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Hiking in the Cold North
I set a personal record for a winter hike yesterday! It was a cold day but not bitter like it had been for a while (seemed like months actually). It was a long ways from those hikes in Panama, Nevada, Florida, Virginia, Texas and other warm places that the Air Force sent us. Much closer to Iceland, Illinois and Washington state in many circumstances like the wind chill (about zero during the hike), the snow covered surface and cloud cover. Maybe I should explain why I hike outside in the wintertime? I think they forgot to plow us today!First, I like a challenge! Yep, it is a challenge to get…
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Raising a Generation that Loves
Today Newtown, Conneticut will bury the first of their children. Noah Pozner, age 6, will be laid to rest at 1:00pm. (Newtown shooting victims: First funerals to be held) Then there will be 19 more funerals for children and 7 for adults. Oh deep sorrow runs through my blood. My husband, the level headed soldier who has seen more then I would like to imagine, came home on Friday and immediately turned on the news. He watched for a quite a while, standing there stunned. Then the man who is never sick complained of a headache the rest of the night. I don’t know if it was a headache as much…
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Support in time of Need
Monday, my baby boy, 23 months old, had a lump on his hiney the size of a golf ball. The pediatrician felt it was too deep for her to lance in the office so we were scheduled for the surgeon the next day. A quick in and out procedure that I knew would bring him much relief. In the mean time he was crabby. Beyond crabby. In and out of sleep. Clingy. Pained. It broke my heart. Continue Reading to learn more about my Support in time of Need My dad, hundreds of miles away, knew I needed help that evening so he called a local pizza place and had pizza delivered,…
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Dedicated Dads and Moms and the Month of the Military Child
April is Month of the Military Child and it is a very appropriate recognition: therefore, a big shout out and thank you to these patriots! They have certainly served our nation in their many sacrifices and the challenges they face as children of active duty, reserve and guard parents. So just before that month of recognition I thought maybe we should recognize another group of folks that are rarely mentioned in the media or at the Department of Defense. In fact, unless there is a tragedy it is a like a silent majority type of group. The parents of our soldiers, airmen, marines, coasties and sailors have raised children that…
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Praying for My Children
Praying for our children, it is one of the most important things that I feel a mother can do for their sons and daughters. Sometimes though I’m at a loss of words, a jumble of thought, even a perceived lack of time. However, I ran across this printable 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children that has added new life to my prayer life. Source: keepingitpersonal.com via Leanne on PinterestI printed off this very nicely done list of biblically based virtues which we want our children to grow into and foster. Then I placed it on my frig right above our water dispenser at eye level. 31 Virtues, 31 Days in the month, heaven…
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Sermon Notes: Praying for My Sons
I pray for the sick, those in the need, even for the future of my children (professions, spouses, choices they will make in years to come). But I rarely pray for my children in the present, here and now. Today there was a subtle nudge that I need to be better about that. *E*, received his 3rd grade Bible in front of our church congregation this morning. He stood in front of the same congregation he was baptised in front of eight years ago. This was the same church-family who agreed to raise him in our family of faith. There we stood eight years later praying for him and thirty of his peers. This mother’s…
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One Year with Cancer – My Caregiver Rocks
Enjoying Grant Park in Chicago One Year with Cancer – My Caregiver Rocks This week I celebrated life. Yes, it is that easy but maybe not so with memories of surgery and left over scars, a bit of discomfort, medications, interruptions to plans, etc. But medical decisions that left me with my leg certainly are to be appreciated and the skills of highly trained surgeons are near the top of my list for thank you!While I treasure those things, my biggest hug goes to my caregiver; who sat in every one of those appointments, reacted to bad news with a human touch, helped talk issues with doctors, kept my checklist,…
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Thankful Thursday: Happy 1st Birthday, *L*
Happy Birthday, Baby Boy *L*! You have reminded me about sleepless nights;fussy days;messy faces, hands, and hair;baby gurgles and baby talk;baby fingers and toes;the joys of milestones;how easily my heart wraps around someone so small. With you I have relaxed.I have been given the gift of breastfeedingI made my own baby food,I have given you baths in the kitchen sink,I love watching you play with your brothers, they are heroes in your little eyes. I have treasured this past year,Enjoyed the moments,Look so very forward to your future. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope…
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MilitaryAvenue Resource: Growing up in the Military #MilitaryChild
MilitaryAvenue Resource: Growing up in the Military In honor of Month of the Military Child I have compiled some resources and articles that are available to you, the parent, the community member, the military supporter. I will keep this list updated throughout April 2011 so come back often to see the latest news from the Department of Defense community: Growing up in the Military: A few years ago, a debate emerged on an Internet newsgroup for military brats about what kind of flower military children of military parents were most like. The consensus became the dandelion. Anne Manning Christopherson wrote, “How about the dandelion? The plant puts down roots almost…
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A Light at the End of the Tunnel
THIS is a picture of peace – because you can’t have peace without turmoil. And we had turmoil. (Read “The Rubberband Effect“) Last night I put my strong-willed, “I will ONLY sleep in your arms”, Baby Boy in bed an hour earlier than usual. I turned on his CD player. I kissed his sweet little head and I whispered good-night. For three-minutes he let us know that HE WAS NOT HAPPY! but then… there was silence. Sweet silence. Sweet peace. Sweet “There is a Light at the end of the Tunnel!”. Baby Boy *L*, put himself to sleep. HE did it! Mom and Dad rejoiced! We struggled with the whole…
