News from Brandon

It's always good to hear from Brandon, but I was particularly moved by a quote that he included in his letter this time. We here in the United States of America quickly forget why it is that we are allowed to live in such freedom. My son will now be part of the reason. Here is the quote:

"We as citizens of the United States must never forget that
it is the soldier, not the reporter that fights
so that we might have freedom of the press."
"It is the soldier, not the poet that fights
so that we might have freedom of speech."
"It is the soldier, not the campus organizer that fights
so that we might have the right to demonstrate."
"It is the soldier that fights for our nation
so that protesters will have the right to burn its flag."
"It is the soldier that fights and dies
so that freedom may live."

Brandon also reminded me of the irony behind that quote; that the soldier fights for those freedoms for everyone, no matter how they use them. Some use them for the good of others and some use them to spread hate and selfishness.

Michael's Boo Boo

I will try my best to relay the story of Michael's boo boo as it was told to me. It was a Sunday afternoon and Joette was working leaving Stephen home with the two boys. They had been typical three year olds that day, running through the house laughing, screaming, & bumping into one another. Daddy warned them that if they didn't calm down they were going to get hurt. Suddenly, Stephen, whose in the laundry room, hears Michael scream from down the hall, "I'm hurt, I'm hurt!" This was a familiar scream so Stephen said his normal little "Oh, you'll be fine!" But this time was different. Jacob comes running to daddy saying, "Daddy, Michael's hurt." Stephen, "He'll be fine, Jacob." Jacob, "No Daddy, Michael needs you." So Stephen heads towards Michael and realized rather quickly that he had split his eye open. He goes up to Michael, who now is covered in blood, to check him out. Blood is running down his face and as he blinks it from his eyes, he looks at his hand and seeing the blood screams, "My hand, my hand." Stephen had to really keep the laughter back. He knew it wasn't too bad because Michael didn't even realize it was his eye. Stephen then looks around the house for a bandaid. Now who do you know who has two, let me say that again TWO three year old boys and doesn't have bandaids? Stephen then loads up both boys into the car, Michael holding a towel to his face and takes them to Walgreens. It must have been a sight to see. A daddy and his two little boys, one bleeding, walking through the store. Finally he found the butterfly bandages and fixed him up. Michael is proud of his boo boo. I can tell because everytime you talk about it he growls at you.

Stephen & Joette Say "I Do"

My oldest has taken the plunge. I must admit is was one that I was not sure of at first. I talked with him and prayed a lot. I only wanted what was best for him. There are now two women who love the same man, but we love him differently. As the time got closer I began to have real peace with God. I've always loved Joette. She has always made me laugh, we can be together with ease, she loves the little boys, and she will always feed Stephen very well because she loves to cook. I wasn't concerned because of who she was, just because they had both married before and I wanted them to know that this was the one. Well, the day of the wedding came and it was great. I saw the look in my son's eyes that I had been looking for. He so wanted to marry Joette. The boys were excited that they were getting married. This has been a good thing and I'm so happy to have Joette and my little Michael in my family. They have set up house and Joette has become a wife to my Stephen. Jacob & Michael are brothers!! I can't wait to see what God brings to them as a family. They are good for one another and we are blessed as a family.

'Til Then by NathanDean

Life & Death are such a mess.
Who are you to decide what's best?
You say you love me,
You say you care...
Then you leave me standing there.

It comes so quick, so unexpected.
So many things were neglected.
You never said goodbye, neither did I.
Next time we meet, will you even say "hi?"

I guess the time will come when I know.
'Til then, I'll say "goodbye."
One day we'll meet.
One day I'll see...
The one who means so much to me.

He'll tell me stories, I'll tell him jokes.
Maybe we'll even sit and have a coke.
I hope you know me, I hope you're proud.
For so many times I have cried out loud
For the man who never said "goodbye"
But left here in his Looney Toon tie.

In memory of my dad.