From the Rising of the Sun, to the going down of the same. The name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

Spencer , Wisconsin

Today there is frost on the ground and fewer leaves are on the tree than only 1 week ago. The piles of leaves under the trees are more than the numbers still holding on tight.

I have had the opportunity in this past month to see a lot of the state, as I travel from one family event to another.

I drove from Spencer, WI. to Burlington, Iowa for my brother Billie’s 80^th birthday celebration. I was the only one of the siblings able to make the trip. None of us are getting any younger 😊.

It is a long trip BUT  I love road trips, I love alone time and I love the western part of our state in the fall. Rolling hills and colored leaves all the way there and back.

The celebration was very enjoyable. No cussing and swearing, drinking or drunks. Not even any arguments about politics or religion.

It was Kaci (granddaughters week-end to work so I dropped Wren (great granddaughter off with her grandpa. (Autumn’s husband).

My brother’s wife and I went to high school together.

It was enjoyable getting to know my brother’s son and daughters in-law a bit better. I have a very large family and I am afraid at reunions and such, everyone plays a-bit of who is that standing with or sitting by ?? So it was very nice getting to hear their hearts for Jesus and their families.

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I have this thing about looking at a photo and analyzing what it is saying.  This picture of my great grand daughter just struck me that this might be the view from God’s perspective when we say in our hearts “I am just fine, I don’t need any help.

The week before I went to Iowa for my brother Billie’s birthday, I drove down to Madison for Brother Terry’s honor flight. This is a flight to Washington DC for Viet Nam veterans to visit the Memorial Wall. There is a ceremony for them when they return to the airport. Each veteran that were able to stand were escorted down the escalator by 3 or 4 active duty military.

The first expression I saw on most of their faces was when they saw the crowd of people filling both sides of the walkway between the escalators at each end of the Madison terminal. Even the toughest of them had tears. I couldn’t help but think most of them were back in their twenties expecting a handful of people. It was very moving. ….Reminder!  It is never to late to say Thank You to anyone…..

  My brother had just came out of the hospital, actually he was just in again and came out today. So he was unable along with a handful of others to take the flight, but they were honored as well. Instead of escalator, they came down in the elevator. It was just as moving.

        Why I didn’t think past honoring my brother, but I didn’t. Then suddenly I kinda froze with the realization that there was a veteran that was not coming down that escalator. Somehow, I had put it totally out of my mind that my husband also belonged on those moving stairs. He too deserved a Welcome Home. At any rate I stood trying to keep my composer then lowered myself to my folding chair. It reminded me of a line from Grief Share that says  “God doesn’t expect you to put a plastic smile on a broken heart”!

Then as if right on que my sisters 5 yr old great granddaughter which had been by me on and off all evening returned and said “I have an idea, we will hold hands and when the other men come down the steps I will lift our hands up and we can both wave our flags that we have in our other hand. OK!!  I said “Oh Honey that would so very OK.

I believe that was my God reaching out with the hands of a 5 year old. A broken heart was mended.

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My soldier… Hard to believe he turned 19 in Viet Nam

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Last week end I took another trip west to spend a few hours with my sister that had just had surgery in La Crosse, WI. More beautiful country.

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My hand has healed, my shoulder and hip both let me know they didn’t appreciate my last meeting with the floor.

Still watching Great Granddaughter. Many Day Cares want them potty trained and feeding themselves. She is 20 months. Not quite into the potty thing yet 🙂

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Each Day there is Much to be GRATEFUL for!!!

Each Day there is much to COMPLAIN about!!!

EACH DAY I MUST CHOOSE!!!

Blessings! Thanks for Reading!