Friends I have served with.
Me over the years.
A little trip overseas.
Why I serve.
A Soldiers Walk in Pictures
family
Time
Time is always moving
Something we think we can control
Always believing we have more than we do
When time goes against us
We always say I wish I had more
The real problem is not how much, but how we use it
Loved ones, friends and family
Always finding reasons why we can’t be with them
Always saying I have plenty of time
Then one day that time is done
Loved ones gone, friends go away, family grows older
We always complain I wish I only had more time
Take that time now
Tell your friends, family, children, and loved ones
How much you love them
Take that time and put away your distractions
Go on that trip, play that game or spend that time with them
Before it is too late.
Emma and Pippa
Large as a pony
A joyful day for you is just lying around the house
You are so big, but yet so funny
Lying around quiet as a mouse
Except when your snores begin to roar
Cuddly as a kitten
Gentle giants are what they are called
Shedding enough hair I could knit a whole bunch of mittens
On the couch is where you sprawled
Gnawing on bones as big as logs
Drool dripping all around
Our wonderful pair of mastiff puppy dogs
So much love from them can be found
A part of the family day after day
Emma and Pippa Happy Birthday
On Top of the Mountain
Standing on top of the mountain so high
Telling the world look at me, full of my pride
World looks back and strikes me down
Knocking me off this ground so high
Tumbling down among the rocks I fall
Bashing me bruising my very soul
Crashing amongst the trees
Busting me breaking my heart to pieces
Falling all the way down to the bottom I go
Landing in the mud and the muck of this world so cold
Wanting to just lay down and stay
The valley of death stares my way
Slowly pulling myself back to my knees
I look to the only one who can rescue me
Lift me up Oh Lord upon the wings of an eagle
Heal my battered and bruised soul
Put the pieces of this heart so broken
Back to where they once did belong
Lord my Savior, Lord my God
Guide me back to the mountain top so high
Photo Credit: static1.squarespace.com
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Awaiting the day of arrival
Looking into your eyes for the first time
Heart wrapped around your finger
Crawling along the floor
Pulling up to walk some more
First day of school, following the bus to ensure you’re not scared
School plays, recitals and field trips
Watching you scrape your knees when you fall on the ground
Holding you close as tears abound
Family trips, holidays and so much more
Into a young lady you grow so quick
Days go by, weeks than years
Graduation day is soon here
Watching you strike out on your own
Soon a young man catches your eye
Down the aisle I lead you, with a tear in my eye
So proud I am to watch you grow from the baby girl I held so close
To the fine you woman you have become
Always remember that, “In the Jungle, the mighty Jungle the Lion Sleeps Tonight”
Love Dad
Reflection 2016 to 2017
The year is coming to an end
A year that started with a prayer for hope
Soon to find out hope had abandon me
Lost in my thoughts and despair
Hiding from all around me
Pulling away from those who cared
There were times of great joy mixed in
But joy did not bring hope
Lost in meaningless distractions
Losing sight of the one who I loved the most
With a distance growing longer each day
Almost out of view
My year took an amazing turn
I found new life, I found new hope
Was my change too late?
That is an answer for the years to come
Amazing changes to my heart and to my soul
Seeing two of my daughters find their mates
Exchanging vows with the men who took their hearts
Working my way back to the one I love
As this year comes to a close
I report to you that hope has returned
Joy has lifted my heart
Looking forward to the year ahead
Thanking God for all he has done for me
Hope, Joy, Love, Happiness
May these be in store for you this year
Have a Blessed 2017
Picture credit: HDwlp.com
Christmas Memories
One of the best things about Christmas is the memories that are made around this time. From family traditions, to opening presents and so much more. One of the big things I always remember as a kid was every Christmas Eve we would head over to my Aunt and Uncles house and celebrate with other relatives that I hadn’t seen since the year before. We would have a big meal, starting off with Oyster Stew (never liked it), chicken and other yummy things. Afterwards we would gather around the Christmas tree (The same Tree every year that I remember). The most memorable thing I received was one of the most awkward things I ever received. I was about 11 or 12 and got a pack of bikini underwear not sure if I ever wore them. Another memory of that time was Christmas morning at our house, I would wake at the crack of dawn, waiting for my parents to wake. After opening all the presents, the phone calls would begin. My friends and I would call each other to see what we had gotten and whoever got the best loot was the house we would all go over to. One Christmas when I was about 10 I had been in the hospital due to a surgery on my wrist. What was suspected as a tumor ended up being a bone infection. I had to spend my entire Christmas Vacation in the hospital, the entire time I had to have an IV attached to me. That was the only time I ever got something I ever really wanted from my parents. As I grew older Christmas lost some of its magic for me and just ended up being another day.
Not until I joined the Army did Christmas change, being away from home and sometimes being out of the country made me appreciate Christmas again. The biggest change was when I got married and had my first daughter. Then Christmas became exciting again, not for myself, but seeing my children get excited over Christmas made it magical again. Being a soldier I had to spend a few Christmases apart from my family and those where some of the hardest times of my life. Another big change for me was when I accepted Christ as my savior. It made me reconsider what Christmas was all about. As they say the reason for the season changed. I always think back to a Charlie Brown Christmas and what Linus said to Charlie Brown, about what Christmas was all about.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.”
Luke 2: 8-14
As a family we started some of our own traditions and attempted unsuccessfully to try others. One of the things we do is have an all night Christmas movie marathon. We watch movies like; White Christmas, Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Santa Clause, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, A Flintstones Christmas Carol and other versions of A Christmas Carol. I think Mom and I are usually the first to fall asleep. One year we tried to do the “Elf Meal”, not a hit. Mixing Spaghetti, Maple Syrup, M&Ms, Chocolate Pop Tarts and whatever else we put in there. I must say it tasted awful, so that was an aborted tradition.
What type of traditions do you celebrate with your family?
Well I will end this all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to come.
Thankful
What am I thankful for over this past year
I am thankful for the few close people I call my friend
I am thankful for my Mom who is always there when I need her
I am thankful for my Dad, stubborn as a mule, but a good father none the less
I am thankful for my brother who was always my protector as a little kid
I thankful for my big sister, it has been two years since you passed away, I miss you still
I am thankful for my In-laws who have accepted me as their son and brother
I am thankful for my children, four girls who are all amazing in their own way
I am thankful for my amazing wife, who has put up with me all these years and still loves me
I am most thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who calls me son
Who has forgiven me when I really don’t deserve it.
I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you are we can all give thanks for something.
Thank You
I just want to thank all of you who have come and visited my site. I really didn’t expect anyone to read my stuff. I wasn’t sure where or what I was going to write about. If you have read my stuff I guess you can say my main muse was my lovely, beautiful, awesome wife. As you can tell I think the world of her and she was the one who told me that I could do this. I didn’t think I could and I for the longest time refused to write anything. I have also been able to let a lot of what I have felt and dealt with in my life. It has been a journey for me and hopefully you also. It is still hard to believe that I have over 50 followers to this site of mine. I have enjoyed reading so many of your blogs to, it has been an inspiration in my life. The beauty I see in so many of all of your writings and pictures has really been a blessing. The aspects of your lives that so many of you share has been uplifting to me and shown me there are so many other’s like myself going through daily issues. I can’t say thank you so much to all of you enough. I look forward to continuing on with my attempts at writing and finding that inner part of me that I didn’t know existed for such a long time. What do I have to be thankful for is the aspect of being able to share with all of you and for you to share back with me. I am thankful for the wonderful wife I have who I love so dearly and my wonderful children. I love this country of mine that I have given 20 years of my life serving and protecting. I still have a few years left in me, but I look forward to my next adventure in life. I am thankful that I am a child of Christ and that I have a Lord and Savior who has forgiven me even though I so often think I don’t deserve it. Happy Thanksgiving a little early to all of you, wherever you are or whatever country you live in. It is a holiday for giving thanks and here also for some football and good food, time with family and friends.
Thank you all…
Hiding
Who am I suppose to be
How am I suppose to act
What will they think of me
How much of the real me should I show them
Is the real me something they want to see
Will they react in horror or repulsion
Who am I really
Hiding myself in plain sight from those I care for the most
I keep the real me hidden inside
I let them see what I think they want to see
The world tells me I need to be like this and act like that
It’s not who I am, so I put up my mask
For so long I hide my real self from all
I lose track of who and what I am supposed to be
Holding those closest at arm length away
I lose who I am, I have gone astray
My facade of the fake me begins to crumble
Leaving me lost in my mind I stumble
Pushing, pushing, pushing away
Crashing, crashing, crashing one day
Till a voice says to me, son you have hidden away far to long
Become the man I have made you to be
Hide away no longer, let the you I created find the light of day
Show those you care about the real you
Throw away that mask and be free my son
I gave my blood to wash you clean from your past
Turn back to me and be mine again
Hidden no more, I have found the real me.
A Soldier's Walk 