A Time of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving.

 

It rolls around every year.

 

And I can honestly say it's the holiday I am the least thrilled for.

 

Everyone's all excited for turkey and pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. Me? I'm sitting off to one side saying "did anyone make chicken???"

 

Society has taken Thanksgiving and turned it into this massive turkey-fest and it seems like that's all anyone cares about.

 

Well, I don't like turkey and I think Thanksgiving is about so much more. And we need to remember that each year. And we need to pay attention to that each year. And we need to teach our children that Thanksgiving isn't about the food.
 

 

I believe in being thankful. To God, to the people who surround me and for the many blessings bestowed upon me in this world and in my life. And I want to share what I am most thankful for with all of you. Because blessings are meant to be shared. We are meant to be open and honest. We are meant to pay it forward and show kindness to one another. We are meant to be thankful for the life we have been given.

 

 

So before you go and enjoy your turkey dinner.....

 

This year I am thankful for many things. And it's hard to even figure out where to begin. So I'm just going to pick a point and start. There is no particular order or preference to any of what I am about to say. It's just coming from the heart and the mind and being translated to pen and paper (...keyboard and computer screen...) as it enters my thoughts.

 

Family.

Every year, every day, I am thankful for my family. They are the people I lean on, depend on and hold onto when I need love, support, kindness, energy and strength. My family is my rock, my shoulder to cry on, my entire world. They mean everything to me and I only wish I could put into words just how much I appreciate each and every single one of them. They are here for me in ways no one else can even begin to imagine. They push me through struggles and they help me see the light at the end of the tunnel. They guide me through life and have helped to shape the path I walk now. I owe my life to them.

 

Kaley.

I am incredibly thankful for Kaley. She came into my life maybe before I was old enough to truly appreciate the miracle that she is, but as I grow older I am realizing it more and more each day. Kaley has given me a sense of purpose in life. She's given me reason to work towards things I was never sure I would achieve or that I never thought possible. She inspires me and motivates me and keeps me moving forward. I wouldn't be even half the woman I am today if I didn't have my beautiful daughter to push me through the hard times and the frustration and the craziness of my chaotic life.

 

Friends.

Honestly, I am the first to say I have very few friends. True friends that I could tell anything to? I have three. My sister, my absolute best friend in the world and my first real friend in NC. And unfortunately none of them live anywhere near me. But regardless of where we are or what is going on, I know that I can count on them. I know that if I pick up the phone and dial that number, they will answer. And if they can't because they're busy? They'll text me or call me back. They never disappoint me, ever. They never let me down. It's truly a gift to have such amazing friends and I feel so incredibly lucky to have three because I know that there are people in this world who have no one.

 

Patrick.

My fiancé. Of course I'm thankful for him! He came into my life completely unexpectedly. I wasn't looking for a relationship. I wasn't looking for my forever. But I found him. All because I decided to go out for the first time in, oh, six months or so? I am so happy I decided to go sing karaoke that night. It was more worth it than I could have ever imagined. He's an amazing man, a wonderful role model to Kaley and an inspiration to myself and so many others. I am honored that he chose me to be his always and forever. I am going to love him to infinity and beyond!

 

Work.

Yeah, I know. I have a tendency to complain about my job from time to time. But I do love it and I am very thankful to have it. The people I work with have become like a second family to me. They're wonderful and supportive and understanding. And the kids I get to work with every day are amazing and I love each and every one of them. They are definitely a challenge and I have to work hard every day to make sure we accomplish what we need to, but it's worth it. At the end of the day, it's all worth it just to see the light bulb click on and the smile cross their face. It's an amazing feeling to know that, even for just a moment, I made a difference in a child's life.

 

Health.

I'm not a poster child for perfect health. Not now, not ever. But I am thankful for my health. I haven't faced more than a bad cold or a stomach bug in years. I know I'm not the most fit person in the world, but I am thankful that I am physically capable of becoming fit again. I am thankful to have full use of my limbs and full range of motion to become stronger and fight through the pain. I am thankful I can run and I can lift weights and work out without fear of permanently injuring myself.

 

God. Faith.

I can't even begin to express how lucky I am to have been raised with faith and how thankful I am to still have my faith to fall back on. I know I'm not the perfect little Catholic girl. I've never claimed to be. And I will fully admit that there are some theories in the Catholic church that I don't entirely agree with and sometimes I am very open about that. But I always have God. I always have the vision of my head from a guided reflection experience with the deacon. I always have the comfort of knowing I am loved and cared for and that God will guide me towards his purpose for me. God will not abandon me or neglect me. He is here for me. Always. No matter what. And I am going to praise Him and give thanks to Him forever.

 

Blogging.

Weird? Maybe. But I am thankful for the outlet it provides me with. I am thankful for the readers who have identified with the words I've written and reached out to me. I am thankful for the opportunity to put pen to paper (...fingers to keyboard...) and put what I feel right out there. I am thankful that I can share my thoughts with so many amazing people. I am thankful for the people I have met, both virtually and in person, through the blogging community. 

 

There are a great many more things I am thankful for, but I would be here all day if I explained each of them, so I'll end with a brief list of the remaining things I am thankful for.

 

Music

Books

Love

School

Home

Nature

My Dogs

Stability

Dreams

Dedication

 

What are you thankful for this year? 

Meet the Bridesmaids (and the Not Bridesmaid)

When Pat asked me to marry him, we immediately began planning. After we picked the date came the hard decisions. Like bridesmaids.

 

We decided right away that we didn't want a huge bridal party. He's one of 15 children, but he wasn't into having that many people joining us on the altar. Works for me! I was already sitting there trying to figure out who in the heck I wanted to stand up there with me and how many old friendships I was going to have to dig up to cover the number of siblings he has. Then I didn't have to worry about it. Good!

 

I knew immediately that my Maid of Honor is going to be my sister. We've said it since we were little and I've already failed her. Twice. She wasn't present at either of my first two weddings. And I can honestly say I'm glad now that she wasn't there because it makes this even more special for me. My dream is finally coming through, and the person I always imagined would be standing up there to support me is going to be there. I am so excited to see her in her beautiful dress and know that she is behind me 100%. Trust me, if she wasn't, she wouldn't have consented to be my Maid of Honor. Or gone to David's Bridal and purchased her dress.

 

 

After that, my next choice was obvious. Best Friend. DUH! Rachel and I have sort of a weird friendship. But in a good way, though. See, we've known each other since middle school. And we were sort of friends then. But only because we were 2 out of 3 girls in our computer class. Fast forward, we're in high school. And we are friends between the end of lunch and 5th period. Why? Because we happened to be walking the same direction and she was part of the same circle of friends as my at the time boyfriend. Fast forward a few years later? MySpace is big, we "meet" through a mutual friend at the time and we've been best friends ever since. That was 2008. In our 5 and a half year friendship, Rachel and I have spent less than 10 days together. When she comes for the wedding, we will FINALLY break that 10 day goal. By one day. But it's progress! And regardless of how little time we actually get to spend together, she is absolutely, without a doubt my best friend in the entire world. No matter what, she's here for me. And she understands me. It's awesome. Our phone conversations pick up just where they left off and it's like we've never spent a day apart in our lives.

 

Now Pat and I had decided on 3. He selected his 3, I selected two. And then I was trying to figure out who my third bridesmaid should be. It didn't take long to figure out who it should be. When I moved to NC in 2006, my first real friend was my next door neighbor. She was a Marine, had just had her first child and was young (but not as young) like me. Jayme from The Semper Fi Life of a Marine Corps Wife and I bonded over bottles and birth control and have been best friends ever since. We've had our ups and downs as all friendships do, but we've managed to come out strong and have an amazing relationship! She is supportive, kind, an amazing wonderful and always puts her kids first. I couldn't imagine celebrating my wedding day without her!

 

When I initially pictured my wedding, I thought of 4 people. But after some thinking I had decided not to include the fourth person. Well, she definitely proved that I made the right decision.

 

The weekend after I had selected my bridesmaids and they'd all said they would be here for me, I was headed out to go look at dresses. I decided to post on Facebook that I was headed there and my bridesmaids and mom should keep their phones close at hand so they could see pictures when I sent them! Because every bride wants the input of these people when they pick their dress, right? Well, maybe they don't, but I wanted to include them even though they weren't actually able to be with me. So when I posted the status update to Facebook I tagged them in it.

 

Not even two minutes later I got an angry text message from the fourth person I had opted not to include. She was mad that I hadn't asked her to be a bridesmaid because she had been there for me since high school and we were best friends and I chose the wrong person. Whoa, hold up a minute.

 

One, she stopped talking to me when I moved out to NC. Two, our friendship since she moved to NC had been off and on because she kept getting mad at me for stupid little things. And three, no. She clearly proved to me that I did NOT choose the wrong woman to be my bridesmaid.

 

Here's my issue. It's my wedding and Pat's wedding. Which means we, the married-couple-to-be get to make the decisions. Which means that we get to select our bridal party. Which means that if you have an issue with what we choose... Well that's just too bad for you.

 

It really frustrated me that this person thought she would get to just decide that she was in my wedding. And that it was ok to get angry with me for not asking her to be my bridesmaid. It's my choice, and I clearly made the right decision.

 

I'm also really sad, though, because she has taken it so far. Our friendship has been completely erased be her. She stopped calling me and texting me. She never asked to make plans after that. Our friendship on Facebook was deleted, as was mine with her husband, and she even went so far as to block me. And I don't understand how our friendship could have meant so little to her that she was willing to give it all up over a decision for the wedding.

 

Why would I have wanted her up there with me on my Wedding Day if she was willing to throw our friendship out the window just because I didn't ask her? It says a lot about how little our friendship truly meant to her. And I am sad that our friendship is gone, but in a way I'm glad. Because it is so obvious by her subsequent actions that what we had wasn't really a friendship. It was just convenient for her at the time.

 

So, as a result of all of this, I am very happy with the three women I selected to be my bridesmaids. I know that they will be there for me through thick and thin and that they support me in my marriage. I am forever thankful for them and the influence they have on my life.

 

 

Time Management at 5AM

 

Exactly.

 

It's 5am. I've been up since 3:30. This is ridiculous.

 

I've been having an incredibly difficult time sleeping these past few weeks. I'm stressing over my exam and I know it. I just wish my stress would manifest in some other way. Being dead tired is not fun at all. And it is especially not fun when there's massive amounts of work to be done.

 

But I guess being awake crazy early in the morning gives me an opportunity to really think about everything. The things that are important, and the things that aren't so important. I don't think I'm going to solve everything, but I at least have some time to gain some perspective and try to figure out some of the smaller things.

 

My biggest trouble at this point is time management. I'm struggling a lot more than I originally thought I would at the beginning of this school year. Just finding time to complete lesson plans in tricky because I am constantly being pulled in one direction or another. And let's not even mention how behind I am when it comes to planning the wedding.

 

I need to find a way to put it all together and make it work. Starting with a list of priorities.

 

Obviously Kaley comes first. And my relationship with Pat is a very close second. Those are the most important things I have in my life right now and I am not about to sacrifice either one to become a workaholic.

 

But what else do I have going on? Well, there's work. Which wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to find extra time for grading. Oh, and lesson planning. Then there's also cheer team, blogging, working out, housework, laundry, my capstone project and portfolio for school and starting in a week and a half we have basketball games almost every Saturday until the second weekend in March. And don't forget the wedding planning.

 

Now when I write it all out, it honestly doesn't seem like much. So how is it that I feel as though I am getting nothing done?

 

I've tried to-do lists and weekly calendars and monthly calendars but I can't seem to remember to actually look at them when I need to. There's always something else going on and I just keep pushing things off.

 

But I really need to figure things out. I know I do. So I am going to promise, right here and right now, that for the rest of the year I am going to create both weekly and a monthly calendar so I can make sure I'm getting everything in like I need to. And I'm going to write a post each week about my success (or failure) so that you all can keep me accountable.

 

And I'm going to include more blogging time because I miss writing as often as I was able to over the summer.

 

And it's a great stress-reliever!

Learning to Co-Parent, Non-Traditionally

So everyone knows that I'm engaged now, which is why Musings of a Single Mama no longer exists. I've re-branded my blog and am working towards a new life. But it hasn't been easy, both personally and from a blogging standpoint. I haven't had any clue about what to write for a couple months now!

 

I have identified myself as a Single Mom for so many years that I haven't figured out truly how to transition away from it yet. It's a transition that I knew wasn't going to happen over night, but I didn't realize it would take me as long as it is.

 

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love my fiancé and I am thrilled to have him join our family. But it's been an intriguing learning experience for me. I am so used to calling the shots of everything, on making all of the parenting decisions, on always putting Kaley's best interest above my own and everyone else's. So to have someone else to help me make these decisions and who is keeping not only Kaley's best interest at heart, but my own, has been such a blessing. But I'm still sitting here not knowing what to do half the time.

I've been getting hell from Kaley's biological father for a little while now because we aren't parenting together. So I took it upon myself to do some research into co-parenting techniques to see if maybe I could find a better way to manage it. Bottom line? Co-parenting works best when the other parent is actually present. He's not. And when he was around? He wasn't interested in co-parenting. He wasn't open to setting a specific set of rules that applied at both homes. He didn't want to work together to ensure our daughter's happiness. So I let it slide. Maybe I shouldn't have done that? I don't know. But it is what it is.

Now, here we are, three and a half years later and he's finally starting to show some interest in his daughter and in being a parent to her. But is it too little, too late? I'm kind of thinking it is. Not because I don't want him to be in her life, but because he isn't going about it the right way. But that's not what I want to write about at the moment.

 

What I want to talk about is my new experiences with co-parenting. I'm not exactly co-parenting with Kaley's biological father because, well, that seems to be impossible as he and I have completely different visions of what her life should be like. But I am having to learn how to co-parent with Pat.

 

 

He and I are, for the most part, on the same track. And it's expected that at times we will disagree, and we have. But I like to think we are figuring it all out together. Unfortunately, though, I still haven't entirely let go of the "Single Mom" way of life. And it can be a source of stress for us both.

 

This whole co-parenting thing isn't easy and I'm not learning co-parenting in the true sense of the word, but it's how it is for me. Sure it's nice to have him around to help out and have fun with, but I'm having a hard time adjusting to making decisions as a team. It's difficult to go from being a single parent for so many years to now having to communicate with someone else about everything. It's insane. And I commend Pat for putting up with me as I learn how to navigate this new road.

 

It's not easy. And I'm not succeeding quickly.

 

But my hope is that some day I will get there. And we will be the set of parents that Kaley can rely on and trust to always be there for her and to always have her best interest at heart.

 

 

Because she needs that.

 

And she deserves it.

'Tis the Season to Pay It Forward

As a blogger, I am a member of many groups on Facebook. Each group is different, despite having several of the same people actively participating. I adore being in these groups and love the information and opportunities that come from being a member.

 

About a week ago, a fellow blogger posted asking for help. She has recently been informed that a family friend is enduring major financial hardship and is facing homelessness in January of the upcoming year. Seeing an opportunity to help, she contacted fellow bloggers to help her promote a fundraiser for this wonderful woman and her two dogs. I am honored to participate and help raise funds for this woman to keep her home and not have to disrupt her livelihood.

Here's her story, as told by a close friend:

Connie is a disabled senior suffering from Lupus, related severe arthritis, circulatory issues, and is also diagnosed 70% deaf. Additionally, she suffers from permanent damage as a result of injuries that occurred during her former abusive marriage. She lives independently with her two 'therapy dogs', Dakota and Cochise, whom she loves dearly and considers her family. Her dogs provide her with emotional companionship, security, and are her 'ears', hearing such things as the doorbell, since she is unable to hear it herself. Prior to becoming disabled a few years ago, Connie was known to be a dedicated hard worker her entire life. She is a very compassionate, kind, caring and giving person. Throughout life she has often sacrificed her own needs for sake of helping family, many friends, and even strangers in need. She was the sole caregiver for her father when he was terminally ill, and cared for her younger brother when he was ill with kidney disease. Prior to his death in 2008, Connie offered to donate one of her kidney's to help her brother, but doctors determined he was not medically eligible for a transplant. She is also an animal lover, and has adopted countless neglected homeless dogs over the years, including 10 year old Dakota and 2 year old Cochise.

In early 2009, a traumatic life transition began for Connie. Pshychologically broken, battered, and sick, Connie divorced her spouse after suffering a lengthy history of physical, pychological and financial abuse. The abuses by her former spouse continued after her divorce. She was advised by trauma doctors and legal professionals, to relocate to protect her physical and emotional well being. In late 2010, Connie courageously left behind the place she had known as home for almost 40 years. Along with her two beloved dogs, Connie relocated to Kansas City and began rebuilding a new life free of abuse, torment, and fear. Her former husband destroyed all financial security, so Connie sold a majority of her personal belongings and property to raise enough money so that she could afford to buy an inexpensive, modest, 2 bedroom home in Kansas Citythat is handicap and wheelchair accessible in a safe senior community.

Despite disabling and painful physical challenges, for the past 3 years Connie has been slowly cleaning up the once run down house. She has proudly accomplished transforming a house in to a safe, peaceful, and comfortable 'home sweet home' for herself, Dakota, and Cochise.

Connie's only personal source of income is her retirement/disability, which is a fixed income of less than $800.00 monthly. She is unable to supplement her income due to multiple disabilities and healthcare restrictions. Her former husband was court ordered to pay $600.00 monthly into a trust fund for Connie but he has not done so in violation of court orders. Her property taxes and insurance were to be paid from this special needs trust fund.

Despite her financial limitations, Connie has frugally managed to pay her home's insurance premiums and for necessary basic home maintenance repairs, but she has not been able to pay her property taxes the past 3 years. She and her two beloved dogs, Dakota and Cochise, face the uncertainty of being homeless as of January 1st, 2014 if the past due property taxes on her home are not paid in full. The state of Missouri appears to have no resources or feasible programs available to help. Jackson County, Missouri has added almost $2,000.00 in penalties and interest on her past due taxes. The county has stated they will continue to charge interest on the unpaid taxes. Due to her fixed income and disabilities, she is unable to obtain a loan to pay her property taxes. She has no family financially able to help her, and all other efforts made to pay the past due taxes have been unsuccessful.

Hoping for a Christmas miracle, we're now turning to her friends and fellow human beings asking for your help to prevent Connie, Dakota, and Cochise from losing their home. If we can raise $10,000.00, we can pay the past due property taxes, penalty, interest, and pay an additional 2 years home taxes in advance. This plan will allow Connie to live securely in her handicap accessible home another 5 years, at which time her monthly fixed income should increase. At 62 she'll be eligible for additional income through her Social Security, and should then be able to pay her home's property taxes herself.

The money raised will be securely deposited in to Connie's trust fund, and the trust will directly pay her property taxes to Jackson County, Missouri. Any additional money raised over our goal of $10,000.00, will also be deposited in to Connie's trust fund to help pay future property taxes, insurances, necessary home repairs, such as if her hot water heater would need replaced, or to provide necessary veterinary care for her beloved dogs.

Connie is a very proud humble person, and not the type of person who would ask others for help. Rather, she is the one always helping others, but this time she desperately needs our help, to save her safe and secure handicap accessible home from property tax foreclosure.

 

You guys... it will NOT be that hard to save Connie's life as she knows it if we work together. I (Heather from My Husband Ate All My Ice Cream) have over 150,000 fans on Facebook alone, and if each one donated LESS THAN A DOLLAR, we can give this woman everything she deserves, and more. And what a better way to pay it forward this holiday season than giving to someone who would give to any of you in a heartbeat! There are a few ways you can help: 1. Share this post EVERYWHERE. Facebook, Twitter, wherever you can think of. If you are a blogger I give you full permission to copy parts of this post to put on your own blog. Getting the word out will help more than anything. 2. You can donate via Paypal:

(Note: If this button isn't working, you can send funds via Paypal to mrsheatherreese@gmail.com) You don't have to have a Paypal account to do this. You can do this with a debit or credit card, just like any other online purchase. 3. If you'd prefer to send cash, checks, or money orders via snail mail rather than online, you can send them to: Help for Connie 2816 NW Kingsridge Dr. Blue Springs, MO 64015 Wal-Mart gift cards are also helpful, as her income is limited and this will help her to be able to buy the essentials so that she can save more money to put aside to save her house.

 

I am asking all of my readers to please consider donating.
Even if all you can give is a dollar or two.

 

Still not sure if you should or not?

Think about if it was you in this situation. How would you feel? Would you hope that people would band together to help you maintain your livelihood and your home? Would you want to feel like your loved and cared for? Would you want to believe in the goodness of people?

 

Put yourself in Connie's shoes.

Think of the difference you could make in her life.

Land of the Free, because of the Brave

What is Veteran's Day?

 

Well, for years and years it was just another Monday off school. You know, the one you get just two weeks before Thanksgiving and you're so excited to have just that one extra day to do whatever you want. The one where you get together with family and friends because everyone is off and you have this big barbecue and play games and enjoy the day.

 

Today? Not so much.

 

Today I look at Veteran's Day very differently from the way I did ten years ago. Even differently from the way I viewed it five years ago.

 

Why?

 

For starters I've been a military wife. That didn't work out so well for me, but the association with the military gave me a new view on the men and women who serve our country. There was a period of several years where it was my goal to join them and serve beside them. I was able to see these ordinary people become extraordinary by signing a few papers, attending weeks of training and becoming a person willing to lay down their life for their family, friends and country.

 

It was like a wake-up call to know these men and women. To watch them wake up before dawn every morning to go to work. To see them come home dead tired at the end of each day, knowing they would get up and do it again tomorrow. To gaze at the empty space they had just filled because they had to walk away to go overseas for several months. To sit, waiting for the bus to pull up announcing their arrival back in our country.

 

Talk about people to respect and look up to.

 

I will admit that my ex husband and I didn't make it through a deployment. It's not necessarily a fact that I'm proud of, but there are sound reasons behind our decision to split up.

 

My ex husband served two tours overseas. He spent a total of 14 months in Iraq between February 2008 and February 2010. I am proud of him everyday for signing his enlistment papers and following through on what he had promised himself to do for his country. I am proud that Kaley's father had the courage to do what so many men and women can't bring themselves to even consider.

 

I am proud of all the men and women who have joined our armed forces. They deserve the highest respect that can be paid. These men and women go off to war, not knowing if they will return home. They don't know if they will see their families and friends again. They don't know if they will ever again know the comfort of their own bed or have their children run up to them at the end of a long day. Yet they do it. Because they believe it's the right thing to do.

 

Now I'm not a military wife anymore. I'm not a wife at all. I'm a wife-to-be, though.

 

And I'm going to be married to a Veteran.

 

Sure I wasn't around for his life in the military. But I'm here for the aftermath.

 

I wasn't there for his first seven spine surgeries, or his two knee surgeries. But I'm going to be there for the rest of them.

 

 

Pat was a soldier in the U.S. Army. He spent 15 months overseas. Within the first two months of his tour he was involved in three separate IED explosions. The last explosion left him lying face down in the dirt while his fellow soldiers were under fire. It's a miracle he was still alive by the time they were able to retrieve him.

 

That explosion put him into a coma for two months. When he woke up he was notified that he had already undergone one spine surgery and needed to have another. They were ready to put him on a plane and send him home.

 

But because it wasn't an absolute emergency and completely necessary at that time, Pat decided to finish his tour with his men. He didn't want to leave them behind. He had signed papers, he had been given orders and he wasn't willing to walk away from what he'd sworn he would do. He wasn't ready to stop defending our country. Pat was in it for the long haul.

 

That's a soldier to be proud of. That's the man I see everyday. I see a man who would have given everything, including his own life, health and safety, for the men and women he deployed with. I see a man would couldn't walk away until he knew his friends were safe. I see a man who knew his purpose and wasn't going to listen to anyone tell him what he should and shouldn't do.

 

How do I see this?

 

In the stories he tells. In his face when he tells them. In the way he fights through the pain he endures everyday. In the way he turns up the volume on the radio when American Soldier starts playing. In the way he tells me that he would go back to the Army if he could. In the way he stood up last night to honor the flag of our country at Kaley's Veteran's Day concert. In the way he can hardly get out of bed for the pain he is feeling. In the strength he finds within himself to face each day ahead of him.

 

 

I am completely amazed by him. And by all of our Veteran's who have found the strength to move forward with their lives. I don't know what it must be like for them on the inside, but watching some of them struggle outwardly because they are determined to succeed is incredible. It's not an easy task to move forward from a war.

 

The nightmares brought on by PTSD. The surgeries brought on by missions that went awry. The knowledge that they could have lost their lives. The understanding that they would have been willing to give up their life to save another.

 

I listened to a number of Veteran's speak last night. I watched one or two of them get emotional. I helped my fiancé to stand when they called for men and women who have served in the current war to stand and be honored. I felt the tears in my eyes. Because I am proud of him. And I am proud of all of our Veteran's. They've done wonderful things in their lives and the deserve the respect and love of our country.

 

So before you go away for your three-day, holiday weekend with a barbecue on Monday, I ask that you think about these men and women. I ask that you remember why it is we celebrate them this weekend. I ask that you think about the flag of our country and why it flies. I ask that you pay attention to the ceremonies held across the nation to honor these men and women. I ask that you thank the Lord for the people who fight and have fought for your freedom.

 

Be proud to live in the Land of the Free. And remember that you are here because of the Brave.