Milsupport Impact on the Family:
I took the kids to the pool at our YMCA. It's hardly a pool really, more like a veritable water park.
Padded deck for the splash pad areas, slow slopes into the pool to ease the littlest swimmers into play on slides or under a giant bucket dumping well timed water on their maniacally delighted little heads.
Bedecked in brightly colored swimsuits with their hair plastered down around their ears from the last dousing, they made a science of finding the perfect spot to stand in for the next deluge and still jumped up as if it was a huge surprise to be gasping for air and grabbing at their shorts to keep them up.
I loved all the
"Look mommy!",
"Hey take a picture of this for Dad!"
"Watch me!"s
Enthusiasm like that is contagious and almost expected. If any of those exhortations are said repeatedly at you at an eardrum splitting decibel, it can even be perturbing...
Yet, what made this mama's heart burst was watching them pause once in while in their joyful noise to remember one or another of our friends in Iraq or Afghanistan.(Course, I'm thinking Matthew, America's 1st Sgt.'s arch brownie nemesis is gunning for Mike in this one, Wanna chip? Psyche!Wanna chip? Psyche!Wanna chip? Psyche!Poor Little Guy, come R&R, there'll be hell to pay...)
While there (hopefully, mom thought) wearing themselves out in the water, one of my progeny would smile and hold up three fingers.(In this case, family code for "hey send this picture to 3rd Bn, 3rd Marines. Each unit, shop or company we work with has some number we like to use when we say hi, so they know we are thinking about them in whatever picture it is.)
I won't gush, I swear, but I really was proud of my little otherwise sibling teasing, wedgie giving, How-come-I-never-get-to-and-what's-for-dinner, toads.
My kiddos don't really know the reasons we are over there in more detailed terms aside from: the "Mahweens and soljurs" as my littlest calls them. Warriors, as my older children hear their own father call them, are faaar away over the ocean at war. Thekiddos know these men and women have families they miss, that they can't have ice cream or chips anytime they want and that it's HOT there a lot of the time or very cold. These are simple child perspectives that measure a circumstance in what ways children would identify as sacrifice.
JOHN HART: One Person's Sacrifice
I didn't think anymore of the pool outing until I got an email tonight from Coffeypot, which discussed what befell each of the signers of the Declaration of Independence in the aftermath of putting their name to it. The preface of the piece was:
"They were men of means, and well-educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured."
The quote struck me, perhaps because of the carefree time I had with the children yesterday. Seen in a new context where much less was assured for the citizenry there, I read this:
"John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished."
I thought about his 21st century peers at the pool yesterday with the Lexxus SUVS parked out front, hanging shingles here in the Clear Lake area as engineers, attorneys, physicians or business owners and living in their own suburban fiefdoms. Texas is a state known for a tradition of philanthropy. Like Hart, many families here of means,whether great or small participate heavily in the building of churches, schools and groups like United Way and other relief efforts.
I wondered if any of the men or women sunbathing or enjoying their kids that day took the next step or would if called upon like Hart had been, to take another step into public service to help lead their community? Would any of them have been willing to risk their reputation and everything they had built to maintain their way of life on their terms?
Would they leave their spouse on their death bed to continue their service, have their home and business ransacked and burned, only to return and find their spouse dead and their children gone? In their midsixties, would they hide in a cave and the woods for a year and emerge from there still so fully convicted in their cause they would welcome Washington's rebel troops to use their fields during growing season to prepare for battle and then die soon after penniless?
I wonder.
I feel blessed to know that this man did.
I would hope that in similar circumstances I would as well.
I honor his sacrifice and those that with him, signed this blueprint for our fledgling country. I hope my family will always be willing to perpetuate our forefathers' efforts.
Sage said all this pretty darn well, too.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
LETTTERS TO LEATHER NECKS:
Saturday Sitrep
Ally has been busy just dubbing her little heart out from regular old TV shows commercials and all. I know the guys and gals will love it! It felt completely weird to be on the receiving end of two priority boxes these week though...lolI also received money from @TerriLPN on Twitter, Ally, T, two anonymous donors and Red. (more on the Crockpot project later today)
I am so not ready to put a a complete list of folks who bought a toaster or a crock pot or both or who sent money.
Woohoo! not only did we find crock pots-- I found crockpots that also roast, slow cook, bake, steam and reheat. They aren't breakable, slightly lighter and offer a lot more versatility. 
these little kismity moments. From the fluke of finding better than we need for less than I planned to Tony being able to get them all into that trunk, I was high for hours. Even cooler, Sharon, the lady in the picture with Tony, said to come in today and see if they can gather up the toasters for us, too. She was happy to help our Marines she said. 
26 comments:
First T's haircut looks like mine! Kids look great. Its awesome that people are helping you out!! Woot!
Wow the John Hart part conveys the exact same thoughts as my whole post!!
Excellent job for the troops! you rock!!!
Hope y'all have a big ole Independence Day!
As you know, I too am a volunteer out here on the other side of the world (exactly 12 hours ahead of EST). My people are your people after they've been discharged; a few are fresh from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan, but most have been out for decades and served in much earlier wars, going back as far as WWII and Korea. The pressure of what I do has got me at the end of my volunteer rope. I will finish my "tour" at the end of this year and go back to being a slug. What kind of pressure am I talking? Well, we got 3 phone calls in the last 24 hours from 3 different veterans, a couple in the middle of the night, and all 3 fellas in the midst of congestive heart failure. Its our "job" to help them. I've got folks who are being jammed by an uncaring unresponsive VA and these vets and their families have only us to turn to as far as what to do next; and its true, we KNOW exactly what to do. Just me and one other guy. Sure, its rewarding, but after 7 years its become a life sucking burden. Its time someone else took their turn in the proverbial barrel. AFter 27 years of AD service and 7 more of vol service, I KNOW my new purpose--ME baby, ME! I'm just saying, there comes a time, ...ya know what I mean Hope? I'm happy you haven't reached the end of your string though, keep up the righteous work Baby.
crock pots never looked so good.
Awesome find!! Of course, my first thought was wonder how much extra stuff she's gonna manage to fit in that box, lol. You are the best!
Phil: I tried to respond to your blog email but didn't see a link. It's just as well since I think you should be publicly acknowledged. Even as a former VA employee and Air Force veteran I can tell you that without our Veterans Service Officer from the Disabled American Veterans, my husband would never have been helped and very likely would not be here today. The VA can be just that kind of labrynthine hell even for those of us determined to help our veterans navigate it's obstacles so that we may “...care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.
This VSO was so proactive that he actually repeatedly---even doggedly---sought ought my husband to ensure that he received the benefits he was entitled to receive. Ironically, my husband was a VA Service Rep who---having served in the Navy in wartime---made it his life's work to seek out and serve those who resisted availing themselves of their benefits because of a warranted historical distrust of the VA. He worked tirelessly within the system to ensure that they received their due.
I guess it shouldn't be so surprising that this VSO would return that honor, respect and dedication to my husband. In any event, without his care, concern and incessant commitment, we would likely be bankrupt and my husband would likely not have survived past the 5 year prognosis he'd be given 10 years ago. The VSO in question happened to be from the Phillipines. He will be in my prayers continually and emphatically because as far as I'm concerned, Gil---the VSO in question---saved my husband's life.
There is a special place in heaven for people like Gil and like you. I will keep you in my prayers as well, now and always.
Amy
I loved the photos of the park and the kids. Showing the number three is an awesome way to show the guys (especially Mike) that they are being though of as they play. I will keep that in mind when I take pictures, too.
John Hart also died without ever seeing his kids again. Can you see people like Jeanne Garofalo, Susan Sarandon, Alex Baldwin or Al Frankin doing anything that did not get their name in the papers? Our men and women ‘over there’ deserve more respect, support, love and devotion than any of the Hollywood types - and most in Congress.
So now, if Tony is smart and paying attention, all he has to do to get you turned on is take you to a Factory Outlet store. Expensive foreplay, but it saves on all the hugging and kissing and stuff.
I think it's valid to ask whether we or anyone we know would be willing and able to make the kinds of sacrifices our Founding Fathers did. We simply can't know how we would react, or how our neighbors would, until or unless faced with similar circumstances.
I do what I can privately, because that is what is in me to do. If a public sacrifice is required, then I hope it's in me to step up.
Happy 4rth and keep up the fantastic work you do.
The pictures of the kids are fantastic ... and that is a big-time water park! I think it's great that they have an appreciation for our military men and women, however limited it might be at certain ages.
I know that all of our men and women overseas who have been the recipients of your packages are grateful.
Hope y'all have a great Fourth.
The kids are so cute and that waterpark is awesome.
I am glad you got the crockpots.
I have a sick love affair with mine and I know the soldiers will love them.
[url=http://sopriventontes.net/][img]http://sopriventontes.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]to buy software in hong, [url=http://sopriventontes.net/]windows vista versions[/url]
[url=http://tonoviergates.net/]nero burning rom 9 has stopped working at load[/url] windows vista free downloads buy photoshop at
macromedia web design software [url=http://sopriventontes.net/]quarkxpress templates for comics and cartoonists[/url] educational software prices
[url=http://sopriventontes.net/]microsoft image software[/url] store register software
[url=http://tonoviergates.net/]office software to buy[/url] new educational software
adobe photoshop cs3 8.0 phone activation [url=http://sopriventontes.net/]filemaker pro migration[/url][/b]
ambien sleep medication ambien cr and memory loss - generic ambien er
ambien buy ambien side effects anxiety attacks - side effects of generic ambien cr
lorazepam drug want buy ativan - ativan mayo clinic
buy valium online valium prescription for anxiety - valium vs xanax comparison
generic xanax online buy xanax online in us - xanax drug test erowid
lorazepam no prescription ativan withdrawal protocol - lorazepam 1mg ativan
diazepam overdose diazepam dosage to sleep - valium side effects in women
cheap lorazepam ativan overdose fatal - lorazepam 1 mg tablet
buy carisoprodol buy soma online yahoo answers - carisoprodol dea
buy soma 350mg generic soma good - soma drug group
ordering ambien online ambien cr 12.5 mg canada - ambien overdose
order soma online buy soma online cheap no prescription - somanabolic muscle maximizer does it work
buy ambien wellbutrin xl ambien cr - cheapest price ambien cr
soma 350 mg drug soma like - carisoprodol 350 mg side effects
buy ambien online ambien cr retail price - ambien hangover
ambien buy ambien generic price - ambien drug screen urine