11 Nov 2023 Veterans Day

Long long time ago!
My Auntie sent this to me yesterday and it really resonated with me!

Today is Veterans Day. It feels like another life ago that I was active duty. I don’t miss the job but do miss the people and friends I made. There was such a comraderie amongst us. We were in many ways like family to eachother. When I was overseas this was especially so. I can remember when I first arrived at my first duty station of Travis AFB in California it was around Thanksgiving. I was invited to a coworkers (Sara Sanders) home and that meant so much!

Psalm 33:20-22New International Version

20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.

20 October 2023 Lazy Days

Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. God has been at the wheel of the stuff I’ve been going through lately – extremely grateful for the prayers of family, friends and even strangers! My Aunt met a elderly veteran who gave her this cross for me and said he would pray for me. The wagons of Gods people have been rallied! I’m so, so grateful!

I don’t usually wear crosses because of what they represent – the murder of an innocent man but understand what it means in Christianity.

When I think of todays prompt I think of my life right now gradually getting in place. It’s taken me three years to get where I’m at. Many of the days leading up to this one were littered with fear, sadness and grief – lack of faith! A lot of my days have not very productive and could be perceived as lazy days. I was in such a state of shock leaving Texas. I have been retired from active duty longer than I was in (21 years). When I was active duty I burned the candle at both ends. I was usually the one leadership turned to when a program was a mess. I worked a lot of long days cleaning up messes. Lazy days meant more to me then they do now. I don’t have a specific purpose when I wake up each day! When I was active duty I was up at 4:30 am and worked til after 5.

I haven’t completely found a fit for me here yet in being useful again. A lot of what holds me back is driving. I hate driving! When I was married, Kyle used to always drive and I got used to that after 12 years! I was spoiled! I keep my eyes open for things I can do – little things. When my back is not hurting I would like to help set up at the church again. I don’t want to feel like I’m wasting the gift of my life. A lot of people I’ve known haven’t even lived as long as I have.

One of my favorite passages from the Bible – makes me think of a Palladian (class I played in FFXI video game). In these trying times we must put on our armor!

Ephesians 6:10-13New International Version

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 October 2023 Grown up

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

Hello to you today. How are you? I’m having that weird feeling in my ears again which makes me freeze up and not want to do anything. My cousin is coming over for a visit and I know that will help!

The first time I felt grown up is when I joined the military and left home 13 August 1986. I had to fly to San Antonio Texas and go to Basic Training. Prior to this I had been a child cared for by my parents. I was scared and nervous as I didn’t know what to expect. The military training instructors were not especially friendly! They were not there to be our friends that’s for sure. I was my training instructors “house mouse” they called it. I made sure to keep her quarters clean. Her name was Barbara Washington and she was a powerful black woman. I can remember drill with her saying “I want to hear you say pop! “ The sound of us pulling our heads out of our butts!

Ephesians 4:15New International Version

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

30 May 2023 Life Before The Internet

Do you remember life before the internet?

Hello to you. How are you today? Todays prompt is a good one. Since I’m a Generation Xer I was born and lived much of my early life without computers or the Internet. We wrote letters and used the telephone to communicate to each other. When I was in the military I can remember computers being little bricks we sat in front of and all the data was put on cards. If you dropped the box of cards you lost a whole lot of work for that day. I remember DSN or dial up – using My Space and Newsvine for my blogs! Life before the internet was definitely different – slower I think. You could unplug more easily. Now the days and years seem to go so fast! Sometimes it’s overwhelming how much the internet puts before me.

Proverbs 11:13New International Version

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

11 November 2022 Veterans Day

Not my best but have to get back into practice

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. Today is Veterans Day. A day that exists because of great sacrifices of so many men and women living and dead. I always say the best way to thank me for my service is to try and make it so there are fewer veterans….more peace and less war. I don’t know if I will ever see that but that is my wish for the world!

When I was an AIC