Walkin Away

So she's been walking for almost a month now but for those of you who haven't had the chance to see her - here she is. (And she can walk a lot further than portrayed!)

Remember

I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and the carnage of war. He stands tough, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this …

I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.

I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.

I left my family destitute to give you freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it is bad for business.

I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.

It’s the airman not the reporter who gives you the freedom of press.

It’s the sailor not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech.

It’s the marine not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate.

It’s the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protestor to burn that flag!

“Lord hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.”

-Pastor John Hagee

Operation WWII Marine Blessing

Today was a very special day.

About a week and a half ago we got a message from a woman named Sandy from a church in Eden Prairie. She had called with a story about a WWII Marine Raider Veteran named Edmund. Ed served in Guam, Gaudalcanal, and Iwo Jima with the First Raider Battalion. He took Psalm 91 with him into battle and was never harmed.
Sandy makes flag quilts and Ed saw one of her quilts and when he did became very emotional and asked Sandy how much she would charge to make a WWII quilt. Sandy kindly told him that she only made them for very close friends or family and left it there. That day and night the Lord put Ed on Sandy's heart and her and her husband decided to make Ed a quilt complete with Marine and Marine Raider emblems, WWII memorabilia and Psalm 91 quotes. Ed had no idea.
So ... the message was to ask Mike if he would be willing to be involved in presenting Ed with this very special gift today, July 1st. To say the least, we were honored.

So this morning the Pastor of Life Church honored all veterans and then in a very moving presentation Major Franklin, Sergant Johnson, and Corporal Kapala came in, in formation, and presented the quilt to Ed. Then in Marine Corps fashion they saluted him.
It was amazing.
I am so honored to be part of the Marines - even if only as a wife! Here's some pictures of the event.

Memorial Day

It's the George ... and yes his bib says, "Future Grunt!"

Emma and Pa Pa playing Boccie Ball!