Sack Lunches

I heard this on the country station while I was driving the other day and wanted to share it with you: I wanted to post it yesterday since it was Veterans Day, better late then never. Right?!

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap, I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me . I decided to start a conversation. "Where are you headed?" I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Irag. After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago. His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq: it's almost like you are doing it for him.' Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of the plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is yours, thanks.' After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness i never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless you.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.

As I listened to this on the radio station, I thought how grateful I am to live in a country where there is freedom. That as a woman, I can live free!! Since we are coming upon Thanksgiving, I want to say that I am so grateful for what I have. I safe place to live and a roof over my head, food and clothing and our health. I am so grateful for a wonderful husband who works so hard to support us and give us the things we have. For such great family and friends!! I am truly blessed!!

Like Father, Like Son

This picture I think is so cute. LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON!! Brady is a dipper, he loves to dip anything he has into something!! He takes after his Auntie! This picture is of brady and his dad, just having a pow wow, taking chips and dipping it before he eats it.

Look at this face, priceless!!

Halloween up In Canada

I have a nephew that lives up in Canada and I don't get to see him alot, only through the web cam, blogs or if i'm talking on the phone to my sister, then I can hear him and it just makes my day. (Thank goodness for modern technology) My grandma says, she can't believe how I can pick up the phone and call my sister anytime I want! She said that she would go for weeks waiting to talk to her family or even my grandpa, she would have to wait for a telegram, which even then was so short due to the cost for each letter they would write. I would die, there is no way I could go that long in between! We are so fortunate.

I wanted to post some pictures of Brady on Halloween! He was a Lion, which I think he is the cutest lion i have ever seen!! He looked adorable! I love him so much, i wish we could live closer to each other. Some of the other pics are of him and the family carving pumpkins!! He had so much fun, (so I hear) He just dove right in there and was pulling out the insides, trying to eat it. There is a picture of him trying to eat the top of the pumpkin!! He is so stinking cute!! Then after they were done they put candles in the pumpkins and he would take the lid off and try to get as close as possible to look inside, he thought that was so cool! It's amazing to see this through a child's eyes!! It makes Halloween that much more fun when you have little ones to celebrate it with!

Wish I could of been there, but maybe next year!! I love you Brady!!