Thank You, Veterans

Once our son enlisted in the Army and spent a tour overseas in Iraq, we realized the depth of thankfulness and pride we had for our son and his fellow servicemen and women.

Thank you. To each and every branch, to every single troop, to all locations of service, and to every type of work, again, I say, "Thank you!"

Thank you for your selfless service and sacrifice for our country. We appreciate you and what you have done.

Thank you for being willing to leave behind your own family - wives, husbands, parents, children, grandchildren, relatives, friends - and travel to far flung destinations. You missed much. Thank you for being willing to miss the day-to-day life events - for us.

Thank you for staring danger and discomfort straight in the face.

Thank you. From the bottom (and top and middle) of my heart, I say thank you.

And families of servicemen and women. Thank you for your sacrifice. The waiting and the missing is never easy.

For those who did not return the way we prayed, my heart is with you. For those who came home draped with a flag, my heart breaks for you and your family.

Thank you.

May we never forget.

A Month of Thanks - November 11 - Veterans

My veteran, Taylor, at his coming home from Iraq

On today, November 11, I am thankful for veterans.

I am thankful not just for my own son, but for all veterans. Thank you for serving our country at great risk and sacrifice. I (we) might not always say it or show it, but I (we) truly appreciate what you have given up so that I (we) can have freedom and live in this great country.

Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Our hearts.

We love you.

And for all military families, thank you for your sacrifice. Without you, your soldier would not have been able to serve. You have the hard task of being at home. Waiting. Living. Surviving.

Thank you. We love you.

You Get What You Get

You get what you get,
and you don't throw a fit!

That is one of my favorite school sayings. Mind you, not my creation. It originated from one of my kinders last year. Who knows where she heard it?

Kind of like that hot lava game the kids always play. We don't teach them or suggest it, but each new group ends up playing hot lava and they go out of their way to avoid the items that are assigned hot lava (bark, asphalt, carpet, jungle gym...) status. My own kids played it years ago. Again. Not my idea. They just knew about it and played.

I do, however, often use You get what you get and you don't throw a fit! It works so perfectly when I am distributing something and I would rather not deal with the I want's or don't have time to creatively figure out a way to make the passing out a fun game. This saying fits the bill. It also helps when the kids come up with it on their own and I don't have to say a word.

The other day, I realized I say this often. But I don't apply it to myself. Hardly ever.

Here I am. An adult. Whining about the unfairness of life (express purpose of the saying) or lack of money or why do they have more? I don't like this or that. I'd rather have this. Or perhaps I am just enviously gazing at someone's beautiful garden (in which they have more room than I do to be more creative and grow more vegetables or entertain more people or have three chickens - that's all I want. Just three).

Feeling a little convicted and heretical about the whole thing. I KNOW life is not fair. I also know, for a fact, that I have plenty of whatever it is I'm whining about. I know I have much, much more than most of the world's population.

Yet I let that slide through the sieves in my mind and dwell repeatedly on my own covetousness. I don't like that about myself at all. Seriously, if I had more (of whatever it is I think I'm missing), I would just have to take care of it, right?

And ultimately, my personal goal is to live simply and to simply life. Focus on the good stuff.

Why, oh, why do I whine? And covet? Envy?

Human. Sinner. Fallen.

But there is hope. I recently read something in a blog or newsletter, and I wish I could remember where. But the author stated that yes, life is unfair. And she was exceptionally glad about that. Because it was unfair that Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins. But He did it anyway, though He is the only one perfect, without sin. The only fair thing about His sacrifice is that we all have the choice on whether or not to embrace it.

And aren't I glad about that?

Sincerely, yes.

So, Miss Fancy Pants (not really, but I'll call myself that), You get what you get and don't throw a fit.

Instead, I should be thanking. And praising.


(What have I got? Almost 28 years with a wonderful man!)

For what I do get.

Not Forgotten

This year (and last) has given a personal and close link to Veterans Day. With our son safely home from Iraq, we deeply appreciate and respect the hard work, sacrifice, and personal cost given willingly by the soldiers who elect to serve our country. Thank you, veterans. Regardless of the political climate, elected officials, or media viewpoints, you are loved, remembered, appreciated, loved, missed, awesome, prayed for, cherished...Don't forget that we know the cost and embrace what you have given to us.

It seems too simple for such acts of unselfishness, bravery, sacrifice. But, from the depths of our hearts, thank you.

Thank you.