God please help us....

Today was a sad day. The terrorists are stepping it up in Iraq. Today they went after children. There was a celebration. Our soldiers were handing out candy...of course the children came. But so did the car bomb. Damn them...today is a one of those days that its hard to find the good news. So today I wept. Prayed. Then the anger came. For the sniping that is going on in this country, for the finger pointing and the cowardice of so many. For the terrorists that dare hold us ALL hostage, for taking away our feeling of entitled security and prosperity and peace. Most of all for taking the lives of our children, the worlds children. What kind of world have we become that we can't protect our children? And when we fail in that, what kind of world have we become that we aren't all in unison standing in rage and vowing that we will stop this evil. We cannot allow them to triumph, it is as simple as that. That is when I found this site. And now I feel renewed, renewed in purpose and in commitment, renewed in spirit, and renewed in hope.
http://www.untoldiraq.org/index.cfm
The site describes the purpose as this: The Iraq-America Freedom Alliance (IAFA) is a coalition of American and Iraqi organizations and individuals committed to fostering goodwill between our nations' citizens and winning the war on terror. We support a free, democratic and pluralistic Iraq that is at peace with the world. IAFA will provide Americans with a fuller picture of Iraq by giving voice to Iraqis who are grateful for their newfound freedom and working to secure democracy in their country.
Untold Iraq features the stories of Iraqis and Americans who are building a secure, stable and democratic future in Iraq. These stories, rarely shown on American newscasts, provide a powerful first-hand account of Iraqis' gratitude for their newfound liberation and commitment to working with the Coalition to build a brighter future.
Todays good news...
It was profoundly inspiring to read the stories here. Everyday people, doing extraordinary things. These are people who are determined to bring a better and brighter future to Iraq and in doing so, to the world. These are people that continue to point out the many good changes and improvements that have happened and are happening in Iraq. These are people that are joining together and standing in unison and saying we won't be defeated. We have to reach out and join in with our outrage and support.
Today the terrorists made me feel helpless. It was but a momentary lapse. We cannot and must not allow that to happen. With every step they take, we have to raise our voices louder. Thank you to the people who run this site. I signed on today. Together we can and WILL find the harmony in the discord. I can hear the melody in the voices of these courageous Iraqi people. If you listen carefully, you will too.
God bless us all.

Giggle day...ok at least smile...

Its Witty Wednesday again...time to take a break from all the seriousness and giggle a bit. This was another email that I received and had to laugh. You just got to love kids.

WHY GOD CREATED CHILDREN (AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN)

To those of us who have children in our lives, whether they are our own, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or students...here is something to make you chuckle.
Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was "DON'T!"
"Don't what?" Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit!!!!!"
"No Way!"
"Yes way!"
"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God.
"Why"
"Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied, wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked! "Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked.
"Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you?" said the Father.
"I don't know," said Eve.
"She started it!" Adam said
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"DID NOT!"
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.


BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY! If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!
1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.
2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.
ADVICE FOR THE DAY: Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.
AND FINALLY:
IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:
"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN" AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"!!!!!

God bless us all...yes even the kids!!!! LOL

Some days are easier than others...

I woke this morning with a splitting sinus headache. Allergy season has arrived. After I got my son off to school, I bargained with myself a bit. Today is one of those dreary rainy days and my head hurt and..and...My four year old was still asleep and it would have been so easy to crawl back into the covers and go back to slumber land. Instead I made some coffee and began my daily read. This is one of the quiet times in my day. My son has left for school, my little whirlwind is still asleep. The house is quiet. And the minutes before she wakes and we set off to a day full of activity are few and much enjoyed. Within minutes, I felt energized and inspired. And... well... a bit humbled for having groaned at this new day when I first awoke. The reason for the attitude adjustment?
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2004/September_04/09172004_01.asp
Women work toward peace, paradise in IraqIraq's liberation opens doors, provides freedom
By KRISTA LEDBETTER - GM Today Staff
September 17, 2004

Ahood Aabass, a member of the Al-Tahsinniyya council in Basra, Iraq, talks about how things have changed in her country since the removal of Saddam Hussein's regime. Aabass was the first woman to hold an elected position in Basra since the removal of the country's dictator.
WAUKESHA - Ahood Aabass prays that Iraq's future will be peaceful. At 42, Aabass has seen a life many Americans can't imagine - a life under Saddam Hussein's regime.
Her children went to schools that were without windows, doors and toilets, and where teachers made as little as $3 a month to teach. Water in her city of Basra had worms in it, and women had little, if any, right to freedom.
But in the first year since the liberation of Iraq, Aabass said her life has changed for the better.
"I want to forget the past," said Aabass, who has become one of Iraq's first elected officials, and the first female elected official in the new governing counsel of Basra. Three of her brothers have been killed because they were against Saddam during the Gulf War, and she, her husband and young children spent time in jail because her mother-in-law was of Iranian descent.
"I am active. I have energy and I couldn't use it," said Aabass, who was able to receive several university degrees in mass communication despite not being able to use her education under Saddam's rule.
An alliance
Aabass and Tamara Sarafa Quinn, director of Women's Alliance for a Democratic Iraq, are part of the Iraq-America Freedom Alliance. Quinn is an Iraqi-American citizen who fled Baghdad as Saddam gained power and now lives in the U.S.
Aabass is visiting the U.S. to help Quinn show America a bigger picture of Iraq. The women visited with the Freeman to share their stories.
"The idea is not to say that bombs are not happening, or that we wish that security was a better situation, but at the same time it is not right to say that nothing else is happening that is good," Quinn said.
In the year since liberation, Aabass has become an activist for women's rights. As the first female member of the Al-Tahsinniyya council, which is a new district government council in Basra, she, and all women of Iraq, have been able to accomplish more now than during the previous 20 years under Saddam's rule.
She writes a biweekly newsletter called the Iraqi Women's Echo and is active in several organizations that help support Iraqi women.
Quinn helped found the Women's Alliance for a Democratic Iraq, which was formed in early 2003 and is made up of professional Iraqi-born American women.
"We help women learn the political process and help get them back on their feet," Quinn said.
Recently, the group brought Iraqi women to America to shadow members of Congress so they could see what it is like to debate and learn how to run a campaign.
"When Saddam was in power, he stripped women of their rights, and we're trying our best to regain those rights," Quinn said.
Message for America
Both women said great strides have been made in education, human rights, health care and infrastructure improvements. Iraq has seen schools reopened, refurbished and re-painted. Some 159,000 new desks were distributed to the schools, millions of new textbooks have been printed and 20 million Iraqi citizens now have clean water and sanitation amenities they didn't have before.
Teachers are also now making between $300 and $500 a month to teach, which Quinn said is a great deal to the Iraqis.
Aabass and Quinn said none of these advancements could have been made without the help of the U.S.-led military coalition, and Aabass has a message for Americans.
"We have very good things happening in Iraq because of help from America," she said. "I am very thankful and grateful for our liberty and our freedom because with (America's) help, we can get Saddam Hussein out of our country. I feel very sorry for the families who gave their sons and their daughters who were killed in our country. They are putting their lives on the line to help us."
That means the most to Aabass, because now she is hopeful for the future, Quinn said. She didn't have that before.
"We want peace," Quinn said. "I think Iraq could really be the paradise it was supposed to be."

I found myself once again counting my blessings and being grateful for the beauty in my life, the quiet moments and the hustle and bustle. And for the many things that I daily take for granted.
My thanks to these women who are another example to us of finding opportunity in the difficulty. And to Krista Ledbetter for writing such a wonderful story. God bless all of you.

NOTE: Aabass, who has become one of Iraq's first elected officials, and the first female elected official in the new governing counsel of Basra.
For those who say elections cant happen in Iraq...guess again...on the local level ...they already are!

Why do weekends go so fast?

That was the complaint of my son this morning as I woke him for school. The child is not a morning person, must take after me. hehe. But once he's had his shower and his breakfast, he turns back into that loving kid, who bounces out the door for the school bus with a kiss and a hug. I am very lucky as he usually yells, "I love you , mom" as the screen door slams his departure.
This morning made me count blessings. He goes to a very good school, has great friends, and as most of our children....he takes alot for granted. His back pack is heavy with the various books he totes back and forth to school. He might grumble a bit when they are first given the assignment to take them home and cover them. That was until the advent of "book socks". God bless the person who came up with them. In the beginning of the school year, armed with THE LIST, we go to the store to buy the various required notebooks, pens and paraphenalia. I always buy those big big packs of pens. But by October, he will be asking me for a pen to do his homework. Hard as I try to make him be more responsible, I have to admit that I am not much better at keeping track of pens. How lucky we are. Something so simple as a pen, we take for granted.
The Iraqi children are in need of pens. IraqiSchools.com is another grassroots effort. Theres that power of one again. Major Gregg Softy ( perfect name for one so generous) was stationed in Iraq. Quite simply, he sent an email home and asked everyone to forward it on. Then he trusted that people would respond. And respond they did. To date, 997,671 lbs of supplies have been shipped over to Iraq for the school children. Amazing....people are terrific! Thank to Maj. Softy and the many people who keep this going and have invested their time and efforts to bring about a better world that benefits all of us.
Now lets keep the momentum going...
To read about IraqiSchools.com please go to http://www.iraqischools.com/
(Snickers, well what did you expect the addy to be?) It's a wonderful story, and it made me smile. Theres a history of how it began, letters from Iraq, photos, and more. There are some great ideas proposed on the site. And the needed supply list is updated. This would be a great project for our children to be involved with, helping another one with school supplies. Then maybe just maybe, my son will appreciate those darn pens a little more.
Thanks and God bless us all.

Sending hugs to an old friend....

Watching Florida get hit yet again with another distasterous hurricane, one cant help but shake ones head in wonder. To say it's been a rough season for battered Florida is an understatement. One positive consistent presence throughout it all has been an old friend, the American Red Cross. How many of us have heard those words and yet really know nothing about them? We know that we hear the name everytime there is an emergency. It almost is taken for granted. The American Red Cross will be there.
I remember a few years ago, there was a big fire in a community not far from where I live. My son was a volunteer fireman and the American Red Cross was there. Real life angels that showed up to feed and provide support for the firemen. But their work didnt stop there. They helped to find housing for those affected by the fire and supplied food, clothing, and emotional support. Now in Florida, within a moments notice, the American Red Cross is once again there, opening shelters, supplying food, and a much needed helping hand.
This very loyal and dependable friend has been around since the late 1800s. It all began with the power of one. Clara Barton. Clara first heard about the Red Cross during a visit to Europe. When she returned, she worked tirelessly to establish the American Society of the Red Cross and for the ratification of the Geneva Convention. Barton ran the Red Cross for 23 years, seeing it through an establishment of a charter and expanding its effort to domestic and international disaster relief during both war and peace efforts. And the rest as they say is history.
If you go to visit their website, you can take a journey through the past. Their resume is a most impressive one. http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/ The expanse of their efforts is daunting. Most of us probably dont even realize that this organization has touched our own personal lives in some way until you see the amount of services they offer, the amount of tasks that they take on as their own. http://www.redcross.org/services/0,1103,0_313_,00.html
As happens all too often in our hectic lives, we fail to applaud those who help us the most. Its like the old friend who is always there, the one who stands in the background never needing thanks but never letting us down. I would like us all to pause for just a moment. What would our worlds be like without the American Red Cross? I dont want to find out. I do want to send our prayers and gratitude to all the volunteers and workers from this dear and old friend.
Please visit their website to find out how you can help them. Florida residents arent the only ones that have been battered during this hurricane season. The American Red Cross and their volunteers have been as well. Yet they dont stop, they keep on going, and continue to find the opportunity in the difficulties. Please support them. They need us now.
http://www.redcross.org/

More good news from Iraq...truth defies fiction

Prime Minister Allawi made a historic visit to our country this week. That feat in itself should be held as remarkable and encouraging. It should have been met with applause and appreciation. I wont even begin to address those "naysayers" who derided him and his visit. Personally I believe, we dont need such a careless reaction to such a great accomplishment in history. If this were not an election year, I would bet that the politicos who were so negative would have been jockeying for position in photo ops. Having said that I will now concentrate on the optimism and hope that I and many others hold for the country of Iraq. In spite of the violence, or maybe in defiance I will continue to take the stand that WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE TERRORISTS TO WIN. Period the end. I am not alone in that stance. Far from it. Its interesting to find more and more Iraqi blogs coming up with the same message. Things are better in Iraq and continue to get better. Yes there is violence. But they understand and have lived with violence all of their lives. We in the US have a hard time comprehending this concept. We also dont seem to understand that Iraq for the most part is peaceful and growing. Not all areas are bound to the violence we see everyday on the media. The majority of them are not , but you dont get to see this. There is much hope and belief in the Iraqi people. Many of our servicemen that have returned from Iraq state this same sentiment. Quite a few are dismayed and appalled at the "diet" of the news that we get. On several occasions they have been heard to say," Thats not the Iraq that I experienced." So in honor of these soldiers and the committed Iraqi people , some more good news today from Iraq....
Chrenkoff is a Polish immigrant in the land of Australia. He has been blogging on the state of Iraq for quite some time and has a must read series on the good news. It is an enlightening fact filled journey through matters of importance to the ordinary citizens of this changing country.
In the tenth installment, Chrenkoff covers the topics of attitude, marriage, Iraqi television, education, sports , and economy. And thats just to name a few. Talk radio is a new diversion for the Iraqi people. Of this new option, Chrenkoff says,
After decades of enforced silence, the Iraqis are relishing a chance to speak out. Radio Dijla (Tigris), which went on air in April, continues to go from strength to strength. One of 15 new private radio stations, Dijla is the only one so far to pursue the talk-radio format. It broadcasts for 19 hours a day, and receives 185 calls an hour - more than the station staff can handle - mostly about everyday life's big and small problems.
"Beyond easing the frustrations of daily life, the station provides a chance for Iraqis to talk publicly about politics for the first time in decades. Listeners' calls open a window onto the lives of ordinary Iraqis, whose opinions often go unheard in the frantic pace of bombings, kidnappings and armed uprisings." 'After 35 years of people not being able to say what they wanted, we need something that can translate our feelings,' said Imad al-Sharaa, a news editor at the station."One such program was broadcast June 30, on the day before Saddam first appeared in court. The program director and host, Majid Salim, asked listeners what they wanted to see happen to him. The answer was something of a surprise for Salim. 'Most people wanted him executed,' Salim said."Another time, Salim asked listeners what they thought about the violent insurgency that has railed Iraq. 'We asked them, is it terrorism or is it resistance,' Salim said. 'A very large proportion -- almost 100 percent -- said terrorism. They did not like it'."And on Iraqi TV, the sign that the broadcaster has truly come of age - an aerobics show. Overall, communications throughout Iraq are improving.

If you only take the time to read his tenth installment, you will learn quite a bit.
http://chrenkoff.blogspot.com/2004/09/good-news-from-iraq-part-10.html
I have a feeling though, once you read that one , you will want to read more.
Having read Chrenkoff and many other blogs from Iraqi bloggers that live and breath the changes everyday, I dare a certain politician to call them liars or misinterpreters, as he so irresponsibly impugned Prime Minister Allawi.
Thank you Chrenkoff for making this side of the story available to all of us. Its a story that needs to be told and one that should be held in great importance. Together we can work to ensure the success of the Iraqi people, defying those who would rather tout defeat in the face of adversity. In the discord, we WILL find harmony.

Cinderella...and the shoes fits

Carrie Sturrock wrote a wonderful uplifting column that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. She introduces us to Sandra Budde, a middle school principal, who has a Marine son in Iraq. Having a son in Iraq, as one would imagine, is giving alot to our country. In that aspect alone, Mrs. Budde has our utmost respect and support. But Mrs. Budde is one of those people that hasnt stopped there. Nor did her son. Marine Lt. Ben Budde was concerned about the children walking about with no shoes in the desert heat. When his mother asked him if there was something he needed, he replied, "Yes, mom, sandals." His mom went and bought a few pair of sandals, then mentioned the idea to Jo Loecher at the school. Jo organized the campaign in short order and soon the student body of Charlotte Wood Middle School responded with enthusiasm. In one short week, over 500 pairs of sandals had been collected. And it continues to grow.
It comes as no surprise to me that the response would be so wonderful. From the article, the spirit that fills the reader is one of positive energy. When confronted with the costs of sending the collected treasures to Iraq, Jo Loecher doesnt hesitate in her belief that someone will come through. Sandra Budde told me that the project has since struck a chord with the community. The school is now planning to send monthly shipments to Iraq for at least the next six months. "It would bring a tear to your eye to witness the unbelievable generosity of the American people, especially among our student population. We have had adults walk in with cash, wishing to remain anonymous, but wanting to help out with the shipping. We have had shoe stores, shoe manufacturers, banks and other organizations call to donate shoes, funding or assistance. This has been the most heartwarming experience of my professional career." How can one not smile when reading that? Once again, I notice that the one who is making the effort mentions the reward that they get, not the act of generosity that they are giving. It is what makes us one of the best nations on this earth, this spirit of giving, the American spirit.
If you would like to a part of this honorable experience, you can help.
If you wish to donate sandals or make a contribution towards shipping or postage, please make checks out to CWMS; Operation Cinderella, and send to Charlotte Wood Middle School, 600 El Capitan Drive, Danville,CA 94526.
Thank you Carrie Sturrock for being a positive influence and writing this wonderful story and bringing it to the attention of a nation in need of good news. Thank you Lt. Budde, for being a shining example of what is good in all of us, for your service, for your care. Thank you Sandra Budde for raising such a fine young man, and for the work that you do everyday with our children. Jo Loecher, to you our thanks for allowing dreams to become reality, and having and teaching the faith that anything is possible. And last but surely not least, thanks to the students of Charlotte Wood Middle School for responding and showing others what a great generation we can look forward to . This is a school that teaches by example and shows the student the power in one. God bless you all.

Witty Wednesday

I've decided that mid week, we might all need a break. A time to giggle, to laugh, just to remind ourselves not to take ourselves so seriously and have a little fun now and then. So introducing Witty Wednesday...the giggles.
Someone sent this to me in email the other day. It made me kinda go hmmmm and laugh at the same time. I sure see myself in there. I hope you get a laugh too.

~20 Signs You've Grown Up~
- 1. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.
- 2. You hear your favorite song on an elevator.
- 3. You watch the Weather Channel.
- 4. Your friends marry and divorce instead of hook up and break up.
- 5. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14.
- 6. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up."
- 7. You're the one calling the police because those darn kids next door won't turn down the stereo.
- 8. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
- 9. Your car insurance goes down and your payments go up.
- 10. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonalds leftovers.
- 11. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
- 12. You no longer take naps from noon to 6 PM.
- 13. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning ofone.
- 14. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset,rather than settle, your stomach.
- 15. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condomsand pregnancy tests.
- 16. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good stuff."
- 17. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.
- 18. "I just can't drink the way I used to," replaces, "I'm never goingto drink that much again."
- 19. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.
- 20. You read this entire list looking desperately for one sign that this doesn't apply to you.


HeHeHe....

Looking forward, not behind....

Ok, I need to get something off my chest. This is really starting to bug me. The negativity that has become the norm. In supposed leaders or wanna-be leaders of our country, in the media, and in day to day conversations. I dont want a leader that looks at a war that our military men and women are engaged in and hear him say...oops looks bad, we are gonna lose. Geesh. What kind of leader is that???? Im sick and tired of hearing belly aching from the congress and the senate and the daily dips reporting it all over the place. All Ive heard is a lot of negativity and defeatist attitude.

One of the early lessons I learned in life was not to give up, no matter how hard it got. I had rheumatic fever as a young child. I was bed ridden for a year. I missed the first grade. Now my mother and father could have said poor poor you....dont worry. They could have let me feel sorry for myself. They could have felt sorry for me. But thats not the way it was. My mother taught me to do my lessons. I had homework. I had to learn my math and my reading. I learned to deal with not even being able to walk to a bathroom eight feet away. I learned how to keep myself occupied. I became an addicted reader. Alot of my better qualities that I have used through life, I can trace back to having learned them during that time. Whats my point here? My point is I wasnt given the option of negativity. I had a choice ...and that was to make the best of the situation and overcome the limitations.( By the way, I tested at the school to be enrolled the following year and because my test scores were higher than the kids that actually went to first grade, they passed me onto second grade. Kudos to my mom for that. I lost no ground...I in fact did even better.)

So enough is enough....we are engaged in a battle for our lives and our liberty. Enough naysayers. Enough all is bad. Enough crybabying. Enough passing the buck. Enough crippling of our military morale. Enough watching terrorists attack children, chopping off innocent peoples heads, bombing innocents traveling in car bombings. ENOUGH. ARE YOU LISTENING WORLD LEADERS? Terrorism is a very bad thing...evil....and its time we all pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps and started to yell....WE ARENT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.
Whew..thanks I needed that..(really that rant doesnt go too far away from the premise of this blog....its about substituting positive proactive and offense for negativite defeatism and nonreaction and defensiveness)......now for the good news....

I want to go back to the blog about Iraq. Spirit of America. http://www.spiritofamerica.net/index.html
These men and women are doing good things for Iraq. No moaning and complaining ...only positive proactivity. They've brought clean usable water to the Iraqi people with Water Barrels for rural Iraq. They've supplied school supplies, toys, sports equipment for the children of Iraq. They have even brought music back to the children in Kurdish villages in northern Iraq.
Their work is important to the stabilization of this worthy country. And they need volunteers.

Volunteer!We're looking for volunteers in these areas:
Outreach and Publicity - Help us get the word out about the requests we receive to your local media and organizations and Web sites and blogs that you know. We would like volunteers to commit 3-4 hours a week.
Local PR Research - Help our requestors by researching media contacts (newspaper, Web sites, radio) in their hometowns and home base locations.
Corporate Donor Outreach - Research and contact potential corporate donors. Our goal is to build relationships with companies that can make donations of requested goods or offer their products at a reduced price. We're especially interested in these product categories: school supplies & equipment, sports equipment, children's apparel and musical instruments and related music equipment. We would like volunteers to have experience in dealing with the marketing departments of corporations. If you have knowledge of the industries noted above, even better. We would like volunteers to commit 6 to 8 hours a week for 4 to 6 weeks.
If you're interested in volunteering, please email us at staff@spiritofamerica.net.

So next time you find yourself wanting to bemoan the state we are in....or want to criticize the position we have taken in Iraq....I ask you to put your money where your mouth is. Do something...Change something....contribute to its success and lets together light up that corner of the world. And maybe just maybe, we can all rejoice in its victory.
Thanks and God bless us all.
One more thing....from the pages of the TF 1-18 IN Regiment...
http://www.1id.army.mil/118/index.htm
men and women not only fighting in Iraq but going a step farther, and bringing aid and relief and education and encouragement...applause, applause and prayers for all of the brave and honorable soldiers of this fine unit. You make us proud to be American. Thank you. This quote can be found on their website, (and you know by now how I love a good quote), it is one that we all should read everyday.
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."--Theodore Roosevelt; US President
A big AMEN to that.

Another grassroots effort....

The power in one. There is a great deal of power in one. When I graduated from high school, I used the quote, " A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." As you can tell, I love a good quote. There are simple truths in them. And in this case, one can touch a thousand lives by just taking that single step. Todays good news....
AdoptaPlatoon is a non profit soldier-supported grassroots effort. It all began in 1998 with one. Ida Haag. Her son had been deployed to Bosnia and in correspondence, related his concern about 9 members of his platoon that did not receive mail or packages. Ida soon began to send these fine young men cards and treats. But once again, as in most great stories, Ida didnt stop there. She found 9 other mothers who adopted these young soldiers. It had an immediate impact on the morale of the platoon. Soon Ida was recruiting other people to adopt other soldiers. AdoptaPlatoon was born.
Ida Haag, Fran Dobson, and Joyce Lisiewski now run the organization online from their homes. They enlist the help of volunteers, who match up soldiers with families, schools, and penpals. Emails, packages, and cards and letters are sent to the adopted soldier to let them see how much they are appreciated. What a great way to get a class involved in a constructive project. The light that these women shed on their corners of the world, extends for many many miles. Ida Haag, says it best on the website..."We have so many dedicated people reaching out to make a difference in the lives of our soldiers who are as passionate as I am about AdoptaPlatoon. The reward we receive is beyond words." Its people like Ida, and Fran and Joyce that make this a great nation. Their work and dedication touches thousands, and yet they talk about the rewards they receive. God bless you all and thank you. (On a personal note: I would like to thank a new friend for bringing AdoptaPlatoon to my attention. You did good, thanks.)
In this time of war, its not about the politics. Its about the people who are serving our country. Its about bringing to them a piece of home and comfort. Its about letting them know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Its a most honorable cause.
http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/new/index.htm

From the heart of a child comes wisdom...

My son was watching television one night this summer and came into my room visably shaken and upset. He had just heard that Alex Scott, an impressive young girl had lost her fight against the childhood cancer she fought so bravely. Alex passed away on August 1, 2004. We immediately went to the internet and looked up what we could about a girl named Alex. At his urging , todays blog is dedicated to Alex, an angel who found opportunity amidst the difficulty.

Alex Scott was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer just before she turned one. For such a young child, she showed strength and courage enduring rounds of tests and treatments that would last throughout her life. Kudos to her wonderful parents for providing the support and nurturing that grew with Alex. At the age of four, Alex decided to do something to bring about the cure for her illness. She decided to sell lemonade and donate the money to her hospital. Imagine...four years old! With her family's help Alex held that first Lemonade Stand and raised over $2000 for Connecticut Children's Medical Center. She didnt stop there. The next year, Alex held another lemonade sale. She raised $600 for Neuroblastoma research at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Alex and her family then established the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Fund. The news of this remarkable young child began to reach other people.
In 2004, there will be hundreds of Alex's Lemonade Stands held around the country and even in other parts of the world. To date her simple idea has grown and now has raised over $900,000 for pediatric cancer. Alex is an example of how we can light up the corners of our world. Her story began with one little girl, who took the steps despite her own plight, and made a big big difference. Alex's work isnt done. Now its up to us.

If you are interested in holding a lemonade stand, or donating to Alex's cause, please go to
http://www.alexslemonade.com/index.php
God bless you and your family Alex and thank you for touching our lives in such a beautiful way.

And the good news in Iraq...shocking isnt it

So much of the news we get from Iraq is horrid, when in truth it isnt all horrid. Now, before you jump on me, I know that a war is not a pretty thing and it is horrid. But we need to hear both sides now.....and besides did you read the title of this blog? I dont care if you are for the war or against the war. Thats not what this is about. And quite frankly, I wont hear you. There are plenty of other blogs where you can go to debate the pros and cons. This is the good news....

I love reading these blogs from Iraq. These voices coming from their country has given me a different perspective of what is happening on a human level. I like the idea of getting some other viewpoint on what is happening there and what can be better than someone who is living it. This was the first one I experienced. http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/ . It defied all the reports I had been reading and seeing here. It acknowledges bad times but gives a deeper and more inclusive narration on what it is like to live under these changing times in Iraq. I went back and read the blog from the day it began and found a history lesson in the telling. I have a better understanding now of the who's who. And a bigger resolve to find harmony in the discord.
Please take some time to read about Mohammed, Ali, and Omar. I am humbled to have been allowed to share their insights.
Heres a site that reaches out for help to aid in Iraq. Should you be so inclined, maybe we can begin to be proactive instead of just giving word play and criticism. Maybe we can start something good.
http://www.spiritofamerica.net/index.html
Thanks and God Bless us all.

And the good news is....

For a long time I've been pondering this adventure. Everywhere we seem to turn there is nothing but bad news being thrown at us. I am an optimist. That I will admit. I believe we each can choose whether today will be a good mood or bad mood day. When my kids were young, I would tell them not to try to change the world, but just to light up their own corner of the world each day. And hopefully, it would be contagious. Unfortunately, the way the world is looming these days, trying to light up only your corner of the world just isnt enough. With that thought in mind, I've decided to try to wade through the everyday messages and announcements to find some story that highlights the good. The theme of this blog will be just that. And maybe, just maybe, I will do my part and show my kids that lighting up their corner can be done.