Top Ten With Annoyed Army Wife

Hey there Lovelies! I am missing from the bloggy world for a bit as I travel from Arizona back to Georgia and embark on an internetless journey of finding a house and turning it into a home before Mr. Superman arrives home. Until then, enjoy all of my Lovelies who will be entertaining you and be sure to show them a lot of love! I have the fantastically snarky and witty Annoyed Army Wife today. I love her blog and love that she's a real life Blog Lovely friend. Go ch-ch-check her out! Plus, yesterday I happened to be a guest for HER because she is off picking up her loverface OccDoc!


I am uber-pleased to be guesting for Mrs. S. today.  I can normally be found at the annoyed army wife.  For the past 7ish months I've been supporting my darling husband, OccDoc, on his first deployment to Afghanistan as a battalion surgeon.  Here is a snippet of what I learned while he was gone.

Top Ten Things I Have Learned While My Husband Was Deployed

10.  OccDoc, my husband, cleans up dog shit in the yard and doesn't tell me about it.  He's been gone for 7 months, and I have never ever seen so much Chihuahua crap in the yard.  I am planning to clean it up in the next couple of days and expect to be rewarded a medal for my valor.

9.  Movies are not as funny when there isn't someone on the couch to laugh at the funny parts with you.

8.  Flannel sheets aren't as warm and cozy when you don't have your husband's thighs to put your cold feet on.

7.  It doesn't matter if there is another person present, I will have a conversation with my dogs, or my rabbits if I'm really desperate.  I have a need to incessantly talk to some one, even if they don't know what I'm saying.

6.  Apparently OccDoc is not the one who forgets to put a new roll of toilet paper in the bathroom when the current one runs out.  That lesson sucks big time every time I had to learn it while he was deployed.

5.  My car does not need to be washed every week, that's a waste of money.  That money could be spent on shoes.

4.  If you are 5 foot 3 inches, the entire contents of the all top shelves of your cabinets will live on the countertop while your marginally taller husband is deployed.  I'm too lazy to be climbing all over the counter every time I needed the kosher salt or the grilled cheese sandwich maker.

3.  Pillows can retain your husband's scent and will release that scent when you least expect it.  Keep Kleenex by the bedside for these times.

2.  I spill a lot of coffee in the morning.  OccDoc always cleans it up before I realize I spilt it.  He's always doing stuff like cleaning up my little messes before I notice them.  After seven months you will notice 'little' messes.

1.  I can make it through a deployment and be just fine, but that doesn't mean when he comes back I can't exaggerate a bit and guilt my husband into buying me more presents and doting on me a bit more this year.  Just sayin', you've got to have a plan, people.  I'm just kidding, I won't guilt my husband into too much, maybe just a few pairs of shoes...

Walk Like Madd

Hey there Lovelies, I'm not quite back but I needed to share something with you about a friend that is very near and dear to my heart.

Last year, I shared with you all about my friend Kale who had been killed in a head on collision in a drunk driving accident. We'd been friends since I was in 5th grade and he was seriously the sweetest, funniest guy ever. His mom Nancy, an absolute blessing to this world, has been advocating on his behalf as well as all those affected by drunk driving. She contacted me to see if I could pass along some information through email and I just knew I could do a lot more by having her share her story here on my blog.

I know we are all busy and all have things we are involved in but it would mean the world if you could take the time to pass this along as well as go and donate even just a dollar or two. Its for an incredible cause and after you read Nancy's story, you'll be hard pressed to find an excuse not to.

Just go HERE and click Support Team Clay/Serafin 

My 23 year old son, Kale Daren Clay is the 2nd son, 3rd oldest in a family of 8. Think Brady Bunch on Steroids! A crazy, happy, loud bunch of us. We were part gypsy, moving often. I tell people, "Witness Protection". Far more interesting than the truth behind our many moves. As a result, the kids were each others best friends, learning that many things come and go in life, but your family is your rock. Kale's had friends wherever he went. From Boise, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, even in Iraq. 

Joining the Army became his primary focus after a few years of drifting after high school, dead end jobs, etc. His weight piled on, something far too easy for the Brown line he comes from. We eat our feelings! He had to lose 100 pounds to join, and it took him just under a year to do it. He was focused and driven, wanting to be part of something he could feel proud of. He was so proud wearing his uniform. He had such a smile, that just melted your heart. You could not stay mad at him long. A practical joker, and seeker of fun; full of pranks and mischief. He made friends of senior command leaders, who would seek him out, just because it felt good to be around him. He made the unit's  deployment bearable, said many of his battle buddies. Mike, his battle bud, told us the story of how Mike was called home due to a surgery his wife would be having. Kale carried Mike's gear, all 80lbs, in addition to his own, during the heat of summer in Iraq. Never complained, only asked how his wife was whenever they spoke.

After his Iraq deployment he settled into life at Ft. Carson. He would be moving on to a new duty station the following  spring at Ft. Drum, with Afghanistan deployment in the summer. I had worried so much over his last deployment as only those who send loved ones off to a warzone know. In my mind, he was a "boy scout camp". That is where I pictured him and believed him to be safe. Seeing him fully decked out in his protective gear always seemed to shock my brain to reality that he was not "safe". Each day you prayed, held your breath, and hoped you would never get "the knock". 

Most of us had talked to him either day before or a few days before, I remember we talked about the college classes he was signing up for, and working towards making his Sergeant rank. He told me about his cool new tatt he got with his Battle Buddy, Mike, since they had both served on a security team. Kale became Uncle to his kids. They loved the mischief Kale would bring to the house. That morning when I woke up, Sat. Feb. 13th, he was on my mind. I called him, and his phone just rang and rang. I left a message for him to call me back. That evening, a rare quiet date with my hubby, just us and the remote. Kids all out at a dance, friends, dates, etc. Two of our gang, were both living out of state. About 9pm, we get "the Knock". It seemed unusual, we were not expecting anyone. I heard Mark talking, then saw them enter.

It seemed like slow motion, and took me only a second to recognize them, instantly knowing, Kale was dead. The one closest to me, not sure how to break the news, nervously asked me "how I was doing?" I looked him straight in his eyes, my voice  shaking and said, "I don't know, you tell me how I'm doing." Not wanting to hear what was coming next. 

"We regret to inform you that your son, Kale Daren Clay has been killed." 

My head started crying out, "NO, NO, not Kale!, Not my son, Not my baby!" I pretty much lost it at that point, crying so hard. We held each other for a time, trying to absorb it. It seemed so unreal, you just kept thinking it or saying it as if it somehow would feel more real the more you heard it. We next knew we had to tell our children. We were about to inflict the cruelest pain on our children, their hearts were about to break and we could not fix this. We started calling them home, "get home right now." The tones, and words already alerting them something major was happening. 

We called our daughter in Washington, hospitalized the past year for trying to jump off a bridge in Seattle. I was about to devastate her and I could not be there to make sure she could handle this. To not have anyone there to hold her or know she could get through this. The screams in the phone tore through our hearts. 

Jordan came in just as dad was telling Kassy in Virginia. The party she was at with friends and family there, all told me later how her screams and cries just cut them all to the heart. Jordan hearing the news that his beloved brother and best friend, was dead fell to the floor, doubled up in pain. 

The girls came next, Megan, Jessica and Becca, all hearing the crying and the news fell, crying, screaming, so unbelievable. 

Brian was the last to arrive, he met the kids in the front yard and hearing the news started swinging, trying to fight us from delivering him this cruel blow. 

We all held each other, cried, friends gathered, all of us numb and in shock. We learned that he was killed in a head on collision early that morning. Another passenger, Pawel Serafin died with him. The driver was a friend of Kale's, and he received injuries to his legs and some internal damage. They served together in Iraq. The truck they hit, was a 350 utility truck. He was injured in the crash. Kale's injuries we later learned, were two instant death injuries, one upon impact, the second as Pawel, who was not seat belted, flew forward, smashing into the windshield. 

I was told that Kale had tried to call a taxi that night, he had tried to call a friend who did not pick up the call. He had plans to meet up with a girl he was seeing but they missed each other. So many things that would have given us a different outcome. Jordan Peters later told me that he held up the Designated Driver business card that all soldiers are required to have on them at all times, he gave a safety briefing to his unit with it. If only he had just called them. If only a police officer was at the bottom of the hill just past base. 

There have been so many hard things we have experienced this past year, burying him, his birthday 17 days later, the two weddings his sisters had that he missed or his first neice being born. Going through trial, seeing those photos I tried so hard to not see that will haunt me to the end of my days. The greatest tragedy was that his death was preventable. The choices made to have "fun" have a lifetime of devastating pain. I carry that till the day I die.

Seeing how it has torn up the hearts of my family. Jordan Peters was sentenced to 10 years, and a bad conduct discharge. His career is over. He carries the pain of this as well to the day he dies. There are no winners here.

This is why I became involved with MADD. It took a personal experience to open my eyes to this huge problem. 

If I can spare one other mother, the pain my heart carries, one other family from being destroyed over the loss of a loved one than the work I do and Kale and Pawel's death will have meaning. MADD was there from day one, and has continued to assist our family during those very dark hours. The services they provide make coping possible. It is free to victims and survivors but is not free to make possible. It takes events like the Walk Like Madd, their biggest campaign, to fund the many programs of education, assisting with court/trial for victims, working with lawmakers etc. 

My son loved being a soldier and was so proud to serve his country. Won't you help me give back? Any amount adds up. I set a goal to raise of $2328.00 the ages of Kale and Pawel. I am half way there, and need help. It is not an easy thing for me to do, I am one who takes pride in serving others and am not good at accepting help. It is my driving force to do this for them. 

I have chosen to walk in Kale's boots he wore in Iraq. They are big, and will probably really hurt, but I walk for him. He did so much for so many others, never caring about his own discomfort.  I hope you will take a minute right now, and find someway to help. 

One, pass on our story to all your contacts, the more ears that hear his message the better.

Two, sign up to help our team, on the walklikemadd.org, we are listed in Phoenix, and look for Team Clay/Serafin. You can join us if you are close, Sat. April 2, Westgate Center, Glendale AZ, or sign up as a "Virtual Walker". You don't even have to walk.  

Or just send a donation! Really, every dollar helps. Ask people for donations or to sponsor you!

Next, never drive if you drink, don't let someone you know drive if they have. Never be a passenger of an impaired driver. Wear your seatbelt! 

From his birthday March 3 to the walk April 2, I am going to find daily hard things, in his honor, so join me in that too. I struggle with getting up early, exercising more, eating better... always putting change off. Not this time, I promised him the day I buried him, I will do hard things, because he showed me how.

I pray together, we can save lives!

Again Lovelies, please, go go HERE and click Support Team Clay/Serafin

Childhood Dreams with Goodnight Moon

Hey there Lovelies! I am missing from the bloggy world for a bit as I travel from Arizona back to Georgia and embark on an internetless journey of finding a house and turning it into a home before Mr. Superman arrives home. Until then, enjoy all of my Lovelies who will be entertaining you and be sure to show them a lot of love! Yeaaaah! As we start this second week of Guest Blogging Lovelies, I want to give a huge shout out to everyone thus far and an even bigger one to today's guest. Yes, the rumors are true, I am indeed hosting Amber from Goodnight Moon. Gah! Its okay, scream it out. Its okay to be excited. Be sure to go blog stalk her and maybe some of her awesomeness will rub off on you :)

Do you remember when you were growing up

and

you were asked the question

"What do you want to be when you grow up"?

What was your answer?

I changed my mind a few times.

I wanted to be

a teacher

a florist

a nurse

a nun.

Yes...

I said nun.

Now that I'm an adult

and

have been an adult for some time now

I think back on my list

and

realized that I am none of the things I "wanted" to be.

Life happened.

That's a simple statement isn't it?

Life happened.

But it's true.

Sometimes life throws you off the course

you thought you would be on

in life by now.

And thats okay.

I am where I should be

and

for a reason.

I am a

stay at home mommy

to 4 amazing children.

I wouldn't give that up for anything.

Like I tell my kids everyday

"Be your best".

It doesn't matter what job you have in life

just

"be your best".

So it's okay that your not where you thought you would be

right now.

Life happens.

Embrace who you are right now

and

what you are doing.

Make your moments count

and

be happy.

Little Tid-Bits of History

I'm Mormon. 

I love being Mormon. 

I stand proud amongst the millions of others who believe what I believe and who trust whole-heartedly what I trust.

Did you know that in the entire history of the United States, the Mormon religion is the one and only religion that it was legal to kill a member?

Kind of insane.

I also wanted to share this story here that occurred last winter. The Mormon Tabernacle burned down. It was truly heart-breaking but this came out of it.

The entire painting scorched, ALL except around Christ. How cool is that?

This video gave me chills as the scope and magnitude of the history of my church settled in.

Living Like A Tourist With No Model Lady

Hey there Lovelies! I am missing from the bloggy world for a bit as I travel from Arizona back to Georgia and embark on an internetless journey of finding a house and turning it into a home before Mr. Superman arrives home. Until then, enjoy all of my Lovelies who will be entertaining you and be sure to show them a lot of love! Today, I have The Lady. Yes, THE Lady. She is freaking awesome and the bomb diggity. To say she's a blogging celebrity would be an understatement. Go join her fan club.

I'm not sure about you, but I am not in love with my current city.

In fact, if Jacksonville, North Carolina was a person I would recommend a good plastic surgeon.

The first business you see when you drive out of the front gate of the base is a strip club.
Not a nice one, either. No professional athletes or politicians here.

If you continue driving you will pass countless car dealerships, fast food joints, sad strip malls, sad strip
clubs and the ever present vultures of desperate service members; military financing and check cashing
establishments.

It's easy to become bored in a place like this and for a long time, I was bored.

It's Saturday night!! What do you want to do? Target, the 2000 square foot mall, or the movies? Maybe
we can head to the corner gas station/McDonalds and meet up with the rest of the street bikers!
Decisions, decisions.

Luckily, while browsing through blogs one day I stumbled upon a post (I don't remember what blog, but
it was rad) in which the author talked about living like a tourist in her own town.

I was intrigued.

So that very weekend we did some research and discovered a farmers market 30 minutes away. We
went and we loved it! We started planning weekend adventures for new places and towns to explore
and after living here for 2 years I actually started to like it.

For 2 years I drove past Goodwill, never once stopping.
It's now my favorite thrifting playground and I have found countless treasures there.

30 minutes away is a restaurant devoted to Marilyn Monroe, Elvis AND Christmas. My trifecta of
happiness and for years I didn't even know it was there!! How lame was I?!?

I know it can seem like you live in the most po-diddly-unk town on the map, but if you're looking for
adventure, you'll always find it.

My Husband Gets The Shaft With Right Here, Right Now

Hey there Lovelies! I am missing from the bloggy world for a bit as I travel from Arizona back to Georgia and embark on an internetless journey of finding a house and turning it into a home before Mr. Superman arrives home. Until then, enjoy all of my Lovelies who will be entertaining you and be sure to show them a lot of love! Today I have the Lovely Adrienne. She's a newbie follower and jumped at the opportunity to blog for me which mad me SO happy. She's seriously cute and has some quick wit. Be sure to go check her out!

First off, let me just introduce myself! I am Adrienne from Right Here, Right Now!

So there we are! Yeah, that's my Army Husband in the picture! He and I have been married since Sept. of 2010! Can you believe it? Already over 6 months of marriage... Time sure does fly... Sometimes though... I feel that my husband is getting the shaft... From me (not in the gross way or anything...Get your head out of the gutter! Jebus...). I am just this 23 year old girl who he decided to marry. I am sure he has his reasons, but... He is 30! He picked this little young thing, who doesn't know too much about life... and has yet to experience many of the things that he has already experienced! Basically... What I am saying is that I am young compared to him! I don't know what I am doing!

I can tell you though, that I am SO thankful to have him as my hubby! 

 

He treats me so well. I mean, he married me... Got me with him to Korea, got me a Wii, and now, we're getting to move to Germany. I will admit it, I AM SPOILED by him!! And me? I do my best...ish... It's TIRING keeping up with the... internet and then trying to keep up with the house too! It's pretty tough cooking meals everyday! I barely cooked anything that wasn't out-of-the-box (aka Mac n cheese... Hamburger helper... etc). Though... I am learning, slowly. How on earth do you make it a daily thing? I don't have kids (thank goodness, I really don't know what I would do then!), that would make this a million times harder!

Husband works so hard, and then he comes home to... me... Sometimes I am showered, sometimes I get the dishes done, and clean the house. But it's rare that I have everything pristine by the time he gets home.  Which makes me think that sometimes he could be thinking to himself "What on earth has my wife DONE all day?!". But I like to think that he doesn't think that.

What do you do all day? How on earth to you keep the motivation to keep the house clean all the time?

An Attitude of Success With Katie

Hey there Lovelies! I am missing from the bloggy world for a bit as I travel from Arizona back to Georgia and embark on an internetless journey of finding a house and turning it into a home before Mr. Superman arrives home. Until then, enjoy all of my Lovelies who will be entertaining you and be sure to show them a lot of love! Today, I have my fabulous sister-in-law Katie! She's uber smart and always goes after what she wants. She also has a foodsie blog where she showcases all of her awesome kitchen creations so go check her out!

“If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot.” -Confucius

Something in the last few months has truly plagued me. I am surrounded by rich teenagers who don’t pay attention in school and try and scrape their way through the class with extra credit and cheating. Quite frankly, it’ s sickening and annoying. And it has made me realize that I am part of a waning group of people. The people who work hard to be where they are. The people who climb the ladder step-by-step as opposed to those who expect to live off of taxpayer dollars or instantly get a promotion. Too many lack an attitude of success. So I’ve put together a couple of steps that I feel are important for achieving success.

Steps to Success

1. Want it

"Without a desire to succeed, there’ s no hope at all." "The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence." –Confucius 

Whether you want to score well on a test, lose ten pounds, be more outgoing… the point is that you want it. But wanting it is not always enough. You can want to get six-pack abs, but if you eat
junk food and watch TV, you’ re not going to get very far. If you want something badly enough, then you’ ll be willing to work hard to get it. Motivation is key.

2. Work for it

Of the three steps, I feel like this step is the most important of all. If you don’ t work for something, you don’ t value it as much. Desire is good, but if you’ re not willing to put in some effort to get it, then you’ ll never achieve success. For me, I’ve desperately wanted to lose some weight for years now. Wanted to lose weight… but doing nothing about it. But last summer, I started working out consistently. My desire to lose weight paired with my effort to lose weight was a winning combination. And it was just that. A combination. The best path to success pairs want with work. Without want, your success will not be satisfying.

Without work, your success might not happen at all. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” -Confucius

3. Enjoy it

You can’ t just work hard and not reap the benefits of that hard work. While the results from your success are good, if you’ re not happy with them, then it wasn’t really worth it. If you don’ t enjoy your success, however, it can also be a catalyst for you to work harder- work until you DO enjoy them, until you ARE happy with what you completed. I can guarantee that I’ m pretty happy with the thirty pounds I lost last summer, but since I’ m not completely happy, I’ m going to continue to work hard until I am. Though it’ s still a ways away, the idea of my future success will keep me going, and honestly? I can’ t wait.

I’m a student. I have a 3.9 GPA. I have full-ride scholarship offers and have been accepted into some of the best schools in the country. Why? Because I’ m willing to work hard. I have been raised in a family where they accepted nothing less than the best. And I feel that many today lack this particular attitude. Maybe if we had a few more of these kinds of people in the world, we’ d have a lot less wars and a lot less debt. But for now… we’ ll keep working hard to ensure America’ s future is a good one.

Don't You Worry Mrs. S. With Like Sunshine After Rain

Hey there Lovelies! I am missing from the bloggy world for a bit as I travel from Arizona back to Georgia and embark on an internetless journey of finding a house and turning it into a home before Mr. Superman arrives home. Until then, enjoy all of my Lovelies who will be entertaining you and be sure to show them a lot of love! I am so excited to have Katie here from Like Sunshine After Rain. She's my twinner and one of my BFF's for real.  When I read her post, I was thinking, "Oh my gosh, how did she know?!" I love her to death and so will you so go check her out.

When Mrs. S. asked me to guest blog for her, I did a little happy dance. You see, other than the fact that Mrs. S. is a bit of a celebrity in the Mil-Spouse blogging world, she's also pretty much my twin. If one of us has done something in our life, has had something happen to us or caught some strange, 2 in 301,938,503 chance disease and explains it in one of our emails, the facts are that the other will write back, "You're not going to believe this, but I've done that to, had that happen and whoa, 1+1=2 and that's so me and you."

I've been wracking my brain for a week about what to write for you, Mrs. S' fabulous readers, that would live up to her standards. My husband and I were on base this weekend and it finally hit me.

We were running a bunch of errands and happened to drive past the buses, you know the one's, every military spouse, significant other, family member, fiancee and girlfriend's best and worst nightmare, pulling into a homecoming. I immediately started grinning and wiping tears from my face, all at the same time.

And then, as we turned the corner, I started giggling. Frank was looking at me, waiting for an explanation, but it was one of those pathetic giggle attacks, where you just can't do anything except giggle and gasp for air. I finally calmed down enough to say to him, "Those buses just made me remember my biggest fear about your last homecoming. I've never told you before because it was so stupid and irrational, but I couldn't stop worrying about it until I was actually in your arms again."

I was scared he wouldn't remember what I looked like. I was scared that he would get off the bus and not be able to find me, even if I was right in front of him, because he literally wouldn't remember what I looked like.

Frank just looked at me, did some giggling of his own and asked me if I was serious. I told him that yes, I was serious. We had only been dating eight months prior to him leaving for eight months and I knew he had a lot more on his mind in Afghanistan than the color of my eyes and the length and/or color of my hair. I was petrified that he wouldn't remember who I was. It was irrational and definitely laughable, but at the time, a very real fear.

So, here it is, my advice to Mrs. S. Don't worry your pretty little head off that Mr. Superman won't remember what you look like. We are twins, so I know the thought has crossed your mind. For starters, you're way too fabulous and too freaking hot to forget and well, they just don't forget. They're good like that.

Fashion Forward with Chambanachik

Hey there Lovelies! I am missing from the bloggy world for a bit as I travel from Arizona back to Georgia and embark on an internetless journey of finding a house and turning it into a home before Mr. Superman arrives home. Until then, enjoy all of my Lovelies who will be entertaining you and be sure to show them a lot of love! I was so stoked when Chambanachik said she'd guest post for me and cracked up pretty hard as I read her post. All I'm going to say is I love jellies too!! Be sure to check her out, she's fabulous. 

“Fashions have done more harm than revolutions.” -Victor Hugo

First of all, a huge thank you to Mrs. S. for letting me guest blog today! She’s kind of a blogger superstar/goddess, so I am both honored and intimidated to write for her. 

Here’s the thing- I am a bit worried about my daughter, Millie;

specifically, I’m worried that she will turn out like me. 

Most of my nieces dress like tiny pink and purple versions of their mothers. If  Millie is going to have the same fate, the poor girl was doomed years before she was even born.

I am the kind of girl who can/does spend hours pouring over fashion magazines. I drool over the creativity of  bloggers who post fabulous outfits (ahem, like Mrs. S.). I watch What Not to Wear,  Project Runway, and all the award show fashion-recaps. The amount of time I spend studying the merits of trench coats and cashmere should have made me an expert by now. I should be able to walk into a room and have everyone lose their breath in awe of my stunning look.

Not quite.

My mistakes started young. I was a bit of a tomboy as a kid, but I remember my first moment of fashion-awareness: jellies. Never mind that these shoes were popular in the 80s. I discovered them in the early 90s, and fell in love. I had pair that were a classic ballet flat, pointed toe style, and they were clear with silver glitter. Obviously, they were gorgeous shoes, and I wore them everywhere. My mom did not understand their beauty, and asked me to please wear a dressier pair to church. I clearly remember running to the car, and sliding my shoes underneath the front seat so she wouldn’t notice. Halfway to church, she remembered to check my outfit. “Oops, I…uh, forgot,” I said, secretly glad it was too late to go back home. I didn’t realize then that my mother was trying to save me from myself.

That was only the beginning. There was an outfit in junior high made up of wide leg corduroy pants and a flannel shirt, all in the same color. There were a lot of awkward moments in turtleneck and sweatpants combinations. And then there was the episode of the perm, even though I already have naturally curly hair. I enhanced this look by cutting it to chin-length, and giving myself at-home highlights. What I didn’t realize is that at-home highlights actually mean “fry your already perm-fried hair and bleach color out of you entire head”. I wore that look for an entire year. 

Maybe Millie can somehow escape the horrible legacy handed to her. If not, she will have a lot of school pictures to regret, and a lot of worry for her own children in the future. For now, I dress her in little footy pajamas with a butterfly on the rear, and pray to God for a miracle.

A Piece of Solace

source

When God Calls Little Children

When God calls little children to dwell with Him above,
We mortals sometimes question the wisdom of His love.
For no heartache compares with the death of one small child
Who does so much to make our world seem wonderful and mild.

Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to His fold,
So He picks a little rosebud before it can grow old.
God knows how much we need them, so He takes but a few
To make the land of heaven more beautiful to view.

Believing this is difficult, still, somehow we must try,
The saddest word mankind knows will always be "goodbye."
So when a little child departs, we who are left behind
Must realize God loves little children... Angels are hard to find.

-Author Unknown-