Veteran's Day Revisited

I spent some time last night thinking about Veteran's Day, especially with regard to my husband and my children. When our sons were all very young, they were not fond of the military because to them it meant endless goodbyes and having daddy gone for months at a time. They are much older now and understand better the necessity of what their father was doing but sometimes I wonder if they understand the sacrifices that he made to do it.

They know that they missed their daddy terribly when he was gone but, oh, how he missed them. His job required his missing some of their childhood "milestones". Those are things that can never be gotten back. That's hard for a dad.

Through those months, the boys had to watch their mother deal with things she wouldn't normally have had to. It is a hard thing for a dad/husband to have to hear about those things from the other side of the planet and not be able to rush home and fix whatever was broken or just to hold his wife if she was what was broken at the time.

Military wives know that major things seem to happen when their men are deployed. Many times, in our case, Tyler would have a major asthma attack or someone else would get really sick. Oh, what a challenge for a dad to be so far away when those he loves are really ill...when all he wants in the world is to hold them, comfort them, and be with them through it. To wait days for an update to know if they are better or worse...perhaps only those who have been far away from family for an extended period of time understand the depths of that ache.

These are just a few of the small sacrificies their daddy made because he loved them, because he loved his country, and because it is how God created him. But there were bigger ones as well. The kids and I are so grateful that Keith was not called to the ultimate sacrifice of giving his life but many close to him were. He was pulled off a plane in Germany, on his way home from yet another deployment, and handed a piece of paper with the words "F-16 crash, Aviano AB" written on it and instantly knew that his best friend had made that ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Just a year later, he got word of the death of another very dear friend just 2 days before Keith was to deploy making it impossible for him to even attend his friend's memorial service. Such burdens are difficult for most of us to fathom.

I do not write this blog entry as a chastisement to my children or to myself for not understanding. I write it as a reminder to us all that there are many sacrifices, large and small, being made by our military members and their families day in and day out. I know that my children missed out on some big things with their dad when they were young, but it was necessary. It's very easy to focus on ourselves and not think about the flipside. Without the sacrifices of these individuals, we would not enjoy the freedom that we do today.

I am married to an incredible man and I know that there are countless others out there like him who make these sacrifices daily without comment or complaint. They don't ask for our thanks. They do it because it is who they are, it is what they have been called to do.

I, for one, am so grateful for that. And so, to my husband, Keith, and to the rest...THANK YOU! Thank you for being who you are and for being willing to die... for me.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." ~John 15:13

Encouragement

I saw this on our local home school loop this morning and was encouraged to remember why I do what I do and exactly what my goal should be in home schooling my kids. Sometimes I lose sight of the important things in the pursuit of the academic goal. I'm sharing it in hopes that it will be a gentle reminder to others as well.

1 Corinthians 13 for Home Schoolers

Though I teach my children how to multiply,
divide, and diagram a sentence,
but fail to show them love,
I have taught them nothing.

And though I take them on numerous field trips,
to swim practice and...flute lessons;
and though I involve them in every church activity,
but fail to give them love,
I profit nothing.

And though I scrub my house relentlessly,
run countless errands,
and serve three nutritious meals every day,
but fail to be an example of love,
I have done nothing.

Love is patient with misspelled words
and is kind to young interrupters.
Love does not envy high SAT scores
of other home school families.
Love does not claim to have
better teaching methods than anyone else,
It is not rude to the fourth telephone caller
during a science lesson,
does not seek perfectly behaved geniuses,
does not turn into a drill sergeant,
thinks no evil about friends' educational choices.

Love bears all my children's challenges,
believes all my children are God's precious gifts,
hopes all my children establish
permanent relationships with Christ,
and endures all things
to demonstrate God's love.
Love never fails.

Where there are college degrees, they will fail;
where there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
For we know in part and we teach in part.
But when the trials of life come to our children,
the history, math, and science will be done away
and faith, hope and love will remain;
but the greatest of these is love.

~Arthur Unknown

Looking Back

Today is Memorial Day. On this day we honor those that have given their lives in service to our country to insure the freedoms that we enjoy. I am, indeed, thankful for what they have done and for the sacrifices their families have made and the pain that they have endured on our country's behalf.

Memorial Day 2010 is special to me for another reason as well. Twenty-five years ago today my father escorted me down the aisle of the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel into the waiting arms of my husband-to-be.



A year earlier, as I toured the chapel for the first time, I had told my mom that I wanted to have my wedding there someday. I certainly wasn't thinking it would happen less than a year later but on May 31, 1985, there I was.

All of you that know my husband know that he is the writer in the family. I wish that I could convey my thoughts and all that is in my heart like he does. Since I lack his eloquence, I want to share a poem that I came across recently that captures the very essence of my thoughts and emotions on this most special of Memorial Days.

To my Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold
Or all the riches that the east doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persevere
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

This poem could not speak more from my soul if I had written it myself.

I began this blog as a means of journaling all of the blessings in my life. Next to the saving grace of Jesus and His work in my life, the greatest blessing that God has bestowed upon me is that of my sweet husband.

For twenty-five years now he has loved me, protected me, provided for me, taught me, been my best friend and constant companion (except when the Air Force deemed otherwise), encouraged me when I needed it, lifted me up when I was down, and held my hand through it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly...just as he vowed to.

Over the last few months we have had the pleasure of watching our oldest two sons embark on their own journeys into the adventure of married life. It has been exciting to witness the occasions as they exchanged vows with their brides. It brought back some wonderful memories of that day in 1985 as I stared into the eyes of my groom.

I can honestly say, given the opportunity, I would marry my husband all over again...a thousand times ten thousand times. He is the love of my life and I am truly blessed to have him beside me as we walk this journey together.

This last year has been quite the roller coaster for us but, through it all, God has taught us to love one another better...more deeply...more completely...more unconditionally. For that, I am eternally grateful.

And so, today, I am praising God for the way He has blessed my life through this man. I am thankful that He has given us these last twenty-five years and I pray that He will give us many more to enjoy together.

To my husband...Keith, thank you for loving me with all that that entails. There is truly no one else on this earth that I would rather spend my life with. You are my HERO!!! I am yours for as long as God gives us on this earth and I am so glad that you are mine!

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine". ~Song of Solomon 6:3

Happy Anniversary Keith! I look forward to the future with you by my
side.

Can you hear me now? A call to modesty.

My husband wrote a blog post last week and addressed it specifically to dads. Dads definitely have a responsibility here but so do moms and maybe even more so.

It is our responsiblity to set the example for our daughters. Please take the time to read his post if you have girls or even if you don't or even if you have no children at all.

God created men to have their attention grabbed through their eyes--and it is good. God said so! It is our responsibility as Christian women not to take advantage of that. Think of the men out there that we cause to struggle day in and day out because of our attire. Think of your sons or your friend's sons or the young men in your church. Or the older men.

It's an easy fix, ladies. Cover up! No, i'm not advocating the burqa but a camisole or tank top under a sundress or low cut top goes a long way. A good friend mentioned last week that she teaches the girls in her youth group to wear those low cut tank tops backwards under their clothes. Great idea! Thanks Jori! The point is that you can still look beautiful and quite fashionable without causing the men around you to struggle.

As a wife and the mom of four young men, this grieves my heart. Society would have us believe that we have a right to dress however we like and that it is the man's responsibility to "just deal with it". That is not what Scripture says. It is our responsibility to not cause our brother to stumble, to not defraud the men around us. If you disagree with this, it is not me that you disagree with.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

~1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

Think about your husband. Just try to imagine, in our culture, what he is faced with day in and day out. It starts with us, ladies. If we are not willing to swim against the current, if we do not set the example for our children, if we do not teach our daughters the "why" of it all, then we are not the wives and mothers that God calls us to be.

We have a responsibility and it is not to bare our cleavage in some "I am woman, hear me roar" show of feminist ideology and immodesty. We have a responsibility to God Almighty to honor Him with our bodies first and foremost.

When we do that, we will greatly bless the men we so dearly love.

My babies are growing up!

Kara lost her first tooth yesterday! She was so excited. She immediately went to the growth chart on our kitchen wall to see if she had gotten taller. Too cute!

My oldest baby, Jeremy, turns 23 today and my youngest is losing her teeth. The years are falling off the calendar at an amazing pace. I am so thankful for my family and all of the milestones that God has allowed me to witness.

Answered Prayers

I'm sitting here tonight with a "to do" list a mile long. Drew will be married by this time next week with Jeremy's wedding to follow 5 weeks later. Keith, Tyler, and Austin are out tonight celebrating with Drew and some wonderful men from our church. I have put my sick girls to bed and the house is unusually quiet. And so I sit and ponder instead of tackling the cleaning that needs to be done. Oh well, the dust and grime will still be there when I get around to it. Funny how that happens...it never cleans itself.

Anyway, I started this blog as a blessings list of sorts but I have done a poor job of keeping up with it. These last few months have been filled with things that make one really search to find the blessings, and maybe I won't even see them until some time yet future. Nonetheless, I could not let this season pass with out recognizing the blessings that are, oh, so obvious.

Years ago, even before our boys were born, Keith and I began praying for their future spouses. We prayed, even when they were toddlers, that somewhere out in this big ol' world, God would be raising up little girls in godly families that would grow to be godly women to someday make wonderful wives for our sons.

Today I attended a bridal shower for a God-crafted answer to prayer. As I sat across from Alicia (Drew's fiance) and listened to some of my dearest friends whisper about how beautiful she is, I was overcome with thankfulness to God. Alicia is beautiful on the outside, but so much more important than that, she is beautiful on the inside. She has been raised in a family that knows the Lord, and her heart for Him evidences that. She knows that she is an answer to our prayers because we have shared that with her. I am so thankful that God has chosen such a one to be Drew's bride. She is a blessing!

Besides the wedding, this next week will hold another special moment for me. On Friday, I will finally get to meet another answer to our prayers, Jeremy's fiance, Tiffany. They will be coming in from Colorado for Drew and Alicia's wedding. We were supposed have met Tiffany the week after Christmas but our trip was cancelled due to a surprise blizzard and family illness. I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to share with Tiffany face to face, that she embodies God's well-designed answered to prayer.

I have seen pictures of Tiffany and so I know that she, too, is a physically beautiful young woman and though I have not yet met her, I am certain that she is truly beautiful on the inside as well. How do I know? Because I know my son. I know what Jeremy has always wanted in a wife, and I know that he has always had very high standards for the one that he would eventually share his life with. I can't wait to be able to blog again after next week and share what I will then be able to speak of first-hand. I am looking forward to the meeting, to being able to wrap my arms around another of God's sweet, sweet blessings in my life.

My boys have chosen well. I am so excited for them...for the adventure they are about to embark upon. I am so thankful for a God who hears and answers our prayers. He is GOOD, and He loves to give GOOD things to His children.

How cool is that!