History shows us that mankind has gone to war for various things. The wars that I am most familiar with from history of course are the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI and WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Desert Storm wars, and the current war that we are involved in. I know many men who have fought in the wars especially WW2 and later. I only have grandfathers who have long since been gone who fought in WW1. I do not like killing, but I also know that we do have to protect our land, our freedom and our people. I am thankful that we live in a country where each one can decide what they would do in these given circumstances. My grandfathers fought in these wars. My great, great grandfather was a physician in the Civil War, my father was a farmer so he could not go to WW2, but he lost his best friend in that war. My father-in-law was in WW2, as well as many of my uncles. I had uncles who served in Korea. Then my husband in Vietnam, his brother as well, and many of my friends. Then along came Desert Storm, and Iraq. My nephews were in Desert Storm. I have many sons of good friends that are now in Iraq.

We are a people that long have believed in our freedom. Our country was founded on freedom. We continue to be a proud country, and have long fought for our freedom. I hope that we can learn from, and continue to be proud of men and women who do continue to guard our land, protect our people.

I do know that there are many people who do not believe in the need for protecting our land and freedom. We are a country built on strong principles and the right of each and every one to worship in their own way, to live where they wish too, to even speak out on things they believe in. This is the beauty of freedom. Our freedom was and is dearly bought.

May God continue to bless each of us, and our wonderful country that we are so privileged to live in.

I was sitting here thinking of some things that are going on in the news today. The headlines are full of the movie stars, like Madonna and her friends, and Cher and all those types. We are bombarded with the likes of that man who kept his daughter a prisoner and had children by her as well.

Then I think, but what about the things that are really important, and are hardly mentioned in our news.

The countless people who are starving. The people who need help across the land either because they are so ill or so old that they are lost and neglected through no fault of their own...and perhaps have no one to see after their affairs. And how about the many many people who do good for others. You know people who take meals in, who visit faithfully those less fortunate, the people shut in, the ill, the hurting. Yet those are the things that are done and never picked up on the news because it is not "glamorous." And how about the people who help rebuild homes and even barns that have been burned down and the family does not have the means to rebuild.

I really do not like to read the news or even listen to it, but I have to do that to some degree. It is not good to keep isolated from that completely, but I choose not to listen to some of it because it is so slanted.

What about our ordinary people out there making a difference?
You know them, and I know them -- Now they are news-worthy.

They are the heroes of the land!

Do you ever have someone say something, or you see a picture that brings a memory back to you?

Today, out of the blue, I was logging off my computer for work, and the song "Onward Christian Soldiers" popped into my mind. I can vividly remember the beginning of our Vacation Bible School, and the opening song was "Onward Christian Soldiers!" It made me smile. I can still picture all of my friends and I with our little Bibles and our pictures. Then the song "Climb, Climb up Sunshine Mountain."
It just made me so thankful and so happy to remember my roots, and all the wonderful teachers and parents there to encourage us in our little songs and readings. I remember how important that was to each of us growing up, and that our parents were there to join in that time with us too.

I remember! It makes me so happy for those memories! In fact, I think I will go call one of those people now who was in the class with me so we can share that experience all over again!

It's fun to remember those kinds of things.

Think about the meaning of the word LOVE.

What is love?

Hollywood portrays love as erotic.

What about unconditional love?

What about love that is the love of our friends?

Love means so much more than society, Hollywood truly understand it to be.

Love is wanting the very best for that person, even though they may not be a nice person.

Love is putting another before yourself.

Love is waiting.

Love is so much more than we can imagine isn't it!!!

Love is saying you are sorry.

Love for our spouses, our parents, our children.

What is love? = that four letter word that has such power.

Staying in touch with old friends is important. I recently ran across an old friend of mine from high school (which is so many years ago it is almost unbelievable)! Not only did I run across my best friend during high school, but 5 other friends I have not seen in about 25 years. The internet makes all of this possible. And another amazing thing about it is that we start right back almost where we left off -- give or take X number of years that is.

We all have the same thing in common. We love our families. We care deeply about our friends. We miss seeing each other, but are so thankful for the internet to stay in touch daily if we would so choose to do that. We may have difficulties in this life, but the blessings far outweigh the things in life that tend to weigh us down.

Reaching out to those we care deeply for is rewarding. Listening and learning of someone else's family, work, interests makes our life richer by far.

Life is just far too short not to take the time to rekindle our friendships. It is so rewarding.