Happy Birthday, Yeshua Eyes

Shalom:
Today is my beloved Mark's birthday. Right now, Mark and Montaque are having a little bonding time, better known as a walk.
Mark had a four day Drill this weekend, so since Thursday, it has been Monti and I.
The weather has been wonderful, so Montaque and I take nice long walks three times a day. Monti loves to be outside; he turns to his little face to the sun and just stands there basking in the rays. The walk does me good too. I find the walk a wonderful time of prayer as well as getting to know some of my neighbours.
But the nights have been lonely with out my Mark. And it is the first time we have been apart in two years. Monti's presence helped greatly.
But still it was hard getting use to not sleeping next to my beloved.
So Mark got home a little after two this afternoon. Both Monti and I were excited to see Mark. And the three of us laid down for a nap.
Mark said Drill was OK, but he was really glad to be home. There was no other place he wanted to be for his birthday.
I wish I had the money to throw him a party, but he said that was fine. He rather celebrate his day with me anyway.
Mark wanted a cheese cake for his birthday, but it cost too much, so we got a chocolate cake. And the guys get back from their walk, we shall celebrate his birthday.
I remember the day I met him. It was a Sunday, June 24th, the day after my birthday. I remember hearing, "excuse me, miss."
I turned around and saw a very tall, handsome man with the most amazing blue-green eyes. Those eyes, usually blue, when he is happy, when he looking at me are the brightest robin egg blue- Kelly green with  gold rims and flecks. For a second I thought I was looking in the very eyes of the Messiah Himself. Such loving, caring, tender eyes, filled with sorrow, yet pleading me to be his friend.
Which wasn't that hard to do.
Since then, I have had the joy of being Mark's best friend, his lady, his wife. My life is so blessed because on this day, Mark David Reel was born.
G_D has indeed blessed me with Mark. A man who insist on making the morning coffee and when he can, brings me a rose. A man who loves Torah and the G_D of the Torah.
And while he isn't perfect, he is perfect for me.
Those amazing eyes that shine bright with love when he takes me in his arms. And dance for joy when his little dog jumps into his lap and showers him with kisses. A man willing to help a friend as well as a stranger.
The man I am so humbled and honoured to call my husband.
Happy birthday my beloved.

A Soldier's Story

Shalom:
Because of problems I had with my lower  back this month, I wasn't really able to do justice to International Woman's Month. But I don't know any better way to close this month than to share the story of a remarkable woman, a relatived of mine.
My cousin, Daniella Prude. I shall let Daniella tell her own story:

" My retirement date is 1 Nov and that will be 22 years served! I have held every leadership position in the Army execpt Sergeants Major. I had two rewarding positions and that was as an Equal Opportunity Advisor, which is a person who monitors discrimination, religious and sexual harassment complaints. I was also a First Sergeant. As the First Sergeant, I was the Senior Enlisted Advisor in a company of over 140 personnel. It was my responsibility to ensure they were trained on all tasks, able to execute with little to no supervision, instill the spirit to Win, achieve, and overcome any obstacle and more importantly do it as a TEAM. Soldiers give you life and it's never a dull moment. They come from all different backgrounds so it's an opportunity to learn about people and their culture to accept it and embrace it. There is a dark side being a female in a Man's Army. Some of the men seem to feel this dominance over us which causes them to sexually assault when given the opportunity. This is an issue that the Army is working on and hopefully in the near future the incidents will decrease. The Army has taught me a lot and I've enjoyed my time. Everything has to come to an end. I have developed some amazing friendships and I wouldn't change that for the world!

Chili Making and Goals

Lailia Tov:
The weather warmed up a bit and I headed out for the store.
It is Chili weather and it is time to make a big pot.
So, as I work on this entry, the Chili is in the kitchen, doing its thing.
Ah I can smell it even now.
But I shall be good and after it cools, put the Chili away until tomorrow.
Chili, like soups and stews are best served 24 hours after their made. Some of it I shall for the coming winter months.
Tonight, it is leftovers.
Since Mark is on his mission, as I stated on the other Blog LoveFromIraq (I need to change that title since he is in Afghanistan) I have my as well.
Part of it is taking care of myself.
Another is getting goals for myself, things I wish to do, to learn.
One is finishing the Blog, We Made Our Own Huppah. I'd stopped midway and I really need to finish it. I enjoy looking back on those early days, reliving that precious time in our lives and how they are the backdrop, the fountation of where we are today.
I have friends who are having babies and I need to get those colourful balls of yarn made into baby blankets. I also need to get in touch with a Hospic program and offer to make Afghans for ill patients. There is a comfort that a blanket made with prayer and love can bring.
Mark is sleep right now.
Sleep well, beloved.

Remembering Military Families this Thanksgiving

Yes, I know, this is a little late. But the newsletter just arrived today:

About the Author
Sarah Smiley's syndicated column, Shore Duty, appears weekly in newspapers and magazines across the country. She is the daughter and wife of two Navy pilots, and has 28 years of experience as a military dependent. Next year, Penguin/New American Library will release her memoirs.

After a two-week detour into the prickly world of politics, I'll now return to regularly scheduled columns about husbands who leave coffee cups on top of the car and drive away, and children who embarrass me at the grocery store.
But before we do, did you know that November is Military Family Appreciation Month?
Neither did I. As far as I can tell, the greeting card stores don't have a section for this in their displays.
In honor of the occasion, however, Operation Homefront, an organization that never forgets the military and its people -- greeting cards or not, this past Saturday gave away a truckload of free merchandise from stores like Pottery Barn, Garnet Hill, and Carters to all military families at the Air National Guard Base dining hall in Bangor, Maine.
When I received the e-mail invitation last month, I had to write the family services director to clarify: "You mean all the merchandise is free, absolutely free? For everyone?"
"For all military families, yes," she said.
"Do I have to do anything? Do I need to sign up? Do I have to be eligible?"
"Nope. Just show up at 10:00 in the morning with your military identification card," she said.
I simply could not believe my good fortune: A truckload of totally free products being delivered to my new, nearest home base in Bangor, where the military population is in the minority. At our previous duty station in Pensacola, Fla., an area where the military presence (including active-duty, reservists, students and retirees) seems to outnumber the civilians, a truckload wouldn't have been enough. The enormous amounts of military families there would have wiped the truck clean by 10:01 a.m.. But in Bangor, well, I knew sleeping overnight to ensure a decent spot in line wouldn't be necessary.
The day of the big giveaway was my oldest son, Ford's, 8th birthday. It was also the day of Bangor's first fall snow and the first time my children have ever seen snow when it wasn't in the pages of a picture book. There was a lot going on. Still, I wasn't going to miss a truckload of free products.
While Ford went to hockey practice with his dad and youngest brother, Lindell, I took Owen, 5, to the Air National Guard Base for the shopping spree.
"Do you have your strong 'carrying arms' on today," I teased Owen. "Ready to hold piles of stuff for Mom?"
"I'm going to grab everything in sight," he said. And then, "Will there be donuts?"
We waited briefly in line with a surprisingly large amount of other military families before reaching the check-in spot where volunteers were verifying I.D. cards. I peeked around the corner, giddy with excitement and the prospect of scoring free stuff. The room was full of tables with stacks of toys, clothing, decorations, and games. All of it brand new. All of it free.
Then, on our way into the dining hall, I overheard a conversation that made me pause. A fellow military wife asked a volunteer for directions, not to the room full of free merchandise, but to the spot where donors were giving away free Thanksgiving turkeys and food to military families in need.
The toy and clothing giveaway would go from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; the turkey and food giveaway would be all day long.
While I'm celebrating my son's birthday and perhaps playing in the snow, there will still be families lined up waiting for a turkey. It didn't seem fair.
I walked into the dining hall and was overcome by the generosity of the national brands and companies that had contributed.
But now I also realized that this treat wasn't intended for me. My husband, an officer in the Navy, makes a decent living. However, his enlisted service men and women may not make as much, despite making the same -- and in some cases, larger -- sacrifices. The giveaway was in honor of all military families, but the donations were for those who needed it. I found a sweater and a hat for my new nieces, and I let Owen pick a birthday present for his brother.
On our way out of the dining hall, Owen asked me why some families were waiting for turkeys. I explained. We talked about being thankful and giving to others. As I drove home and watched Owen in the rearview mirror smiling out the window at the snow, I knew that he was happy.
He was happy about the snow and the upcoming birthday party, yes, but I knew that he was also content about leaving that brand new toy car, the one he wanted so badly, for another kid to find in the dining hall.