When You Get Home

The 34th Red Bull Infantry Division Departure Ceremony was held on February 10, 2009 in the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St Paul, MN. My son, David, was among the 1,037 MN National Guard soldiers heading for Iraq. For more information and a podcast go to: http://theredbulls.org/file3

GP Leighton sang this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BNsgJDMSaI&feature=related

He was born November 29 (March 15)
Mamma held him and his Daddy cried
Six years later still tears in his eyes
Daddy held him as he said goodbye
"So many places you will go
Have fun at camp son, I hope you know
When you get home, We’ll go buy an ice cream
Get your bike out and ride again
When you get home, Fly a paper airplane
Shoot it over the fire wood
I’ll be here for you... when you get home

He left home September 13 (June 2003)
Going off to college to chase his dream
Got some help in the ROTC
Trying to figure out what being a man really means
"So many places that you will go
Have fun at school son, I hope you know
When you get home, Look for an apartment
Find a car with some miles left
When you get home, We’ll go catch a ball game
Boards of summer be playing soon
I’ll be there for you... When you get home

He went to war March 2003 (2009)
Shook his dad's hand, Gave his mom a kiss
His mamma cried "son you will be missed!"
Daddy sighed and said "remember this:
So many places that you will go
Son we love you and hope you know
When you get home, Prayers, they will be answered
And I’ll be able to breath again
When you get home, Flags they will be flying
Freedom's colors red, white and blue
We’ll all be here for you… when you get home

I’ll be there for you… when you get home"

Brothers & Sisters

From the time they are born, our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and co-conspirators, our role models and cautionary tales. They are our scolds, protectors, goads, tormentors, playmates, counselors, sources of envy, objects of pride. They teach us how to resolve conflicts and how not to; how to conduct friendships and when to walk away from them. Sisters teach brothers about the mysteries of girls; brothers teach sisters about the puzzle of boys. Our spouses arrive comparatively late in our lives; our parents eventually leave us. Our siblings may be the only people we'll ever know who truly qualify as partners for life... & are with us for the whole journey. In a world that's too big, too scary and too often too lonely, we come to realize that there's nothing like having a band of brothers—and sisters—to venture out with. Time Magazine, July 2006

Dedicated to Cora Jean, Fred, Neal, Don, Audrey, Lawrence and Dave.

I Love God

I love everything about God. I love His grace and mercy and I love His justice and honor. I love His Word, His Son, and His Spirit. I love His people and being a part of His Church, His “living” stones. I love that He has entrusted to me the teaching of the deep things of Himself. I love how He reveals Himself to His people. I love how He loves me through His Son and reveals that love to me through His Spirit and manifests His love to me through my husband, my children, and my family. I love His plan… a plan that gives us a hope and a future.

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13