Twenty Remained Standing

I attended my older son’s Veteran’s Day school assembly this morning to listen to his select group in the band play a piece with the choir.  In an hour, I’ll be heading to my youngest son’s assembly where he will be part of the Color Guard.  I don’t know what the assembly will entail this afternoon, but the one this morning was very moving.  The school had a wonderful ceremony and did an outstanding job of recognizing all those students who have an active family member in the military. They were asked to sit in a special section together and when they were recognized, over 100 students stood up (according to the Veteran’s Day e-mail the school just sent out.) When they asked the ones to remain standing who currently had a parent deployed, over 20 remained standing.   I was moved.  That is such a huge sacrifice for those families.   I can’t imagine being away from my family for a year or more at a time. 

I am however, so very grateful for the military mothers and fathers who serve our country every day so that we may sleep soundly in our beds at night and enjoy the freedoms we do as Americans.  If it weren’t for them, our lives could be very different.  My heart though, is with those 20 or so students who stood up during the assembly this morning whose parent is deployed.  Their mothers don’t get to kiss them good night.  Their fathers don’t get to attend their soccer games.  They don’t get to tell their parents what silly thing happened during Algebra class or what upset them during lunch.  They are making a sacrifice as well.  

I am not from a military family, so cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to have a family member in harms way during this time of war.  For those students, still young children really, this is their reality.   They must go to bed each evening with a part of them worried for their parent’s safety.   Tonight I will worry with them.   Seeing those boys and girls stand proudly in honor of their mothers and fathers touched me.  Tonight I will kiss my two boys goodnight for the mothers and fathers who cannot kiss their own.  I will tell my boys that I love them, like I do every night, but I will share that love with those parents who are serving our country to keep us safe.  I will remember them tonight and offer up and extra prayer of protection for them and hope that those students will not have to stand up next year.

I have an uncle who served our country and my mother’s cousins have served as well.  To them, I say thank you and to their families, I say thank you.  We appreciate the sacrifice you’ve made for all of us. 

Photo Credit

Daily Gratefulness

-for the ability to kiss my children good night

-for the people willingly serving our country

-for red, white and blue

Casual Friday

Pull up a chair and grab your coffee (or tea, or diet dr. pepper) and sit back because today is Casual Friday here at my little blog space.   It seems that the week has flown by and the weekend is just minutes away.   Sharing a few random thoughts with you here today.  Enjoy your weekend.

-I love our king-sized bed.   We had a queen-sized bed for twenty years and have to say, that a king is the only way to go.   Why did we wait so long to upgrade?

-When I was taking the clothes out of the dryer today, I was thrilled to get paid by my oldest son for doing his laundry.  $17.40.  Not bad for one load of towel and jeans.  He got Keva Juice with his friends last week and left his change in his pocket.  He doesn’t even know he left the tip for me. (I’m terrible about checking pockets before I wash things too, so didn’t catch it before the water hit the bills). I’ve tucked it in the “change” basket behind the washing machine and will see how long it stays there.  I think I’d know if I was missing $17.40, wouldn’t you?

-I’ve added a photo string to my wall in my loft.  I made the clothespins over the weekend and labeled them all with different words, then had prints made of my favorite photos and hung the string.  I like the way it turned out.

-I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping this year.  I’m not usually like this, but for some reason, just don’t have any original ideas, so keep putting it off in my mind.  If I keep doing this, I will be one of those out shopping Christmas Eve and wrapping everything in the car.  I better get on it.

-Our new kitten Nela is a loving little thing.  She comes when you call her and she snuggles up to you when she needs attention.   She does however, eat the other cats’ food and then looks at them while she doing it.  Quite the attitude.

-I’m thinking I might need a real camera.  We have several point and shoot cameras, and am by no means a photographer, but would like to do more close up shots and not have them be blurry and bleached out by the flash.   May need to do some research.  

Daily Gratefulness

-for sharing dinner with friends and game night

-for laughter when you need it the most

-for forgiveness

Flash Cards and a Table

My uncle owned an antique store when I was growing up and remember going through it and looking at all the stuff and thinking, “who buys this stuff?”  Who needs two hundred fifty marbles?   Who is ever going to need old postcards from people they don’t know?   Why would you ever need to buy an old farm bucket?  Well my friends, I am older and wiser now and have officially become an antique store junkie and have purchased several items including an old farm bucket.  (I did wash it when I got it home because it had evidence of “use” in the bottom of it. Probably fed the family horse out of it.)

I have never enjoyed myself more than when walking the aisles looking for treasures to decorate my office or laundry room.  It’s addicting to say the least.  My recent venture for an office table and chair took me to a store I hadn’t been to before.  The owners were very helpful and tried to sell me an antique white pitcher and an old crow to put on my porch.  I didn’t buy either, but told them I appreciated their help though.  When they asked me if I was looking for something in particular, I lied and said no.  I didn’t’ want them taking me to the back room to see the two tables that “might” fit my description for fear I’d miss walking by the “perfect” one on my own. 

It was very organized (at least some of the booths were) and easy to walk through so as not to miss anything. There were old typewriters, Girl Scout pins, and even found some 1920’s flash cards, but no table or chair.  I had a very specific type in mind and knew it was out there somewhere.   I finished the top floor with nothing but one of the sentence flash cards (don’t tell anyone I paid $6 for an 18 inch piece of yellowed card-stock) and headed for the basement. 

My eyes got big.  The basement was where the furniture was kept!  Score.   I saw many I liked, but needed a small table to fit in my loft space and still have enough room to walk around.   In the back room I found a round yellow drop leaf, circa 1940’s (or so I was told) kitchen table complete with chipped paint and lots of love.  I searched for the price. $37.  What?   I was thrilled.  I told her I’d take it and we moved it to the rear loading door while she went upstairs to get her receipt book.  I walked around a few more minutes waiting for her, when I saw it.  The white table I’ve been picturing in my head for four months.  It was covered with dishes and table linens but couldn’t find the price.  I lifted the teacup on the corner and saw it.  $48.  I couldn’t believe it. 

I apologized for the bother of moving the yellow table and quickly helped unstack floral dishes and move hand embroidered table linens to the floor so as to clear off my new table.  I drove home with it in my little car as giddy as a girl being asked to prom.  The chair (which I picked up at my favorite antique mall on the way home) was tucked amongst the legs of the table awaiting its new home as well.

I couldn’t be happier with my finds and am thoroughly enjoying my loft/craft space.  The sun shines in the window and is the warmest room in the house.  The cats sleep by my feet while I’m writing and my happiness factor is off the chart.  I’m sure I’ll be adding to my room with more treasures and possibly another flash card or two.  I’ve always had trouble multiplying 6 x 7.   


Daily Gratefulness
-for my parents
-for the energy to greet the day with a smile
-for wonderful neighbors

Dot, Dot, Dot, Something, Dot, Dot, Dot

…listenting…to the washing machine churn and gurgle

…eating…halloween candy that I shouldn’t be eating

…drinking…sparkling black cherry water with a straw

…wearing…old stuff that I’ve worn too much

…feeling…in need of direction

…weather…right up my alley with a crispness in the air

…wanting…to spend a day alone with my husband in a quiet cabin

…needing…a haircut like there’s no tomorrow

…desperately thinking…about what the future holds for my boys

…enjoying…sweaters and vests

…wondering…if I’m doing what God wants me to do

Daily Gratefulness

-for my family near and far

-that I have a husband who loves us so much

-for my computer that keeps me in touch

Daily Gratefulness

As November sneaks into our lives, I am thankful for its entrance.  I think November is one of my favorite months for several reasons; the weather of course, the year coming to a close, and a month in which everyone talks of thankfulness. 

Being grateful is easy when things seem to be going well.  We can be thankful for happy children, wonderful times with friends and family, a beautiful home to keep us warm, and every good grace that crosses our path.  It’s during these times that being grateful is simple.

What about the times when it’s not so easy?  How can we be grateful then?   How do you say thanks when someone is home sick, when the car needs new brakes or when a family is in mourning?  It’s there; gratefulness.  We have to open our hearts to see it though and recognize that it’s there for us to hold on to.  

We can be grateful we’re able to be home with a sick child and comfort them.  We can be grateful the brakes were less costly than we had expected.  We can be grateful we have family surrounding us to comfort us in a time of mourning.   It’s there; gratefulness.

I challenge you, on this first day of November, to keep a list, a journal, a voice memo or what have you of the things you are grateful for each day this month.  I will do my best to share mine along with you at the bottom of each post.  I will call this list, Daily Gratefulness.  If you feel like sharing on a given day, then please do so.   I love reading your comments. 

I welcome November with open arms and the newness the 1st of the month brings to us.

Daily Gratefulness

-for morning hugs from my boys when they are still half asleep

-for crock pots on a crisp day

-for the gift of being a stay at home mom

participating in Tuesday's Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky