"If a man does his best, what else is there?" ~ George Patton
Darris Dawson, Sr., 24, FL
Renee Deville, 44, NY
Wesley Durbin, 26, TX
Jason Freiwald, 30, MI
Marcus Knight, 24, CA
Nicholas Madrazo, 25, WA
John Marcum, 34, MI
Jesse Melton III, 29, MD
Michael Murdock, 22, NC
Daniel Sexton, 53, MO
Michael Slebodnik, 39, PA
Eichmann Strickland, 23, WA
Vincent Winston, Jr., 22, MO
Darrick Wright, 37, TV
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, September 21, 2008 1 comments
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Remember. . .
''The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a little bit longer.'' ~ U.S. Navy Seabees
Michael Dinterman, 18, PA
Jorge Feliz Nieve, 26, NY
Kenneth Mayne, 29 GA
Jordan Thibeault, 22, UT
Bryan Thomas, 22, MI
Dustin Tucker, 22, CA
Daniel Whitehead, 22, CT
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, September 14, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Remember. . .
"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Carlo Alfonso, 23, WA
Keith Cooper, 25, KY
Steven Fitzmorris, 26, MO
Michael Gonzalez, 20, NJ
Joshua Harris, 36, NC
Patrick May, 22, NY
Tan Ngo, 20, OR
Sean Powers, 24, NH
Gregory Rodriguez, 35, MI
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, September 07, 2008 1 comments
Sunday, August 31, 2008
(I was out of state last weekend and, therefore, combined last Sunday's Remember post with today)
"If a man does his best, what else is there?" ~ George Patton
Jennifer Cole, 34, CA
Paul Conlon, Jr., 21, MA
Donald Garwile, 29, MS
James Hale, 23, IL
Nickolas Lee Hopper, 27, IL
Janelle King, 23, CA
Juan Lopez-Castaneda, 19, AZ
John Mattox, 23, TX
Daniel McGuire, 40, MA
Anthony Mihalo, 23, IL
David Paquet, 26, MD
Kristopher Rodgers, 29, MI
George Stanciel, 40, MS
Travis Stottlemyer, 20, PA
Brian Studer, 28, MN
David Todd, Jr., 36, LA
Jacob Toves, 27, CA
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, August 31, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Remember. . .
It is the Soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press;
It is the Solder, not the poet who has given us the freedom of speech;
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to demonstrate
It is the Soldier-- Who salutes the flag; Who serves beneath the flag; and whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Anthony Carbullido, 25, Guam
Michael Ferschke, Jr., 22, TN
Kenneth Gibson, 25, VA
Jaime Gonzalez, Jr., 40, TX
Adam McKiski, 21, IL
Stewart Trejo, 25, MY
Jose Ulloa, 23, NY
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, August 17, 2008 0 comments
Monday, August 11, 2008
Hungry Wolves
A friend sent me the following story:
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside of us all. One is Evil. It is...
anger, resentment, self-pity, envy, jealousy, regret, greed, arrogance, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is...joy, peace, love, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, 'Which wolf wins?'
The old Cherokee simply replied...
'THE ONE YOU FEED.'
Posted by Aimee at Monday, August 11, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Remember. . .
"A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world." ~ George Santayana
David Badie, 23, IL
Ryan Baumann, 24, MD
Seteria Harris Brown, 22, FL
Jair De Jesus Garcia, 29, CA
Kevin Dickson, 21, MO
Michael Girdano, 23, PA
Gary Henry,34, IN
Timothy Hutton, 21, MT
Holley James, 24, NC
Garrett Lawton, 31, W.VA
Ian McVey, 23, MA
Jonathan Menke, 22, IN
Brian Miller, 37, IN
Andre Mitchell, 25, NY
William Mulvihill, 20, KS
Ronald Schmidt, 18, KS
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, August 10, 2008 0 comments
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
What is Love?
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8-year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca - age 8
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5
"Love is when you go out to eat and you give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,"
Bobby - age 5
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend whom you hate."
Nikka - age 6
"There are two kinds of love. Our love, God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."
Jenny - age 4
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6
"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - Age 5
"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine - age 5
"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 8
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4
"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."
Bethany - age 4
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
Karen - age 7
"Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget,"
Jessica - age 8
Posted by Aimee at Tuesday, August 05, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Remember. . .
"Gold is good in it's place, but living, brave, patriotic men are better than gold." ~ Abraham Lincoln
My deceased soldiers for this past week did not die in Iraq or in Afghanistan. However, they died of their injuries sustained in Iraq. At least their struggles are over and they, hopefully, have found peace. At least they also died in America with their family members present.
Faoa Apineru, 31, CA
James McHale, 31, MT
I recently finished Final Salute by Jim Sheeler. The book chronicles Major Steve Beck, who is a casualty notification officer, as he notifies families of their Marine's death. Although the book is definitely difficult, especially since most of the families have been mine, I think every American should read it and know what happens when a simple knock at the door occurs.
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, August 03, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Remember. . .
"Spending time with America's soldiers is always inspiring." ~ John Boehner
Nick Dewhirst, 25, WI
Danny Dupre, 28, LA
Jackie Larson, 37, WA
Willington Rhoads, 23, NV
Ivan Wilson, 22, CA
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, July 27, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Remember. . .
“I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”
~ General George S. Patton
(list includes the 9 soldiers killed in the Afghanistan base attack)
Sergio Abad, 21, KY
Jonathan Ayers, 24, GA
Jason Bogar, 25, WA
Jonathan Brostrom, 24, HI
Douglas Bull, 29, PA
Steven Chevalier, 35, MI
Joseph Dwyer, 31, NC
Daniel Farkas, 42, NY
Bryan Fouty, 19, MI
Israel Garcia, 24, CA
Brian Guerrero, 34, Guam
Jason Hovater, 24, TN
Alex Jimenez, 25, MA
Jason Mann, 29, NJ
William McMillan, III, 22, KY
Thomas Michael, Jr., 21, NY
Samson Mora, 28, Guam
Matthew Phillips, 27, GA
Pruitt Rainey, 22, NC
Jeffrey Stevenson, 20, NJ
David Textor, 27, VA
Megan Touma, 23, NC
Daniel Verbeke, 25, PA
Jeremy Vrooman, 28, SD
Mitchell Young, 39, GA
Gunnar Zwilling, 20, MO
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, July 20, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Remember. . .
"The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth." ~ Thomas J. Jackson
Gregory Dalessio, 30, NJ
Matthew Hilton, 37, MI
Joseph McKay, 51, NY
Mark Palmateer, 38, NY
Joshua Plocica, 20, TN
Estell Turner, 43, SD
Anthony Woodham, 37, AR
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, July 13, 2008 0 comments
Thursday, July 10, 2008
A Neat Story
My friend sent me the following story. Although I don't know if it is true, the message still is comforting.
During WWII, a U.S. marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific Island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock and quickly crawled inside of one.
As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will, I love and trust you. Amen.
After praying, he lay quietly, listening to the enemy draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of the cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening in the cave. He thought, "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor." As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he was ready to make a last stand. To his amazement, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as though no one had entered for quite a while.
"Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a man's brick wall."
Posted by Aimee at Thursday, July 10, 2008 3 comments
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Remember. . .
"A boistrous sea of liberty is never without a wave." ~ Thomas Jefferson
John Aragon, 22, CA
Dustin Burnett, 19, AZ
Ryan Connolly, 24, CA
Jason Cox, 21, OH
Layton Crass, 22, IN
Alejandro Dominguez, 24, CA
Philip Dykeman, 38, NY
Max Galeai, 42, America Samoa
Michael Garren, 20, TX
Du Hai Tran, 30, CA
Robert Hammett, 39, AZ
Edgar Heredia, 28, TX
Travis Hunsberger, 24, ID
Eugene Kanakaole, 19, HI
Dwayne Kelley, 48, NJ
Anthony Mangano, 36, NY
Matthew Mendoza, 24, TX
Javier Perales, Jr., 19, TX
Tyler Pickett, 28, WY
David Pietrek, 24, IL
Marcus Preudhomme, 23, FL
Jeffrey Radamorales, 32, Puerto Rico
Gerrand Reed, 40, FL
Marc Retmier, 19, CA
Nelson Rodriguez, 22, MA
Andrew Seabrooks, 36, NY
Chris Strickland, 25, FL
Shawn Simmons, 39, MA
Joel Taylor, 20, NC
Eric Terhune, 34, KY
Bryan Thomas, 22, LA
Ross Toles, III, 37, MI
Michael Toussiant-Hyle Washington, 20, WA
James Treber, 24, CA
James Walton, 41, MD
Kelly Watters, 19, VA
Andrew Whitacre, 21, IN
James Yohn, 25, PA
Posted by Aimee at Saturday, July 05, 2008 0 comments
Friday, July 04, 2008
Happy Independence Day!
Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays for many reasons. However, the most prominent reason is simply because we celebrate our nation's birthday. Regardless of this country's faults, I am very to be an American and to be identified as one. For me, this country represents freedom: freedom to be one's self, freedom to dream and to pursue that dream, freedom to think and to challenge, freedom to live. If and when you see a Veteran or a soldier, thank him.
I wrote the following story after an experience I had while living in Russia:
The ride seemed to last an eternity. As I stared out the window watching the countryside whiz by, my thoughts blended with the rhythm of the music filling the car. Occasionally, the woman in the front seat turned to smile at me. Gesticulating, nodding our heads at each other, and laughing had been our communication for the past month. She turned to me one last time and, with twinkling blue eyes, whispered, “Da Da, Aimee.” Her excitement made my nervous stomach do one more flip flop. We were going some place extra special that had required her to prep me every night for the past four weeks. After all, she was taking me to meet her father, a once fierce soldier of the Red Army.
When we arrived at the hovel he called home, the figure of a tall, well built man stopped chopping wood nearby and walked towards where I was standing next to the car. The closer he came to me, the more noticeable his old age became: a web of telling wrinkles occupied his face whereas a few wisps of grey hair occupied his head. He wore a black, faded sweatshirt with the hammer and sickle positioned in the center, which emphasized his political ideology. I felt as though Karl Marx himself were walking towards me. Then, before I knew it, he was standing right in front of me, casually studying me face. Quite surprised, I noticed his eyes were misty and his chin shook. Not sure of what to do, I extended my hand, a hand that would someday practice the essence of democracy, into the gentle grasp of hands that once fought to keep communism alive. I smiled into his eyes; he smiled into mine, and softly letting go of my grasp, he placed his callused hands on either side of my face and spoke in a mere whisper, “Americanski, Americanski.” His lips then softly pressed on my eyes, on my nose, and on his tears that trickled down my face. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his tight embrace. The steady rhythm of his heart in my ear made me realize the beat belonged to a victim of political ideology. Still hugging each other, we knew Stalin, Khrushchev, and all the other deceased Russian leaders had not won. Two months after returning home, I received a letter from my host family, letting me know the tragic news. A few weeks after our meeting, the Soviet soldier had suffered a massive heart attack and died. However, they went on to explain that he had died happy and content. His life long dream had been fulfilled: he had met an American.
Posted by Aimee at Friday, July 04, 2008 1 comments
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Remember. . .
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, June 22, 2008 0 comments
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
My Second Book!
Posted by Aimee at Wednesday, June 18, 2008 1 comments
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Thoughts
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch that you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all a state of mind.
If you think you're outclassed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
you can ever win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go
to the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later, the man who wins
is the one who thinks he can.
--Unknown
Posted by Aimee at Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1 comments
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Remember. . .
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, June 08, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Remember. . .
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, June 01, 2008 0 comments
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Soldiers Angels
I have been involved with Soldiers Angels since 2004 and cannot fully express the importance of supporting America's service members. Most people do not realize how much a piece of mail or a care package means to someone who is thousands of miles away from home deployed to either a FOB in Iraq or to a Navy ship on the high seas. A fellow member of Soldiers Angels shared the following letter her soldier sent her with the organization. I think it is beautiful.
"Cards, care packages, cookies, they're not going to stop that bullet or that IED but do you all know what they do? They bring a small piece of home to us. Sure you might not be here on the front line covered in filth, smelling like hell, your heart going a mile a min not knowing what's coming next. If your next step is on that TRP or if your going to be the latest recruiting tool for some insurgents new video while they take pot shots at you. But what you all do with those cards, care packages, cookies is just as important. YOU have the greatest power of ANYONE here. YOU can send us a small piece of home. I don't know it this makes any sense to you but, when I get a box or anyone else get's a box its hard to describe. You find a nice quite corner and everyone knows not to bother you. You sit there and look over the box as if you had never seen anything like it before. You read who it's from and a smile crosses your face, you recognize the name. You might already know what's inside, but it does not matter. Some tear it open as fast as they can, others take their time and enjoy every sec of it. Once inside, you go threw it, every little item once, twice, sometimes three times, it's a very delicate process. You breath it in and you think of the person who sent it to you. You think of home, family, cars, summer.....everything all at once and for a very short time, you are there away from this SH#$T hole. You are grateful. Then you look around and there's always a buddy who is down or having a bad day you share your box. Sometimes just with the one guy, sometimes with everyone and it's electric. Everyone catches that feeling and we start talking about home, about things we miss, things we are going to do when we get back and the heaviness of the day lifts and it's not so bad. C, its not the "things" that are sent that matter to us, it's the thought. That's the power ALL of you have who take the time to send things. You can change the worst day into the best day, in a split second. "
Posted by Aimee at Tuesday, May 27, 2008 0 comments
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day
I have been in PA since Friday and will combine my Remember post with today's Memorial Day reflection. My aunt, Rev. Connie Gibbs, wrote the following poem:
--Rev. Connie Gibbs
We pause on this Memorial Day, a brief moment in time,
to bring close to our hearts those memories we hold so dear
of the men and women before us who unselfishly put their dreams,
and their lives on the line, where danger lay as a stalker,
waiting to take away each breath,
while the soldier plowed with determination the furrows of death.
We must remember, we must, you and I, those special heroes who chose to
fly through the skies of blue that turned as dark as the midnight sky.
Their wings began to shudder as smoke choked their breath away,
And hope gave way to the resignation, “Today, I’m going to die.”
Treading waters so deep and wide, for God and Country, their hearts abide.
Surprised by attacks with brutal disregard for human life,
they fought to the end, knowing that life and limb would be lost,
whether of self or friend.
Yes, by land, by sea, and in the skies, they fought for our land,
Fighting for freedom so that you and I might stand,
Stand for what is right, for what is good and true, fight that we might
say without fear, “God loves you.”
Yes, we must remember for freedom is not cheap,
for lives and limbs were lost so that we might keep, all the things that we
have and all the things that we do,
Like cars and boats and a house with a roof. Like going to church without fear,
And reading the Bible where we find the truth. The truth of knowing that whether
We are red, yellow, black or white, we are all God’s children and we need to learn to
Love one another as God first loved us.
For if there is to be peace on earth, where all of humankind is free, it must begin with each of us, let it begin with you and with me.
Posted by Aimee at Monday, May 26, 2008 0 comments
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Yurburg Website!
Posted by Aimee at Tuesday, May 20, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Remember. . .
"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men." ~ Samuel Adams
Casey Casanova, 22, MS (first female from MS to die in Iraq)
Ara Tyler Deysie, 18, AZ
Jessica Ellis, 24, OR
Joseph Ford, 23, ID
Alex Gonzalez, 21, TX
Jeremy Gullett, 22, KY
Miguel Guzman, 21, CA
Mary Jane Jaenichen, 20, CA
James Kimple, 21, OH
Glen Martinez, 31, CO (his wife, also a Marine stationed in Fallujah, Iraq, accompanied his body home)
Jeffrey Nichols, 21, TX
Isaac Palomarez, 26, CO
Kevin Roberts, 25, NM
Aaron Ward, 19, CA
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, May 18, 2008 0 comments
Monday, May 12, 2008
Irena Sendler
Posted by Aimee at Monday, May 12, 2008 2 comments
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Remember. . .
"This is essentially a people's contest... whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men - to lift artificial weights from all shoulders - to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all - to afford all, an unfettered start and a fair chance, in the race of life."
- Abraham Lincoln
Bryan Bolander, 26, CA
Chad Caldwell, 24, WA
Clay Craig, 22, TX
William Dix, 32, CA
Lawrence Ezell, 30, TX
Adam Marion, 26, NC
Marcus Mathes, 26, FL
David McCormick, 26, TX
David McDowell, 30, CA
Guadalupe Ramirez, 26, CA
Mark Stone, 22, TX
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, May 11, 2008 1 comments
Happy Mother's Day!
What is a Mother?
Who becomes the doctor or the nurse when they are ill,
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, May 11, 2008 1 comments
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Happy 60th Birthday, Israel!!
With eyes turned toward the East, looking toward Zion,
Then our hope - the two-thousand-year-old hope - will not be lost:
To be a free people in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem
Posted by Aimee at Thursday, May 08, 2008 0 comments
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Remember. . .
Posted by Aimee at Sunday, May 04, 2008 0 comments
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
New Blog
For the past almost two years I have been blogging on Yahoo 360 and for some reason my blog no longer exists! So, I have returned to this site, dusted it off, and will resume posting here. I will still designate every Sunday for my "Remember" posts.
Posted by Aimee at Wednesday, April 30, 2008 0 comments