We were walking in a crowd the other day and there was an older gentleman with a military baseball cap. My husband stopped and quietly thanked him. The look on the man's face said it all. I feel that gratitude and humility in my heart but don't express it often enough. So today I shout with all my heart "Thank you my grandpas and grandmas! Thank you Mike, Jeremy, Aaron, Will, Aaron, Chris, Gerry, Scott, Walter, Brent, Shaun, Ron, Adam, Seth, Luke, Stephen, Andrew and every other man and woman who has or is serving our country and protecting our freedom!
I knew it was too good to be true. Life finally settled down. We had 5 fun, blissful days together then BAM one phone call and Gar is on his way to Savannah for the month. It was nice seein' ya, babe. Be sure to write!
I didn't believe my boys when they told me their dad was growing a beard. I don't like beards, normally. To my surprise I gotta tell ya, it's workin' for me! I know, I know..as the boys say all the time...get a room! Gladly :D
October has been an interesting month to say the least...
a knee revision for father-in-law
a dear friend and young mom nearly died blessing of getting to love her children when she couldn't being able to call friends and have them spring into action acknowledging 20 yrs without my dad a week in NJ with my in-laws helping out and having lots of laughs sleeping on a sofa bed for a week my body acting like it's an old 80 yr old humiliating date mix ups began getting to spend m-w with a brand new sweet baby girl (6 wks old) leave for a week and nameless son's grades tank, big time One day: Gary told he's in columbus for six weeks Very next day: Gary told he'll be going to Savannah in a week or so until Thanksgiving Later in the week: maybe Atlanta until Christmas Gary scheduled his knee surgery Down to 19 chickens Griffin Beck Carmack arrives...my sister and baby doing great
Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration; most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old-time rail journey...delays,sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas, and thrilling burst of speed.The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride. -President Gordon B. Hinckley
As I was studying my scriptures this morning with a heart and mind full of "life" I was reminded of a life changing lesson I learned just over 5 years ago.
As I struggled with the joy and demands of being the mom to a recovering only child and 3 toddlers, I prayed constantly for help and guidance. Over and over the simple answer came, "Love them" or specifically "love so and so." After Nathan died all I could think about was, "Did/does he know how much I love him?" It was the constant cry of my heart and soul. I was so grateful that over and over through his short time with us as I came to my Heavenly Father with my list of frustrations...help me potty train them, why won't they sleep, help Mychel adjust, and on and on the answer was what he knew I/we would need more than anything else.
So, I today I'm asking: Do those most dear and precious to me know I love them? Really, what else matters?
Many, many years Heavenly Father gave me a priceless gift at at Creative Memories Convention...a friend I still cherish today. We have only seen each other a handful of times and years have gone by without contact, but that affect our friendship. She sent me a video of her daughter (how she can be a senior in college is beyond me...) singing a song she wrote. It spoke to my heart....I hope you can "hear" it too.
I'll paste the words below, but you can also find them by going to YouTube and clicking more info. Also, I know Bonnie would love to hear your thoughts on her song so pop on over to YouTube for that too :D
Bonnie Leigh Abt performs a song that she wrote in July 2009 Lyrics:
Plane arrives in a foreign land he shields his eyes from the swirling sand what a strange and beautiful grand plan. Twenty years had come to pass when he heard the calling on his life he waved goodbye to his mom and dad as he boarded that plane, trying to explain
(chorus) I know it isn't what you saw when you told me that I could chase my dreams but my God was never one to stand by passively
At thirty-one she lives alone a single bed is all she's ever known if you asked she'd tell you she prefers it this way "How do you handle all those lonely nights?" her good friend wonders over the phone she paused and thought of all the ways God used her for His gain, and tried to explain
Chorus
Life is not a story you could easily have guessed so don't turn that page, He's not finished with you yet
No words can dry a mother's tears as she sees her son dying on that cross she longs to comfort him and hold him in her arms "I remember every time you bled when you scraped your knees or bumped your head, what would I give to take you down and wash away these stains", but her son simply explained
Chorus So hold on for just a little bit longer and one day this whole world will see that our God was never one to stand by passively soon we'll see, soon we'll see
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