Since I last posted on here, we entered a new year.  2009 is now almost over…where has this year gone? 

Alec entered high school, Nicole entered middle school and Courtney is in 7th grade. 

We also are enjoying our newest member of the family.  A yellow lab purebred named Gunner.  He was only 6 weeks old when he came to live with us.  He is a bundle of energy which is a nice change around here.

I was diagnosed with Melanoma in situ skin cancer, Stage 0.  I had surgery to remove the surrounding skin down to the muscle.  The pathologist report came back as “cancer free”.  Yeah for me.  Only with one small glitch…back in September, I found an enlarged lymph node in the back of my neck.  I now have to have a lymph node biopsy done at the OSU James Cancer center.  I am nervous, but optimistic that I will remain “cancer free”.  

I am grateful that my family is happy and healthy.  

Today was Alec’s award ceremony for his essay that he won 2nd place in.  His teacher asked him along with 2 other students to write an essay for the Patriot’s Pen.  The theme was “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored”.  In an earlier blog I posted Alec’s essay if you wanted to go back and read his writing. 

Alec received a certificate and some money for his essay.  It was wonderful to see Alec learn on his own about Veterans and then put his thoughts down on paper.  With both Bruce and I having immediate family that have served in the military (Army, Marines, National Guard, and Air Force) it touched both our hearts to read his words. 

I would like to say a public “Thank You” to all those who have and are are serving our Country in one capacity or another.  I would also like to say a very personal “Thank You” to my uncle out in Seattle, WA who served in the Army in Vietnam, to my father in Dunnellon, FL who served in the Air Force (stationed at Hickam A.F.B.), to my late step-brother who served first in the Marines (Desert Shield & Desert Storm) and then in the National Guard.  Then to Bruce’s father in South Carolina, who served in the Army during Vietnam stationed in Germany.

Bruce received his results this morning from his first Archery tournament that we went to on Saturday up in Cleveland.  They made a typo mistake on his score…he made a 543 but they put down he made a 443.  He placed first in his class and first overall.  How awesome is that!!  Bruce was not totally on his game but he shot several 10’s.  Which if the tournament holders would have double checked the scores, they would have caught their mistake right away.  Bruce totally ROCKS!!!

Why American Veterans Should Be Honored

An American veteran: a person who fought or is fighting for his country with honor and passion. American Veterans should be honored because they are the ones who are brave enough to stand up for this country and to fight for it. The many wars they fought, such as World War II, helped protect this country and made it stronger. American Veterans are the people who give hope and freedom to the people who live here.

I feel that the veterans should be honored because they are the people who will influence other people to help stand for this country’s rights and freedoms. These influential people will make this country even stronger than it already is and protect it even better. An example of what we would be like if we did not honor our veterans would mean fewer people would gain interest in fighting for our rights, and soon after, we would be defeated by an invading army. Veterans are also very important to people’s lives because they could tell stories of what the world was like while they served. They influence kids and encourage them to become involved with our military.

Veterans here lived through many tough times. The veterans should feel appreciated for what they did or are doing because they are doing something that most people wouldn’t normally do, which will make us stronger. The veterans also play an even bigger part in teaching the next generation helpful insights, and we learn what kind of things could go wrong and how to be prepared for the possibility of things going terribly wrong.

Veterans are almost the same as everyday people; they have a family and a job, but the only thing that makes them different from the rest of us is that they were brave enough to stand up and do what everyday people wouldn’t dare to do. They put their lives at stake for complete strangers, even for our own lives, in order for them to be protected; these are the main reasons why American Veterans should be honored.

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Alec’s school is having an award ceremony and he is going to meet the military officer whom I believe picked the winners.  Alec takes after his father when it comes to writing.  I am such a proud mother.