Remembering

Today we gathered with extended family at a large park for a time of food and festivities. It was a beautiful, sunny day. While we adults spent the time chatting and telling stories, the little ones raced all over the playground, while the older kids hiked the wooded trails. It was a truly enjoyable time.

While this day is set aside specifically for remembering our countries fallen heroes, so many others have come to my mind today. Those whose time on this earth has passed, but whose memories will remain for a long time to come.

My grandmother who passed away almost eight years ago. A wonderfully sweet woman. I can still hear her laughter as I look at the picture of her holding my firstborn in her arms. I miss her so very much.

A fun and feisty friend from college. She was from Maine (what we called a maniac:). We shared our struggles to have children, and she gave me my first baby shower. She eventually had several children of her own, before dying of ovarian cancer at a much too young age. It's hard to imagine you're not here on this earth anymore Wendy. God bless your little ones until we all meet again one day.

Another friend from college, B. When I named my only daughter, you were one of the people I thought of. Your wide smile, and big glasses. And continually cheerful attitude. When I heard of your passing last year I was so saddened. I can't imagine how much your husband and children must be missing you right now, along with many others who knew you through the years.

My first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage 13 years ago today. Though the years have softened the blow, at the time I had tried for several years to get pregnant, and it was crushing. As strange as it sounds, because of the circumstances of this miscarriage, my last pregnancy (the Princess) narrowly escaped being removed during a scheduled D&C. God showed his love to me in a special way through this experience. I want to add that although I was only 10 weeks pregnant, my womb did not hold a fetus, but a living soul. One that I will get to meet in heaven one day.

Last, but not least, our fallen military heroes. I've always been proud of the fact that I've had many relatives who have served in the United States military: my grandfather in World War II (army), my father (army), my husband (navy). Along with three brother-in-laws (air force), and now a nephew (Marines). But no one in our immediate family in the last few generations has died in service to their country.

While I want to thank all those who serve/served in our military, it's fitting to especially honor those who have paid the ultimate price so that we could be free. May their sacrifice never be taken for granted, or forgotten.

Freedom Isn't Free

I watched the flag pass by one day, it fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it, and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform; So young, so tall, so proud.
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil? How many mother's tears?
How many pilots planes shot down? How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldier's graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night, when everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play, and felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times that Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped the coffin of a soldier or a friend.

I thought of all the children, of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons, and husbands with interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard, at the bottom of the sea.
Of unmarked graves at Arlington. No, freedom isn't free.

-Kelly Strong

The Long Weekend

Though my title may suggest otherwise, my weekend has been long in the very best of ways. My girlfriend from out-of-town arrived a few days ago, and I've been non-stop on the go ever since. While I'm sad to see her leave this morning, I have to admit that I'm pretty much out of gas (metaphorically speaking).

My husband has kept the home fires burning, and I noticed when I dragged myself in the door during the wee hours of this morning that the dishes were done, and my children didn't show any signs of marked damage... which is comforting considering the dueling sword fight taking place on my way out the door last night,lol. Hubby is a reasonably good cook, in spite of his penchant for thinking you can mix any variety of food substances together in a dish; after all, it all gets mixed up after you eat it anyway. My boys can follow this reasoning for the most part, but the Princess doesn't totally swallow it (no pun intended) , taking after her mother's way of thinking I suppose.

Last night several of us gathered at a local hang-out (meaning they stay open all-night and it's a respectable place for us aging moms to be seen at that time of night) and talked over days long past. For us that meant nearly 20 years ago when we all met at a Christian college. As we passed around pictures of our kids, it was hard to believe we were ever that young, or had such crazy adventures. We were all poor (as in broke) college kids, working multiple jobs on the side to get by (and barely at that).

What amazed me is how many stories I forgot... should I be concerned about that? I'm hoping my memory is just temporarily short-term because I'm so busy raising kids and homeschooling... Please say it's so. Just humor me.

Anyway, we laughed until we cried. And talked about (talked, not gossiped:) people we went to school with. Which was humorous in some cases, and sobering in others. A few have passed away, or had children or spouses that have. In some cases I heard the last 15 years of someones life summed up in five minutes. Not in a bad way, just because that's probably how someone would sum up my own life from a birds-eye view after so many years.

Other than a few close friends I've made in the last few years, most of my best friends were made in four years of college. I don't see them often, but when we get together... my, how time can rewind. I can once again see us all as young girls... which takes some rewinding considering the fact that we all have our fair share of extra pounds and graying hair,lol. I can see those starry-eyed young girls hoping and praying for the future we couldn't foresee at that time.

It's times like this that make me think aging might not be as bad as I used to think it would be. There is something about looking back and realizing that, though life undoubtedly has been more challenging than I thought (or knew) it could be, it's rewards are sweeter than I ever dreamed.

That, indeed, while every choice may not have been perfect, I made some very good choices on the really important things. Choices that I suspect 20 years from now will have me looking back with few regrets, and even more sweet memories.

So while this week will be challenging due to the fact that I've gotten very little sleep, I can't help feeling refreshed from the time I've spent remembering the past, and realizing just how blessed I've been.

Not the least of which has been through the special gift of a dear friend.

Time for another Update

Honestly, it seems like I barely blink and another week has gone by. I've meant to post several times in the last couple weeks, but I seem to always get side-tracked.

This week is our last week of extra-curricular classes (orchestra, choir, P.E). In a way I'm glad about this, but in another way I'm not. It will be nice to be able to focus on wrapping up this school year (4 more weeks) without the distraction of running here and there. But the Professor is going to sorely miss his 3-days-a-week of Orchestra. He suggested to the teacher last week that "maybe they could have Summer band class?" lol I'm glad that he's so excited about learning and playing music. And he will continue to have clarinet and piano lessons throughout the summer, so he'll still get to put in lots of practice.

Later this week, my girlfriend from Alaska will be coming into town for a visit. Because she lives on an island, she always has a ton of places she wants to go when she comes here. She loves thrift stores as much as I do, so we'll be hitting all the local and semi-local ones. Plus shopping at the mall, which I myself have not visited since it was given a makeover (including a huge parking garage) a year ago or so. No, I don't do the mall scene much. But they do have a Cinnabon there...yum! That's worth a walk around the mall;)

Our weather has been rainy, with a few days of sunny weather thrown in here and there. We've been doing a lot of yardwork lately, as well as trying to figure out the best place to put this years garden. My hubby is thinking directly behind the house the best place... right where our playstructure is sitting. We've been talking about selling it anyway, and the spot would definitely get lots of sun. But we would have to level the spot a bit, something he says wouldn't be that hard. We do have access to a small tractor, so we may go that route. Meanwhile, I've been offered some railroad ties to use for my raised beds. But some people say not to use them because they're treated with some kind of chemical; others say if the ties are weather-worn the chemicals won't affect anything. I like the idea of free supplies, but the quality of my veggies does matter, so if anyone cares to weigh-in on the subject please do.

I think that's all for now. Have a great Monday~