Friday, December 22, 2006

This didn't happen to me, but when I read it from a friend's post I had to get this out for all to hear. Please remember that there are good men and women out there who make up our military and we need to support them and their families. A WIFE'S REQUEST I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with long neck beers and sizzling platters. Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride. Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home. I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts. "I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good Lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election." I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills. Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmmm! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know." My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it. "You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding ! the mil itary budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-11. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it." Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one even appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is? I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking. "Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq , and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby-killers we call a military." Professional baby-killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again. That's it! Indigestion rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known. Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, smiling I said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him." "Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it." I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I replied. Then, turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal." As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women picked up their check and scurried away. After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode . "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys." With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did." As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day. Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain it's freedom. As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!" To those who fought for our Nation: Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders. "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior." When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground, air and navy personnel in every area of the middle east. And remember that these men and women are overseas giving up time with their families for YOU, so give them some respect for their sacrifices.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Remember to have Christ in your Christmas

Obviously it's been a while since I blogged, but with the holidays coming up I haven't really had time. Also a good friend of mine's husband passed away and I've been trying to help her. This has taught me so much. It has reminded me that God has lent us life on earth for only so long, and we have no idea when He might call us home to Him again. We must embrace each day as a time for loving our families and friends and for telling "the old, old story of Jesus and His love". Seriously it is so easy at this time of year to forget about what matters the most. That wonderful gift from above, a baby born humbly in a manager, our Saviour Jesus Christ. It was only a few days ago that I was worried about cleaning up the messes the kids have made and making the house perfect for Christmas. And I was worried about rushing around getting presents wrapped and just in general forgetting the whole reason for this season. I needed to remember to keep Christ in Christmas! For those who wouldn't mind please pray for my friend as she goes through this difficult time. Thanks.

Friday, November 17, 2006

I guess it's been a while

So I haven't blogged in about a week. It's been a little hectic but not too bad considering we are a big family. My current project is to put all the dressers in the house in my bedroom so that I have one place to go when trying to put away laundry, or help the kids put their's away. Tomorrow my sister is coming over to help me get this done. Oh, and tomorrow R has his go-see-it Police Station visit for Cub Scouts. He is very excited! Also, his AWANA and cub scouts are both doing a pinewood derby this year so he has to make two cars! But he is pretty excited about this too.
I am finding it hard, given the holidays, that my hubby is overseas. We try to IM almost everyday but it's still hard when I don't have him here with me. Yet the good Lord is using this time as such a learning experience for me. God is giving me the faith to step back and remember that He is carrying me through this hard time. And while He is working on me He is showing me how to be a better financial planner for our family. Since I do the budget I have been trying to get us to be debt free. Yes it will be awhile until we reach this goal, but the important thing is that we are trying and getting closer. Everytime I start to get down about money, God reminds me of all we have already payed off and overcome. Plus he is always sending me little reminders that He wants to help me. For example about a week or two ago our DVD player broke. Well, living on a budget means having to wait to replace things when they break, so I planned out how to budget for a new one. A few days later me dad called saying he had something to drop off for us. It was a new DVD player! Isn't that great! God is good and He takes care of us, not only our needs but also he helps us to have little extras in our life. This is so great because it is almost the season to start watching It's A Wonderful Life, one of my all time favorite movies. Okay, well goodbye for now. God Bless you.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Chaos after voting

So I can't help but be disappointed that republicans took such a beating, but now that election season is over we all need to realize we are not republicans and democrats, we are Americans. And we need to work togeather! Okay, now I'm done with that. I am also upset with what people think about partial birth abortion. As if killing your unborn baby wasn't enough, it seems that the supreme court may be swayed into dropping the ban on 2nd trimester abortions. It upsets me that a baby that might be stong enough to survive can be killed simply because the mother decides it. Where do we draw the line between killings? If the baby is inside the mother it's okay, but as soon as the head is outside of the mother THEN the child is considered unkillable? It just is outrageous to me. No matter what it is a child, from the moment of conception it is a child.
Okay, so I'm down off my soapbox for the moment. I thought I would tell you all some of my favorite sites.
1. www.keepingthehome.com This is an awesome site with a lot of really good tips for Christian stay-at-home moms.
2. www.biblicalwomanhood.com/blog.htm Another good site for Christian women.
3. www.homeschoolblogger.com/purityseekers/ This is a Christian woman who posts about a lot of really good issues we deal with everyday as Christians and as mothers.
I'll add more as I think about them, but for now there are my favorites.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

A picture of my American Hero!


This is a picture of my dh, a proud member of the United States Navy currently serving our country on the Kuwait/Iraq border. Just wanted to show him off. I am so proud of you babe! God Bless our troops and our great country!

Voting

Well it's almost time for voting to be over. Did you vote? I feel like a kid waiting for something. I have CNN on and I'm waiting to see what the results are. I really hope we can keep a republican congress. I may not agree with all that they have done, but I am a conservative christian so I am more in line with republicans. Ohio just put out that they aren't going to post results until 9 pm. So I am waiting up for that. Plus I am hoping to IM dh late tonight. It's not fun when time zones are so different. Currently the difference is 8 hours. Oh well, I am just so glad I get to IM him! And God has kept him safe, which I am also so grateful for. We just found out dh may be able to come home by April 15! I hope it is that soon. Well time to go watch the election results.

Monday, November 06, 2006

So I have it all up and running.

So I have my blog up and running. How do you like it? Well I thought it looked kinda empty with just one post so I'll post this one. The two children who stay at home with me most of the time, R and K, are playing right now. It always amazes me how my son interacts with his little sister. For now I will say goodbye. Enjoy your dinner.

Welcome to my first attempt at blogging

Okay so here it is, my first attempt at blogging. My name is Melissa and I am married to Steve. We were married in September of 2001. We currently have 5 children together. We are a yours, mine and ours family. For safety all the kids names will be only their first intial and their age for clarity. Our 5 children are: J-ds age 10 (11 in Feb), S-dd age 9 (10 in Feb), M-dd age 7, R-ds age 6, and K-dd age 1 (2 in Feb). We also have 2 cats Smokey and Shadow. That's our gang! Welcome to my blog. I hope my postings will be a blessing to you all.