Fourth of July: Our Independence

I attended a very large event this last Saturday in Souix City Iowa. They began the event, a very large Jazz Festival which featured B.B.King with the National Anthem. I looked around and was disappointed to see that many people in the crowd did not stand or put their hand over their hearts. We are on the cusp of the celebration to end all celebrations and are looking forward to the picnic, spending time with our families, the parades and fireworks while halfway around the world our troops are spending their days protecting the independence we will be celebrating! Let's not forget the reasons for the celebration. Take pride in your country! Stand when they play the national anthem and stand when the flag of our great country passes by, for so many are giving up their lives to Stand Up for America!

Memorial Day

With the end of May approaching we look forward to Memorial Day. The celebration of the rememerance of those who have gone on without us whether it be family, the troops who have sacrificed everything for us or those who died on 9/11. To all of those who are survivers of a loved one, this one is for you!

Memories

There's a silence in your life today

A place no one can share.

A missing part, within your heart

for one that was so rare.

Where memories now must fill the gap

for the voice you'll never hear.

It's soft refrain, will now remain,

Just an echo in your ears.

There's sometimes disagreement,

Between the people that we love,

But time can heal, no one can steal

Great lessons from above.

So when it's time to say "goodbye"

there is no easy way.

Forgive, forget, shrug off regrets

For there's nothing left to say.

There's a silence in your life today

A place no one can share.

But their in your heart, those missing parts,

For love is still so rare.

Tribute to the troops

Being the mother-in-law of two career military "sons" I can relate to the pain and heartache a family goes through with the seperation from their loved ones. "Waiting for you to come home" was written for my own two while they served their time in both Afghanistan and Iraq. To all our troops and for their families, We'll be waiting for you to come home!

Waiting for you to come home!

In all our lives, we never thought
You'd go so far away.
If we had the choice, I hope you know
Close by us you would stay.
But the time had come, a call you heard
To keep our country free.
With your head held high,
No last "goodbyes" a soldier you must be.
So you went away to that foreign land
Where turmoil stirs our peace.
You left behind the land you love
To calm a threatening beast.
Our hearts are filled with so much pride.
We're free because of you.
No words express the love we feel
Or the gratitude that's due.
Tonight you'll sleep in that foreign land
And if you feel like you're alone,
Remember first, a million prayers
Because we'll be waiting for you to come home!