Thankfulness

THANK YOU!!! 

Words I never use enough.  Most things I take for granted and truly don't thank people the way I should.  So on this day of thanks, I would like to thank everyone in my life who has made it so special:

My husband Brad -- Thank you for 33 years.  For being here when we all needed you. 

Katie, Julie, and Erin -- what can I say?  You girls mean more to me than life itself.  My heart literally bursts with love for you girls.

Joe -- for making me laugh and making Julie happy.

Shadow, Sam and Yadi -- my three favorite dogs who bring so much joy to me.

My parents -- even though my dad is with Jesus, my parents made me who I am today.  Thank you for teaching me the importance of faith so I have someone to walk with me in my daily life.

My sisters -- even though we have different ways of dealing with life, I remember the laughter and memories we had as children.  I love you both with all my heart.

Nieces and nephews.  It was so fun to see my sisters in you.  I love all of you and now we add your sweet children to the mix. 

My sweet aunts Alma and Wee Woe.  I miss them so much. Their gentle ways of handling all that life gave to them made an impression in my life.  I miss their cooking and remember the times I spent at their house overnight.  Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, I try to bring a lot of their memories into my traditions.  The cookies, pies, and love that they put in each celebration shaped me more than they will ever know. 

and mostly,

Thank you Jesus for loving me and saving me.  You are the One that gave me everything!!

Table centerpiece

Erin and her beautiful pie crust

Katie and Sam

Very pretty

Julie and Shadow

My beautiful daughters

My silly daughters

Veteran's Day - (late again)

I started writing this blog on Veteran's Day and since I did it at work on a different program, I forgot to take it home with me to repost.  So here is my post that I wanted to post for Veteran's day.

Today is Veteran’s Day.  Over the past few years, I have really gotten away from thinking about this day.  Usually, the malls have sales, and there are some government offices are closed, but for the most part, it was just another day.  (Sad to say how my thinking had become).

So starting this year, Veteran’s Day will become more than a “day”.  My father and father-in-law both served in WWII and Korea, respectively, and I remember a few stories my dad told me -- such as my dad would have been in a terrible battle in Africa if he had not hurt his hand in basic.  He ended up getting reassigned to a supply line and spent his time in Iran in the desert.  My uncles also fought in WWII, and my mom told me a few things about them – how two of her brothers met up in a PX in New Guinea.  That always impressed me how two farm boys from Augusta, MO stumbled into each other half way around the world.  Mom told me how her mother would sit and pray for them constantly.  My uncle Randy fought the Japanese and was in a platoon of men where he was one of a few men who survived.  Everyone came back safe and sound --  Proof that God was listening to the “home front”, (and still hears every day).

Mostly what strikes me is that the veterans from WWII were looked on as heroes, and men from Korea and Viet Nam… not so much.  I grew up during the Vietnam War and remember watching the news every night and seeing the bombing and destruction that took place.  I vividly remember the picture of the child running naked down a street after being severely burned from napalm, and watching in horror as an execution took place in a public street.  I remember the protests, and name calling.  It always broke my heart when I heard how returning soldiers were treated.  The people doing the name calling were not there and judging these men was, in my mind, despicable.  Plus, those men fought for those same protestors to have the freedom to speak openly in a public forum without fear.   But, mostly I remember my older sister dating a boy who was there.  He would send letters and pictures to her.  I remember him visiting us and many nights going to the airport to see him off.  My sister always cried.  But mostly I remember the music from the 60’s.  To this day, many songs take me back to those days as if they were happening now.  The 60’s and 70’s were indeed a magnificent time.

SO… to all you veterans, soldiers – Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines --- THANK YOU SO VERY VERY MUCH.  You are all heroes in my mind.  GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!