Thank you!

 I am thankful to the men and women

who have put their lives on the line

so we may live in freedom.

Thank you Veterans for your sacrifices!

Thank You

Veterans Day is a day to honor those who have served in the armed forces. 

The folks who fought to give us freedom. 

I'm thankful for the sacrifices of the vets and their families. 

Recently, a little boy told me his dad is a veteran and his brother is in the service now. 

With heartfelt respect he honored his dad and brother. 

I lift up the families of those who serve and have served. Thank you!

My dad served in WW2. Love this photo my daughter, Maggie, snapped.

Respect and Appreciation

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

We love that our grandchildren attend schools where they are taught to respect and appreciate the people in the armed forces. On Monday, we visited Max's school for their Veteran's Day program. Students from elementary through high school participated. We listened as the children reminded us why we celebrate the heroes who have fought for our freedom. Boys and girls read thank you notes they wrote to the veterans. On the front row of the audience, several vets from the local veteran's home listened with intent. The band and chorus groups played and sang several songs honoring these men and women. One song in particular stirred my heart, "Let There be Peace on Earth." Two students filled the auditorium with their lovely voices as the words recounted how peace must start with each person.

For me this program tied together Veteran's Day and the appreciation I have for the folks who work and fight to provide my freedom with Thanksgiving Day, a day where I count my blessings. As I listened to Max's class sing the National Anthem, I couldn't help but feel joy for the respect and appreciation being instilled in these children. They are being taught to value each other, just as the apostle Peter noted. As you celebrate Thanksgiving Day, contemplate why we are free to gather and enjoy food and family. Think about the men and women who are away from their families, serving overseas. Pray for each one who has served and continues to, that they may be protected and blessed with peace.

With gratitude and respect, I thank each one who has served and is serving.

Fiction Book Review: Rescuing Finley (#1 book in A Forever Home series) by Dan Walsh

Book Description:

Amy Wallace has made plenty of mistakes in her young life, but she didn’t see this one coming. Chris Seger is a marine serving in Afghanistan. His life is forever altered by a single, fateful step. A mother of another Afghan war vet suffers a devastating loss, which changes the course of Finley’s life for good. Finley is a mostly golden retriever, who suddenly finds himself alone and confused in a dog shelter. Later, he’s brought to a local prison to be trained in a special program for female inmates. Could this prison actually become the place where Finley finally finds his freedom? Rescuing Finley tells the story of how one rescue dog powerfully impacts three tragic lives and puts all of them on a road toward redemption and healing.

My Review:
I stayed up past my bedtime to finish this wonderful story of love and redemption.  There are so many things I enjoyed about this book. Finley has his own point of view in this heart-warming story, which shows animals have feelings, too. Dan's characters  are realistic with honest emotions and issues. I learned about a program for dogs I had no idea existed, and witnessed how God places people in each other's path on purpose. Each person's story evolved as they put their trust in one another but mostly in Finley, and finished with a satisfying ending. Anyone who loves dogs and appreciates character-driven stories will enjoy reading Rescuing Finley. Another aspect of Dan's book which touched my heart was his wife's input. She's a dog trainer who knows the ins and outs. Bottom line-this is the type of book that reminds me why I read fiction. I just love it and look forward to the rest of the series.  Rescuing Finley would be a great gift for a dog lover or a military family. I received this book in exchange for a fair review.

Learn more about Dan Walsh and his books.