Saturday, May 26, 2012

Forgetting is not an option-----

A Dollar’s Worth
By Alisa Dollar

Have you thanked a military person today?

In many ways we thank our military men and women. They’re not always on foreign soil, but are ready for deployment. I can’t imagine a life of never knowing – especially in the world we live in today.

It is easier to thank those still walking amongst us as we know many who have family or friends in that “ready to go” mode or are already there.

Memorial Day is much more complicated…or it is to me.

How does one thank those who’ve died? Some many years ago in eras long gone and far removed, especially from today’s generation. I was born at the end of WWII. I’ve lived through everything that’s happened since and have an understanding through study, the ‘why’s and how’s’.

The realization finally hit me that studying and knowing is not the same as remembering and honoring.

Many of us have friends who’ve served through one or more wars. While I may readily thank them, I don’t understand what they experienced. They’re also still around. I tend to forget.

It’s with that reasoning I came to understand why Memorial Day should be a bigger deal than it is. We forget sometimes because these men and women are gone.

Abruptness of seeing those graves in stark white symmetry in D.C. visually reminded me these and so many more are buried across America and elsewhere.

Yesterday, a lady in church related a story of how her brother lost his life during WWII and was buried in Holland. She said there is a group there who have buried our men and women and through the years have handed down the honor of maintaining these sites because that is the only way they knew how to thank America for all they did for them during that time.

I sat with tears of shame. I love the military and all it stands for yet felt shamed because that country honors our dead every day and has for years done what we do one day out of a year.

Life is a blessing and often taken for granted. An extra blessing was given us in freedoms granted by service men and women who've served and laid down their own lives.

America is beautiful because of the fallen.

It remains so because of our present soldiers.

Never forget – then or now.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Technology is Wonderful!

Note: Last year's Mother's Day article!

A Dollar’s Worth
By Alisa Dollar

I hope every mother had a wonderful Mother’s Day. I had a particularly good one because I got to “see” my kids even though one is in Arizona and the other in Istanbul.

Granddaughter’s been after me to download Skype, a program to make video calls and it’s free.

Bree and Speedy visit their son in Brazil on Skype, but it took granddaughter wanting me to meet her boyfriend to get myself in gear and download it. She’s convincing.

The first person I “saw” was granddaughter and boyfriend. I have to hand it to him, he’s very brave to meet Nana and Pop via cyber airwaves; between the two of us we teased beyond what one should upon first meeting. He fielded all the probing questions well. I suspect he’s a keeper.

That evening daughter was on with granddaughter and once again we had fun talking and seeing each other.

What amazing technology.

On Mother’s Day, son and daughter-in-law in Istanbul visited via Skype and it was wonderful!

Why did did it take so long to download this wonderful program? We’ve kept up on Messenger and email, but not seeing them for a year made this Mother’s Day special for me and husband.

They are having their first child this summer. Already excited, the thought of seeing her when she is first born is beyond excitement! I’ll meet her in person come September when I travel to Istanbul. Content with that, I couldn’t help but be pre-excited about Pop and I seeing her earlier.

Her Auntie and family in Arizona are equally exited.

This new baby symbolizes all that encompasses Mother’s Day.

A new life brought into a family, on both sides; eager to nurture, teach and yes, spoil.

I’ve learned over the years, a child teaches me. Anyone who takes the time can hear and/or see happiness and sadly, distress.

By texting, I know when grandchildren are happy, sad, or angry. Technology allows me to converse and hopefully shield by offering love and support.

I’m thankful to be a mom.

Moms through adoption or foster care are a special favor upon children who are gifts from God.

Moms of special needs children are just special. 

Love comes with many tests and though some are tested greatly, a mother’s love is a blessing.

May all children be blessed by the nurturing love of a mother.