A Love Letter to my Husband

Written By: Kim - Nov• 28•12

Today is my husband’s birthday. I can’t think of a better way to honor him than writing him a love letter.

Positano, Italy 2011. ©MikeHoward

Dear Mike:

God brought you into my life 22 years ago. He gave us two beautiful children. He has blessed us with many more ups than downs and has carried us through bleak times. While our life is not always picture perfect, it is about as close as you can get to heaven. We love, we laugh, we argue, we travel, we teach and we learn. We used to have more free time and money before we had children, but we both know how empty we would feel without them. Marrying you was never a mistake. Bringing our children in to the world was not one either.

1. Thank you for making me a part of your life.

2. Thank you for loving my parents and our children.

3. Thank you for always being generous, even when I returned the diamond tennis bracelet.

4. Thank you for attending church with me and the children consistently before you converted. You always led by example.

5. Thank you for leaving love notes in my luggage when I go away on a business trip.

6. Thank you for always believing in me and having my back.

7. Thank you for cooking on Monday nights when you know the first day back at work and school is hard on all of us.

8. Thank you for never giving up on yourself even when times were scary and tough.

9. Loving you is easy. Living the daily grind is often not. Our grit and faith in God helps us get through everything.

10. You were the best thing that happened to me. I can’t imagine my life without you or our children.

Love, Kim

Posted in Children, God, Marriage, Parenting, Pursuing Talents, Service, Travel , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Surely You Can Spare $1 for a Veteran

Written By: Kim - May• 26•12

Today I was grocery shopping at my local store. As I exited, the ladies from the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW) were selling their “Buddy” Poppy. The simple selling point is: “Remember our veterans.” These flowers are assembled in VA hospitals by disabled and needy veterans according to the VFW’s website.

A new "Buddy" Poppy to add to my collection.

As I do whenever the Buddy Poppies are on sale, I donate and get one for my car or more if my children are with me. All three of their grandfathers, their father, aunts and uncles served in the US military. It is a gentle reminder for them and me that someone else sacrificed so that we may live in a free country. Someone else stepped up to serve to help those oppressed in other areas of the world. Someone else’s life was changed forever because of his or her selfless act. The least we can do is donate a couple of dollars.

How can someone say no to that? I understand turning down Girl Scout cookies, Boy Scout popcorn or softball team fundraising bake sales. These types of food are not for everyone. Imagine my surprise when a guy turned this down with a polite “no thank you.” It took all my adult patience not to march in to the store after him and speak to him. Who knows. Maybe he works for the VFW and has hundreds in his garage.

So, this weekend when you see someone selling the Buddy Poppy outside of your local stores, please stop and donate. Surely you can spare $1 for a veteran.

Posted in Children, Citizenship, Dad, Military Service, Navy Seals, Service, Vietnam , , , , , , , | No Comments »
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