5 Ways to Make Our Kids Rich by Memorial Day

by Sally Matheny
    

Memorial Day-Teach the Next Generation

Here's five ways to make your kids rich by Memorial Day. 

Begin by telling them about Memorial Day.

Memorial Day—it’s more than a day off, more than grilling out, and more than sashaying in the days of summer with store sales.

Originally, the holiday commemorated those soldiers who died during the Civil War. Over time, it has developed into a day of remembering every person who has served in the military and given the ultimate sacrifice.

     





Talk about what attributes the military must have. Do we desire to have these as well?

Courage,

respect, 

and a good work ethic. 

They preserve peace when possible and fight for what is right, when necessary.

Preserving peace when possible--
fighting for what is right when necessary.

It's important to share our sense of gratitude for those who fought and died to protect our way of life. We can’t rightly do that to those who are no longer with us. 

But, we can model for our children how to appreciate retired veterans and those currently serving in the military.

Take time to hear their stories through books, lectures, letters, and films.

Talk with veterans. Glean wisdom from them while we still can. What did they learn from their time in service? What do they want the next generation to know?

Say Thank You

Teach children to honor veterans with:

a firm handshake of gratitude,

attentive eye contact (whether the person is standing, or in a wheelchair),

and somehow, 
either in word or deed, say "thank you."

    

By God’s sovereignty, what our military has done, and continues to do, is one reason we are able to enjoy the freedoms we have today.

Pray for them and ask God to bless our military, our veterans, and especially the families of those whose loved ones died while serving our country.

When children discover the value of freedom and the price that has been paid for it, they'll realize no matter what their circumstances, they are rich. 

The National D-Day Memorial: Clearly a Worthwhile Journey

by Sally Matheny

The National D-Day Memorial

The fog on June 5 of our family vacation, reminded me of another foggy June 5.

Our trip to Virginia, in the summer of 2015, began on a sunny note, but quickly immersed under thick clouds and drizzling rain. 

The dreary weather lounged with us almost every day in the Shenandoah Valley. 

The day of our departure was June 5. That morning the dense fog that had lingered all week rose just above the treetops. The rain ceased. Wondering if we could squeeze in an activity before checking out. we raced to the chairlift located on the property. By the time we reached the top, the weather had changed. The only view to behold was a veil of dense fog.

We decided we might as well head home. As we descended the mountain, I thought about how thick clouds caused problems on another June 5. 

Originally, WWII’s D-Day invasion of Normandy, France was scheduled for June 5, 1944. 

However, British meteorologists said the weather would not permit a successful invasion. Although it was sunny on June 4, Eisenhower trusted the meteorologists and wisely postponed the invasion until June 6.

Massanutten Ski Resort in Virginia

On our way home, I noticed the National D-Day Memorial was a thirty-minute detour from our route. Usually, the GPS is set for home and there are no stops except for the essentials—gas, food, and restrooms. But this year, we chose to deviate from our set ways.

By the time we reached Bedford, Virginia blue skies welcomed us. The admission tickets purchased at the Welcome Center included an optional guided tour. 

At first, we thought the price was a bit high. However, after discovering it is a non-profit and does not receive federal or state funding, we deemed it reasonable.  By the end of our visit, we all thought the D-Day Memorial was clearly a worthwhile journey.

Memorial Day: Respect and Remember

by Sally Matheny

Respect and Remember (Photo courtesy of flickr.com)

Respect and remember.  

They defended our right to worship freely and our right to speak publicly.

They carried arms in hopes that we would not have to; but also they protected our right to bear arms if so choose.

Even though most of them did not know us, they placed themselves as shields to prevent evil from entering our homes.

They fought with all their might for liberty even though it cost them their own.

“Greater love has no one than this: 

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

John 15:13

Enjoy your day off from work. Relish the time spent with friends and family. Our fallen heroes would want you to enjoy the freedoms they fought so hard to protect.

But, surely, the least we can do is lay down our golf clubs, our T.V. remotes, and cell phones to respect and remember those who laid down their lives for us.

 

Please pause at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day and thank God for those who have served and died for our country and our freedom.

Respect and remember.

Photo by Sally Matheny

  

Wedding Day Security Checklist: Armor for the Bride

by Sally Matheny

Wedding Day Security Checklist:
Armor for the Bride

Your wedding day quickly approaches. Have you considered security for the event? 

Remember the enemy desires nothing less than to sneak in and crash a celebration. 

Consider the following Wedding Day Security Checklist, specifically with the bride’s armor in mind.

Wedding Day Security Checklist

Wedding Dress

You gave great consideration choosing your dress.

Let the dress remind you of the purity of God’s Truth and Righteousness. 

After the wedding, you'll find somewhere to store it . However, keep in mind the need to strap on God’s Righteousness every day and cinch it with His Truth. 

It’s essential to protect your heart and mind. Keeping them pure will

always make you lovely, no matter what you wear. 

   

Wedding Shoes

The days of waiting fill with excitement. You’re ready to run down the aisle to your groom! 

Wisely, you're breaking in your wedding shoes ahead of time so they'll be ready to serve you. But that one place on the heel still rubs the wrong way so band-aids are needed.

    

Let the shoes remind you to be ready to serve your Lord first.

Then, serve your husband before anyone else. This is not always an easy

thing to do. 

Sometimes he may say something that rubs you the wrong way.

Don’t allow disagreements to linger and fester. That only leads to unnecessary pain and can worsen by developing a calloused heart.

Resist worldly advice. Usually it's ineffective or it's only a temporary fix. 

When trying days occur, seek aid from your Comforter. Trust fully in Him and He will give you everything you need. Sometimes that is through the godly counsel of a pastor or another strong Christian.

Hope Presses Through Hardships

by Sally Matheny

Hope Presses Through Hardships

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your circumstances? Sometimes things happen beyond our control. When we have no power, we still have hope. Hope helps us press through the hardships.

Betty Patzke's story exemplifies this. 

When Betty Patzke’s brother, Jack, enlisted in the Army Air Forces in November 1942, her hope of seeing him again remained strong.

The first of many heartbreaking ordeals for the Patzke family occurred on April 8, 1945; the day German soldiers killed Jack. The end of WWII was only five months away.

One month later, Betty lost two more siblings to the war. Her brother Dick, age 13, and her sister Joan, age 11, died from the explosion of a Japanese balloon bomb. The bomb was the only attack on American soil causing death.

Betty’s pastor, Archie Mitchell and his pregnant wife had taken the Pantzke children and three other teens in their Sunday school class to the beautiful Gearhart Mountain of Oregon for a picnic. Arriving at Leonard Creek, Rev. Mitchell let everyone out while he parked the car. In a matter of seconds, lives changed forever when an explosion pierced the air.

Almost 10,000 balloon bombs were launched from Japan on November 3, 1944. The Japanese military designed the bombs to travel the Pacific Ocean via the jet stream. They hoped the bombs would wreck havoc on American soil. Only 400 of the balloon bombs, called fugos, reached North America. 

The one landing on Gearhart Mountain brought death to 26 year old, Elsie Mitchell and her unborn child, as well as all five Sunday school students ranging from age eleven to thirteen.

Reeling from losing three siblings in one month, how would Betty Patzke press through such devastation? 

The Bible Explorer's Guide Book Review

by Sally Matheny

Teh Bbile Explorer's Guide
by Nancy I. Sanders

Have you ever seen a manger created from stone instead of wood? Do you know what the Euphrates River looks like today? Have you ever thought about what the apostle Paul’s dungeon cell looked like?

My answer was no to all of these questions. But thanks to author, Nancy I. Sanders and Zonderkidz, my answers have changed.

The Bible Explorer’s Guide- 1,000 Amazing Facts and Photos contains 80 pages of just that.

The author has culled intriguing facts about places, objects, people and cultures mentioned in the Bible. Presented with a Christian worldview, the information sparks a desire to go back to the Bible and read more.

The visuals in this reference book are just as appealing as the text. The maps and illustrations are great but the photos are my favorite. Artifacts from various times and places mentioned in the Bible capture the attention of all ages, even though this book is slated as juvenile nonfiction.

If you’re like me and have never been to the Holy Lands, this book may be the next best thing. I have never seen a manger carved out of stone or the beautiful aquamarine shades of the Euphrates River. To observe a photo of the prison where Paul suffered before his death adds depth to my understanding.  

Not only are scripture references given throughout the book but it also includes in the back of the book a simple timeline, a Who’s Who in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

I highly recommend this book. The hardcover copy retails for $14.99 but I saw it at Christianbook.com for $10.49. It's well worth the price. I’m using mine to enhance our Bible studies at home and in my Sunday School classroom at church. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

How Should We Prepare Our Children for War?

by Sally Matheny 

How Should We Prepare Our Children for War?

Regardless of where we stand on the issue of the military draft, it is the law that our sons, and possibly soon, even our daughters, register with the Selective Service when they turn eighteen years old.

Very few want, or expect, a military draft to occur. But what if…

What if the time comes when we are informed our children will definitely serve in the military? Some of us would have years to prepare, some would have only days.

My son is a young teen. One day he will have to register with the Selective Service. It’s something I prefer not to think about. And yet, if I knew for a fact he would be called up in a few years, how would I prepare him for war?

The Winner of the Children's Book: I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug!

I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug!

The winner was randomly selected from all of the blog's email subscribers. And the winner is:

            "nccrazymama"!

Woo Hoo! Congratulations "Crazy Mama." I'll notify you via your email address but I don't know your real name. "Crazy Mama" applies to many of us--I know it does to me! So, I'll need you to private message me and let me know your  real name.

Also, tell me where you'd like to have the book delivered and I'll send it out next week. You're going to love this book.

A big thanks to ALL of the rest of you who subscribe to the blog. I hope you continue to find encouragement and community here. 

And thank you for sharing that encouragement with others through your social media. You are a blessing to others and definitely to me.

If you didn't win, hang in there. We have a giveaway at least once a month.

Have a joyful day,

Sally