Saying Thanks

It has been quite some time since I have written anything. Not that anyone really reads this, but all the same. This blog is all about saying thanks. I know it should have come at Thanksgiving time...but....personally I think we all need to be thankful everyday. First I want to take a minute to say thanks to Josh. For most of you that don't know, Josh is one of my "adopted" soldiers. He is currently serving the U.S. in Afghanistan. I thank him for his service, but mostly for him taking a few hours out of his short R/R leave to come and have dinner with me. It is a night will never forget. Who would have thought 20 months ago when I adopted my first soldier that I would be so blessed as to get to have dinner with one of them. These men and woman have most certainly changed my life each and everyone of them in someway. So I thank Josh and the rest of them for all they have brought to me. I also want to say thank you to my husband Steve. You see today he loaded me and Anna in the car for a little trip. (which trust me he never does!)...lol.....I was utterly surprised when we pulled into Pontiac, and went to the Livingston County War Museum. We visited an incredible traveling exhibit called "Portraits of a Soldier" An Eastern University student, Cameron Schilling, has done portaits of all the Illinois servicemembers that have been lost in the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a humbling experience to see his work. It was also touching to see Steve find a portrait of a friend that he worked with. There were more surprises in this little museum. From the chocolate chip cookies the vets shared with us to seeing all of the uniforms, medals and artifacts from WWI thru the current conflicts. The biggest blessing was getting to hear the son of the man that dreamed up the museum tell his fathers stories. I could have sat there all day listening to those couple of vets tell their stories of their time in service. I am mostly thankful that Steve took me and included Anna. It is my hearts cry for our next generations to truly understand what war is, and how important our Vets are. This is a lesson I see my daughter learning as we looked through things together today. So please if you read this, remember all of those people who have served, are currently serving, and who have paid the high price for our freedom. Don't be scared to thank a veteran.....