Our Favorite Veteran

Growing up in a semi-sheltered suburban household, I didn't give much thought to Veteran's Day. I never questioned it either, as it was a day off school or work.

When I was 12, I visited the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC. I ran my hands over the wall of engraved names, and for the first time in my life, had a tangible connection with a soldier's sacrifice. I didn't fully get it at the time, but as I think back about that day, the heaviness overwhelms me. I can remember looking at the names, and then my own reflection staring back at me. It means something today.

In our house, Veteran's Day is about celebration and remembrance. It's about remembering those who have selflessly given their lives to protect our freedoms, and it's about celebrating our favorite veteran, the one who lives in our home. Ryan (hubby and Daddy, to us) served over eight years in the US Navy, where he was deployed to Puerto Rico, East Timor, Spain, and Kuwait. When he was home, he spent almost 1/3 of his time at Fort Hunter Liggett (northern California). We missed him a lot, but he was proud to do his duty. Although it was hard on our family, a change in his plans didn't come until October 2006 when Emily was born. He once saw a buddy return home to a son who ran the other way because he didn't recognize his own dad. Ryan decided that the active duty life was not the best for us. He was honorably discharged in September 2007 and we moved home to be near our families. By January 2008 he was enlisted as a reservist with the California Air National Guard. He is still serving today.

Today, say thank you to a veteran. And pray for them, to the God who is the only way to true freedom. FDR thought it best to pray before D-Day, and he led the nation this prayer:

Almighty God,
Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. Men's souls will be shaken with the violence of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home - fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them - help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace - a peace invulnerable to the schemes of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.

Someday, Emily will hear the stories. She will know where her Daddy's boots walked, and she will know the giver of real freedom. Until then, we'll pray. Continually. Not for conquest, but for liberation. And we'll say thanks, for a life dedicated to service above self, something God calls for, and something we are so proud to have in our home.

Fall In California

Aside from a few random days of rain and cool winds in the past few months, you would've thought it was still August here in Madera. It's November, and we're finally seeing the first signs of fall!

Emily got to wear her adorable hat to Anthony's last home football game. She almost made it to the third quarter, but a little bump on the head turned into a full-fledged traumatic episode. Home we went to enjoy the rain from the inside.

Third Man Out

The other day I was driving on the freeway and I saw a car disabled on the right shoulder. I live in the Central Valley, so it was a rather LARGE shoulder consisting of dirt and a small field. Two men were working on the car, appearing to pour water on what I can assume was the radiator. The other man was playing soccer. By himself. Juggling and such.

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong.
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

Did you guess which thing was not like others?
Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong?
If you guessed this one is not like the others
Then you are absolutely...right!

Man #3 playing soccer - while his two buddies fix the car - does not belong.

This is not about knowledge of cars, my friends. I know very little about cars, and what I do know I learned from sketchy Montecito Shell gas station attendants who ended up solving mine and Lindsey's car problems for free. (Its amazing how well the dumb blonde routine actually works...and you just thought it was joke material!) Anyway, even if you know nothing about cars, you can still help. Do what I do: stand around the open hood and nod your head in agreement; fetch water or other supplies out of the trunk when asked; and if you're feeling brave, every once in a while throw in some words like "catalytic converter" or "warranty coverage." Do not take out the soccer ball because you have some down time to brush up on your skills. I can assure you this man walked home.

Note: This blog series is dedicated to my sister and brother-in-law, with whom we often play the game "One of These Things is Not Like the Others." Thanks Jenn and Evan!

We Voted

We voted.

I voted because I always do. This year it was different because I decided bringing Emily with me to the polling place (even if it was just to drop off my absentee ballot) would be a good tradition to start. So, here we are - notice the "I Voted" sticker I proudly wore all day long - off to Starbucks. An unfortunate side-effect of this new tradition is that Emily now thinks that voting equals cookies, because I reminded her that after going to vote, we would go get coffee.

Ryan voted for the first time in his 29 years of life. He educated himself (and the rest of us!), made some hard decisions, and cast his ballot.

It was a good day.

Sappy Saturdays: The Ghost of Halloween Past

I've never been a big fan of Halloween. I don't understand a "holiday" for which the intent is to scare people. Even as a child, I wasn't that into it. Don't get me wrong...I love candy and I have some great memories, such as Mom dressing my sister and me up as bunches of grapes, wearing GaGa's homemade clown costume, and some much more recent. Here is a rundown of Halloween for the past few years...

2004: Kim and Ryan attend their first Pimps and Hos Party. Kim refuses to dress the part, but instead goes as the trampy secretary. Ryan wins the Pimp of the Year award, one which we do NOT proudly display. This experience also produced Ryan's first visit to a thrift store.

2005: Also known as "The Year the Costumes Just Didn't Work." Ryan's slight obsession with Napoleon Dynamite leads to him being dead-set on going to Glen and Catherine's party as Napoleon and Deb. Ryan was thrilled that he found snow boots and a walkman. Kim couldn't find a dress with puffy sleeves, so her mediocre costume elicited titles such as "Crazy 80's Girl?" Good party. Bad costumes. Mom and Dad blew us (and everyone who attended the Halloween Ball) out of the water when they showed up on the Harley wearing these amazing costumes.

2006: Yesssss! Three week post-partum means I don't have to dress up and go anywhere. We put this crazy costume on Emily for 20 minutes to take pictures of our sweet baby. As you can see, Emily is thrilled to be dressed as a pea pod.

2007: Fun Halloween with a one-year old! Emily helps to carve her first pumpkin, and dresses as a bumble bee. Kim is politely peer pressured into dressing up for work (very fun after all!) and throws together something completely unoriginal according to the Port Hueneme crowd, but our Madera friends thought it was great.

So eventhough Halloween isn't a holiday in my book, I see why it is fun for kids. For example, Emily loved her costume so much that she wore her Raggedy Ann socks to bed a few nights ago. She had a ton of fun, and always said Thank You when given candy (makes Mommy so proud!). So, now that it is November 1st, we are completely Halloween-ed out. Here are some pictures to prove it: