First I must start out by saying that the Lord has answered my prayers and brought my son-in-law home from Iraq, safe and sound. He called me yesterday morning a few hours after he landed in Hawaii. It was wonderful to hear his voice and he was so happy to be home with Candie.
They will now have the chance to be a normal married couple for a while, which they deserve. Candie has been a good military wife, loyal and full of love and support for her husband while he was deployed. It was hard on her and I can't even begin to imagine how she mustered up the inner strength. I'm proud of her and the woman she has become.
Thomas also made a huge sacrifice in leaving his beautiful bride and their home together to serve his country. He is everything I hoped for in a son-in-law and I'm so proud to have him in my family. I have prayed many hours for them and know that they will be blessed with a wonderful marriage and a loving home.
Also, this was my birthday weekend and having Thomas arrive safely was the best gift I could have received. My sweet husband sent me to Hawaii to spend some time with Candie earlier this month, so this has probably been one of the best birthdays of my life.
Please continue to pray for our troops and their families. God bless everyone especially Thomas and Candie.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
On His Way Home!
Today I heard from my daughter Candice that her husband Thomas is on his way home from Iraq! She spoke to him this morning and he was in Kuwait, waiting for his flight back to the United States. He's expected to arrive in Hawaii sometime this weekend. Needless to say, Candie is excited and happy at the prospect of having him home.Thanks to all who prayed for his safe return. Please remember to keep praying for our troops and their families. They need our love and support.God bless you!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Support Our Troops
My son-in-law, Thomas, is due to return from Iraq any time between now and the end of October. I'm thrilled that this ordeal will be over for Candie and Thomas soon. Tonight when I called Candie I heard something in her voice that I hadn't heard since he left. She was bubbly and happy and rushing to make her preparations for his homecoming.
Last week when I was in Hawaii visiting her, we went to Schofield Barracks where he's stationed. It was exciting to see the "Welcome Home" banners strung out across the entrance and the base seemed alive with families and newly-returned soldiers. As we drove through the housing areas, I caught sight of many homes with "Welcome Home, Daddy" and "We Missed You" signs in the front yard. I guess living in an area that's not near a military base, it's easy to forget the homecomings that are taking place everyday.
On Sunday when I returned home, there was a young soldier standing in the airport waiting for his flight to Hawaii. I watched as a man and his two young children approached the soldier. The man introduced his children to the young man and said to the kids, "Did you have something to say to him?" The two children then said, "Thank you for protecting us. We appreciate it." The kids looked so proud and the young soldier said, "Thanks. It's my pleasure." I will pray for that young man every day because I know that there are family members who will miss him while he's deployed.
When Thomas deployed, I put a yellow ribbon in my tree and promised to keep one there for him until he came home to us safe and sound. I added another one on August 1 for my cousin, Jan, who is now serving in Iraq. I've decided to keep a yellow ribbon in my tree until all our troops are home. I feels it's the least I can do to repay them for all they're doing for us.
Please continue to pray for our troops and their loved ones. Whether you agree with the war or not doesn't matter. They are our brothers/sisters, neighbor, friends, sons/daughters, husbands/wives, fathers/mothers and they deserve our support and prayers.
God bless everyone, especially our troops.
Last week when I was in Hawaii visiting her, we went to Schofield Barracks where he's stationed. It was exciting to see the "Welcome Home" banners strung out across the entrance and the base seemed alive with families and newly-returned soldiers. As we drove through the housing areas, I caught sight of many homes with "Welcome Home, Daddy" and "We Missed You" signs in the front yard. I guess living in an area that's not near a military base, it's easy to forget the homecomings that are taking place everyday.
On Sunday when I returned home, there was a young soldier standing in the airport waiting for his flight to Hawaii. I watched as a man and his two young children approached the soldier. The man introduced his children to the young man and said to the kids, "Did you have something to say to him?" The two children then said, "Thank you for protecting us. We appreciate it." The kids looked so proud and the young soldier said, "Thanks. It's my pleasure." I will pray for that young man every day because I know that there are family members who will miss him while he's deployed.
When Thomas deployed, I put a yellow ribbon in my tree and promised to keep one there for him until he came home to us safe and sound. I added another one on August 1 for my cousin, Jan, who is now serving in Iraq. I've decided to keep a yellow ribbon in my tree until all our troops are home. I feels it's the least I can do to repay them for all they're doing for us.
Please continue to pray for our troops and their loved ones. Whether you agree with the war or not doesn't matter. They are our brothers/sisters, neighbor, friends, sons/daughters, husbands/wives, fathers/mothers and they deserve our support and prayers.
God bless everyone, especially our troops.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Visiting Candie
Last Thursday I flew to Hawaii to spend a few days with my beautiful daughter, Candie. You can't imagine how much I wanted to go until you understand that two things in this world terrify me: dying in a plane crash and the ocean. Still, with Candie in Hawaii I had no choice but to board the jet and fly over the ocean to see her. It was worth every minute of the fear I experienced just to spend time with her. She picked me up at the airport and even presented me with a beautiful lei when she got there. We quickly got into the car and drove to her condo/apartment in Pearl City. She lives in a high-rise building, on the 30th floor and the view from her apartment is absolutely breathtaking. After I rested for a while, we were in the car headed out to shop and eat dinner. Her friend Stacy joined us and we had a great time talking and laughing.
On Friday while she went to work, I hung around the apartment until she got home. We laid out at the pool for a while, then went in and got ready to hit Honolulu, eat dinner and walk around the International Market. Saturday we headed out to Schofield Barracks, the North Shore and Sandy Beach but our trip got cut short when someone broke the window in Candie's car, opened up the trunk and stole our purses! The damage to the window was costly to Candie and the anger we felt was very upsetting, but not enough to ruin the trip for me.
Sunday we attended mass together and I realized it had been quite a few years since we'd done that. As I became more and more absorbed in the mass, my happiness at being there with my daughter grew and I began thanking God for all the blessings He has given me. I would not have been able to make the trip without the thoughtfulness of my wonderful husband, who paid for me to go as an early birthday present. And the days I spent with Candie were days I will remember for a long time to come.
As for the purse-stealing incident, the thieves didn't take anything of any consequence to me since I had my wallet, cell phone and camera with me anyway. The most important thing is that I the the opportunity to spend some wonderful days with Candie.
Thomas will be coming home from Iraq in the next couple weeks and we are all so thrilled! Please continue to pray for our troops and their safety.
On Friday while she went to work, I hung around the apartment until she got home. We laid out at the pool for a while, then went in and got ready to hit Honolulu, eat dinner and walk around the International Market. Saturday we headed out to Schofield Barracks, the North Shore and Sandy Beach but our trip got cut short when someone broke the window in Candie's car, opened up the trunk and stole our purses! The damage to the window was costly to Candie and the anger we felt was very upsetting, but not enough to ruin the trip for me.
Sunday we attended mass together and I realized it had been quite a few years since we'd done that. As I became more and more absorbed in the mass, my happiness at being there with my daughter grew and I began thanking God for all the blessings He has given me. I would not have been able to make the trip without the thoughtfulness of my wonderful husband, who paid for me to go as an early birthday present. And the days I spent with Candie were days I will remember for a long time to come.
As for the purse-stealing incident, the thieves didn't take anything of any consequence to me since I had my wallet, cell phone and camera with me anyway. The most important thing is that I the the opportunity to spend some wonderful days with Candie.
Thomas will be coming home from Iraq in the next couple weeks and we are all so thrilled! Please continue to pray for our troops and their safety.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Mama Mia
If anyone has read my profile, you've probably noticed that I list bowling as one of my hobbies. My husband and I bowl on two leagues, one on Thursday night and one on Friday night. The Friday night league is a Sons of Italy league and this is our third year in that league. I really love to bowl and it's not necessarily because I'm good at it. On Friday nights I bowl with two other ladies and this season we've named our team, "Mama Mia". The first year we were "Chicks Rule", last year we were "Oh Chit" (and before you waste anytime wondering, yes that's exactly what we meant) but this year we are Mama Mia.
Barb, Dottie and I have been bowling together 3 years now. For a brief time we had my friend Chris on the team because Barb had shoulder problems. But last year and this year it's the three of us again. The other ladies in the league are Margaret, Anne, Anna and Graciela. The rest are men, including my husband Ray, Barb's husband Dan and Margaret's husband Richard. Bowling with these ladies has been one of the best times of my life!
We have lots and lots of inside jokes, and all it takes is one of us saying, "There will be no regalia tonight!" to send the rest of into hysterical laughter. In fact, sometimes it takes just one word to break the rest of us up. The men usually stand and look at us wondering what's so funny...to be honest, we probably couldn't begin to tell them because it's often beyond our understanding, too. The bottom line is, these women are my dear friends. I know if I had a problem or something bothering me, they would listen and give me their support or advice and I would do whatever they need as well.
I've grown to love these ladies like sisters and love the time I spend with them. Sure, we get very silly sometimes but I thank God for them because they have brightened up my Friday nights immeasureably. The hours I spend with them laughing, talking and bowling are important to me because of who they are.
Please continue to pray for our troops and especially for my son-in-law Thomas who is due to return to Hawaii this month. God bless everyone.
Barb, Dottie and I have been bowling together 3 years now. For a brief time we had my friend Chris on the team because Barb had shoulder problems. But last year and this year it's the three of us again. The other ladies in the league are Margaret, Anne, Anna and Graciela. The rest are men, including my husband Ray, Barb's husband Dan and Margaret's husband Richard. Bowling with these ladies has been one of the best times of my life!
We have lots and lots of inside jokes, and all it takes is one of us saying, "There will be no regalia tonight!" to send the rest of into hysterical laughter. In fact, sometimes it takes just one word to break the rest of us up. The men usually stand and look at us wondering what's so funny...to be honest, we probably couldn't begin to tell them because it's often beyond our understanding, too. The bottom line is, these women are my dear friends. I know if I had a problem or something bothering me, they would listen and give me their support or advice and I would do whatever they need as well.
I've grown to love these ladies like sisters and love the time I spend with them. Sure, we get very silly sometimes but I thank God for them because they have brightened up my Friday nights immeasureably. The hours I spend with them laughing, talking and bowling are important to me because of who they are.
Please continue to pray for our troops and especially for my son-in-law Thomas who is due to return to Hawaii this month. God bless everyone.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Jury Duty
For the past week I've been on jury duty. For those who are not familiar with the one-trial system California has adopted, it goes like this: you get your summons in mail and are told to call in every night (beginning on a certain date) to find out if you have to report to the court house in person . If you have to report in person, you then drive to courthouse on the day you're told to appear (usually the next day at 8:30 a.m.) and spend the whole day there waiting and waiting for something (anything) to happen. If you're lucky you get to go to a courtroom and (possibly) have your number called to sit in the jury box as a potential juror. Otherwise, you pretty much sit in the courtroom and listen in case one of the prospective jurors is eliminated and your number gets picked to replace them. Once you get to the end of the day (usually around 4:00 p.m.), you're excused and don't have to be on jury duty again for at least a year.
The interesting thing about jury duty is the people you get to meet. I've been in jury duty 3 times in the last 7 years and each time I've managed to meet someone to talk to while we wait. The funny thing is that when I get a summons in the mail, I always think about the imposition, if there's anyway I can get out of it, or possbibly trying to move my service location so it's more convenient. Then, once I actually get there, I start feeling better about the whole thing and begin to enjoy myself. This time, I had actually hoped I might get on a trial but then remembered that I'm due to leave for Hawaii on Thursday.
Since I was assigned to the courthouse in Whittier, CA, I took advantage of the situation during lunch the lunch break and walked seven blocks to the historic district to indulge my love of old, historical homes. It was a cool, windy day and the walk was an easy one (only slightly uphill) and I saw some truly beautiful homes.
I guess the bottom line for jury duty, or any unhappy situation you may face in life, is that life is 99.9% attitude. If you have a crappy attitude, the experience will be an unpleasant one. If you find something positive about the same experience, it can turn out as good as you want it to be.
Please continue to pray for our troops. They need our support just as much now as ever.
The interesting thing about jury duty is the people you get to meet. I've been in jury duty 3 times in the last 7 years and each time I've managed to meet someone to talk to while we wait. The funny thing is that when I get a summons in the mail, I always think about the imposition, if there's anyway I can get out of it, or possbibly trying to move my service location so it's more convenient. Then, once I actually get there, I start feeling better about the whole thing and begin to enjoy myself. This time, I had actually hoped I might get on a trial but then remembered that I'm due to leave for Hawaii on Thursday.
Since I was assigned to the courthouse in Whittier, CA, I took advantage of the situation during lunch the lunch break and walked seven blocks to the historic district to indulge my love of old, historical homes. It was a cool, windy day and the walk was an easy one (only slightly uphill) and I saw some truly beautiful homes.
I guess the bottom line for jury duty, or any unhappy situation you may face in life, is that life is 99.9% attitude. If you have a crappy attitude, the experience will be an unpleasant one. If you find something positive about the same experience, it can turn out as good as you want it to be.
Please continue to pray for our troops. They need our support just as much now as ever.
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