Kim, Jodie, Karin, and Me
I am incredibly lucky!!! My mama always told me when I was growing up that I would be lucky if I had one person that I could call a "true friend." That one person that you could tell all of your deepest, darkest secrets, the one you call when your life is a mess or when your child gets engaged, the one who loves you in spite of all of your flaws, that kind of a friend is rare. I think what my mom was trying to teach me at a young age was that you should treasure a friend like that because they are rare. I did not just get one friend like that, I got several!
I told you about my friend Mary who has been a dear friend forever. I have known her the longest and we always reconnect like it was just yesterday since we last talked. BUT Last night I hung out with the gals above, we shared a ton of laughs, had some good food, a beverage or two, and just relished in "girl time!" Different God moments led me to each of the incredible women that I have been blessed with in my life, and I could talk forever about how I have "friend" fingerprints all over my life! However, tonight I want to tell you a bit about Karin.
Karin, Jodie, and I met as chaperones in 2003 when we traveled to Atlanta with 100+ youth going to the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Jodie had just lost her husband not very long before that and it was a tough trip for her. We spent lots of time laughing, staying up late talking, and decompressing about life. We were connected as friends through that life event. Then we traveled in 2007 to San Antonio, again as chaperones. But something happened while on that trip. We had just toured the site of the Oklahoma Bombing and we had stopped for supper when that "call" came in. You know the one, the one that tells you that your life is about to change forever. We were together when we found out that Karin's nephew was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. It was so incredibly painful to watch as she struggled to make sense of that tragedy amidst the crazy, wild, joyful chaos of the youth gathering and kids being kids. It was like the worst kind of double edged sword. And yet, at a very difficult time in her life, we were there to support her, pray for her, and help her find her way through the tragedy to see the light of God.
Karin is an incredible woman of faith and an AWESOME mama to her babies. This past summer, her baby Boe, decided that he was going to enlist in the United States Marines. I will never forget the conversations that happened after Boe made that decision . . . the decision that forever altered not only his life's path, but also that of his mama. Karen's internal struggle was a battle like no soldier has ever experienced. You see as moms we support our kiddos with superhero strength, while inside, our worlds seem to shatter into shards that stab our hearts, and we struggle to keep breathing hope into our babies. After all, we protected them as they grew in our wombs, we watched as they took their first steps, we cried when they cried, and then we let them grow wings and fly . . . we are their biggest supporters. I am am one of the friends that Karin calls when her faith is being tested. She needs me to somehow help her see her God and have faith amidst the turmoil. Now I want you to know that this mama is so proud of her son, but she also knows that soldiers can lose their lives fighting for all of us to have the freedom to live ours. She knows firsthand how the phone call goes that forever changes the reality for families that have lost their soldier. She has been there to support her sister, to mourn her nephew, and she knows that could be her reality too . . . she is terrified . . . and all she can do is pray to her Father God to protect her baby as he serves HIS country.
In October of 2014, I had the honor of doing a sending service for Boe with his family and friends surrounding him. I invited all of those there to lay hands on him, I blessed a cross that I bought for him, and placed it around his neck as that is the only jewelry he could take, we prayed for him, and then we all waited for the news that Boe would head to San Diego for basic training. That news came, and on October 28, 2014, recruit Boe Garthus took off with nothing but a cross around his neck and the prayers and love of his mama, daddy, family, girlfriend, and friends as reminders of the home he left. This was a hard day for Karin. I do not know the pain that she felt as that was hers. She cried. She prayed. She worried. And I want you all to know what an incredible sacrifice it is for the mother of a soldier, because I watched my friends heart break as her baby flew the nest to the unknown waters of the Marines. I am so incredibly proud of both Boe and Karin. You see Boe sacrificed his own life for all of ours, and my friend Karin gave up her son, so my son and daughter, my grandchildren, and I can have the freedom to live ours.
When my baby is getting married in January, Karin's will be graduating as a Marine! Last night we talked about it and I choked back the tears as several trickled down her cheeks. I can only imagine how much pride and honor that mama will feel as her baby walks across that stage in his military dress uniform. Boe's family and girlfriend will all be traveling to be a part of this day and it will be AMAZING! I know that behind every soldier is a family that loves and supports them, sacrifices their own lives as their soldier serves their countries, and they actually are the few, and the proud! Please pray for Boe, Karin, and all soldiers and their families . . . they really need them.
Peace and Prayers,
Sheila
If you would like to send a letter to Boe, his address is below. Send it in a white envelop to:
Recruit Garthus Boe
SDI Staff Sergeant Crabtree, S.C.
2nd BN Fox Co. Plt. 2126
36001 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA
92140-2131----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarah Day 24
After our post a few days ago about Jordan's job offer with the Fargo PD, I can't help but write about the news of the two officers that were killed today in New York City. Although I am incredibly proud of all the law enforcement officers in my life, this news reminds me that law enforcement is dangerous, and every single officer is putting their life on the line every day when reporting to duty.
The two officers in NYC were ambushed today and murdered for no good reason. They were targeted because of their uniform. The officers didn't even have a chance to think, or to fight back. Officer Rafael Ramos and Officer Wenjian Liu were shot in the head . . . they made the ultimate sacrifice.
What disgusts me the most is what the killer posted on his Instagram. According to the reports, he wrote on his account, "I'm putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours, let's take 2 of theirs." And then a bit later he posted a picture of a silver handgun and captioned it with, "This may be my final post." Of course the POS took the easy way out and after he shot the two officers, he took off and then killed himself.
A couple of weeks ago, Jesse got an email that was sent out to law enforcement agencies nationwide about how they should be on guard for certain groups of people that are targeting law enforcement officials. They are being targeted because of a few isolated events that have been largely debated by the public. I think it's really sad that because of these few unfortunate circumstances, all law enforcement officers are being dubbed bad by so many people. The majority of officers are not looking to hurt people and most of them are not doing anything to be militias. I think that people definitely have a right to their own opinion and they have a right to be upset, however, it's very easy not to acknowledge that they don't know the details of every situation. The POS who shot the two officers today killed them in revenge of something that the officers probably had nothing to do with. Why does any group of people get lumped into a stereotype based on the actions of few?
We are praying for the families of those who have lost their lives tonight in the line of duty, and yet, those prayers seem so inadequate. Those families are left trying to pick up the shattered pieces of their now broken lives. The only thing we can hope is that they see God in the eyes of those that are there to support them as they go through this terrible tragedy.
Sarah
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