Memorial Day 2009

During song service yesterday we sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic and those who were in the service were asked to stand...I stood for Jeff. I am very proud of his service to our country and to all those men, women, wives, husbands and children that serve this great land. It is not just the men and women in uniform that serve but their families as well. When Jeff got out of Active Duty I was also presented with an Army service pin that still means so much to me. It is a tough job for all involved.

May God Bless you all who have served and continue to do so and may
God Bless America.
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American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2009 – In his annual Memorial Day message to service members worldwide, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urges the nation's men and women in uniform to observe a moment of silence on the holiday to honor their fallen comrades.

Here is the secretary’s message: “On May 5, 1868, General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, asked that America remember those lost in the Civil War by ‘gather[ing] around their sacred remains’ to ‘garland the passionless mounds … with choicest flowers’ and ‘raise above them the dear old flag they saved.’


“Since then, we have set aside one day each year to honor all those who have died in service to our country. Across the United States, military support groups, veterans associations, and patriots mount public tribute to those who served and sacrificed. By honoring our men and women in uniform with events like this, groups such as the American Veterans Center keep alive the memory of those who paid the ultimate price.


“Some wear a red poppy, in the spirit of the poet Moina Michael, who wrote that that flower “grows on fields where valor led.” Others continue to adorn graves with flowers and candles. And each year, the soldiers of “The Old Guard” place small American flags at each Arlington National Cemetery gravestone and patrol around the clock during Memorial Day weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.


“At 3 p.m., your local time, on Monday, May 25, 2009, I would encourage you to join millions of your fellow Americans in a moment of silence to remember our fallen heroes.

“It is important to think of the fallen on this day, but we should also keep in mind all of our servicemen and women throughout the year. They and their families continue to sacrifice for our country and deserve our recognition and support. We should heed the advice of General Logan, who wrote: ‘Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.’”


Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense

Answered Prayer..Praise the Lord!!

Our God is an Awesome God! We are so thankful to have heard from Carol today..Lil' Connor is doing well..read on.

Connor will probably come home tomorrow or Wednesday. He got out of ICU yesterday and is doing very well. Don and I went to see him this morning. He has been very alert and drank 4 ounces of milk for me. The doctor came in and said based on that he is ready to come home. We are so happy to hear this news. He said when Connor came in he was in pretty bad shape and has recovered very well. Thanks for all your prayers. Love, Carol

Connor

Received an email my my girlfriend Carol. Connor is battling a staph infection in his lungs. This little guy came into the world at 29 weeks and has been a fighter thus far. Please pray for God's hand upon Connor and for the family.

Update...5/22/09..Found out the infection is MRSA. Please pray for this little guy and his family as the struggle with trying to understand the impossible...Why?

Connor update

Email update from my dear friend on her Grandbaby Connor..


Don and I just got home from the hospital. Connor responded to us when talked and touched him. They told he is doing very good. They are feeling confident it is bronchitis. Blood work is still at lab to see if the cultures are growing bacteria. It looks like he will be on the ventilator for 5 or 6 days depending on how he is doing. After that he will be there for another 5 or 6 days without the ventilator. We are just thankful we got him to the hospital in time. The doctor feels he is going to be okay. Debra and Jason are hanging in there. Debra is allot better tonight. It has been a hard to see him like this. We just want to pick him up. I will update again after we hear from the doctor tomorrow. Thanks for all your prayers. Love, Carol and Don

Connor

Carol just sent this picture to my phone...

~Connor Reese~

It's begining to feel a lot like Summer!

We had some hot days over the weekend and what better way to cool down than a swim. Our dear friends the Clem's invited us over to do just that. While I got to visit with Michelle and Ruthann our kids enjoyed the pool. I love that all our children get along so well and want to spend time together.

Prayer Request

I received this in my inbox this morning. Please pray for Connor but also for the Cline family as they are in need of God's grace right now.

I write this with a very heavy heart. Connor is not doing well. He is Septic and on a ventilator. Please pray for him. We are not sure what today will bring. They are treating him with very heavy antibiotics and waiting for blood test results that can take from 48 to 72 hours. His spinal fluid and lungs were clear. We are worried this could be his intestines again. Doctors aren't saying much at this time. Debra and I took him to the ER yesterday afternoon. His color was not good. Please keep him in your prayers. Love, Carol

Fun Friday

Another Friday has come and gone. The day started with the kids at GES running the mile at the high school track. Grace while she did great was a bit upset with herself as she usually runs it in under 9 min and she ran it in 10 today. Mind you for a 9 year old or anyone...I say she rocks!!

We then had a friends birthday party after school and then ended the day having

Panther team pictures taken.

Here are a few pictures from our busy day today. Oh so glad it's Friday!

The girls after their run

Having fun at the park

Softball picture 2009

I got an A in English

Just to be clear..since my daughter the "English teacher" will be looking at this. I did write in paragraphs on the blog below but for some reason it won't separate. It's bugging me so bad..these are the things that get to me and Cassie!

Thankful Thursday

Just got off the phone with my Mom and as most of you know she has been in and out of doctor's offices and hospitals this year. Well, a few weeks ago she had her routine mammogram and of course there were six spots that they didn't like. She had them biopsied on Tuesday and we just found out praise the Lord that while they were not cancerous...they can turn that way. So..Mom will be meeting with an Oncologist and having from what I understand more tissue removed.

My Mother is such a strong woman..which is where my sister and I get it and I see it in Cassie as well. We do not like to be fussed over. We may cry on each other's or a friends shoulder from time to time but when it comes right down to it we buckle down and deal! Ultimately what that means really for us..is we put our trust in the Lord. As Mom just said, "I'm leaving it the Lords hands". I am so grateful that I have a heavenly Father I can give my troubles to. I am so thankful for having a Mother that taught me to love the Lord and trust in Him.

Proverbs 3: 1-6

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight.

Faith life's lesson..may we all one day get it...that includes me!

A beautiful women in Christ..my life's goal!

I read several blogs and several devotions. I just love the way this was layed out. Enjoy!
A Beautiful Woman In Christ
Julia Bettencourt

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30 Some may have heard about the little boy who asked his mother why she was putting on cold cream. She replied that she was making herself beautiful. When she went to take off the cold cream the little boy wanted to know what was the matter. Was she giving up? That little boy misunderstood the concept of the art of becoming beautiful. Sometimes we as Christian women misunderstand God's concept of becoming beautiful in Christ.

There is nothing wrong with working on our outward beauty in itself. We are children of the King so why not look the part? We should always do our best and look our best but many times we forget about the inside and the way we project ourselves. Perhaps sometimes we just concentrate only on one feature or area of our Christian life but not the whole and our beauty in Christ becomes skewed.

Being beautiful in Christ involves more than just the outside or just one part of us. Our verse says, "...a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30. That is the beauty that transcends time and doesn't fade away. One thing about beauty that we all know as women is that it is a daily thing. In other words we have to keep ourselves up. If we let ourselves go what happens? We're not quite so beautiful anymore are we? It is the same with being beautiful in Christ. We have to constantly work at it. Here are some things to help us improve our beauty in Christ.

1. Cleanser. In order to make ourselves beautiful, we have to first cleanse ourselves of all unwanted impurities. Our cleansing agent works through our confession and God's forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

2. Moisturizer.Having compassion can be a good moisturizer. When we start seeing others and their needs instead of our own it can really soften us up! "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference." (Jude 21,22)

3. Wrinkle Cream. If we want to smooth out those wrinkles how about applying a meek and quiet spirit? "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (1 Pet 3:4)

4. Foundation. We need to start with a good foundation and what is better than the Word of God? If we have the Word of God in our hearts the rest of our spiritual make-up can be easily applied. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psa 119:11)

5. Eye Makeup.To keep our eyes shinning the brightest we need to guard them from seeing things that are not fitting of a beautiful woman in Christ. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Cor 6:19)

6. Lipstick.To make the face complete don't forget your lips. Apply lipstick in the shade of 'Pleasantness' daily for best results. "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." (Prov 16:24)

7. Blush. The blush we apply should be God's love radiating through us. "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Rom 5:5)

8. Hand Lotion.We don't want our hands to become dry and brittle so we need to apply some generosity and good deeds. "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Prov 31:31)

9. Foot Therapy.Sometimes when we overlook our feet they can get callused and rough so we need to get them going in the right direction. Take your feet only to the places that Christ would approve. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Th 5:22)

Don't Forget Your Upkeep!

Baby update

Cassie had an appointment today and all is going well. Lil' David is growing and kicking all the time. So excited about being a Grandma!

25 weeks

The belly at 25 weeks!
~Cassie with Mt. Shasta behind her~

Thankful Thursday

I sit here in a quiet house at the very begining of Friday morning. I should be in bed as I have a field trip with Grace's class in the morning..but I didn't want today to go by without my thankful list.



I am thankful for...



For giggles that come from my kids..all of them playing together.

For our health..so thankful to have a healthy family.

For quiet times like this where I can reflect on my Lord and Savior.

And, for my rig that allows my to transport a load of Grace's classmates on field trips! :)