Blessed Beyond Measure

When I first started this blog I said that I was going to use it to chronicle the blessings in my life. I have been blessed beyond measure and I'm thankful to God for each and every one.

Today is my husband's birthday. God has given me a rich treasure in the man with whom I share my life. He is more than my husband, he is my best friend. He is a man of honor and integrity, a faithful provider for our family, a caring father to our children, a hard worker, a diligent teacher, and many other things.

The thing I am most thankful for is that he is a loyal follower of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and a son of the Most High God. There is no one that I would rather spend time with doing something we both enjoy or doing nothing at all other than just being together.

He has led our family, he has taught me much, and I am better because of him. James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights..." and while I know Keith is not perfect, he is perfect for me and he is indeed a good gift.

You may think this blog post over the top but too many people only say these things about their loved ones when it is too late for them to hear it and I want my husband to know what I think of him now. He is one of my greatest blessings on this earth and so, today, I say "Happy Birthday, Keith! I am blessed beyond measure to be your wife and I thank God for each new day! I love you!"

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

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.

Today is the Day!!!

Almost 24 1/2 years ago I had the distinct honor of watching my husband-to-be graduate from the United States Air Force Academy and become a 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force. Two days later we were married and the great adventure began. Within a month of that, we moved to Arizona and a few short months later he started pilot training. And the rest, as they say, is history!

It has been a good 24+ years. We have made some wonderful lifelong friends and we have enjoyed everywhere we have lived. We have seen many friends from the old days get married and we have stood by as a few very dear friends were laid to rest. We have met a lot of people and we have said lots of "goodbyes".

As I have worked on Keith's Air Force scrapbook these last couple of weeks, I was struck by the inevitable "finis" flight at each base...the final flight before moving on to a new station. There are many of those flights chronicled in his scrapbook. It reminds me of the saying that "all good things must come to an end". And so...today will be the final "finis" flight of his Air Force career...weather permitting...followed by his official retirement ceremony. As Keith's time in the Air Force comes to an end, I am moved by the fact that our God has always proven Himself faithful to us. He has seen us through the ups and downs of the last 24 years and has honestly blessed our socks off. On top of it all, because of God's grace, we know that we have eternal life...one good thing that will never come to an end. So...thank you, Lord, for your grace, your hand of protection, and the many, many blessings that you have bestowed on us these last 24 years, and thank you for my husband.

And, since I don't get to speak at the retirement ceremony, I figured I would take this opportunity to publicly thank my husband for letting me come along on this ride. It has not always been easy. When the boys were all little and Keith was flying F-16s, yeah...many of those days were tough. But the memories are so sweet and I wouldn't change any of them. God showed himself to me through those sometimes difficult circumstances and I learned much about Him and myself in those days.

I am proud of my husband. He is a man of honor and integrity. He has served his country well. He loves me and his children; but he loves the Lord most of all, and that is what makes him special. He has very high standards...he says what he means and he means what he says. He is gifted, motivated, trustworthy, and seeks to honor God in all that he says and does. I am honored to be his wife.

So...Keith...thank you for sharing your life with me. It has been a grand adventure and rather than look at today as an end or even a new beginning...I see it as a new day that we get to spend together, and I am thankful. I thank God for the man that you are and for blessing my life by putting you in it. I love you dearly! Congratulations, Hon, on this...your special day and thank you for all that you have done to preserve the freedom that we enjoy!

Happy Happy Birthday Keith!!!

I know...most of you have given up on me and this blog thing...but I couldn't let the day pass without wishing my husband a wonderful Happy Birthday!!!

We celebrated last night because Drew and Tyler have to work tonight but I did make his favorite strawberry rhubarb pie which we will enjoy after dinner in honor of the occasion.

This is the 25th birthday that I have had the honor of celebrating with my beloved and I can honestly say that I love him more today than ever and I pray that God will give him many more happy birthdays and that I will be around to celebrate them with him.

I love you dearly, Keith. I hope your day was truly something special.

One Answer for Rising Gas Prices

I just thought you all might like to see Keith's new ride. He looks pretty good on it, doesn't he?! I've been teasing him that since he's retiring from flying jets next year, he needs a new thrill in his life.

He went into this whole thing just looking for a way to save money on gas but he's like a little boy with a new toy, always looking for an excuse to go ride it. It really makes him giddy.

He's having so much fun that it kind of makes me feel bad for giving him so much grief about buying it to begin with.

The thing still scares me to death but I sure enjoy seeing that big ol' grin on his face when he comes home from work.

Well, I guess if gas prices keep rising we can always add a sidecar.