Happy 44th Anniversary to Us!
May 31, 2011 by Lillie
Forty-four years ago I walked down an improvised aisle on my parents’ enclosed back porch to meet my groom, my hero, my colorful character—Jack.
We’ve faced a few challenges in our lives, and each of us has cared for the others during illnesses. However, we’ve never lacked for love or laughter.
Today we carry more pounds and wrinkles, and we move a little slower. Some of our laughs today come from what Jack thinks I or someone else said, which is often very different from what was actually said. His hearing is poor, and he says he’s filled his brain up in seventy-eight years of living so he doesn’t have room for more. So sometimes his misunderstandings are pretty funny.
Jack used to do all the grocery shopping and the laundry. Now, the laundry is my job, and we share the shopping. Our trip to Walmart at 2 AM is a highlight of our week. I’ve always been a night owl, and Jack sleeps off and on through the day and night, so the middle of the night is a great time for us. We don’t do well in crowds, so we enjoy shopping when there are few customers around.
But what makes our shopping so special are the people at our local Walmart. Jack used to shop at a local grocery store, and we ended up at Walmart the first time because it happened to be close by on my way home from an emergency room visit. I was having myoclonic seizures in the car while Jack went in to get a prescription filled, and four Walmart managers came out to the car and stayed with me, comforting me the entire time. So Jack started shopping there and got acquainted with the store general manager, Al Slavin, a fellow Texas Aggie.
After shopping became too difficult for Jack to manage on his own, we started our wee-hours-of-the-morning shopping schedule. We realized the store would be full of stockers replenishing the shelves, and we knew we could ask questions if needed help. But we didn’t know how helpful and friendly the staff would be. I would love to name each one individually, but I don’t even know all their names.
Both of us use the store scooters, and everywhere we go in the store, workers ask if we need help. If we happen to arrive when some of the stockers are taking a break in front of the store, a couple will go get scooters and bring them out to us. The guys cleaning the floor stop to greet us and ask how we are. The checkers and managers joke with us and go out of their way to be helpful. I never enjoyed shopping before, but now Jack and I both look forward to our Walmart outing.
After we finish shopping, we head off to breakfast at Denny’s at San Pedro and Bitters. Brittany sees us pulling into the parking lot, and she has our table ready and my decaf brewing. She’s always upbeat and enthusiastic and remembers what we like.
If anyone had told me forty-four years ago that we would look forward to a weekly date of grocery shopping and breakfast, I wouldn’t have believed it. But anything I do with Jack is fun, and the people at Walmart and Denny’s make our date even better!
Jack has a doctor’s appointment today, then we’ll have lunch at Mr. and Mrs. G’s Home Cooking, a little hole-in-the-wall cafeteria-style restaurant that has the best Southern home cooking you can imagine.
Happy anniversary, Jack. I love you!
Memorial Day 2011
May 30, 2011 by Lillie
Today many American families are enjoying a trip to a river, lake, or water park. Friends are gathering in backyards to grill steaks, relax, and gossip. Shoppers are taking advantage of the holiday sales then resting from their exertions in a movie.
But water parks, backyard barbecues, and malls hold no appeal for thousands of American families. Instead, they remember a loved one who spent every free summer minute on the water. They look at the empty chair at the table where a beloved family member should be sitting. They wonder if they will ever enjoy shopping or movies again.
These families are quietly observing Memorial Day rather than celebrating the beginning of summer because their loved ones have sacrificed their lives for our country and our freedom. Water doesn’t feel so cool, steaks don’t taste so good, bargains don’t seem so wonderful when you’re mourning the death of a loved one. And the heroes we remember today chose to put themselves at risk—not for themselves but for us.
Today in the midst of enjoying the “holiday,” remember it is a “memorial day”—a day to remember and honor those who died for us. Since 1775, more than 848,000 Americans have died in combat, and nearly 1,344,000 have lost their lives during war from all causes of death. You can find these and other interesting statistics at Wikipedia on Answers.com: United States Military Casualties of War.
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen. (1928 Book of Common Prayer)
O MERCIFUL God, and heavenly Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; Look with pity, we beseech thee, upon the mourning of thy servants whose loved ones died in the service of their country. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy; comfort them with a sense of thy goodness; lift up thy countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (adapted from 1928 Book of Common Prayer)
The video below reminds us of those who gave their lives for us.
Here are some other places worth visiting on Memorial Day:
50,000 Names on the Wall
Some Gave All
Mansions of the Lord
Tribute to the Troops and Their Families
May 29, 2011 by Lillie
During Military Appreciation Month, we honor our military members, their families, and those who have been wounded, and those who sacrificed their lives. This video is a tribute to the troops and to their families.
Thanks to April 2011 Commenters
May 27, 2011 by Lillie
How Great Thou Art
May 24, 2011 by Lillie
Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill singing “How Great Thou Art”
Armed Forces Day and Military Appreciation Month 2011
May 21, 2011 by Lillie
May is Military Appreciation Month, and today is Armed Forces Day.
Last year on Armed Forces Day, I highlighted a number of troop support organizations. If you’re not involved in supporting our troops, I encourage you to do so.
O LORD God of Hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty arm to strengthen and protect the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of our country. Support them in the day of battle, and in the time of peace keep them safe from all evil; endue them with courage and loyalty; and grant that in all things they may serve without reproach; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ 1928 Book of Common Prayer
During the month of May, let’s remember military families as well as military members. While the military member is deployed, the spouse has to assume the total responsibility for the family in addition to worrying about and missing their loved one. Young children miss Mommy or Daddy—even when children are old enough to be proud of their military parent, they still miss having their parent at home. The soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines choose to make great sacrifices for their country. Their spouses often choose to marry a military person, knowing the sacrifices they will have to make. But children have to sacrifice, and they have no choice in the matter.
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary in families; We commend to thy continual care the military families of our country. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vain-glory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Protect them from danger, strife, and fear. Let them feel Your presence and comfort when they are lonely. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy; endue their souls with patience; comfort them with a sense of thy goodness; lift up thy countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.. ~ adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Just watch this video of reunions of kids with their soldier parents and realize how much they have missed so the military member could protect you and me. You can see more reunion videos at Welcome Home Blog.
Review: Murder on the Interstate
May 17, 2011 by Lillie
Jean Henry Mead
Oak Tree Press
Copyright 2011
ISBN: 978-1610090148
Paperback, 220 pages, $14.95
Fiction: mystery/senior sleuth
Murder on the Interstate is the third Logan & Cafferty mystery. For the first book in the series, A Village Shattered
I like the two amateur sleuths, Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty. They are “mature” ladies—senior citizens—but at an age when many people would expect to retire and take life easy, they’re active, feisty, and determined to see justice done. The mystery has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, and many elements are drawn right from today’s news.
I read an advance reading copy, so I expect that several annoying errors I encountered were corrected in the final published copy.
Several of the situations the sleuths were involved in seemed rather far-fetched. Of all the people driving down the highway, they are the only ones to witness a murder. But that problem is inherent in the amateur sleuth genre. If the sleuths are going to solve a lot of crimes, they have to be involved in a lot of unbelievable situations. Like Jessica Fletcher in the old TV show “Murder, She Wrote,” Dana and Sarah attract murder so much most people would hesitate to be their friends. 
Fans of amateur sleuth mysteries and people who like to read about smart and active seniors will enjoy this book.
Disclosure: I received an electronic advance reading copy of the book from the author’s publicist. I have not accepted any compensation for this review and made no commitment to give a favorable review. The links to Amazon.com are affiliate links.
Guest Post Policy
May 12, 2011 by Lillie
Recently I’ve had a number of requests to write guest posts here. I appreciate the interest and know guest posts can add new information and a different viewpoint. However, I want to keep guest posts as occasional treats rather than a steady diet so I generally permit only one guest post per month.
Also guest posts must be appropriate for my blog. I’ve created a guest post policy, and bloggers wishing to submit a guest post should review the policy before contacting me.
I welcome regular readers who wish to guest post to read the policy and submit a proposal for a guest post.
I also would love to hear what you think of the policy from your perspective as a reader. Do you enjoy reading guest posts here? Is there anything about the policy you would prefer to see changed? Would you like to see more guest posts? Or fewer? Let me know what you think.
Writer’s Worth Week
May 9, 2011 by Lillie
Lori Widmer over at Words on the Page is celebrating Writer’s Worth Week.
I encourage you to visit Lori’s blog and follow her blog tour this week to help writers recognize their own worth.
Happy Mother’s Day
May 8, 2011 by Lillie
Happy Mother’s Day!
If you’re a mother, I wish you a blessed day being honored and pampered by your children.
If you have a mother to honor and pamper today, I wish you love and joy shared with her.
If your mother is no longer here, I wish you loving memories of the time you had together.
I’ve shared memories of my own mother in previous posts, including these favorites:
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. ~ Exodus 20:12 (ESV)
ALMIGHTY God, we give you thanks for mothers who love and care for us and entrust our mothers who are so dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come; knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
