Thank You God For Our Veterans

This Veteran's Day I did something I have always wanted to do. I took our kids to the Veteran's Day Parade. It was a beautiful day and parking was not difficult. My friend who we stood with told me, "I'm just warnin' you. I get pretty weepy at this parade." Well, that makes two of us.
I thought about my grandfather, my great uncles and cousins who were/are veterans. I swallowed down so many lumps in my throat it was difficult to breathe. Who leaves family and friends and the only home they've known to go to a foreign land and fight for their country? Suffering hardships we can't even imagine so we don't have to imagine living in a country without our freedom. A freedom we all have taken for granted. Who gives like that so unselfishly? A veteran does. And given the chance to do their life all over they'd change nothing. They would serve honorably again and again.
I talked to my kids about the different wars. They didn't understand at first about the men in the blue coats marching in the parade. I told them that was to honor the Civil War veterans because they are all in heaven now. They wanted to know what POW and MIA meant. I explained as best I could about the prisoners of war and the men and women who never came home. I could tell they were really listening because they asked really thoughtful questions. And they wanted more answers and explanations than I could give.
During the parade a veteran caught my eye and said, "Thank you." He was thanking me? No, I needed to thank him. For his sacrifice and service. And though I didn't get the chance, I did thank God. For our country, our freedom and our veterans.

God's Driving Lessons

When our oldest started Driver's Ed., my dad made the comment that my husband would be the teacher. Slightly miffed, I rose to the challenge. True, my husband does have the patience of a saint (because he basically is one) but I was out to prove I could be a patient teacher of driving skills extraordinaire too.
Out we went and I am slightly pleased to say I only screamed four times. Mostly because the other children were in the car and I didn't want to lose everyone at once. My husband on the other hand, yelled alot. Where did that patience go? Left it in the ditch we almost landed in I'm guessing.
Acquiring the minutes for license acquisition was grueling. Finally we got there. Driving through construction was done fairly well. Driving through anything went fairly well. So, we were off.
Prayers were said. Test taken. License received. Now about that car... My mother-in-law said when they drive somewhere alone the first time, oh how you will pray. She was right. Especially after the horrific video we had to watch about new drivers and fatal accidents for our insurance. I cried during the whole thing. The interviews with the parents reduced me to the fetal position. I informed our new driver, "There will be no joyriding. Whatsoever." I received a solemn nod and a "Yes m'am." Oh, if said newest driver to our family knew the stuff I used to pull!
God, I know, will ride with our child. His driving lessons speak to the driver's heart, soul and head. It is my hope and prayer they will listen. Isn't there a song, "Jesus Take the Wheel?" This has become my mantra. And I know He will.