We're on the topic of 'being prepared' this week, how about a great Kudos's to the Girl Scout's for their wonderful US Postal Stamp that was recently released:

And they made it a 'forever' stamp! How apropos!

As a former girl Scout, I was quite happy to review this new book about the Girl Scouts, as 2012 marks the 100^th year anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America!

Synopsis: In 1911, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low was widowed and completely unsure of what to do sisterwith her life when a chance meeting changed her course forever. Determined and inspired by a belief that young girls and women should be taught to rely not on their husbands and fathers but on themselves, Daisy founded the Girl Scouts of the USA the next year.

One hundred years later, Daisy's life lessons still motivate and encourage thousands of young girls and women across the country through the Girl Scout organization. Shannon Henry Kleiber gives Daisy's classic, timeless advice a modern focus that is sure to inspire women of all generations. Learn from Daisy's words of wisdom and strive to:

Know Yourself and Be Yourself

Love Living Things

Give to Others

Be a Sister

Challenge Yourself

On My Honor teaches parents how to apply these timeless values, that Daisy Gordon Low founded her organization on to the lives of young American girls in today’s technology-obsessed society.

Review: Currently, there are 3.2 million active Girl Scouts and more than 59 million American women enjoyed Girl Scouting during their childhood. Pretty amazing when you consider that Daisy's first troop started with 7 girls while vacationing in Scotland, and then 18 with her first troop in Savannah! This book shares Daisy's life story, alternated with tales of modern Girl Scouting, and changes that have occurred. if you were a Girl Scout, this book will be a delight to read! We went to Savannah on our honeymoon, and I passed on going into Daisy's home and taking the tour because down deep I knew it was something I needed to do with my daughter, after she became a Girl Scout. Seeing Girl Scouts trooping into the home, full of pride and confidence was enough to make me smile, and know that the tradition of Scouting was alive and well.

But for how long? As Kleiber says, the values of scouting are SO important right now wen kids have become so over-dependent on technology, and less connected to nature and to each other. Cyber bulling is an example of where kids feel no remorse about doing it, as there is no physical presence to bullying anymore. With the advent of reality shows that are 'scripted', kids are seeing less and less what real life is truly about. By sharing the wonders of seeing her children, and others, grow and mature, through the wonderful guidelines of Girl Scouting, and via troop meetings and experiences, Kleiber reminds us of what the aim of the Girl Scouts was, and still is.

I have to wonder after reading the book, how many other women who are outspoken, independent and tend toward over-achievement, like Daisy was, spent time in the Girl Scouts, in their childhood. Especially for my generation, how much influence did the Girl Scouts have on the rise in equality for females (school sports, breaking glass ceilings, job salaries, etc)? That sense that a woman could achieve anything she wanted to was brought home to us over and over, by our Scout leaders, and parents who supported the Troops. After all, the handbook quotes Daisy-"whatever you take up, do it with all your might and stick to it".

Did you know that you can sign you child up for Scouting online and be an independent troop? While it is wonderful in the sense, that if you can't get a troop together, your child can still be involved, it takes the community and sisterhood out of the equation. And that is a very big deal. Like my mother before me, I know that I will probably take up the torch and unite my daughter and her friends into their first Daisy troop. Sharing the joys of Scouting, and seeing them blossom into confident and caring young ladies will be a blessing unto itself.

Check out Keliber's book, reminiscence and enjoy the history of the Girl Scouts!

How about a bonus from the book?

The Original Home-Baked Girl Scout Cookie

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

Additional sugar for topping

Instructions:

Combine the cream, butter, and sugar.
Next, add well-beaten eggs, then milk, vanilla flavoring, then flour and baking powder.
Roll thin, make cutouts using any cookie cutter (round was the original), sprinkle sugar on top.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 8 minutes, or until just golden brown

About the Author: Former Girl Scout and current Troop Leader, Shannon Henry Kleiber, is the mother of two daughters who have thrived over recent years through their membership in the Girl Scouts of America and its positive encouragement for young girls to grow into well-rounded women. While researching the woman behind the organization, Kleiber soon discovered how Daisy Gordon Low’s self- motivation and infectious personality have positively influenced millions of young girls and grown women who at one point or another have called themselves a Girl Scout.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge, from Sourcebooks PR, for review purposes. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.