This week I got to spend a while on the phone with one of my favorite friends. Not only was it awesome to catch up, talk about the 'old days', and just hear from each other, but it made me feel super proud. Proud of myself, and of him. Every single day I always have these moments where I feel really awesome for being an adult, mother, wife, whatever, and I smile and just want to pat myself on the back. Things like, keeping up on housework, dealing with an awful toddler situation calmly, my weekly volunteer work, getting a tasty dinner cooked on time. Lame, I know! Proud of him because he has turned into such a stellar person. He is a husband, a hard worker, and he is totally happy. What makes this an even better "I'm so proud of you, you grew up" situation is this guy, and his wife are both stationed in Afghanistan right now. They are working hard, long days so we can live is such a wonderful America. They don't get a 3 day weekend this weekend. They don't get to hang out with family, and BBQ on the beach. But, we do. This was the perfect week to hear from him. It definitely helped me remember the meaning to the holiday. This war has been going on a very, very long and I feel like people have lost some of their patriotism to the soldiers, maybe it's 'old news' to some people. It is definitely something taken for GRANTED. Please don't forget there are so many service men and women still across seas away from their families. There are so many wonderful veterans who have previously served. There are so many people who have died fighting for this great land. They all deserve some tribute, thought, and gratitude. So when you are at your parties this week the least you could do is sing a patriotic song, or recite the national anthem just to remind everyone that you are partying in thanks to our wonderful soldiers. I know that I have a weekend full of BBQs, birthday parties, hot air balloon festival, sea food festival, and church gatherings.
I have a lot of wonderful veterans in my family that deserve so much praise. My moms uncle was a POW for many years. He was captured when they shot his plane down in WWII. My grandpa was in the military. My brother in law served in Iraq for a long time. My dads brother served for many years. I have many more friends and family members who have been faithful servants to our country and we owe them all the gratitude in the world.
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"Major Daniel Davis is my mothers, fathers twin brother. Better known to me as great Uncle Dan.
O thus be it ever, when freemen shall standBetween their loved home and the war's desolation.Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued landPraise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
-Laura
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