I Am The Flag
I am the flag of the United States of America.
I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.
There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.
My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.
Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.
My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.
My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.
My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.
My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.
I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.
I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.
I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.
I am as old as my nation.
I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."
I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.
I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.
Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.
I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.
I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.
Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.
I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.
If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.
Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.
As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.
Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.
Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.
God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.
6.23.2005
Once a true believer
Once there was a fire in your soul
You were the epitome of blessed faith astir
With thirst for holiness
And hunger for the Word
Now you move in other circles
To the beat of different drums
And I see only glimpses of the one you used to be
The inspiration that you were to me
I miss the way His love would dance within your eyes
I miss the way His heart was the soul of your life
And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven's room
Our Father sheds a tear for you
He's missing you, too.
Some are calling you a prodigal
Some aren't calling you at all
But far away someone is calling you back home
Do you hear it anymore out there on your own?
i miss you. why did you have to leave? why are you breaking my heart? i miss your smile, your brother-like teasing, your laugh. i miss learning rugby. i miss calling you. i miss sitting around the house doing nothing. i miss piggy back rides and watching movies. i miss making sure it is Sprite, laughing about capture the flag and gym, multiple field trips, and our senior trip. i miss worshipping with you. i miss going to concerts and getting beat up. i miss you making me tea. i miss knowing you are just a phone call away when i need a shoulder to cry on. i miss knowing you are my best friend.
where are you? what are you doing this very moment? why won't you talk to me?
i miss you.
do you miss me too?
Once there was a fire in your soul
You were the epitome of blessed faith astir
With thirst for holiness
And hunger for the Word
Now you move in other circles
To the beat of different drums
And I see only glimpses of the one you used to be
The inspiration that you were to me
I miss the way His love would dance within your eyes
I miss the way His heart was the soul of your life
And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven's room
Our Father sheds a tear for you
He's missing you, too.
Some are calling you a prodigal
Some aren't calling you at all
But far away someone is calling you back home
Do you hear it anymore out there on your own?
i miss you. why did you have to leave? why are you breaking my heart? i miss your smile, your brother-like teasing, your laugh. i miss learning rugby. i miss calling you. i miss sitting around the house doing nothing. i miss piggy back rides and watching movies. i miss making sure it is Sprite, laughing about capture the flag and gym, multiple field trips, and our senior trip. i miss worshipping with you. i miss going to concerts and getting beat up. i miss you making me tea. i miss knowing you are just a phone call away when i need a shoulder to cry on. i miss knowing you are my best friend.
where are you? what are you doing this very moment? why won't you talk to me?
i miss you.
do you miss me too?
6.20.2005
sometimes i wish i was in the military.
sometimes, when i'm around those who are, i can feel a little bit prouder of my country. i can feel like there are people out there who are working hard and making sacrifices to protect everything that i love.
sometimes i wish i was the one living in the desert for a year, so you didn't have to. i wish i was the one sleeping in a tent full of sand, the one dealing with unimaginable temperatures, a barren land with no trees or grass, a camp full of people who are far away from God and act that way. i wish i was the one berated for my faith, pushed to the challenge of defending my God. i wish i could serve my country like you do.
sometimes i wish i was the one living on a 360 ft long metal tube with 120 other people and no privacy, so you didn't have to. i wish i was the one breathing recycled air, crawling into too-small spaces only to get stuck for hours, eating boat food. i wish i was the one gone for weeks at a time, the one mocked for your Godly lifestyle. i wish i could serve my country like you do.
sometimes i wish i was in the military, and then i become thankful that you are.
i laugh and praise God for you, because if i was in the desert, i would probably try going for a run and passing out, suffocating in the sand. i would probably become so irritable from not sleeping because of the heat and be in a continuous state of grumpiness. i would probably shrink back from hurtful comments about my God, instead of defending Him like you are. i would probably shoot myself in the foot with my M-16, or even worse, somebody else. i wouldn't know how to perform surgical crichothyrotomies (i know that's not how it's spelled but i can't figure it out), put IVs in or take care of mass casualties. i wouldn't know how to protect myself from mortar attacks or hand to hand combat against insurgents. i wouldn't know how to drive in a convoy or avoid IEDs. I'm glad you are doing it for me.
i laugh and praise God for you, because if i was on a submarine, i would probably end up sinking the thing. i would probably go crazy with no privacy and purposefully get stuck somewhere deep inside the boat where all the cables are just so i could avoid bumping into people all the time or talking to anyone. i would probably pass out from the smell of recycled air or get high from too much carbon monoxide. i would probably pack way too much stuff and it wouldn't fit under my bunk and it just wouldn't be pretty. i wouldn't know how to load tomahawks or torpedoes or how to fire them. i wouldn't know that missiles have wings...or maybe i would. i wouldn't know what all the little buttons mean or be able to know which cable is connected to what and which are broken and when. i'm glad you are doing it for me.
i'm not in the military. i don't know what it is like to completely devote myself to the Army or Navy every single day for years. i don't know what it's like to push myself past my limits. i don't know what it's like to live with a hundred other guys and see the same people every single day. i don't know what it's like to be yelled at or beaten up or emotionally and physically fatigued to an extreme amount. i don't know what it's like to live in barracks, eat in a military dining hall (DFAC or mess hall, whatever you want to call it). i don't shop at a PX or NEX or commissary. i don't listen to huge amounts of profanity, breathe recycled air, or have sand covering every part of me and my gear.
thanks for taking care of that for me.
i am proud of the Armed Forces that protect my country. i proudly wear Army and Navy clothing everywhere and put patches on my bags and stick a decal in the back window of my car. i notice Support Our Troups items everywhere i go and wear a bracelet on my wrist and put a yellow ribbon on the back of my car. i do it for you. it's my way to serve my country.
i am proud of you, proud that you can take my place to fight for my freedoms. i'm proud that you do so with confidence and grace to the best of your ability. i'm proud that you are devoted to what you do.
thanks.
sometimes, when i'm around those who are, i can feel a little bit prouder of my country. i can feel like there are people out there who are working hard and making sacrifices to protect everything that i love.
sometimes i wish i was the one living in the desert for a year, so you didn't have to. i wish i was the one sleeping in a tent full of sand, the one dealing with unimaginable temperatures, a barren land with no trees or grass, a camp full of people who are far away from God and act that way. i wish i was the one berated for my faith, pushed to the challenge of defending my God. i wish i could serve my country like you do.
sometimes i wish i was the one living on a 360 ft long metal tube with 120 other people and no privacy, so you didn't have to. i wish i was the one breathing recycled air, crawling into too-small spaces only to get stuck for hours, eating boat food. i wish i was the one gone for weeks at a time, the one mocked for your Godly lifestyle. i wish i could serve my country like you do.
sometimes i wish i was in the military, and then i become thankful that you are.
i laugh and praise God for you, because if i was in the desert, i would probably try going for a run and passing out, suffocating in the sand. i would probably become so irritable from not sleeping because of the heat and be in a continuous state of grumpiness. i would probably shrink back from hurtful comments about my God, instead of defending Him like you are. i would probably shoot myself in the foot with my M-16, or even worse, somebody else. i wouldn't know how to perform surgical crichothyrotomies (i know that's not how it's spelled but i can't figure it out), put IVs in or take care of mass casualties. i wouldn't know how to protect myself from mortar attacks or hand to hand combat against insurgents. i wouldn't know how to drive in a convoy or avoid IEDs. I'm glad you are doing it for me.
i laugh and praise God for you, because if i was on a submarine, i would probably end up sinking the thing. i would probably go crazy with no privacy and purposefully get stuck somewhere deep inside the boat where all the cables are just so i could avoid bumping into people all the time or talking to anyone. i would probably pass out from the smell of recycled air or get high from too much carbon monoxide. i would probably pack way too much stuff and it wouldn't fit under my bunk and it just wouldn't be pretty. i wouldn't know how to load tomahawks or torpedoes or how to fire them. i wouldn't know that missiles have wings...or maybe i would. i wouldn't know what all the little buttons mean or be able to know which cable is connected to what and which are broken and when. i'm glad you are doing it for me.
i'm not in the military. i don't know what it is like to completely devote myself to the Army or Navy every single day for years. i don't know what it's like to push myself past my limits. i don't know what it's like to live with a hundred other guys and see the same people every single day. i don't know what it's like to be yelled at or beaten up or emotionally and physically fatigued to an extreme amount. i don't know what it's like to live in barracks, eat in a military dining hall (DFAC or mess hall, whatever you want to call it). i don't shop at a PX or NEX or commissary. i don't listen to huge amounts of profanity, breathe recycled air, or have sand covering every part of me and my gear.
thanks for taking care of that for me.
i am proud of the Armed Forces that protect my country. i proudly wear Army and Navy clothing everywhere and put patches on my bags and stick a decal in the back window of my car. i notice Support Our Troups items everywhere i go and wear a bracelet on my wrist and put a yellow ribbon on the back of my car. i do it for you. it's my way to serve my country.
i am proud of you, proud that you can take my place to fight for my freedoms. i'm proud that you do so with confidence and grace to the best of your ability. i'm proud that you are devoted to what you do.
thanks.
6.16.2005
6.10.2005
The face that Moses had begged to see - was forbidden to see - was slapped bloody (Exodus 33:19-20). The thorns that God had sent to curse the earth's rebellion now twisted around his own brow...
"On your back with you!" One rasies a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier's heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner's wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier's life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds all his molecules together? Only by the Son do "all things hold together" (Col.1:17). The victim wills that the soldier live on - he grants the warriors continued existence. The man swings.
As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm - the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless - the nerves perform exquisitely. "Up you go!" They lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear and can scarcely breathe.
But these pains are a mere warm-up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthy foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but his heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being - the living excrement from our souls. The apple of his Father's eye turns brown with rot.
His Father! He must face with Father like this!
From heaven the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars across the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The Son does not recognize these eyes.
"Son of Man! Why have you behaved so? You have cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped - murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten - fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled, and blasphemed. Oh, the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name? Have you ever held your razor tongue? What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk - you, who molest young boys, pedel killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families, raping virgins, acting smugly, playing the pimp - buying politicians, practicing exortation, filming pornography, accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves - relishing each morsel and bragging about it all. I hate, loathe, these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me! Can you not feel my wrath?"
Of course the Son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The Father knows this. But the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed.
The Father watches as his heart's treasure, the mirror-image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah's stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction.
"Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?!"
But heaven stops its ears. The Son stares up at the One who cannot, who will not, reach down or reply.
The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom he loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied.
The Rescue was accomplished.
"On your back with you!" One rasies a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier's heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner's wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier's life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds all his molecules together? Only by the Son do "all things hold together" (Col.1:17). The victim wills that the soldier live on - he grants the warriors continued existence. The man swings.
As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm - the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless - the nerves perform exquisitely. "Up you go!" They lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear and can scarcely breathe.
But these pains are a mere warm-up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthy foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but his heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being - the living excrement from our souls. The apple of his Father's eye turns brown with rot.
His Father! He must face with Father like this!
From heaven the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars across the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The Son does not recognize these eyes.
"Son of Man! Why have you behaved so? You have cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped - murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten - fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled, and blasphemed. Oh, the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name? Have you ever held your razor tongue? What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk - you, who molest young boys, pedel killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families, raping virgins, acting smugly, playing the pimp - buying politicians, practicing exortation, filming pornography, accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves - relishing each morsel and bragging about it all. I hate, loathe, these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me! Can you not feel my wrath?"
Of course the Son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The Father knows this. But the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed.
The Father watches as his heart's treasure, the mirror-image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah's stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction.
"Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?!"
But heaven stops its ears. The Son stares up at the One who cannot, who will not, reach down or reply.
The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom he loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied.
The Rescue was accomplished.
6.09.2005
It was wonderful and glorious and breathtaking and healing and laughter and changes and dreams come true and new adventures.
I had the best weekend ever.
He came on Thursday, in a surprise whirlwind of a blue BMW Z4 convertible, honking the horn in his uniform with the Beach Boys going full blast. We were off to get clothes hidden at my pastor's house (I got to drive!), then hung out at Sarah's 21st birthday party. He gave rides and even let Benjamin drive it. We stayed up till 5 in the morning, talking and laughing and jumping around with Sarah and Nate. Bedtime wasn't going to take away from this weekend.
Friday we took lots of pictures of the car and prayed and sent Nate and Sarah off to Indianapolis, then jumped in our hot car with the top down, blasting Rascal Flatts and on our way to the city. He'd never been. We drove down 5th Avenue and people stared and commented and whistled. We know we're fine. We returned the car, then went to Cosi for some yummy but interesting food. We walked to the Empire State building and stood in line for a long time but it didn't matter cause we are fun people. He got a military discount because he's cool like that. So we went up 86 floors and stood at the top for a while, looking around and taking pictures. We saw the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Medics, HOOAH!) but it was far away and took more pictures and wrote on the wall. We left and ran down flights of stairs and out to 5th Avenue to walk and window shop and see Rockefeller Center. We went to FAO Shwartz where I took a picture with a life-size giraffe! and then went to Tiffany's and Co. It's a good thing we didn't break anything in there! We looked around and examined all the huge diamonds and I tried on a small one that cost $8,000. It was a normal sized ring too! After we left Tiffany's, we made our way to Payless to find him dress shoes after going to Bergdorf Goodman and finding shoes for $2,900. We bought shoes and hurried our way to Tavern on the Green and ate in The Chestnut Room. We changed in the bathrooms so we would look presentable. The service was wonderful and the food incredible. We talked and laughed and both ate Asparagus Soup and Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes and green beans. It was by far the most delicious meal I have ever eaten, and the most wonderful, most incredible experience of my life. After dinner, we took more pictures, then jumped in a cab and headed to Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. It was spectacular. Words don't even begin to describe it. I highly recommend it. Fantastic show. The characters sounded exactly like the ones in the movie, and the singing and dancing were amazing. We took more pictures, then walked around outside in Times Square all dressed up. We made our way slowly back to Grand Central Station to take the 11:22 train home, and in the bathroom a woman told me I looked stunning. :) We took the train back to New Haven to meet Mom, laughing and talking about the day. After we got home, we changed and ate some more, told my mom all about the day and showed her pictures. The whole day was wonderful and every moment a surprise.
Saturday we woke up early and headed for the triplet's house to babysit for an hour. We ran around the house like crazy people, screaming and laughing, played with Play-Doh, and colored at the kitchen table. After that we got ice cream for lunch at Praline's, then went home to shower and change. We took care of Callie (a puppy down the street), then drove to Hartford to watch a USA vs. Wales rugby match. It was amazing but also very confusing. We went with Benjamin, who explained lots of things and answered questions. His rugby coach and a member of his team in VA were there, and it was fun listening to them talk about the game. It was incredibly hot and sunny out though. After the game, the three of us headed back to my house and then went out for pizza at Tony's. We got pineapple and bacon. mmmmm. Benjamin left, and then he and I went bowling. It was lots of fun but he kicked my butt in two games, except the last one that we played left-handed. He was still quite impressive, bowling two strikes! And he said he would be horrible. I bowled three though. :) After bowling we went back to the house and watched Top Gun, then rolled into bed at 5 am again.
Sunday he finally got to go to my church and meet the people I've always talked about and worship and listen to my pastor. He wore his Gap khakis and a button down shirt just like always and I wore my striped skirt I had told him about. We shared a hymnal like old times and it made me happy. After church and sunday school we ate roast beef and carrots and mashed potatoes and bread at our house ( after he played the piano for me - but not long enough), then changed and packed up drinks and a bag and headed to the beach. We stopped by the Ridley's on the way and picked up Benjamin and Jonathan, and went to Clinton Beach. We played rugby (i tackled! and got tackled lots. even the famous layout tackle!) and threw the disc around and layed out in the sun and went for a walk up the beach. We got hot and attacked by bugs, so we left and went to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream. I got banana and peach with Heath bar and strawberries. He got caramel latte and something else with Butterfingers. We went back to the Ridley's and he finally got to meet the rest of the family!! I was so happy. We had tea and pizza and watched the England vs. Australia rugby World Cup. England won. We said goodbye and went back to the house to watch A Walk to Remember (he hadn't seen it) and eat snacks. I was so glad he got to meet the Ridleys. I had told him all about them and I was happy he got to meet my other best friend.
Monday we slept in a bit then laughed and talked while he packed a bit. It was a sad day, but still enjoyable. Mom made waffles and bacon for brunch and we ate a lot, then went to Wal-Mart and printed pictures and bought him an electric razor. Time was drawing to an end, and tears fell randomly throughout the day. We had to leave for the airport in NY around 2:30, so at the house he said goodbye to my mom (he had said goodbye to Dad the night before) and Ashley and cried and packed and we left. It was an hour and a half drive down, and we thought his plane left at 6. God was kind though, and his plane didn't actually leave until 7:15. We sat and talked and cried together, and even laughed a bit. The bushes around the parking lot helped with that. :) Inside the airport, we saw two people from his unit, because the unit is stationed out of NYC normally. We hugged and cried and said goodbye, and I watched him walk away. It was hard and painful and lonely, but he had to do it. I watched with the families of the other soldiers, and they hugged and kissed and comforted me. We're going to look for each other at the airport when they come home. I sat in the parking lot and cried and cried and prayed and prayed. I drove the lonely drive home, and called Benjamin and Ashley and they came over to watch The Notebook. Ashley brought me Ben and Jerry's ice cream and Ben brought me chocolate. They are the best. He called from Minneapolis and then again from Wisconsin, then from his barracks. Thank you Lord.
He is gone now, 7 time zones away. He called from a stop in Ireland for the last time for a while, until they are climatized and in-processed.
I miss his laughter, his tears, his hugs, his joy, his stories, his playfulness, kindness, humility, gentleness.
I miss him.
Please protect him, Lord.
I had the best weekend ever.
He came on Thursday, in a surprise whirlwind of a blue BMW Z4 convertible, honking the horn in his uniform with the Beach Boys going full blast. We were off to get clothes hidden at my pastor's house (I got to drive!), then hung out at Sarah's 21st birthday party. He gave rides and even let Benjamin drive it. We stayed up till 5 in the morning, talking and laughing and jumping around with Sarah and Nate. Bedtime wasn't going to take away from this weekend.
Friday we took lots of pictures of the car and prayed and sent Nate and Sarah off to Indianapolis, then jumped in our hot car with the top down, blasting Rascal Flatts and on our way to the city. He'd never been. We drove down 5th Avenue and people stared and commented and whistled. We know we're fine. We returned the car, then went to Cosi for some yummy but interesting food. We walked to the Empire State building and stood in line for a long time but it didn't matter cause we are fun people. He got a military discount because he's cool like that. So we went up 86 floors and stood at the top for a while, looking around and taking pictures. We saw the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Medics, HOOAH!) but it was far away and took more pictures and wrote on the wall. We left and ran down flights of stairs and out to 5th Avenue to walk and window shop and see Rockefeller Center. We went to FAO Shwartz where I took a picture with a life-size giraffe! and then went to Tiffany's and Co. It's a good thing we didn't break anything in there! We looked around and examined all the huge diamonds and I tried on a small one that cost $8,000. It was a normal sized ring too! After we left Tiffany's, we made our way to Payless to find him dress shoes after going to Bergdorf Goodman and finding shoes for $2,900. We bought shoes and hurried our way to Tavern on the Green and ate in The Chestnut Room. We changed in the bathrooms so we would look presentable. The service was wonderful and the food incredible. We talked and laughed and both ate Asparagus Soup and Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes and green beans. It was by far the most delicious meal I have ever eaten, and the most wonderful, most incredible experience of my life. After dinner, we took more pictures, then jumped in a cab and headed to Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. It was spectacular. Words don't even begin to describe it. I highly recommend it. Fantastic show. The characters sounded exactly like the ones in the movie, and the singing and dancing were amazing. We took more pictures, then walked around outside in Times Square all dressed up. We made our way slowly back to Grand Central Station to take the 11:22 train home, and in the bathroom a woman told me I looked stunning. :) We took the train back to New Haven to meet Mom, laughing and talking about the day. After we got home, we changed and ate some more, told my mom all about the day and showed her pictures. The whole day was wonderful and every moment a surprise.
Saturday we woke up early and headed for the triplet's house to babysit for an hour. We ran around the house like crazy people, screaming and laughing, played with Play-Doh, and colored at the kitchen table. After that we got ice cream for lunch at Praline's, then went home to shower and change. We took care of Callie (a puppy down the street), then drove to Hartford to watch a USA vs. Wales rugby match. It was amazing but also very confusing. We went with Benjamin, who explained lots of things and answered questions. His rugby coach and a member of his team in VA were there, and it was fun listening to them talk about the game. It was incredibly hot and sunny out though. After the game, the three of us headed back to my house and then went out for pizza at Tony's. We got pineapple and bacon. mmmmm. Benjamin left, and then he and I went bowling. It was lots of fun but he kicked my butt in two games, except the last one that we played left-handed. He was still quite impressive, bowling two strikes! And he said he would be horrible. I bowled three though. :) After bowling we went back to the house and watched Top Gun, then rolled into bed at 5 am again.
Sunday he finally got to go to my church and meet the people I've always talked about and worship and listen to my pastor. He wore his Gap khakis and a button down shirt just like always and I wore my striped skirt I had told him about. We shared a hymnal like old times and it made me happy. After church and sunday school we ate roast beef and carrots and mashed potatoes and bread at our house ( after he played the piano for me - but not long enough), then changed and packed up drinks and a bag and headed to the beach. We stopped by the Ridley's on the way and picked up Benjamin and Jonathan, and went to Clinton Beach. We played rugby (i tackled! and got tackled lots. even the famous layout tackle!) and threw the disc around and layed out in the sun and went for a walk up the beach. We got hot and attacked by bugs, so we left and went to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream. I got banana and peach with Heath bar and strawberries. He got caramel latte and something else with Butterfingers. We went back to the Ridley's and he finally got to meet the rest of the family!! I was so happy. We had tea and pizza and watched the England vs. Australia rugby World Cup. England won. We said goodbye and went back to the house to watch A Walk to Remember (he hadn't seen it) and eat snacks. I was so glad he got to meet the Ridleys. I had told him all about them and I was happy he got to meet my other best friend.
Monday we slept in a bit then laughed and talked while he packed a bit. It was a sad day, but still enjoyable. Mom made waffles and bacon for brunch and we ate a lot, then went to Wal-Mart and printed pictures and bought him an electric razor. Time was drawing to an end, and tears fell randomly throughout the day. We had to leave for the airport in NY around 2:30, so at the house he said goodbye to my mom (he had said goodbye to Dad the night before) and Ashley and cried and packed and we left. It was an hour and a half drive down, and we thought his plane left at 6. God was kind though, and his plane didn't actually leave until 7:15. We sat and talked and cried together, and even laughed a bit. The bushes around the parking lot helped with that. :) Inside the airport, we saw two people from his unit, because the unit is stationed out of NYC normally. We hugged and cried and said goodbye, and I watched him walk away. It was hard and painful and lonely, but he had to do it. I watched with the families of the other soldiers, and they hugged and kissed and comforted me. We're going to look for each other at the airport when they come home. I sat in the parking lot and cried and cried and prayed and prayed. I drove the lonely drive home, and called Benjamin and Ashley and they came over to watch The Notebook. Ashley brought me Ben and Jerry's ice cream and Ben brought me chocolate. They are the best. He called from Minneapolis and then again from Wisconsin, then from his barracks. Thank you Lord.
He is gone now, 7 time zones away. He called from a stop in Ireland for the last time for a while, until they are climatized and in-processed.
I miss his laughter, his tears, his hugs, his joy, his stories, his playfulness, kindness, humility, gentleness.
I miss him.
Please protect him, Lord.
6.02.2005
June already.
unbelieveable.
Sarah leaves tomorrow with her boy.
I miss the Florida family.
eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! <3
I am tan.
I have a burning, unquenchable desire to play disc. I miss it.
Just spent the night with Ash in the coolest house with the coolest dog besides Sally. He is a rottweiler/German shepherd mix and comes up to my waist and his name is Moses.
I am going to a rugby game in two days with Benjamin!!!!! You don't even know how excited I am about this.
Ken and Jen get married on July 3. I am waaaaay excited and can't wait to go and see everyone.
I love my life. <3
10/4
unbelieveable.
Sarah leaves tomorrow with her boy.
I miss the Florida family.
eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! <3
I am tan.
I have a burning, unquenchable desire to play disc. I miss it.
Just spent the night with Ash in the coolest house with the coolest dog besides Sally. He is a rottweiler/German shepherd mix and comes up to my waist and his name is Moses.
I am going to a rugby game in two days with Benjamin!!!!! You don't even know how excited I am about this.
Ken and Jen get married on July 3. I am waaaaay excited and can't wait to go and see everyone.
I love my life. <3
10/4
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