A great day to celebrate....

Today was a wonderful day at Pinewood Elementary....back up a little....my day started at 5:06 am when the alarm went off ~ with my husband snorking and coughing next to me I got up ~ came downstairs and sent a short message to an old friend that I have been thinking about for a while saying Thank you for his service in protecting our country ~ then off to the tread mill I go....rocking out with my i pod on to the great mix of music my husband put together for me called "Mama's gonna sweat" I did my work out...folded laundry with Gabe's help at 5:45(lord knows why he got up early...he had a good 15 minutes more to sleep!) Everyone got ready, loaded up in the mini van- toaster strudels and all and we were off promptly at 6:43 am! We saw an amazing sunrise to which Mette said "MOMMY the sky is SOOOO pretty- it looks like a fancy lip stick color!" Gabe and Mette didn't fight on the drive in (as they often do) but instead played a counting game and sang alphabet songs! Not to toot my kids horn but Mette has some mad counting skills for only be 4 and she knew all the different sounds of the alphabet...maybe she really is listening and paying attention when we read books and talk about numbers and letters- who would have thought! (Gabe was pretty proud too...)
After dropping my kids off at school and daycare I headed to Pinewood for what I was sure was going to be a crazy day! It is Veteran's Day and I had 2 family members to little ones from my class coming and every year for as long as I can remember, any Veteran's Day program gets me all choked up! Today was no different! Before kids began to arrive, the special guests were walking the halls- men, women, young and old in uniforms or with special hats, jackets, medals hanging on their chests....they seemed to stand so proud as they walked past my room. In the hall I greeted some kind gentlemen, shook their hands, introduced myself, asked them where and when they served...then I simply thanked them for their service for our country~ it was the easiest words to come out of my mouth but the look on their faces will stick with me FOREVER! They smiled, tears in their eyes and quietly said your welcome.
As the morning went on I had the privilege to meet a set of grandparents of a little girl in my room. Her grandpa served in Korea around the same time as my father in law. He shared a few stories and pleasantries then it was of to the program they went. As I walked my class to the gym and got them seated I snuck out to see if MY SPECIAL guest was there yet....there in the door way to the gym with a few of his VFW buddies was a man I admire very much! My god father, Jim Wallin, has been a member of the color guard that comes to our school year for this program for quite some time. I was able to give him a BIG hug and kiss (which would brighten any day of the year!) and tell him Thank you again! You see, growing up I always knew Jim was in the service and it was never really talked about. When I was in 7th grade, I had a school project that involved me interviewing someone I was proud of- my hero. I chose Jim. It was the first time I had ever talked to him about his years in the Marines. He told me about Vietnam, remember I was in 7th grade and when you are in 7th grade you think you know EVERYTHING....boy was I humbled after talking to him. I wrote a pretty good paper (or at least I thought it was good) and ended up walking away from the whole thing with a new found respect for him and those who served along side him. As I have grown up I have heard about the adventures and vacations he has taken with the other Marines he served with. They have reunions every year in different places and they have become a very close group. His daughter (who is my son's god mother) Sheril has told me many stories about what it is like when they get together.....
The whole point of what I am saying is - It was a VERY GOOD DAY! A day in which we honor the brave men and women who gave of themselves selflessly to protect each and every one of us! Some gave the their lives in the line of duty and so many families will never be the same.
~ To anyone who has given of them self to protect us.....THANK YOU. They should hear this EVERY DAY- not just once a year.
Take time every day to say these little words to someone you know who has given so much...THANK YOU!  ~ It really was a Great Day!