The Year of Restoration

My husband and I started a New Year's tradition many years ago…We give a theme to each year and then wait and watch how that theme plays itself out. This year will be the Year of Restoration…restoring those things that have been lost to us (through natural events, injury or accident for example). We have always been surprised at what we learn by keeping a particular focus on the years events and so we will see what is restored in our lives and those of our friends during the coming year. In 2010, the Year of the Gift, the year we launched Road Warriors,

we imagined ourselves to be giving many things away to others, when in fact we were the ones who had gifts showered on us.

For anyone who has served or is serving in the armed forces, I can imagine there is a huge list of things needed to be restored. It is a good prayer for us all I think. I am looking forward to 2016 with great anticipation. So we say goodbye to 2015, The Year of Peace--the year I broke my wrist mountain biking while on vacation, the year Dave's 356 Porsche engine was blown up, the year we went to the Eastern Sierra to scout out a trail for backpacking but forgot our sleeping bags and were forced out by fire, the year Dave backed into two cars and lost his Omega wrist watch, an anniversary gift in the Year of the Child, 2005. We wondered where the peace was. The answer was clear…in this world there is no peace. In trial, there seems to be no peace at all, except when you are on the other side, able to see how much you were still being taken care of by a loving Father. Now I am healed, I can swing a golf club again, the car engine is repaired, insurance took care of the accidents, and I am looking to see Dave's watch restored to us.

God Bless Us Everyone!

More about this special Christmas posted on my starry river blog….www.starry-river.blogspot.com

God Bless Us Everyone

Yesterday, I asked my 10 year old neighbor what he had learned about Thanksgiving in school. His answer was, "Nothing".

So I let him know that it was Abraham Lincoln who made Thanksgiving a national holiday in the 1860's. We talked about the early pilgrims, why they came to America and the food that went along with their season of thanks. 


The first line of Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation written during the Civil War..

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God."

We do tend to forget our blessings and from whom they flow, anyway I do. I want to count them all this year. God bless our military families with blessings too many to count.

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!

November 11th is this Wednesday…It's Veterans Day. There is no greater honor than to give a gift of thanks to our nation's defenders. This year we are giving a gift through the Gary Sinese Foundation because he never gives up finding meaningful ways to help and honor our vets.


We can all send a roaring sound of "Thanks!" in any way that most moves us. If you like, click on the link below to see how vets are being helped through the Gary Sinise Foundation and if you would like to be a part…

https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate

Veteran's Day Parade, Pleasanton, Ca

HOME SWEET HOME

Here I sit with a broken wrist (I thought it was shattered but actually not as bad as that) and 2 weeks into wearing a blue cast on my arm. Sometimes feeling sorry for myself and all the things I want to do but can't do. Remembering my mountain biking crash in Bend and the moment I couldn't take back--makes me mad, makes me cry, teaches me a huge life lesson.

But then Gary Sinese sent me an email this morning and all perspective is regained. My injury is nothing, nothing at all when compared to the men who lost multiple limbs while defending freedom.

Thank you Gary for taking care of our most valuable assets with love, compassion and the homes they need…thank you vets for inspiring me more than you could know...here is the video tour of a very sweet home...

9/11 once more

Tom Burnett 

Mark Bingham

Todd Beamer

I can't believe it is 9/11 already. 14 years have passed since that horrific day in 2001. On that morning, my husband and I were taking a walk along the San Lorenzo River near Boulder Creek California. It was the last day of our vacation there. From across the river, in an RV park, I could hear what sounded like President Bush speaking. I said, "Why is the President talking and why is it so loud?" When we got back to check out of our villa, we asked the attendant what was going on. And she said, pointing to the TV, "Look! We've been attacked!" We could see the infamous flames and smoke coming out of the first tower. "What do you mean attacked?" "People flew planes into the World Trade Center," "What people." "Terriorists. We're at war."

No one said another word. We left stunned and unbelieving. We drove through the small town of  Saratoga and the normally busy streets and shops were empty. Stores were closed. A sense of dread was everywhere. We walked around a bit and spoke to the only person we saw on the street. We were all almost in tears.

I heard they are unveiling the Memorial in Shanskville Pennsylvania where United Airlines Flight 93 was brought down. In the coming days we were to hear about Tom, Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham and Jeremy Glick as the men who tried to stop the terrorists from bringing the plane down. We do remember. In our town of Pleasanton, a street has been named after Tom Burnett near the company he worked for, Thoratec. I think of 9/11 every day I pass by and see the name, Tom Burnett.

Click below for the Pennsylvania Memorial website and information...

http://www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm

Here is the story of Jeremy Glick.

https://www.unitedheroes.com/Jeremy-Glick.html

We Can Always Do a Little More

Today was one of the greatest days of my life! I got to meet with Dr. Brenda Solomon --an incredible advocate for our military veterans as a member of the staff for the Gary Sinise Foundation.

After meeting with her and listening to her many inspiring and heart wrenching stories about our wounded and recovering veterans, I logged onto Gary's site and watched two videos…the one about his visit to Korea with the Lt. Dan Band and a video about one fine man SFC Mike Schlitz. Watch his story here and get inspired like I did,

http://www.garysinisefoundation.org/bulletins/sfc-michael-schlitz-profile-video

 "While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation's defenders, we can always do a little more." Gary Sinise

What I love about Gary's website is that he lets you meet him and the vets he is helping to move forward in life and into new homes which accommodate individuals with multiple limb loss. 

To learn more and keep our vets in the front of our thankful prayers, click the link below

www.garysinisefoundation.com