Bill the Marine

"There was a time when the world asked ordinary men to do extraordinary things". That was on the shirt I wore to the store yesterday. It shows a picture of the National WW II Memorial. It was at the check-out counter that I was blessed to meet Bill. I asked if he had served in WW II. I thanked him for his service and told him how honored I felt to shake his hand. Soldiers (& their families) make tremendous sacrifices that the rest of us cannot fathom. When next you meet a soldier, please shake their hand and give a sincere thank you for their service. They so rarely hear this and can not hear it enough.
When the war was over, "The Greatest Generation" came home, built new lives and a new America. They didn't get "therapy" or "closure"...they put the past behind and looked to the future. They blessed all of us and the world by building a better, stronger America.

Bill had been a marine, drill Sergeant. (sergeants are the ones who get things done). We talked for the longest time...Bill needed to talk. God blessed me to be there in just the right shirt at just the right time. On Memorial Day, he had been asked to go to D.C. to the WWII Memorial and memories came flooding back. He spoke of the camaraderie ~the brotherhood~ soldiers felt and still feel, even after all these decades. 55 years later, he feels the pain and loss of beloved friends and the horrors of war.....dear, old friends and painful losses.
These words of Jesus are my prayer for Bill and all soldiers in all wars "I will pray the Father and He will send the Comforter [Holy Spirit] to abide with you always". John 14:16

June 6, 1944 Remembered

A peaceful scene on the coast of South Carolina.

Now imagine the water the color of blood. The sea and beach covered with bodies and parts of bodies....I was up half the night of the 5th/6th and spent the better part of the 6th perusing history books trying to find the right words. I shed many tears.I watched countless videos on youtube...there are no words I can summon to recreate the horror, valor, & heroism of that day. I can tell you that FDR, Ike, Churchill and England's queen all offered public prayers invoking the name of the Almighty to be with our "boys"....

I suggest you follow this link to a 10 minute video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_qeCNg8fO0&feature=related

With all due repect I offer you these images:
June 6, 1944 Remembered








The following are links from youtube:

FDR's speech to America:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-weBUzQleo
Eisenhower's speech to the troops:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEyCjN9riiY&feature=related
Winston Churchill's speechto the Britain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0JsPXg-e1s&feature=related
Stephen Ambrose on Saving Prvate Ryan
http://www.historyinfilm.com/ryan/real.htm
Opening scene Sav Pr Ryan Pt 1 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSmEpnHKr4M&feature=related
PT 2 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMq7iiIoiSw&feature=related
from {roivate ryan scene 3 of 4
Scene 3 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP1OyLojDl4
scene 4 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B02a7GhyAXA
*******closing scene of the movie (tear-jerker)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0lc1IOHejs
We so often forget the airmen w/o which D-Day would not have succeeded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaEezr48xiQ&feature=related

Recommended reading
Stephen Ambrose
Pegasus Bridge: D-Day before Dawn
D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of WW II
Citizen Soldiers : The U.S. Army from Normandy Beaches to the Bulge
to the Surrender of Germany
Gerald Astor
June 6, 1944: The Voices of D-Day
(In the words of Ambrose, "No one does oral history better than Gerald Astor")

The National D-Day memorial in Bedford, Va is in dire financial trouble. Please check out their site...may we never forget.....
(D-day memorial in Bedford)
http://smokeys-trail.com/USA/bedford-2001.html
http://www.awon.org/memorials/bedford/
making a donation:
http://www.dday.org/index.php?page=giving

Trust in Times of Need

Wherever HAS the time gone? As I grow older, it seems to pass so quickly, I find that makes it easier to ride out the tougher times...

In my experience, those who live on the economic edge, in faith, have the closest relationship with Christ. Hardships can bring deeper faith and closer relationship with our Lord. The more we need to trust in God, and do so, the more His presence and actions are manifest in our lives. Those of faith in Christ who have the greatest hardships, often have the greatest peace in their lives. How can this be? When our back is to the wall, or we are at our rock-bottom, it is easier to admit our need for salvation. Being in relationship with Christ, gives rise to greater trust, richer hope and yes, deeper peace.

So many people are losing their jobs these days. Several dear friends I know are wondering how they will survive. Knowing they strive to be like Christ, I tell them, "Watch out! You are in for some miracles!" We are often brought right up to the very place of panic...keep trusting....once, we received a check from an unclaimed life insurance policy the day before our mortgage was due. A friend told her children there would be no Christmas. Unknowingly, another friend asked if "they" could provide Christmas for that very family....The tales are endless and all demonstrate God's amazing love for His kids! Just as we can trust in the faithful change of seasons, we can trust in His caring for us in our time of need.

As I look behind my home, I see constant miracles. The words Jesus' spoke on how our Heavenly Father cares for us come to mind:
" Now, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is gone, will He not much more clothe you...?
"Therefore do not worry...For your Heavenly Father knows you have need of these things.
"But seek first, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things, sufficient for the day is it's own trouble" [NKJV)] (See Matt 6: 5-34)

Farewells and New Paths

Sadly, I must bid farewell to many students with whom I've grown deeply attached, over the past several years. I have watched them grow from timid, elementary children to young people preparing to enter high school.

As they go their own ways, I have a feeling that I am entrusting, "my babies" to strangers: their families. I will continue to see some of them, regularly and that is comforting. Some will stop by to visit, while others I will see occasionally around town. There is a magical bond formed through art that transcends the heart-felt, "How are you?" and "Are you still creating?" kind of catching up in these random encounters.

Creating alongside one another develops a unique and intimate closeness. A deep connection is forged when nurturing someone on their own artistic path. I discover new ways of seeing. I learn to see through their eyes, experiences and hearts. I watch young artists grow and encourage them along their own, unique path~and then, the time comes to set them free.
Now, I find myself wondering many things: Have I instilled in them a love for art and for creating ? Have I given them the skills they will need as individual artists? Did I encourage them enough? Will they continue to create, no matter the course their lives take? Is there a chance that, somehow, the magic will return or continue?

One can never be sure of the course our futures will take. We must cherish the moments we have and make the most of every encounter...We must open our hearts to genuine love & relationship. In this way, we allow ourselves to feel deeply and lean more heavily on our Heavenly Father. We learn to have faith in the promise that Jesus made in John 14:16, " I will pray the father and He will send the Comforter [Holy Spirit], that He may abide with you forever".

Miss Annie

Have you ever met someone and felt like you have known each other forever? Someone who instantly reached down into the depths of your heart and warmed your very soul? I ran into Miss Annie at the garden center and we hit it off immediately. She felt like family from the moment we met over a beautiful lily.
I firmly believe that God places people like this in our lives. Sometimes it is in a moment when we need some reassurance or companionship. Often, we don't know why the specific time for the encounter was chosen, but it truly feels ordained. The feeling is uplifting and lasting.



Perhaps we were chosen to encourage or be a companion to the other person. Hebrews 13: 2 says, "Do not forget to enter strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels unaware." I don't know why we are blessed with "Miss Annie's" in our life. I do know that when we live a rushed life, we miss out on heaven-sent opportunities for companionship and warmth. I also know that Miss Annie was an angel to me in the time that we shared.