Olympic Time!!!

Ever since I was six year old, I had this fascination with the Olympics. I have never been particularly sporty or athletic, but that didn't stop me from watching them. I remember watching the US Women's Gymnastics team taking home the gold medal in Atlanta, 1996. I got to see the Olympic torch on its way to the Salt Lake City winter games in 2002. I cheered as I watched Michael Phelps win eight gold medals in Bejing, 2008....and now, I get to do it all over again.

Once I found out that the 2012 Olympics were in London, I was beside myself. Seriously, if I wasn't a proud American, I would be an Englisher. From my love of Jane Austen, to being a total Kate Middleton fanatic, to a Downton Abbey super fan, to my love of tea and bone china.......to say I am into British things would be an understatement. If I were able to go to an Olympic games, these would be the ones I would want to go to.

All that to say is that I am super, duper, DUPER excited that the Opening Ceremonies are today!!!! Bob Costas coming into my home every evening, following the medal count, swelling with pride at how well our athletes do, listening to our National Anthem over and over again. It doesn't get old. So, just a heads up, my quirky side might be coming out in the next few weeks. You might see me posting pictures or random tidbits. Who knows?!

The sports I am excited to see the most: if I said watching Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps swim, would I sound positively gross? Because seriously, I am so excited to see these two amazing swimmers to duke it out in the pool. Based on their Trials performances, it is going to be a fight to the finish....I'm excited to see how it goes down. Michael Phelps is my generation's Mark Spitz and with this being his last Olympics....it feels as if an era is ending. Sad. And the you have the women's gymnastics. If I could do any sport, gymnastics would have been the one I would have done. I'm as petite as they are (there. I just told you how short I am.) I really think that this could be the year the gold medal is reclaimed by the US.....I would love to see it happen again. I love watching the artistry and all of the tumbles and flips. I can barely do a somersault so I definitely live vicariously through them. 


I sound positively nerdy I know.....please tell me there are other Olympic people out there!! Go Team USA! That is all I have to say =) Okay.....by listening to that music, I am totally excited now!!) 

In the Olympic Spirit,

Remembering the Other 364

Yesterday was the Fourth of July. The majority of Americans undoubtedly spent the day having barbecues and shooting off fireworks. My day was slightly different in that I spent the first part of my afternoon in the movie theater and then the remainder of the afternoon underneath a shady tree, bawling my eyes out, to Karen Kingsbury's latest book. Then we had grilled out burgers, had deviled eggs and strawberries dipped in white chocolate, and then watched "Yankee Doodle Dandy." It wasn't the average type of day, but at the same time, it was stereotypical. I did all of the things that we just associate with the holiday. (And just for the record, one day it is my dream to spend the Fourth of July in Washington D.C. =D You can't get more stereotypical than that.)

It's on the Fourth of July that we remember fighting for our independence from England. Being a American History fanatic in middle/high school, I grew up reading and learning about "taxation without representation" and the Founding Fathers. These were men who believed in democracy, in getting a fair shake, in following a set of rules and yet having your say as to what those rules are. However, as the years have passed since that day when fifty-five men put pen to the Declaration of Independence, we have not honored the memory of Washington, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, and others like we should have.

We have been richly blessed to live in the United States of America. We have the ability to worship the Lord in freedom and peace; there isn't any fear of secret police arresting you at clandestine meetings. We have the ability to vote for whichever candidate we want, regardless if they are Democrat or Republican; we aren't forced to vote for the Government's candidate. As Americans, we have been given the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom to keep and bear arms--not all countries can say such things for their citizens. It's for all of these reasons that we should get down on our knees every day and thank the Lord. Because they can just as easily be taken away from us.

It's common knowledge that we live in very interesting times. Our freedoms can be and sometimes are being stripped away at any possible moment. The last thing we need to do is turn a blind eye. The men who fought and died on the battlefields of Valley Vorge, Saratoga, Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord believed in a cause. An important cause. They wanted the future citizens of their beloved land to always carry important freedoms close to their hearts.

We truly live in a beautiful country and I'm not ashamed to say it. I love this country. I love looking at the American flag soaring high in the sky. I tear up during events that honor our military. And yes, I love all of our patriotic songs and dressing in red. So as we have our barbecues and fireworks, as we gather with family and friends, may we try to remember that the Fourth of July is more than a day. Its name should be synonymous with "freedom" and we have those every single day. May we cease turning our eyes away from God in these days....without God, we are nothing. The Founding Fathers knew that.....and we should too. We have much to be thankful for three hundred and sixty-five days of the year.

And just because I couldn't resist, I had to add a video of our National Anthem sung by Carrie Underwood. Happy (albeit belated) Fourth of July, y'all!

Where Were You?

Asleep in bed, I had no idea what was going two thousand miles away. But around seven o'clock in the morning, I was awakened to find the world changed. My eleven year old brain, however, couldn't wrap around what my brother was saying. Planes had crashed into buildings? What did that mean?

Everyone asks the same question around 9/11: "Where were you?" I answer it with vivid memories. I remember heading downstairs, NBC already on, and I watched the same clip of an airplane crashing into the South Tower over and over again. They kept playing it; I didn't have a DVR then. I remember hearing the voices of Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, Tom Brokaw as images and news came through...I remember the nervousness even they had as the Pentagon was attacked and then United 93. Usually, as reporters, you have some indication of what events are going to occur. This time, it was news, horrible news, in action.

Dad called us, we called our Eastern relatives. We didn't have major connections to the events transpiring in New York and D.C. But that didn't ease the pain, the sadness I felt as towers collapsed, cities were shrouded in dust, and many innocent lives were lost. I cried, I wept. I sat in front of the TV for two days straight.

I couldn't have known then in what type of world I would live my teenage years. Words like terrorism, hijacking, credible threats were foreign to me. Now, you grow to expect them. I have to take my shoes off at the airport and yes, I can be guilty of racial profiling. In the midst of pleasure reading, I would read the books 9/11 widows wrote, I would watch the movies...the memories would become all the more acute. With age, one becomes more accustomed to the horrors of the world. 9/11 is my Pearl Harbor Day.

And you know what? I am okay with that. Back in WWII, everyone used to ask where they were on December 7, 1941. In turn, they would have a story to tell. As they told it, you could feel their patriotism, their love for being an American came alive. I want the same to be said of me when I have children and grandchildren.

So....where were you that September Day? How has it affected you?

Could You Pass?

Most people don't know anything about their country. It sad, but it is a fact of life. So, when I found this link to a citizenship/Independence Day quiz, I had to give it a try.

You all do it and tell me if you get a passing grade or not. Not to toot my own horn...but I did =) I hope y'all do too!

In Fond Remembrance

Arlington--sung by Trace Adkins

I never thought that this is where I'd settle down,
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown,
They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men,
for a job well done.

There's a big white house sits on a hill just up the road,
The man inside he cried the day they brought me home,
They folded up a flag, and told my mom and dad, 'We're proud of your son'.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight,
We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay,
And when we finally found that cross,
He said, 'Son this is what it cost, to keep us free'.
Now here I am a thousand stones away from him,
He recognized me on the first day I came in,
And it gave me a chill, when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
And I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

And every time I hear, twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home, to us.

We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done,
We can rest in peace, 'cause we were the chosen ones,
We made it to Arlington, yea, dust to dust
Don't cry for us, we made it to Arlington.

To the brave men and women who served--and paid the ultimate price--to ensure our freedom, we say "thank you." We owe a lot to their sacrifice.

Listed below are some old classic movies that would get you in a "Memorial Day" mood. They really put things in different perspectives.

* The Purple Heart

* The Fighting Sullivans

* Thirty Seconds Over Toyko

May you all have a blessed weekend with family and friends.

Respectfully Removed

Y'all probably were well aware of my political opinions this past autumn and winter. I certainly made things obvious, and I don't just mean by my blog posts. I proudly displayed my "NObama" button on my sidebar. Indeed, I had a message to send with it--I was not in favor of Barack Obama. I made sure it was up rather high so it would be noticeable.



So maybe you have noticed that it is no longer there. It's no longer on our car either.

On November 4, 2008, the Lord made the choice he wanted for the United States of America. January 20, 2009 brought His will to pass. I could be in denial all I want, but that doesn't change reality. For some reason that is beyond my understanding, Barack Obama is the 44th president of this country. As such, I owe the office some respect.

I still have issues with President Obama, don't get me wrong. There are things about him I want to like (the fact that he is young with children is something I can relate more easily to as opposed to a grandfatherish sort) I was pleasantly surprised with his speech yesterday. But I still struggle with the liberal agenda he is seeking to promote; his ideology and mine do not match up at all. Yet he is still my leader, the one God has appointed over me.

It is a high honor to have the title of president. To have the ability to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.....so help you God" is one that should never be taken lightly. And though we can struggle with the fact that we have a liberal president now, we should be thanking the Lord that we have the ability to elect the leader we want. We don't have Socialism, or Communism, or a Monarchy, or screwed elections. We have a free Republic, and for the next four years, we have President Obama.

I guess what I am saying is that the time has come for me to show some respect. For who am I to question God's choice?! Yes, there will probably come a time when I will be so angry and frustrated with him......but I am not there yet. I have my faith in a Higher Power, a God who can change the hardest of hearts.

I am resolved to not make the same mistake twice. President Obama is going to be in my prayers daily. Wouldn't it be awesome to see the Lord turn a radical leftist into a radical rightist? And don't tell me it can't be done, because it can!! In the meantime, I am going to pray for the strength and grace to show some respect.

Would you all consider doing the same?

Remembering the Obvious....For Once

I don't know about you, but I can take things for granted. In my prayer life, I often pray about the "bad things." Like I am more inclined to pray when my health isn't so great as opposed to when it is. Or I pray for God's guidance when all looks dark and bleak....and not so much when things are rosy. The problem always seems to take precedence.

These past few months have been no exception.

When it comes to politics, my thoughts and prayers have been centered around the "uncertainty" that is looming. My soon-to-be president, Barack Obama, has taken up much of my prayer time. I have prayed for protection for this country, a changed heart for him, that the Lord would work what seems absolutely terrible into something wonderful. You know, the proverbial "beauty from ashes."

While this is all good and has its place, I have neglected the here and now. I still have a president in the form of President Bush. And I have let down the ball. I prayed for him around election times--and when he decided to go to war--but he hasn't been in my prayers daily like he should have been.

Now, you might be different from my family. WE still like the guy. Oh, sure, he has made mistakes. Christians expected things of him in 2004 that he didn't deliver on. He probably should have waited longer before going to Iraq. His views on all these bailouts don't one hundred percent agree with mine. But President George Walker Bush has had his good moments.

His face hasn't stared at us from tabloids (unlike his predecessor.) He has appointed two very conservative Supreme Court justices (who are there until retirement or death, whichever comes first.) He has defended the unborn by his bans of partial-birth abortion and stem cell research. Yes, he has been good.

This president is going to leave with the lowest approval rating ever of a modern president. Yet if you had watched his speech, you would have discovered he doesn't care. He has a clean conscience. Lord willing, he did all that God wanted him to do--and that earns the highest mark, despite what the liberals think.

Tomorrow at Noon EST, he leaves office. Until then, remember him in your prayers with me. Thank the Lord that he has been our president for eight years. Pray that he would be blessed in the days ahead. He still has a few hours of his presidency left--let's pray he makes the right decisions.

Our prayers for Barack Obama will come soon enough. Let's remember the taken for granted tonight.

Saving a Saul

Despondency and depression is everywhere these days. Almost the minute Barack Obama was elected, many people took the attitude "Oh, great. We're living in the End Times. Life is going to be tough and terrible!!" For a few moments, and during John McCain's concession speech, I had the same thoughts spinning through my head. But get the phrase "a few moments." I am better now. Why? Because the Lord brought one of the greatest conversion stories to my mind.

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath. He was eager to destory the Lord's followers, so he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them--both men and women--back to Jerusalem in chains.

As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?"...........

Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues saying, "He is indeed the Son of God!"

All who heard him were amazed. "Isn't this the same man who persecuted Jesus' followers with such devastation in Jerusalem?" they asked. "And we understand that he came here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests."

Saul's preaching became more and more powerful and the Jews in Damascus couldn't refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.~Acts 9:1-4, 19-22

To the early Christians, Saul of Tarsus certainly looked like the greatest villian of all time. Just as Barack Obama appears to us today. But to the Lord, Saul was a soul worth saving; his reputation didn't stand in God's way. Consequently, Saul became Paul, one of our Christian patriarchs who endured much for the sake of the Father he once condemned.

Who are we to say that the Lord cannot do the same to President-Elect Obama? Sure it looks impossible to our fleshly nature that Obama can change. His reputation precedes him. But I am not going to put the Lord in a box. For all I know, the Lord's plan before the beginning of time could have been to RADICALLY change Obama's heart and have him at the helm of this nation. That Obama would end up doing what he could to reverse Roe vs. Wade, defining marriage, etc. I don't know, but I am praying towards those ends.

I would encourage you to be praying for Barack Obama as he enters 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Lord has given the United States him for a reason, so we had better stop griping and moaning about it. With God, ALL THINGS, even changing a seemingly unchangeable man, IS possible.

I Regret Nothing

A new day has dawned but yesterday remains the same. I didn't wake up to hear that states had been called way too prematurely or that there were chads hanging around. Barack Obama is still the presumptive 44th President of the United States. My state still went for McCain by a 62% to 36% margin. My Senate seat will remain in Republican hands. (Both of our Senators are Republican--only one seat was up for election.) And unfortunately, I just discovered that my U.S. House seat was taken by a Democrat and not our Conservative incumbent.

Geepers!! I live in a Democratic district now!!

But one thing remains the same as well. I do not regret anything I did yesterday.

I do not regret casting a ballot for McCain and Palin.

I do not regret voting for Jim Risch over Larry Larocco in the Senate Race.

I do not regret voting for Bill Sali over Walt Minnick--even though Sali lost.

My conscience is clear before God.

I was in the minority a great deal this election. I defied the pollsters and voting blocs as a first time voting young woman. Two of my candidates are not returning to Washington. (Well, that's not quite true: McCain is still a Senator from Arizona.) I have a different reason for why Obama was elected and it has nothing to do with what everyone is saying. It wasn't about race; it was Bush, Bush, Bush and Republican, Republican, Republican.

A new morning hasn't given me any new answers as to "Why." The answers are the same as they were at 9:00 MST. God is sovereign, He is in control, and He has a reason as to why Barack Obama will be this Nation's next leader. I do not regret that if it leads to the Lord being raised up, Christians getting more involved, the United States humbling themselves before God. I believe that God will protect his own--even though it does look freaky. But I am doing better.

Getting to do my part by voting, even for the losers and underdogs, has only whet my appetite to do it again. 2012 will find me not only voting, but getting more involved in campaigning for the candidates I believe in.

If that means I am helping the underdog.....I won't regret it.

If that means losing anyway.....I won't regret it.

If that means doing all I can to get Obama out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.....then I am all for it.

Living in the United States of America is certainly not dull. History can change with each election. And I can play a part. So can you.

Absolutely, Positively, Without a Doubt FED UP!!!

Update: None of you have commented yet, but this should be updated. So, it's official. Yes, God is sovereign, but I am depressed. The tears have come. Life certainly looks bleak for these next four years. My voting for the woman didn't do anything. Those of you who were against her, you won't have to deal with her.

We've got our first black president. Yes, that is momentous. I wish people realized what this means in addition to history being made.

My U.S. House Seat isn't looking that great, either. Boy, how I wish I had gotten involved.

The clock is ticking. Four years....and I get to vote Obama out of office. I am definitely doing my part in 2012.

But you can read my thoughts from earlier in the evening:

Live blogging right now as I watch all of this election stuff unfold. I wish I could say I was pleased and interested with what I am seeing--but I am not! Things aren't looking good. God is sovereign, so I know He knows what He is doing--but there is my flesh which says "How is this good? Why?"

I could be wrong. I'd like to think so. But look at the map.

But am I only fed up with how things are looking? No, I am not. I live in a very conservative family, but since we don't have cable, we aren't in that camp that watches Fox News. I have grown up watching NBC. The people are familiar faces. But if things are supposed to be unbiased, they sure aren't!!! All I am hearing about is the African-American vote and how it will change the face of things.

Now, lest you think I am anti-black, white supremest, I want you to read this post by my dear friend, Jasmine. She's black and it sums up my thoughts and feelings totally. I would love a black president. Just not this one with his policies and stances.

Palin isn't getting coverage. I know she's a touchy subject, but I do like her. Why am I not hearing more the potential of a female vice president? When Hillary was campaigning, that was all we heard about.

And I am sick of being stereotyped. This young voter did not vote for Obama. Getting health care given to me by the government wasn't my top issue. This girl voted for McCain. The Supreme Court was my top issue. And I am proud of it.

Okay, I think I am angry enough. Sadly, all Obama needs to take the presidency is California and something else. Think he's going to do it....at this point any way. May God have mercy on us.

If My People....

"What if the armies of the Lord

Picked up and dusted off their swords

Vowed to set the captives free

And not let Satan have one more.

What if the church, for Heaven's sake,

Finally stepped up to the plate

Took a stand upon God's promise

And stormed Hell's rusty gates

What if His people prayed

And those who bare his name

Would only seek His face

And turn from their own way.

And what would happen if we prayed

For those raised up to lead the way

Then maybe kids in school could pray

And unborn children see light of day

What if the light that we pursue

Came from a hunger for the truth

What if the family turned to Jesus

Stopped asking Oprah what to do."

Father God, this song by Casting Crowns reminds me of 2 Chronicles 7:14: "The if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land." Oh, how desperately we are in need of healing! We, as a Nation, have turned so far from you. In all honesty, we deserve your judgment.

You are absolutely sovereign; since the world began, you knew what the outcome of November 4th, 2008 would be. The candidate who will be elected will not take you by surprise--and he will fulfill your purposes and plans....whether we like him or not.

Yet, Father, I come before you on behalf of our nation. And I ask that you would extend mercy to us. WE know what we deserve. But at the cross, you didn't give us what we did deserve (which was your judgment and eternal damnation.) Rather, you gave us grace and mercy

.

So much is at stake, Lord. You know that. There are our basic freedoms....and that isn't mentioning things like abortion, marriage, and not becoming a Socialist nation. While I know I have no reason to fear, for you are in control, I will admit that I can be afraid of what appears to be.

All I can do tomorrow is get out and vote as you have guided me. The rest is in your hands and I KNOW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you will keep and preserve that which you want. Mortals can only do so much. You alone are God.

The rest of you----PRAY!! And if you can, VOTE!!!

Seven Years Ago

Seven years ago.....this nation was changed forever.

Seven years ago....I remember being awakened by my brother. He said something weird was going on, that Mom was on the phone with Grandma, that planes were crashing into buildings. I stayed glued to the TV for the next two days.

Seven years ago.....this nation, for a VERY brief moment, displayed patriotism and honor towards all branches of the service--military, police, firefighters.

Seven years ago.....For another VERY brief moment, people started showing brotherly love and an interest in God once again.

Seven years ago....I believe the Lord was trying to get the United States of America's attention with all that He allowed to happen in New York City, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Seven year ago....I thought things would be different than they are today. Do I think we're safe? Sure (but I thought we were then too.) But do I think we are where we should be? No.

Where were you....seven years ago? What are your memories and your thoughts now...seven years later? Do you even think about it?

We need to be praying for this nation!

An Update on Me....and Politics

Of late, I have been having difficulty determining what I want to post next. My love for writing has not diminished by ANY means. In fact, I have a couple of things slated for next week.....but they coincide with finishing school, and for me that doesn't happen until Tuesday. Needless to say, I didn't want to post those articles until then.

But on the flip side, I didn't want my blog to sit idle until then. So, I wanted to post some things I have read on one of my favorite subjects--politics! Politics can be a very controversial subject and I do not want this blog to become a place of debate. But sometimes good discussion can come as a result.

This year, it is very hard to know what to do about the presidential race. The Lord knows what the electoral vote will be; we don't have that pleasure. We have to dedicate it to prayer and careful thought. Some things that have piqued my interest and made me think have been:

~~This article I read on Yahoo. Too bad I can't find the actual survey =)
~~This post about politics and the forum of Barack Obama/ John McCain/Rick Warren When I have time I want to watch the actual discussion linked by Jasmine
~~Analyzing voting records. (Maybe some of it will make more sense to you!)

I am interested to know what you gals have to say. Be respectful and courteous. It won't be published otherwise =) No matter where we lean politically, we all need to be praying for our country in this crucial time!

Freedom--A National Treasure

In the 2005 blockbuster hit, National Treasure, Benjamin Franklin Gates has his hands full. Along with his father, his assistant, Riley Poole, and Dr. Abigail Chase, Ben has the task of protecting the Declaration of Independence. Though there were ulterior motives for doing so, Ben and his friends were willing to go down creepy tunnels inside the tomb, jump off the U.S.S. Intrepid, be chased all through downtown Philadelphia, and get shot at, in order that the Declaration would not fall into the hands of Ian Howe. The good guys knew the significance, the history, and the importance of keeping the document protected.

Two hundred and thirty-two years ago, a group of men met to protect something even more valuable than the Declaration of Independence—their freedoms. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock were fed up with the state of affairs in the colonies. Taxes had been legislated across the pond and enforced at home. The only problem was that the colonists had absolutely no say about the whole thing. Their homes and lives were being violated; what their ancestors on the Mayflower had fled from was happening all over again. Just like the men of the 17th Century, the men of the 18th century had to do something in order to preserve their homeland for their children. John and Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock also knew the significance of freedom and the importance of protecting those rights—regardless of the price tag.

Today, protecting seems to be a lost art. Freedom is a word we use flippantly. The terms “freedom in Christ” or “freedom of speech” are common excuses people give for their actions. Yet, because people desire things to be easier for themselves, freedoms are given over more and more to the government each and every day. Now, it is expected that education and education funding are to be under government control; if you have a problem, the government will bail you out; social security has replaced children taking care of their aged parents; medicare is something the government pays for. The list could go on and on. What people do not seem to realize, is that once you have a taste of power, you want more and more. The government is no exception.

The right to live as we choose is a blessing from the Lord. The United States still does allow basic freedoms, as stated in the 1st Amendment to the Constitution; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness still exists. Yet, there may come a time when those freedoms are violated and removed. It is not a pleasant thought, but we must ask ourselves what would we be willing to do in order to keep them. Christ gave us freedom over sin by dying in our place; many of the signers of the Declaration were persecuted for what they had done. Perhaps we will experience the same one day.

Freedom is something that cannot be easily taken away from us (or rather, it shouldn’t be.) In National Treasure, Ben Gates did not regard the Declaration of Independence as a bargaining chip to get him out of trouble. That old piece of paper meant much more to him. Our Founding Fathers believed in a nation that was safe and free not only for their children but also for those who wanted a safe haven from tyranny, oppression, and religious persecution. The ability to have that was not a bargaining chip for them. The signers would not lay freedom on the table in order to get back into King George III’s good graces.

The same should be true of us. This Fourth of July, remember what a blessing the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, and freedom are. They are some of the greatest “national treasures” we will ever possess.

May We Never Forget

She walked to the mailbox

On that bright summers day

Found a letter from her son

In a war far away

He spoke of the weather

And the friends that he'd

said "I'd been thinking about dad

And the life that he had

That's why I'm here today"

That at the end, he said

"You know what I'm fighting for"

It was the first of the letters from war

She started wrting

"You're good and you're brave

What a father that you'll make someday

Make it home

Make it safe"

She wrote every night as she prayed

Late in December

A day she'll not forget

Oh her tears stained the paper

With every word that she read

It said "I was up on a hill

I was out there alone

When the shots all rang out

And bomb were exploding

That's when I saw him

He came back for me

And though he was captrued

A man set me free

That man was your son

He asked me to write to you

I told him I would, oh, I swore."

It was the last of the letters from war.

And she prayed he was living

Kept on believing

And wrote every night just to say

"You're good, and you're brave

What a father that you'll make someday

Make it home

Make it safe"

Still she kept writing each day

Then two years later

Autumn leaves all around

A car pulled in the driveway

And she fell to the ground

And out stepped a captain

Where her boy used to stand

He said, "Mom I'm following orders

From all of your letters

And I've come home again."

He ran in to hold her

Dropped all his bags on the floor

Holding all of her letters from war.

Make it home

Make it home

Make it home!

~~Mark Shultz, of his album "Letters From War"

May we never forget the sacrifice of those who have fought and died for our freedom. no matter what you may think of the wars past and present, our soldiers deserve our honor, respect, and prayers. Without their willingness, this nation could be a whole lot different. I choose to thank them this day, Memorial Day, 2008.

~~I didn't take either of these pictures. Trust me, if I ever make it to Washington D.C. and Arlington, you will hear about it!~~