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  • Voices of the Fallen

    Newsweek has put out an issue with letters, journals and video of the fallen men and women of this war on terror.  I haven’t been able to find the actual issue of the magazine anywhere.  There’s no Barnes and Noble here so I can’t go there.  However, Ben did find parts of it online.  I spoke with Michelle and asked if I could put the entries here and she consented.  She’s doing well considering–feeling blessed that her son is there to keep her going.  The editors at Newsweek took out parts of one of the entries (it mentioned Jesus and the Boy Scouts) and she really wants to have it out there in full.  She said she’d send me the whole entry.  I’ll post it when I get it.  In the meantime, this particular entry was pretty poignant. 

    I know that he would’ve made a great dad.  Once when we were displaced due to Hurricane Isabel we spent some time at his apartment.  He had electricity so we camped out there.  The older two were a bit nervous about all this moving about so he made a tent for them in the room they were staying in.  It was very, very sweet.  It made it so much fun for them. 

    Anyway, here’s the entry:

    Oct. 17, Baghdad 

    Just talked to your mom. I could hear you crying a bit in the background. You were hungry.

    It made me think of the week you were born. I’d hold you on my chest. You would do this thing when you were hungry—the women called it "rooting." Like a pig roots around for truffles. You would push your head back from my chest and then start bouncing it against me, over and over. Your mouth would start going like you were trying to nurse. Your head would move left and right, back and forth. It was entirely instinct, but you were so determined and so alive. It also was one of the funniest things I’d ever seen. I never failed to laugh when you’d start. I don’t think I could ever imagine it and not smile. I’m smiling now, even.

    And today was a brutal day across Baghdad. I responded 5 minutes after a suicide bomber drove a bomb into a National Police checkpoint. Blew it to smithereens. Severely wounded about a dozen, and half of them surely died later. They were a mess. Killed one outright. As we were securing the area and treating those still alive, we took small arms fire. … Anyway, after all that, I imagine you rooting around and I can smile again.

    On October 22, 2006, Dave was killed by an IED.  I grieve for him daily.  He was one of my best friends.  I miss you, Dave.

  • 200 Posts

    My last post was my 200th post!!  It’s not much but I’m slowly getting into a groove about blogging.  My problem is that I always have these things I want to write about but it never gets written.  I have noticed, however, that the writing is becoming easier.  It’s not necessarily better but I find that it’s easier to write.  I’m still figuring out my voice but it’s been fun.

  • Poetry

    HT:  Left of the Dial

    I’m terza rima, and I talk and smile.
    Where others lock their rhymes and thoughts away
    I let mine out, and chatter all the while.

    I’m rarely on my own – a wasted day
    Is any day that’s spent without a friend,
    With nothing much to do or hear or say.

    I like to be with people, and depend
    On company for being entertained;
    Which seems a good solution, in the end.

    What Poetry Form Are You?

  • Annunciation of Mary

    The Squires at church were passing out this prayer on Sunday.

    Mary; Mother of the Unborn

    Jesus, Mary and Joseph

    I love you very much.

    I beg of you to spare the life of the unborn child that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.

    Let me live…

    Let me walk into the sunshine…

    Let me live…

    Feel my mother’s arms around me…

    Feel my father’s love surround me…

    Be a part of God’s creation…

    Let me live…

    Prayer of Fulton J. Sheen

  • So Blessed

    Brother called me as I was closing his door after our good nights.

    Brother:  "I’m going to find a woman who’s not married, who is Catholic and whose last name is Powers when I grow up."

    Me:  "She doesn’t have to be named Powers, Brother.  She’ll change her name to Powers when you get married."

    Brother, exhibiting some relief:  "Oh, okay."

    He’s too cute and I’m truly blessed.

  • The Kids

    The kids are the silent victims in this war.  I hesitate to use that word, but that’s the only word I could think of.  I’m not talking about the kids in Iraq.  I’m talking about the children of military men and women who have to say good-bye to their parent.  This isn’t a post about whether or not the war should is valid.  This is definitely not a political discussion.  I just want to talk about the kids.

    I was at a birthday party today.  One of my very good friends was there.  Her husband was home for R&R from Iraq and left very early this morning before the sun was even up.  Her son cried himself to sleep last night.  Her second daughter was very melancholy today.  You could tell.  It just broke my heart.  I know they’ll rebound and go about their lives.  I know they’ll adjust.  BUT.  I know that my friend’s mama’s heart is hurting. 

    So, please when you have a moment, please pray for the kids left behind when the soldier goes off to war.  It’s hard for them too.  And, remember the spouses left behind to pick up the pieces.  It’s difficult.  I know firsthand how difficult it is.

  • Bullseye

    I love these things.  This ones seems right on. 

    HT:  Minnesota Mom

    Your Five Factor Personality Profile
    Extroversion:

    You have medium extroversion.
    You’re not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party.
    Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences.
    But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time."

    Conscientiousness:

    You have medium conscientiousness.
    You’re generally good at balancing work and play.
    When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.
    But you’ve been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it.

    Agreeableness:

    You have medium agreeableness.
    You’re generally a friendly and trusting person.
    But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism.
    You get along well with others, as long as they play fair.

    Neuroticism:

    You have low neuroticism.
    You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.
    Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.
    Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed – making others feel secure.

    Openness to experience:

    Your openness to new experiences is low.
    You’re a pretty conservative person, and you favor what’s socially acceptable.
    You think that change for novelty’s sake is a very bad idea.
    While some may see this as boring, many see you as dependable and wise.

  • First Class

    Tonight I had my first confirmation class.  Yes, I’m getting confirmed.  I won’t go into the whys of this late confirmation.  Things happen and my confirmation is set for April 21st.  I’m really very excited.  I’m also a bit embarrassed because I really should have done this earlier.  Anyway, back to topic.

    Father Richard taught the class.  He is a very funny priest from Ireland.  We love him dearly.  Tonight’s class covered the early history of the church.  It was quite interesting.  One of the facts that struck me was about the bible.  If I thought about it I suppose I could have come to the same conclusion.  The bible was put together by the Catholic church.  The many anti-Catholic religions that exist out there and believe wholeheartedly that the bible is law are using the bible that the Catholic Church originally put out.*  Wow.  That was a big moment for me.

    We received a book to read and I’m off to say prayers and get started.  This book will have to preempt my Lenten reading.  I’m so behind anyway. 

    *I’m not Protestant bashing.  I just thought it was such an interesting piece of history.

  • Really?

    HT:  Minnesota Mom

    Your Brain is Purple

    Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic.
    You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense.
    Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries.

    You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places – or a very different life for yourself.

  • Spring

    Spring is here.  Our grass is turning green (along with a proliferation of weeds).  Our twig tree is starting to bloom.  My allergies are kicking in.  Aaah, my favorite season.  Really, despite my allergies, I love spring.  Everything starts to get so much color.  The flowers start to bloom, the wildflowers spring up (no pun intended) and my favorite–the bluebonnets start to line the sides of roads.  Now, if I can get to a field before other people have tromped all over the flowers. 

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    This is the only tree we have in either our front or back yard.

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    A closeup of the blooms.  Now, the blooms have fallen away and the leaves are covering the tree.

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    This is a bush that was planted in a little area near the front porch.  I still need to research what is really is.  If anyone reading this knows, please tell me.  I’d like to be able to keep it.  I was so surprised to see flowers in one of our favorite colors.

    Along with everything else that spring brings, we have thunderstorms.  We are at the bottom edge of tornado alley.  I’ve already discussed our escape route in the event of a tornado with the children.  The following pictures are of a hail storm we had last week.  The kids had a great time.

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    I was very happy that the hail was not bigger–I don’t house my car in the garage and have a sunroof.  Not a good combo.

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    The girls were throwing the hail into a little puddle that was forming from the rain falling from the roof.  It made them laugh uproariously because the hail was "dancing".

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    This was the biggest size of the hail.  I didn’t get a picture of the boy as he left the fun when he was told not to wander off the porch and into the hail.

    I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into our spring weather.  I love everything about spring.  We’ll be going strawberry picking sometime soon and the bluebonnets will be out too.  As always, I’ll post pictures.