Truly American

So tomorrow marks 5 years since the terrorist attacks on our nation. Today in church we watched a video about that terrible day. The video really sturred up some deep emotions and brought me to tears a few times. It's amazing how deeply those events impacted me, us all really, and how easily I forget what I was feeling that day. I wonder, if I lived in New York or Washington or Pennsylvania, if those feelings wouldn't be buried as much. Or if a brother or cousin of mine were serving in the military, would those feelings be closer and fresher? I guess that's kinda what anniversaries are for, to remind us of life changing events and how they made us feel and how they've affected our lives. I hope, no matter how long I live, that I still feel the pain, anger, confusion and glimmer of hope that I felt again today; the same things I felt on 9-11-01, that we all experienced as we watched, in a day, our entire world change in a deep and even eternal way.

Recently I read a TIME magazine article that made an attempt to predict what the 30th anniversary of the attacks would be like. The article talked about how we Americans returned to life as "normal" and moved on talking about movie stars and partisan politics in no time. That's just the thing, we've got it so crazy good here. Our country is at war and we've still got the time to complain about gas prices, gossip about TomKat and play fantasy football. I'm not saying that we should necessarily stop doing those things but that we need to get a clue about how blessed we are to still have our freedoms intact. There are nations all over the world that have no idea what it's like to be able to petition their government, travel from border to border without question and pursue the dreams that they have for their own lives, let alone to do those things while their country is at war. We live in a day with no comparison and in a nation that has no equal on this planet. Truly, God has blessed America.

I've decided to be a little more purposeful in giving thanks to God for this country, praying for his protection on those who serve to keep us free and to say thanks to the ones paying the price for that freedome. Won't you join me? Here's a few sites that can assist you in communicating that thanks to those who gave and are giving their all:
-A WTC Memorial
-Let's Say Thanks
-A Millions Thanks

This is a day and time when one can make so much of a difference. We're still feeling and seeing the results of the actions of those crazy terrorists today, 5 years later. What if millions more of us got involved in praying and acting for peace, justice and encouragement in these times of great distress. God help us all to truly be Americans!

...and some inspiration to boot.

So I'm pretty sure I've made it out the other side of Grandma's passing with mostly possitive affects. Yes, it was a very difficult thing. I didn't quite know how to deal with this sort of thing as it really hadn't happened to me before. But with the help of close friends, a great family, an amazing & patient wife, a nooma video and Jesus I have emerged a better, more complete and even more empathetic person.

Grandma has not left me, she isn't "lost" (as some say, "sorry you lost your grandma.") she has just moved locations. She has gone from being visible, audible and tangible to being ispirational, spiritual (fully) and memorable. Of course she also moved from earth to heaven, duh. :)

Through this process I have come to find solace, peace, even joy in thinking of Grandma. She left behind not a lot of money but a wealth of worthwhile substance for all who knew her. Some of the "stuff" she left behind is now in my possesion; old bibles, prayer journals, pictures, letters, certificates, etc. and all of these things serve to move me forward in the continual pursuit of a life worth living...like hers. I have walked away from the last few weeks with more resolve, determination, energy and motivation to take the bull by the horns and LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. My dreams are ever before me and not only that but the conviction that they will come to pass has awakened my faith yet again and inspired me to be all that God desires for me to be. It is once again a redemption story; beauty from ashes, strength from weakness, life from death, all things...for good, thanks to the Redeemer Himself.

AMEN.

Remembering Grandma

Well, I'm finally getting down to this. A blog about my grandma.
She died on Tuesday.
It's been difficult, really up and down since then. About 25 years ago my grandpa (her husband) died but since then no one really close to me has died. Grandma and I were really close. In my heart and mind we shared a very tight bond. Her husband was a minister and well, often times I reminded her of him. Sometimes that really troubled me but once I talked with her about it and she said it always made her happy when something I did brought memories of grandpa to her mind.
She was like that. Never really sad. Never very down. Always smiling, laughing and bringing joy to where she was. Just this month she celebrated her 87th Birthday. And, get this, the day she died was the 65th Anniversary of her wedding. It helps to think that her and grandpa were "reunited" on that day.
Next week there's a memorial celebration of Grandma's life. It's taking place in Minnesota so we'll be heading up there. When she turned 80 her and her three daughters sat down and went over all the things necessary to prepare for when she died. In planning for the memorial service she put my name down in the preferred clergyman spot. So I'll be speaking at the memorial, I pray that I can make it through and that I make her proud.
For a while my myspace site will be filled with pictures and memories of grandma. If you knew her you know that she was very special. Please feel free to leave comments. You can also check out this blog site to see what other family members are saying about her.

Thanks for reading all of this, I know it's long.

-dp-

ice maker ! ! !

We finally have an ice maker! I'm so excited about this. I haven't had an ice maker anywhere I've lived since I moved out of my parents house in 2001. 'WOW, 5 years w/o an icemaker,' you may be thinking, 'how in the world did you make it through?!?' Well, we did it. Finally, after running the copper tubing, installing a valve and the appropriate drilling of holes in the floor, the ice maker in our new fridge now runs.

I can feel the collective sigh of relief as I'm writing this. Thank you for your concern friend. I can assure you that we will all enjoy colder, more refreshing beverages at my house w/o the pain of filling & re-filling those blasted ice trays.

Oh happy day!

~~bfn~~