I am grateful for another Memorial Day; another year of freedom, paid for at the highest price. Sophia is helping Fred and me to teach  Ella all about Memorial Day: And this year Sophie even had the opportunity to specifically thank some military families in our local community through an essay contest that one one of our local American Legion posts (The Andrew Pearson Post 117) sponsored to try to encourage greater participation in Memorial Day services. This is Sophia’s essay (she is nine years old): And this is her conclusion: “Even though I’m a little scared when the trumpet plays “Taps” and then the loud guns go off, I am…

It’s that time of year again—we’re all probably feeling burned out by our end of the school year / graduation / etc. commitments. The weather is nice outdoors and we just want to relax and have fun. And I’m all for that! But first. Before you spend your Memorial Day prep time thinking only about what you are going to grill and if you have enough Fritos, etc. … please take just a few minutes to figure out which one of your local community Memorial Day services you will attend. Before we had children, Fred and I used to go to the super early one down at the courthouse. But…

My friend’s FB post today was a great reminder of why (I hope!) we all will pause today and honor our Veterans … “Recently I have enjoyed teasing Favorite Husband about having gone to war in two different centuries … But truly today – as much as every other day I am grateful for his life of selfless service – embracing the creeds from both of his lives: For God and Country * That Others May Live” (Here is the official V.A. Veteran’s  Day information, just in case you need a little refresher on the details of why we pause specifically at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th…

We’re looking very forward to trying Pastor Dave and Chris Bentz’s famed BBQ recipe tomorrow. Yum! But far, far above our lunchtime munchies, our entire family is looking forward to going to our local Memorial Day ceremony. We have already purchased our red, white, and blue flowers and miniature flags to place on our local gravestones. (Did you know Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day?) We have been talking for weeks now about standing in the presence of the flag and never allowing a flag to drape on the ground. We will hear stories of courage and be inspired to live for ideals well beyond our personal comfort. We…

I was so pleased this morning when we opened our Fine Art class in a time of prayer and my students remembered why December 7th is so important in our country’s history: The Naval History and Heritage Command’s Pearl Harbor Overview and Images Freedom is never free.

Did you pause at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month—to pray? To figure out a way you can support our veterans? Just to be grateful? If you have no idea what I’m talking about, please read this. And if you care to give three minutes to this topic, please watch this: THANK YOU VETERANS! We can never say thank you enough.

With our own (U.S.) Memorial Day still heavy on my heart, this post by Tim Challies about fallen Canadian soldiers is particularly poignant: Highway of Heroes  

I’m about to head out the door to go and purchase our flowers and wreaths. When I return, the family will be awake and we will hang out flag. Then, in just a few hours, we will dress in red, white, and blue and head to a local cemetery to join in the remembrance and honoring of the men and women who have died for our country. Memorial Day. Oh, friends! I hope that your day is not ONLY about sleeping in, cookouts, and sales on bath towels. Let’s remember again what this day is for: ” …gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with…

I am obviously still quite ignorant of my WWII history (even though this is a topic that I do read on quite a lot) for I had no idea that 338,000+ allied troops were rescued during the Dunkirk Evacuation (“Operation Dynamo”). Reading the reports of the remembrance this year only solidified my commitment to introducing Sophia and Ella to every WWII veteran we ever see. They are disappearing quickly! I want them to remember WWII vets in real life—not just reading about them and the rest of the Greatest Generation. Hope your making plans for Monday that include honoring our veterans! G’nite and God bless, Tara B.