Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - Wednesday's Hero - Cpl. Lance M. Thompson

Cpl. Lance M. Thompson
21 years old from Upland, Indiana
2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
November 15, 2004


The father of Cpl. Lance Thompson said his son would be proud knowing he fought and died to help Iraqis vote in an election.

Cpl. Lance Thompson died in during fighting in Ramadi, Iraq by a truck bomb. His father, Greg Thompson, said his son sent him a letter in September of '04 which said, "Freedom is not free. It requires sacrifice."

Greg Thompson said the millions turning out to vote in Iraq was "fantastic" and said it was a "momentous day in the Middle East."

"Are you asking me was it worth Lance losing his life?" he asked a reporter. "Being the gung-ho Marine that he was, he would say yes. So I'll say yes. That is a tough, bitter pill to swallow. It hurts. God, I didn't want to give up my son."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - BFS# 104 - Don't Leave Home Without It!!

Don’t Leave Home Without It! (Marketing Credit: American Express)

Memory Verse: Matthew 28: 20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

Intro: Never Leave Home Without It (Marketing Credit:  American Express) Diapers, bottles, wipes, bibs, pacifiers, extra clothing, cell phone, PDA, ipod, iphone, credit or debit cards … what would you never leave home without?

Assignment: In the memory verse Jesus tells us that He will never leave us, not even at the end of the world.  He assures us in this verse that He will be with us and that means through everything we go through in life.  I thought it would be interesting to write about the things we would never leave home without.  For some it might be baby needs, others it might be a gym bag and bottle of water, and for some  it might be your Bible and a notepad or small journal, maybe even your son or daughters favorite blankie!  I’d like for you to write about something that you would never leave home without.

Picture Ideas: planner, books you read, address book, purse, keys, gym bag, water bottles, baby or children things, notepad/Journal, Bible.

Share your favorite scripture and don’t forget the Memory Verse above.

My children are no longer little and don't require me to bring things with us when we leave the house. I don't have to think about diaper bags, wipes, books, changes of clothes, snacks or bottles. There is the occasiona, but rare, reminder  to have driver's licenses, military ID cards, money (of their own...not mine! YES!) or cell phones.

However, there ARE two things that we have instilled in our girls to NEVER leave without...they are simple but essential. First...Never leave home without our blessing. When our girls leave to go off on their own (to college, jobs, etc) we always pray over them and give them our blessing. The words change with time and circumstances but the meaning is always the same...that we love them and want things to go well with them. That we are supporting them emotionally, spiritually and occasionally financially! *L*

The second thing we never leave without is saying "I love you!" I learned early in life that those you love may not be with you always and that you must never take for granted the chance to say I love you. This was a gift my parents taught me. I've taught it to my girls as well. We never depart from one another without saying it, never end a phone call without saying it and never close a letter or email without saying it. Our actions speak just as loudly as our words, sometimes louder, and we try to live in such a way that each member of our family KNOWS they are loved by the others. We also tell our children we are proud of them and they things they are doing and choices they are making when we feel that way. I won't pretend we agree with everything they've done...we don't. But for the most part, our daughters ARE a source of pride and joy for us. We take every opportunity to let them know this.

This has been a real stretch for Beloved...coming from a traditional Japanese family, his parents tend not to be demonstrative in their affections. I remember him telling me that his mother (who ADORES him and vice versa) had only said the words "I love you" to him once in his life and that was as he was leaving for basic training over 25 years ago now. Now let me say that his parents love for him, his siblings and the rest of us has never been in doubt...just the words are scarce. Having three very girlie, emotional and affectionate granddaughters has stretched them as well and I am thrilled to tell you that these days, Grandma and Grandpa never end a visit or phone call without saying "I love you!"

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - Pink Almond Party Cake

Here is another treat to make during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Betty crocker has gone PINK....

try this recipe or check out Mango-Strawberry Torte, Surprise Cupcake Cones or

Raspberry Lemonade Cake

Cake
1	box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix
	Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box
2	teaspoons almond extract
6	drops red food color
Garnish
4	oz vanilla-flavored candy coating (almond bark), chopped
2	teaspoons vegetable oil
	Red food color
Frosting
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4	cup shortening
1	teaspoon almond extract
4	cups powdered sugar
4	to 5 tablespoons milk

1.	Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and sides of 2 (9- or 8-inch) round cake pans with baking spray with flour. In large bowl, beat cake ingredients, including 2 teaspoons almond extract and 6 drops food color, as directed on box. Pour into pans.
2.	Bake as directed on box for 9- or 8-inch rounds pans or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
3.	Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, microwave candy coating uncovered on High 1 minute, stirring twice, until melted and smooth. Stir in 2 teaspoons oil. Spoon about half the melted coating into another bowl; stir in 2 or 3 drops food color to tint it light pink.
4.	Line 6-ounce custard cup or other small bowl with foil. Pour half of the untinted coating into foil-lined bowl. Drop half of the pink coating on top; pull a knife through coatings to make marbled design. Repeat with remaining untinted and tinted coatings, adding on top of marbled coatings. Refrigerate about 20 minutes or until set; remove from refrigerator. (If refrigerated longer, let stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften.)
5.	In large bowl, beat butter, shortening, 1 teaspoon almond extract, the powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons of the milk with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Beat on medium speed, adding enough of the remaining 1 tablespoon milk until fluffy and spreadable.
6.	Place 1 cake layer, rounded side down, on serving plate; frost top. Top with second layer, rounded side up. Frost side and top of cake.
7.	Remove coating from bowl; peel off foil. With vegetable peeler, make curls by pulling peeler around the outside edge of block of coating. Place curls on top of cake.

Monday, October 6, 2008 - Simple Woman's Daybook

Sunday, October 5, 2008 - Praying For Our Children

Give me wisdom regarding my children.  Show me anything that I am not seeing, and let all that is hidden come to light.  If there is any action I need to take, I depend upon You to show me.  Thank You that You help me parent these children. "There is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known."  Matthew 10:26