Independence Day

These are the 3 of my 4 children (well 5 if you include my stepson) that I will not be spending the 4th of July with. I miss them and love them and say special prayers daily for them...but Joe (in the plaid) is a Marine deployed to Afghanistan and I'm sending special thanks and prayers his way. Please remember how fortunate we are to be Americans and have the freedom and liberties that we have. It came at a costly price. Many have died for the name of freedom. God Bless the USA!

Lifestyle Change

I started a diet or lifestyle change this week...which I really want to be in earnest but have been moody and depressed all week. The first three days were a total flop. Didn't exercise, didn't reduce calories or watch what I ate...now I have to lose 54 pounds instead of 52! I really need to do this for health and self esteem. Don't want to have to have stomach banding or anything like that because I want to learn self control, portion control, behavior modification.
For so many reasons (financial, lifestyle, lack of local support, stress, age, metabolism, genetics) it is going to be an uphill battle to say the least but I want to do this. I have to do this FOR ME. I can't afford weight watchers or any other program you have to pay for, can't join a gym or buy CDs to exercise to, don't have time to weigh, measure and pre prepare meals. So it makes it hard. Not impossible, but hard.
Praying for strength and willpower so the next four days will show a market improvement and a positive results.

Rich Mullins - We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are (Wheaton College...

Awesome God - Michael W. Smith

Bring the rain

Celine Dion - Because you loved me

Parents of Deployed Service Members

This is my son, a Marine deployed to Afghanistan. He's a young man at 20 years old, but the average age of service personnel is a young man of 19 (I'm not negating the women who serve - just stating statistics). I've always empathized and been supportive of our military; but it became a whole other ball game when my son enlisted. I have a new and vivid respect for the wives, families, friends and parents of our military personnel. Marine, Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, National Guard ... I get tears in my eyes just thinking about what their "job" really means. Someone once said that enlisted people write a blank check to the U.S. Government which could possibly mean they pay the ultimate sacrifice. How can you not be proud?! How can anyone actually protest who they are and what they do?
I have a nephew in the army, another enlisted in the Airforce, more friends in both branches and some in the Navy...new ones in the Marines and a long family heritage of service. Do the people who protest not have any one to "enlighten" them?
While I know God watches out for each and every one, I also know where they go if the check is presented for payment. Fallen angels they are called. Still, as a mother this possibility is VERY difficult to bear. Not that fathers, brothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends and brothers in arms don't share the burden - but I have to say, I'd rather stand on the front line in harms way then to think of even one person's son or daughter falling.
I praise the Heavenly Father for His mighty protection, His omnipotence, His omniscience and His omnipresence. I know that He is with my son every second of every day; just as He is with me giving me strength and faith to endure while my son is away. I look forward to welcoming my hero home and may God bring ALL of our heroes home safe and soon!