My Weekly Word for last week was SACRIFICE
Seemed such a fitting word at the end of May with Memorial Day!
Having been a military brat and wife for all of my life I for one am beyond PROUD and so thankful for all the men and women that have fought for all of our freedoms in this country!
I was so touched with my sister Linda's letter as she reflected on it being her birthday and Memorial Day that I shared it with you below.
Sacrifice is such a powerful word! Of course as a Christian it sure does have a deep and profound meaning to me as I know that my Savior sacrificed his life for me!
As a mother, it hits deeps in my soul as I know I'd sacrifice whatever to ensure that my kids are safe, happy and healthy! It's been quite a transition from having little ones to teens to young men and seeing that although we still want the same things for our boys, we have to go about it in different ways as they get older. We can do what we can to keep them safe, happy, and healthy but there comes an age when they have to take on that personal responsibility to be safe, happy and healthy.
When it comes to my art there are many things I do not ever want to sacrifice. First, the authentic place it comes from. I can tell when I am producing just produce - in the end I'm usually not happy with the results. I feel the difference when it flows and is free and comes from my heart to my head - down my arm and onto the piece. Second thing I never want to sacrifice when it comes to my art is my integrity. Again, if it comes from my heart to my head or my head to my heart and down my arm and onto the project piece I think my integrity will always stay in tack. A few other words that came to mind when I was thinking about this word and my art ~ Genuine * Humble * Generosity * Honor
That last word leads me right into this first week of June with my first A Weekly Word ~ HONOR
I'll share more about how this word showed up in my life and art this weekend right here on my blog!
Blessings,
Sandy
Now, enjoy my sister's letter!
My Birthday, My Parents, My Freedom
So today is my birthday and as I have gotten older the gifts are really nice but I could do without the numbers that will lie(I wish they were lying) on my cake today( oh and pounds that will lie on my hips for a while due to the cake I eat :) ( I use "lie" purposely) I have found it interesting how my perspective on everything changes year after year as my age increases, I'd like to say increasing age, increasing wisdom, yeah, that's what is happening.
While I have been and will continue to be honored today by my precious family and friends I would like to pay tribute to a few heros in my life--
On this day ( a long time ago, and I will leave it at that) a young lady of 18 and a young man of 20 brought home a tiny little bundle that I know brought them joy but also I am sure, uncertainty. You see that young man's job didn't pay a lot and the hospital bill was $7.00, which they did not have. The grandmother promtly paid the $7.00 dollars and a new chapter of life began for their little family. For us.
My parents were young and worked very hard to give my sisters and me a good life. My daddy's job took us all over the country. We switched schools numerous times. We had to make new friends which was not always easy. The hardest part of my daddy's job that we had to deal with were the numerous good-byes we had to say, not to others, but to him. You see my daddy was a United States Marine. He got to travel the world with his job at the expense of his family but also to ensure freedom for his family and for his country. It is a selfless job. Another selfless job is that of a Marine's wife. I watched my mom cry as she kissed my daddy goodbye at the airport with 3 little crying girls hanging on either her leg or his. I watched my litte sister, who only remembered that our daddy wore fatigues, run up to other fatigue clad soldiers in the commissary and call them daddy. My mom would apologize and explain that our dad was gone. And gone he was-- gone to a war in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, his precious mom died, his wife missed him terribly and was left to raise us on her own for a time. All Sacrifices for our Country's freedom, my freedom yet when he came home his country spit on him. Gone were the hero's welcome home parades just a country whose tide was turning, and although the decision to go to war was on our country's leaders, the ones who suffered most from those decisions were the brave men and women who fought in them.
My Dad wore his uniform proudly and was most handsome in his dressed blues. I still get teary eyed when I hear the Marine Corp Hymn, I even know the words and will sing along. I was proud to be called a military brat because I knew that what my dad did was important and I was proud of him. I knew what my mom did as a military wife was important and I was proud of her. My parents were not perfect people but I can tell you they gave of themselves for the freedom of others. Not only do I have freedoms in this country because of them but I also have freedom in Christ, because of them. They laid the foundations for me to accept Christ as my personal Savior a choice that I can freely express because of my daddy and others who bravely fought, or will fight for our country, for me.
So today I wanted to pay tribute to my parents but I also want to add the rest of my family who so proudly served our country:
Father in love, Fern Gagnon- Marines
Brother in love, Bruce Rasmussen- Navy
Brother in love, Steven McTier- Air Force
Nephew, Adam Rasmussen- Army
My niece and Nephew's father, Matthew O'Brien- Army
Thankfully celebrate your freedom today!
I'm also thankful for my father in loves service to our country - Army
My beloved who served our country for 22 years in the Air Force
and my Grandfather - Claude Kennedy in the Navy
Hugs,
Sandy
