before you, the ones that are there right now and and future combatants are fighting because they love this Country. They fight so your children won’t have to. They deserve a “Thank You”. So, PPL Motorhomes wants to send the warmest and most genuine “THANK YOU” we can to all of those who have volunteered to defend America and others around the world without thinking about themselves first…THANK YOU…THANK YOU…THANK YOU!
There is no doubt that all of us know someone who has been touched by the effects of breast cancer. Not just by moments of sadness and despair, but also with hope, joy and strength. That’s what we want to celebrate, the unbridled strength of women all over the world who can overcome a seemingly impossible battle, as well as those who fought until the very end.
The one thing a human being can never be fulfilled without is another human being to love and support them. Patients need to know that all of us are pulling for them, not just their friends, not just their family, but all of us. Every woman, young and old, we all look up to your spirit and your bravery as we know you’d do the same if it were us.
Now keep in mind that breast cancer isn’t just a woman’s disease, about 1% of men can get breast cancer. Watch below.
Breast cancer is a treatable issue, but it is certainly easier when it is caught early.
It’s breast cancer awareness month people. Show some support, take part in a fun run, donate your time to volunteer for an event, pat a survivor on the back. Congratulations to every cancer survivor out there from your consignment RV center in Houston and New Braunfels, PPL Motorhomes and RV Nana.
I can already feel it. My favorite time of year…Fall. The shift in temperature and colors between seasons is noticeably fast. In fact, it’s a lot likeRving in Houston! You can go from 104 with 100% humidity on Monday, then Tuesday it’s 79 degrees with 50% humidity. Well, right now is RV Nana’s favorite time of year. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas right in a row and I’ll guarantee you that I’ll be in my RV right around those holidays enjoying the season festivities.
Why do I like it so much? That’s a good question. It’s festive. It’s family oriented. It’s cooler. There are lots of great RV decorations this time of year. In fact, I’ve seen campsites during the holiday seasons totally decked out in holiday cheer as if the scene had been plucked our of a Hobby Lobby diorama. It’s the perfect excuse for us to decorate our campsite and take in some much needed relaxation.
…And that leads me to what I want to touch on today: Stress. We all know it. We all know ALL levels of it. You have your good days, and you have your bad days. Mixing work life with real life is virtually impossible these days. They are all mashed together. Longer hours, more trips, more phone calls. When was the last time you had a sleepless night thinking about what lay in wait for your the next morning? That recently, huh?
You need stress relief. You need too relax. You need to get out of town! That’s right, pack your bags, jump in your RV and recharge. You need to realize that you have but a brief moment in time to make a few good memories to combat all of those not so pretty ones during the weekdays.
If I were a M.D. I have one prescription…Go RVing. What are you waiting for? The moment in time when you actually regret not RVing? Get out there! It’s cheaper than you think. In fact, why buy new when you can get some lightly loved consignment RVs right here at PPL Motorhomes.
The time is right! The weather is cooling off and you’re start to get a serious case of the “I WANNA’ TAKE A VACA-tions”. Trust me…just go RVing. Pack up the wife and kids, or husbands and kids, or just forget the husbands all together and grab the dog, whatever you do…just go RVing. Ask RV Nana how.
We’ve just returned from a most successful 39th Annual TRVA convention in Austin. It was a grand finale of a very exciting year for me as I have served as TRVA president. When a person takes on an endeavor like this it is a “family” affair and my PPL Motorhomes family has been there for me all year, and I want to thank each and every one of you. Our work is not over yet as I was elected to a second and final term. This is an important year for the RV industry in Texas because our legislature is back in session and I’m sure the RV industry will be on the radar as they attempt to correct the budget deficits. The good side of this year is that we had last year to put many things in place, procedures, ideas and committees so we can hit the road running without all of that preliminary work.
We are all so fortunate to live in Texas. The RV industry in Texas is the strongest in the nation and Houston leads the pack, followed closely by San Antonio and Austin, so PPL Motorhomes is in the right place at the right time. None of us know what the future will bring, None of us know what our economy will do, or what may come of this election year. What we do know is that we have to continue to work on ways to be exactly what RVers nationwide are looking for and expect in a consignment RV dealership and parts service center. We have to be prepared for whatever may come our way and we will be the strongest in the Nation.
The following was published today by RV Pro Magazine and I want to share it with all of you. I’m proud to be the President and General Manager of the greatest RV dealership in the country, PPL Motorhomes.
LeBlanc has had a “a very successful” first term as president, according to Carol Baker, chair of the TRVA Convention and public relations director for Capitol City Insurance. Other Association members, including RV dealers, reflect the sentiments of TRVA Executive Director Clark McEwen, who said LeBlanc “has really been an asset and her enthusiasm is contagious.
“Everyone (at TRVA) is dynamo but she’s the biggest dynamo we have,” he said. “We’ve had a very good year, but a second year with her, oh – 2013 will be one of our best years ever.”
TRVA raised more money than ever before, while expanding its member base by more than 14 percent during LeBlanc’s first year as president, McEwen added.
Click Image to EnlargeDiana LeBlanc, president of TRVA, visits with fellow RV dealer Doug O’Banion, owner of Alvarado, Texas-based Motor Home Specialist, during the Associaition’s 38th annual Convention in Austin, Texas. The Convention was held Aug. 10-13 at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol.
“Financially it was a good year and cooperation between parks and dealers has never been better,” he said.
LeBlanc joined RV PRO on Sunday (Aug. 12) during this year’s TRVA Convention, which was held Aug. 10-13 in Austin, Texas, to discuss her first year as president of the Association and what lies ahead going into her second term.
RV PRO (RVP): What were TRVA’s greatest accomplishments during your first term as president?
Diana LeBlanc (DL): The growth in membership and the growth in participation from all levels of membership. It’s an exciting time for all of us.
I call it my farming. We’ve been planting seeds out there about the industry, and they’re starting to grow, and that’s what it’s all about. We have to grow the lifestyle.
RVP: What are your top priorities heading into your second term as TRVA president?
DL: We’re going into a legislative year (the Texas legislature meets once every two years). It’s going to be a bit tighter for us because Texas, like all states – while it’s very strong economically – is going in with a deficit. So, they’re going to be looking for ways to get that money wherever they can. We’re going to have to be attentive to everything that’s going on and communicate that to our membership.
We also want to continue to grow the lifestyle, and grow our membership – I have a goal of 500 members by this time next year. (Membership currently totals 431).
Also, I’d like to see more working together across the industry. That’s the dealer, the park, the vendor, the manufacturer. We’re all in here together.
RVP: Are there specific legislative challenges that lie ahead for the Texas RV industry?
DL: You never know what is going to come down the pike during the session. There are issues with taxation on RVs in parks and that’s one of the things we’re going to look at.
I don’t think we’ll have tax increases but we will find little fees. Fees and surcharges can add up to as much as taxes. We just have to be attentive.
RVP: What are the biggest issues facing RV dealers in Texas?
DL: The biggest issue is going to be continuing to stay strong, and stay lean and mean like we had to get in 2008-2009. It’s real easy when things start getting a little better to start loosening up a little. But, you never know if the recovery will continue.
[Click Image to Enlarge]
LeBlanc walks on the front steps of the Texas Capitol with TRVA members on Saturday (Aug. 11) before the Association’s legislative banquent event held in the lieutenant’s governor’s suite.
RVP: What do you think contributed to the rise in membership TRVA experienced during the past year?
DL: The absolute enthusiasm among the businesses in Texas. It’s contagious.
We’re trying to show and present the benefits of being a member. For corporations and large companies, they can’t afford to just instantly join an association and start paying dues immediately – it has to go through the proper channels. We need to show them that joining TRVA is more than just sending dues in once per year. This convention is a good example of that. Everyone here is very happy we do this.
RVP: How do you balance your responsibilities as president and general manager of PPL Motor Homes with your duties as TRVA president?
DL: With an awesome team. Oh my gosh, it is amazing. From the TRVA executive committee – Clark McEwen and Mary Clair Campos (TRVA director of special events) – to my team at PPL, everybody helps so much. It’s like family. And then the greatest thing is to have the support of my husband (Michael LeBlanc).
When you take on a project like this, and it is a project to be an officer of the Association, this family takes on the project too. You sacrifice some time here and some time there for this. You have to make the decision that it’s the right thing to do.
RVP: Why did you decide to go for another term as TRVA president?
DL: Because I’m not finished yet. The term starts in August and it’s two or three months in before you even get your committees all assigned. And then before you know it, the term is up.
Click Image to EnlargeLeBlanc and husband Michael LeBlanc (middle) sit with Carol Baker (far left), chairwoman of the TRVA Convention for the past four years, and the PPL Motor Home team during the President’s Banquet.
We have a lot of ideas and some things we’d like to try and accomplish and we have to move forward. We want to make a stronger presence throughout Texas, whether that’s through benefits that we do to help our state parks, or some type of charity event. We’re going to do whatever we can to show that the RV association is out there.
RVP: What has been your favorite part of this year’s TRVA Convention, the 38th annual?
DL: Having the legislative event at the Capitol. I’m 100 percent Texan and the Capitol, to me, is just one of the most beautiful places.
I have the greatest respect for our Agricultural Commissioner Todd Staples, and to have him there was a real surprise for me – it was like having Elvis show up at your deal. He was invited by Clark (McEwen), but I wasn’t sure he was actually going to show up. Clark has been full of little surprises and they’ve all been good ones for me.
RVP: What details can you share about next year’s TRVA Convention?
DL: It’s going to be right back here in Austin at the Sheraton at the Capitol. We do two-year commitments with host hotels because it works out better financially.
Clark and I both have some ideas for next year’s Convention. We need to get started pretty soon because planning takes some time.
RVP: Thanks for the interview. Any parting messages you’d like deliver?
DL: Just a big thank you to the wonderful team here, including my family, who contributed to making this show so great. One of the greatest things about this Association is that we’re there for each other. We can fight like cats and dogs, or brothers and sisters, but when the chips are down and things get tough, we’re here for each other. That’s important.
Your consignment RV center and RV Nana love RVing! Even in the heat of summer, you’ll find most of us packing up our rigs and heading out to our favorite camping grounds. Of course, once we are there our kids and grandkids want to jump out of the RV and go stretch their legs around the RV park or campsite….but wait, don’t let them disappear so fast.
With the summer being so hot this year, dehydration while RVing is a very real and very dangerous issue that your MUST address prior to letting the little ones run off exploring.
Sleepiness or tiredness — children are likely to be less active than usual
Thirst
Decreased urine output — no wet diapers for three hours for infants and eight hours or more without urination for older children and teens
Few or no tears when crying
Dry skin
Headache
Constipation
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Severe dehydration, a medical emergency, can cause:
Extreme thirst
Extreme fussiness or sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults
Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes
Lack of sweating
Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber
Sunken eyes
Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn’t “bounce back” when pinched into a fold
In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots on the top of a baby’s head
Low blood pressure
Rapid heartbeat
Rapid breathing
No tears when crying
Fever
In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness
Remember, don’t rely on your kids to tell you that they are thirsty as a precursor to dehydration. In fact, if they are telling you they need something to drink, they are already dehydrated. Make them rest in a cool area while consuming water and other drinks that have electrolytes in them to replenish the salts and minerals they have been sweating out.
Your consignment RV center, PPL Motorhomes and RV Nana want to make sure that your are keeping a watchful eye on your little whippersnappers while enjoying the Summer Sun. In this case, make sure they drink fluids constantly. As stated in the video, dehydration can set in very quickly and may even be overlooked until it is to late.
I have been with PPL Motor Homes since 1980 and have been fortunate to grow up with the company. A native Houstonian, I am married to a wonderful Cajun from Lafayette, Louisiana and we've been able to mix the two worlds and build a fun life together. We have 3 children and 7 grandchildren, so it is obvious that I was a Nana long before I became RV Nana. I also happen too be the 2011-2012 President of the Texas RV Association, so you know the RV lifestyle...is my style.
