For J.R., Trina, Karston, Chuck, Mikal, Crystal, Petter and Stan...

To my father-in law Stan who served in Vietnam.

To my friend Karston who has served in Iraq.

To my H.S. classmate and friend Trina who has served all over the world and is still serving in Germany with her husband...

To my cousin Mikal (and his wife Crystal) who is soon going to be deployed...

To my cousin Petter who has served in Iraq...

To my friend J.R. who has served as a chaplain in Afganistan...

To my brother in Christ, Chuck, who has recently returned from duty overseas....

THANK YOU for making today possible.

Your sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. We pray for you and think about you often. We do not understand the sacrifices that you and your families have gone through, though we can imagine....

My family is leading a life of peace and safety because of you and your hard, sacrificial, and diligent work. I would be truly honored if any of our kids rise up to walk in your steps someday to defend our country.

But while they are young and because of our freedom, we spent the day playing "Capture the Flag" and "Protect the President" among other fun nerf gun games.

As the kids posed,

strategized,

"fought,"

 

and played "Rescue the Princess,"

the moms thoroughly enjoyed the battle :)

Highlights of the day were Cliff's intense sprinting, (thanks for the video Kara :)

the random passer-by high schooler whose agile form of (very serious) play entertained us all, and Laura's (the President) choice of body guards. She chose Kaiah, Ellie, and another un-bodyguard type kid leading her to her very untimely demise...

We've been reading Brother Andrew's biography lately... and he was a boy who lead a carefree life in Holland until the Nazis came and disrupted everything. He learned along with everyone else that life was not all games and fun and there was real sacrifice involved. Our kids have not had to experience that just yet.

We are trying to raise them to not be naive to the real conflicts of the world. We don't turn a deaf ear. And we intentionally teach them about global events and battles that happen in the world (and in our own spiritual lives)... but today they had a lot of fun... because of the freedom that you and so many have sacrificially fought for for all of us.

Thank You... on this Memorial Day.