September 11, 2001

I still remember.

I will never forget.

American Solutions~Drill Here, Drill Now Song

Check this out! It is AWESOME!

Drill Here, Drill Now by Aaron Tippin

Dear Mr. Obama

Independence Day

The Star Spangled Banner Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream: 'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause. it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

This song isn't the national anthem or hymn but it holds a very special place in my heart. If you don't at least get teary eyed during this song...then shame on you!

God Bless the USA

Where did the time go?

I "think" I am actually starting to feel better...well, part of the day anyway. We had another ultrasound at 15w 6d and we think boy but it was an early ultrasound so we are going to go for another at 20w or so. Here is the ultrasound:

The baby was very shy and would not open his or her legs. But the boy feeling is not escaping me and the Lord is saying for me to believe Him...so I am.

I have been crying some about the deployment still but I am handling it really well...at least for a pregnant woman. I made a military wife no-no (at least for a wife of a soldier like my husband). He told me that number of troops that may be needed from the GA ARNG are lowering. So I said, "That means that you may not have to go!" Ok, anyone who has seen Army Wives and saw the episode before last (when Roxy's husband got hurt at the pool) knows how he felt when she said that to him. That is exactly the way my husband feels. He is a soldier through and through and loves his unit and the Guard. Sure, he wishes he was still able to be a Ranger and in his heart he always will be but this is his calling now. He wants to do his job. They are trying to fast track his promotion so if they do get to send someone...the experienced NCO's will go. I am trying not to think about it too much, I have a healthy baby to grow. Well, that's all for now...I am tired and need to go to bed.

A special video

I just thought this was a special video and I wanted to post it.

A few things...

My husband went to drill this weekend. He said there are some cool guys in his unit. He also said that these are competent men too. Some have combat experience, which eases my mind. My husband will be going to AT next year...and he maybe going to combat. It scares me a little but for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). I have to rest in that.

It just amazes me the lack of support, hence the lack of respect so many in this country have for the military and what they are doing. It angers me, it hurts. I remember when we first got married and we were active duty. There were some that didn't like the military but I never had to be concerned that someone may spit on my husband! When we went to the nearest post to get our ID's I was concerned about that. The reason being that this was the town that had some recruiters get spit on at the local BIG university. That is appalling and I am ashamed that those people are Americans. Even when I was young I loved the military. I married a man that was active duty army and doing a dangerous job to boot. When we got married he wore his uniform. There are hardly any words to describe how it makes me feel when ignorance is talked about with the military. It amazes me that so many choose to ignore, FLAT OUT IGNORE, commanders IN THE FIELD about course of action to take next.
The congress has just upset Turkey! Our main supply line to our troops! Why did they do that?? Is it so they can get their way while that action single handedly kills our troops!!?? How DARE they say they care about the welfare of our troops??? I am also tired of seeing signs that say "Bring our troops home now!"... I want to paint the entire side of the house that says "LET THEM DO THEIR JOB!!" It is amazing how supposedly all these troops don't stand behind their mission...I have never seen, met, or heard them. Oh and about that Jesse Macbeth(former Ranger on youtube), that is a TOTAL LIE...look it up online. It is still on youtube and it is a proven LIE! Those people are happy to find people that tell about "atrocities" in Iraq, that they won't even do a background check on them! I need to calm down about that... :-)

If this video (from the old unit theme song) doesn't get you FIRED UP for the military...nothing will! ENJOY!



We can't wait to see our friends that are being transferred to a post near us! We haven't seen them in a few years! I need to go...time to fix lunch! :-)

Appreciating our military!

April B

Please watch

Please watch the video at the bottom of the page titled, "Remember Me". Oh, and go ahead and get a box of tissue before you watch...you'll need it.

Appreciating our military!

April B

Patriotism

I received this as an email from my aunt...

How ALL business phones Should be answered!

Good morning, Welcome to the United States of America!
Press "1" for English

Press "2" to disconnect until you learn to speak English

And remember only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you,

Jesus Christ

And the American soldier

One died for your soul,

The other for your freedom

I thought this was great...

I saw someone on myspace wrote this in their "About Me" section. I asked permission if I could copy and they agreed (not even sure if they are the original author of it):

It may take you two minutes to read this, but if you do not take the time to read this you are one of the people this post is talking about..... You stay up for 16 hours; He stays up for days on end... You take a warm shower to help you wake up; He goes days or weeks without running water... You complain of a "headache," and call in sick; He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward... You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt and go meet up with your friends; He still fights for your right to wear that shirt... You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket; He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags... You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you; He knows he may not see some of his buddies again... You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls; He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists... You complain about how hot it is; He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow... You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong; He doesn't get to eat today... Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes; He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean... You go to the mall and get your hair redone; He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today... You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over; He's told he will be held over an extra 3 months... You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight; He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home... You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday; He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume... You roll your eyes as a baby cries; He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet... You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything; He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting... You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him; He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded... You see only what the media wants you to see; He sees the broken bodies lying around him... You are asked to go to the store by your parents, You don't; He does exactly what he is told...You stay at home and watch TV; He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat...You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable; He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long... ..

Think about it…

April B

I shouldn't let that get to me

I shouldn't let when someone makes comments like that get to me. When Mike told me that someone said that right after they had drill, I was like...huh? How could someone join the military...any branch...and not think it could be a possibility? This unit went to Iraq a year ago I believe. Of course it was a new guy...completely new to military, but still. I mean, goodness, Mike and I prayed over the decision until God gave us peace and understanding over the decision. Joining the military is not a decision to be taken lightly. It just frustrates me when people take it as such. I am proud of my husband. Thursday we had to go get our military ID's and I felt honored to be walking with my man. I always do but it was different. He has a certain confidence when he is in the military...especially in uniform. 3 people thanked him for his service...3. On the way home today I explained to the girls why he was thanked. To them, he is already their hero...their daddy. He joined the military because he feels at home in uniform. He wants to protect us, this nation and Israel. I told them of our friend who has come close to death to protect us and this nation. I salute them, I pray for them, and I defend them when evil and ignorance is spoken of them. They risk a lot and some, their own lives so we can live over here as if nothing has changed...but it has. It is time for America to stand up and really support the troops. Not just with the little magnets on the cars (which are great) but really stand up. Don't just thank the one's coming home. Thank the one's that are here. Keep their spirits up too. When a gentleman or lady in uniform comes in a restaurant, gas station, grocery store, etc. clap, go over to them and thank them. Tell them you appreciate them. They love to hear it, but what you will probably hear them say is, "You are welcome, sir/maam, it is my duty". Now let it be our duty to show them our appreciation. I am counting on you America and so are they.

Appreciating our military!

April B

For those that need to know

If you join the military at a time of war or if you are in the military at a time of war...you may go to war. Does that sound weird or that you may not know that? Did you not sign up for that? You signed the papers. You knew what you signed. It is the military, you know training...what is that training for...war. Sure they give you money for college and this nice bonus but you are a soldier, marine, airman, guardsman, or sailor. Especially if you are in active duty, you are training for war situations. I don't get the phrase, "I didn't sign up for this." I don't want my husband and I am sure he doesn't either...to be in a situation in war where someone is belly-aching that they didn't sign up for this. That it isn't safe for YOU or MY HUSBAND or ANYONE else that is DEPENDING ON YOU! The families over here that have husbands or wives over there do not need to be worried that someone in their h/w's team does not have their back. If you don't want to fight for the President...fine...fight for your buddies...their lives are depending on you. Do you have their back?

Think about it…

April B