Letter to a Soldier

One of the families in our church has a son that recently deployed to Afghanistan, and families in our church are taking turns sending care packages to him. Our family is sending one this month, and I asked each of our boys to write a letter introducing themselves to him.

Joel is almost fourteen, and following is the letter he wrote just exactly as he wrote it:

Dear Kory,

First, I want to say thank you for protecting our country, and for everything else you've done.

I'm someone you don't know, but through this letter you will begin to know more about me.

I put a small brown Bible with the rest of the stuff. I'm asking you to please read it every chance you get, and share it with everybody else. See if you can use that Bible to lead people to Christ. I hope you win the battle, where ever you are, and make it home safely.

I've met your mother, she is very nice, she comes to church every Sunday and Wednesday, and when I do the offering she gives carmal candies to me and whoever else is doing the offering.

My name is Joel Boyd, I'm the son of the pastor, I have 4 brothers & 1 sister, and I happen to be the craziest of them all. I'm not sure I spelt crazy right. I'm only 13 years old. My brothers, Luke, Paul, Nicky, and Matt, are 17 (Luke), 15 (Paul), 12 (Nicky), and 23 (Matt); Matt is married, Luke is a senior (and has a girlfriend), Paul is in 9th grade, I'm in 8th grade, and Nicky is in 6th grade. My sister's name is Steph. She is 21, and just out of colage. Matt's wife is named Kylee.

I just want to say THANKS.

Unknown but now known freind,
Joel T. Boyd

P.S. I've always wanted to be a hero like you. I'm praying for you.

There's really not much else to say, is there?

I know it's the first day of spring, but you still need to put the marshmallow peeps down and take a step back, okay? The Spring Hodgepodge won't take long and then you can dive back into your pastel candy with renewed vigor. Just read my brilliantly thought out answers, and then click here to head over to Joyce's and take part in the fun.

1. The first day of spring is here...do you enjoy working in the yard? Weeding, raking, mowing, planting-your favorite springtime garden chore? How about your least favorite?

I gave birth to five boys so that I would never have to work in the yard. Of course, that doesn't mean they do either ...

2. What puts a spring in your step?

Stepping on a tack.

3. Describe a time when you had to spring into action?

A pastor and his family took us out for Sunday dinner after we presented our mission work at their church. Following the lead of our host family, we all ordered the special, which is what they ordered. The special was meatloaf, something that is not a favorite with anyone in our home, but everything else on the menu was more expensive. We had taught our children to eat what was put in front of them without complaining, but apparently they forgot those rules that Sunday. My two oldest repeatedly asked me if they had to eat their meatloaf. Luke, who was four at the time, refused to swallow. He chewed a bite of meatloaf for an enormously long time, and then gagged on it and threw up all over the restaurant table.

4. We're having carrots for dinner...would you prefer yours raw or cooked?

I didn't realize we'd been invited for dinner. We'll be there at six, and we'll eat what's put in front of us. (See previous answer.)

5. Do you take the shampoos and other sundries from your hotel room when its time to check out?

I don't, mostly because they're not usually the brands I prefer. My husband does, and then he brings them home and sets them on the bathroom counter for me to put away. And I do, by throwing them in the garbage when he's not looking. It's a strange system, but it works for us.

6. What's the most enjoyable team or club you've belonged to and what was it that made it so?

I belonged to the yellow team in Awana. And it was enjoyable because we won. A lot.

7. Is cloning a sign of progress?

Yes, but I'm not really sure we want to progress in that direction.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I could use a clone if she would help with dishes and housework. But she would always need to be about 10 pounds heavier than I am. After all, the copy should never be as good as the original.

The Luck of the Hodgepodge

It's time to put on one of those silly green hats and participate in the Hodgepodge. (In the interest of full disclosure, my green hat was missing while I wrote this post. In the interest of non-disclosure, all other articles of clothing were in full use.) So once you've finished up with my Hodgepodge of answers to this Hodgepodge of questions (I really like that word!) slide down the rainbow to Joyce's blog and see what everyone else had to say.

1. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated this coming Saturday...what's a favorite article of clothing you own that contains a touch o' the green?

My eyes are green, and I always wear them.

2. What's a favorite 'green space' in the town, state, or province where you live?

There's almost always something green growing in the back of my fridge, but I don't necessarily think it's a favorite place for me. Obviously it's a favorite place for the green stuff.

3. Do you wish you were taller, shorter, or think you're just about right in the height department?

I like my height, but proportionately, I need to be taller so that I would be skinnier. I think if I were seven feet tall, I'd look really thin. And awkward, but I tend toward that anyway. I like thin.

4. What's the surest way for someone to pick a fight with you?

What with our "green" theme for this week, I had to read this question twice. At first I thought it asked about the surest way to pick someone's nose. Not happening. Come to think of it though, that's probably a good way to pick a fight.

5. Broccoli-Spinach-String Beans-Peas...of the four, your favorite green veg? (Or the one you dislike the least if that first option's too hard. I just know there's some veggie haters out there.)

They all have their place. Some of them are just farther away from me than others.

6. March is National Women's History Month...besides friends, neighbors and the women you're related to, who's a woman in history you admire and why?

Wonder Woman's always been pretty cool. I like the invisible plane (although she was never invisible when she was in it, which seemed to me to be a little glitch in the system), and she really knew how to work her jewelry. Bracelets, anyone?

7. Keep Calm and ____________on.

You fill in the blank.

Keep calm and put your shoes on. You just seem more prepared that way.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm rarely prepared, with or without shoes. But it helps if the shoes are cute.

Marching to the Tune of the Hodgepodge

I didn't leap last week, but I will definitely march this week. Come on and join us. After all, who can resist a good marching song? If it makes you feel better, beat a drum while you read my answers. than go on over to Joyce's and sign up with your own.

But wait! You march yourself right down to the end of this post and leave a comment first.

1. Did March come in like a lion or was it something less ferocious in your neck of the woods?

March started with a roar, but it may have been more bear than lion. And it had more to do with our schedule than with our weather. Speaking of weather, what would you call a day with plenty of bright sunshine, a light breeze and temperatures in the low 80's? I'm not sure it qualifies as a lion or a lamb. Maybe a lazy housecat?

2. Speaking of lions, which one's your film favorite...The Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz), Mufasa (The Lion King), Elsa (Born Free), or Alex (Madagascar)? You may notice I left Aslan off the list. Including him would have made this question way too easy for many of you.

Each of those lion characters made their mark in their particular film. The real question is, would you still like The Cowardly Lion if he played in Madagascar? Would you still favor Alex if he took Mufasa's place in Lion King?

3. What's your favorite spot from which to view the sunrise or sunset?

I like to view the sunrise in the east and the sunset in the west. Which is handy since I don't think God plans on changing that formula any time soon.

4. To what extent is knowledge power and to what extent is truth power? What's the difference?

Knowledge is knowing facts. Understanding is knowing what those facts mean. Wisdom is knowing how to use those facts. Knowledge without understanding or wisdom is not much power. And in some ways, it can be very dangerous.

In addition, knowledge without truth can also be dangerous. You can know something, but if that something isn't truth, than it doesn't help much.

5. What's something peculiar you've seen recently?

Snow. Haven't seen it in years, and I saw it on Monday. (I was not in Florida at the time.)

6. Bottled water...your thoughts?

Usually when I open one up, I wonder what garden hose was used to fill it.

7. What's your strongest sense?

Probably my sense of entitlement. Followed closely by my sense of guilt.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Why can't everyone else get their act together so I don't have to? (get my own act together, that is.)