Patriotic Fridays has returned here!  Though I have often said even if I don't get a post done, never forget our troops.

Today, I have a place to go for ideas you can do with your kids.  Go to America Supports You and go to the Kids Take Action page.  This page is "chock full" of good ideas of ways your family, homeschool group, or church group can show your appreciation and support to our troops.  Check it out.  And continue to pray.

Patriotic Friday!  I am excited about sharing this with you.  Earlier this week, we met with one of our senior Chaplains from the D.C. area.  He gave us this beautiful packet that we are hoping to get the word out about sharing with our troops in harms way.

Gina Parsons and her husband started Celebration Ministries and part of this ministry (if not the largest part of it), is A Message of Thanks for Our Troops.  These packets include a CD of inspirational music, a laminated Psalm 91 card, and many other extras, all in a vinyl jacket.  It fits easily into a pocket and is protected well against wear and tear.

Check out their website.  You can order your own copies, have your church order copies for any soldiers of your congregation, or give a donation which will put these packets in the hands of military Chaplains of any branch who can pass them along to their troops. 

Support this ministry and our troops as you can.  Visit this site and always remember to pray for our troops and their families.

Well, I have been working on reading this book for a bit now, but tonight, I sat down and finished it.  Not because I had decided that it was taking me too long to read it, but that I had some quiet time and got completely "sucked in" and couldn't put it down.  What book is it you ask?  A Soldier's Promise.  It is a true story about a young Iraqi boy, nick-named Steve-O, that went against all that he knew and turned his father (and many of his father's friends), in to the U. S. Army.  He lost most of the rest of his family due to his decision but he remained resolute to do the right thing. 

If you are associated with the military, you will love this book.  If you aren't, it is such a good book.  It helps give a good insight into what our soldiers face each day in Operation Iraqi Freedom, it is a story of resolve and determination not easily found in America today. 
Of note, be prepared for some "colorful" language.  It is written by a soldier.  It isn't profuse, but it is there.  If you can get around that, I encourage you to check it out.  I have included some links to help.  I have included an audio-book site and Half.com.

I laughed like I hadn't in a while and I cried.  The cat thinks I am crazy.  It is so good, please check it out.  And while you read, remember all our troops in your prayers.  Pray Psalm 91 over them as God calls them to mind.  And pray for Steve-O, too.

It's Friday again.  You know what that means!  Show your patriotism for our troops and country!

This week, I am sharing something a dear friend and another Chaplain's wife sent me this week.   It is a good reminder of why we are where we are and why we do what we are doing.

Remember to turn your speakers up.  And always remember to keep them all in your prayers.

God bless all our troops and their families.  We love you all!

Since my Dad was a Band Director and musician, I have special interest in this story.  If you have a child that wants a career in music, with a guaranteed paycheck, you can't beat the Army band!  Or Jazz band, or Soldiers' Chorus, or a host of others.  They are some of the top musicians, too.  Even Dad served, drafted during the Korean War, in the Army Band. 

Check this story out.

In the military, you hear about the values.  Here is a great story about an Army Ranger who exemplifies the Army values and also family values. 

Remember those prayers for our troops and their families.

For the first time in a couple of weeks, here is my Patriotic Friday post!

Check this out.  This young man, Ray "Bubba" Sorenson has painted this rock on Highway 25 in rural Iowa for a few years now.  The rock used to be covered with obscenities and now it is covered with a beautiful tribute to America and its veterans.  Each year, he paints new scenes.

Go to his website to check it out.   It is truly worth the visit.  Be sure to to take some time to thank him, too.  This is an amazing young man who has chosen to use his talents to show his patriotism and love for our soldiers. 

Thank you, Ray "Bubba" Sorenson.  You make us proud!     

Sorry to have missed last week, but with all the rain, our internet was down for a while.  But I am back this week with this good news story.  This is going to be some baby shower!

Remember our troops and their families in your prayers.

Well, yet another Patriotic Friday!I have been looking for more good projects for us to offer support to our troops and here really great one.  

Shauna Fleming is a young lady that began a grassroots effort to send letters to our troops in 2004.  Since then, she has worked with the Department of Defense and America Supports You.  The website A Million Thanks tells of the efforts to raise up 2.6 million letters in 2006. 

Let's see if we can get our kids, church group, homeschool co-op, etc., together for another good project.

Check out Shauna Fleming's efforts and see if it is something you would like to support.

And, remember to keep our troops and their families in your prayers.

It is Patriotic Friday again.  I know I am so predictable, but when you love something, you just gravitate to it.  So, for today, I will leave you with another quote, this one from Noah Webster.

It is Patriotic Friday again!

As this week has gone by, I once again thought about what I wanted to share and why.  I basically feel that this endeavor is really about supporting our troops and showing that support to them.  So, with that in mind, I have decided to share more ways you can offer that tangible support to our men and women in uniform.

Have you heard of Lamplighter Publishing?  This is a wonderful company with many good books and other resources.  What I do like about them is that they also have a soldier ministry.   The people at Lamplighter would like to send books to our soldiers fighting overseas.  So for tax-deductible donations you can, through Lamplighter, send books to our men and women in uniform.  Lamplighter will even send you a receipt on the amount raised and how many books they were able to send to the soldiers.

I remember when my hubby was deployed, one thing he longed more for was good reading materials to pass those times when not much would be happening and the days and nights seemed to be so long. 

Again, I encourage you to visit Lamplighter Publishing, not only for your own information on good books for your children, but also to support our dear Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines fighting for us around the globe.

If you all will bear with me.  I just love good quotes and I just love our former President Reagan's way with words.  He just said things in a way that make me stand a little straighter, hold my head a little higher, and perhaps cry a few more tears when I think about our nation and the men and women in uniform that protect me and all of us daily.  Enjoy and wear your red, white, or blue!

"There are those who believe that men in uniform are
somehow associated with starting wars. That's like saying
policemen cause crime . . . Keeping the peace is the most
important problem we face. And I believe that because
young men . . . are willing to put on the uniform and
endure the rigors of military life, peace is more secure."

"Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have."

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

Rightly said.  God bless our soldiers and their families.
Remember to pray for them and our nation.

Here is another Friday!  I have thought and thought about this week's post.  Being married to the military like I am, I can think of many ways that people can support our troops or "be patriotic" and all of them are good ideas.  But, I was thinking about something different this week.  What are some ways we can show our troops that we support them and support them by supporting what they are doing?

One tangible way to show your support (and anyone can do it because you don't even have to live near a military base, or know someone in the military to get involved in it), is through  Operation Iraqi Children.  This is a wonderful organization founded by the author of Seabiscuit: An American Legend, Laura Hillenbrand and actor Gary Sinise. 

How can this really benefit our troops?  Read what is in their mission statement and Gary Sinise's comments below.

By bringing Americans and Iraqis together and demonstrating American devotion to the welfare of the Iraqi people, the program can foster understanding between our nations and generate goodwill between Iraqis and American soldiers.
"Every time a box of school supplies is delivered by our troops it will be another small victory for them in helping win the hearts and minds of the Iraqis," says Sinise.    

Consider a drive in your neighborhood or church.  Or have your kids put together their own boxes for these Iraqi children.  They will, in turn, be reaching out to our soldiers and showing them that we want them to succeed in their missions.

Thank you and God bless you, Mr. Sinise and Ms. Hillenbrand.

Continue to pray for our troops not only in Iraq but also Afghanistan and elsewhere.  With our recent victories against the War on Terror, they need our vigilant prayers even more. 

We have some really incredible Patriotic Friday posts today!
Check them out!

Sheri's beautiful tribute to the WWII veterans.

Jen's reminder of our traditions and the Star Spangled Banner.  I, too, Jen, can't hear our anthem anymore without tears in my eyes.

Read Red Skelton's commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance on Trish's/ The HomeFront Blog.

And Renee gives us a wonderful history lesson on the Star Spangled Banner and it's beginnings.

We also have those who have joined us in celebrating Patriotic Fridays around HSB!  If you join us, please let the HomeFront know.

Here, eyecorn shares a beautiful picture of why we do what we do.

Melonie shares Patriotic Fridays and The HomeFront to her readers.  Check back to catch her Patriotic Friday post!

Thanks to everyone but a big Thank You, hugs, and kisses go out to all our troops and their families.

It's Patriotic Friday again!

Here is a wonderful story about volunteers.  We can all make a difference in the lives of our military by simply volunteering, even in seemingly small ways.

How about it?  Would you like to be a VIP?

God bless our troops.  Hooah!

Anyone wondering what is happening with my story on Hill 303 and the Korean War?  Keep checking back.  I am working on a personal side to this story that I think you all will enjoy.  A good history lesson and also many other lessons woven in.

Hint, one of our precious soldiers here has a personal connection to Korea and Hill 303.  It will be good.