just words today

No pictures. Rick Warren, author of "A Purpose Driven Life," came out with a great book this holiday, "The Purpose of Christmas." It is a wonderful book about where our thoughts should be focused during this special time of year. Check it out if you haven't already!

A couple of people have really been in my thoughts and prayers lately . . . while I try to avoid sharing "personal thoughts and feelings" as much as possible on our blog and keep it to fairly day to day stuff, I thought I would share what's on my mind.

My oldest and dearest friend Suzanne is one amazing person. She knows I think extremely highly of her, so this comes as no surprise. :) She is about to become a mother, although I think a part of her has always been mother-like. She and Kevin already are two incredible parents. But, let me just say how impressed and how much I respect her (even more so than I already did) . . . without going into detail, she has had to do some things throughout her pregnancy health wise that most people do not have to do. Through the entire process, she has always had a positive attitude. I can not remember hearing her complain, not once, about any of it. She is due Dec. 29th and is still teaching a class of 24 kindergartners to this day, with her normal vigor and passion. There are many more things she has done that have thoroughly evoked a "wow" response from me in planning and preparing and soon to be nurturing her sweet baby. She deserves way more than anything I could ever write or say to her to let her know how special and wonderful she truly is.

My good friend Melinda is another amazing person. She knows that I think this, too. :) She endured a large portion of her pregnancy with her husband away in the military service. She had Will in August, two weeks later they packed up and moved to Virginia. Not long after that her husband was sent away to Oklahoma for training for several weeks and she and Will stayed in VA by themselves. Brian has since returned to VA, but he will be stationed in Washington in the spring and they will be moving again. With this and other circumstances, Melinda has endured more than most people are ever faced with in a lifetime and she is just my age! And like Sue, I have never heard her complain, not ONE time, about any situation she has been in or challenge she has faced. She always has a smile and makes whomever she is around laugh. She and Brian are also wonderful parents and are entirely devoted to each other and their family and protecting our Nation. Those of us whose spouses are able to be home and work locally don't know how fortunate we are. Please keep all of those serving our county in your prayers . . . they surely provide us with freedoms and privileges that are often taken for granted.

I hope that those of you reading this blog that have not had the pleasure of meeting either Suzanne or Melinda will be able to do so one day. They will make you smile and change your life!