As i was nearing the end of a baby blanket that i am making for my great nephew whom i am so excited to meet! Gabriel Stephen will be welcomed in April... i can't help but think about the life he will have... He will learn lesson after lesson, and he will teach us lesson after lesson also... I love his mommy with all my heart, and have much respect for his daddy... because you see, they are both brave enough and have lots of courage to serve this country of ours, providing us with many freedoms. Not afraid to do what is asked of them, and they do it with Honor and Pride. so yes, going from a baby blanket i am working on, to how blessed i am to be apart of Emily and Ariel's life, to thanking those who serve our country. My mind does skip around quite a bit, but part of who I am, call it a character defect, a flaw in my personality, or simply non-sense, some appreciate it while one will dis-credit... it's ok... cuz i know its progress not profection, and God is not finished with me yet. (no doubt in my mind, yet His will, not mine.)
This blog post has been swirling around for awhile, in my heart and mind. I love when i can drive through town and see over 2000 American flags blowing in the wind, and reminding us of our freedom.
This blog brings many emotions, thoughts and self discovery. My first thought was of pride and honor as my nephew Ariel serves our country. He has already served a tour in Afganistan and will for sure be doing another tour soon. I can't help but think of his mom and dad and they feel about him being deployed, and even more so, my neice Emily. Just married a few months, got their orders to Colorado Springs for 3 years, and before she was even able to make friends, Ariel was deployed. My heart goes out to Em's, yet she has done amazing.. I love you baby girl.
When I see an American flag flying high, i stop to really think about what the flag means to me. It symbolizes FREEDOM and many lives lost fighting for that freedom for all of us here in this great country. I realized I have taken this for granted way to much. When I stop and take photos of flags, many thoughts and emotions begin to flood in my heart and head. When I see daddy's holding babies and playing with their children savory every second of this time knowing that there will be many of these moments lost over the next 12 month of deployment. And by the time that they come back some will be walking, talking, completed another year of school, had a broken heart or two, many firsts, and there will even be those little ones that haven't made their appearance in this world, and will do so while their daddy is away. Wifes getting ready to be both mom and dad, knowing that they will be the only one to handle all of the household reponsibilities, making all the choices that will effect their childrens lives and not have anyone to help. There will be grandsons sharing moments with their grandfathers hoping that there will be more when they get back. Parents showing pride and hiding the fears that their sons or daughters going off to war. While taking in all their thoughts, i begin to really realize just what these men and women are giving up for me....so that i can live the life that i live, have the freedoms that i have, and it gives me a wake up call on what is important in life.
It tells me we need to speak those unspoken words of love and give those hugs. I learned that there are not words to express the GREATFULNESS, THANKFULNESS & APPRECIATION I have for each and everyone of these men and women putting their lives on the line for me and my freedom.
Few emotional moments:
Color guard at the hockey games.....
seeing troops march in perfect formation...
watching everyone stand and remove their hats as the National Anthem is sung..
hearing and saying the Pledge of Alligence with such great pride...
learning not to judge the book by its cover...
hearing stories of my dads army days and the many places they lived, saw and the memories they have, there is nothing like the stories of my mom and dads life together at the early age of 18 and going thousands of miles away from family, the time they broke open their piggy bank for a half gallon of ice-cream and some kanasta cards, will 53 years later they gave to me! The people they met and are still wonderful friends ( Marilyn and Jim) One of the most memorable times in my life was going back to Vrigina Beach, Virgina, and them showing us general vacinity where they lived, stories about places they worked, things they ate, how much money they had or didnt have! cockroach infested apartment that they stayed one nite in and moved out the next morning, the trailor house they lived in, and when my dad got his orders to go to Korea for 18 months, leaving weeks after Jeff was born. i also love to hear the stories of my PaPa Bryant during i think WWII, reading some of the letters he wrote home. All these memories have such meaning and have made me who I am today.....
I challenge everyone to thank at least one solider who is serving this GREAT COUNTRY. take a minute to really think about what they have given up, so you can live the life you live. then think and ask yourself would you do it for people who you don't know and might not even appreciate it.
I want to take this moment to thank my nephew Ariel, my friend Larry who is presently in Kosivo and one of my friends husband Ramon who is also in Kosivo, as she takes great care of their two young daughters and works full-time. I love to see all the pictues he sends home and gifts that are so meaningful. Facetime and skype are great inventions! To Larry... i know where your heart is, so thank you, and keep sharing all the magical moments with your granddaughters and kids back here at home, and thank you larry for your texts and facebook shares. Not a day goes by that i dont think of Ariel, Ramon and Larry and their families. My many thanks to them and their families as they have that void in their lives right now, with the many hopes and prayers and well wishes for a safe return.
So, God Bless you and thank you....
P.S. i hope i didnt mention any "classifed information" and i will always try "to take the 5th!"
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