The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me.. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

'This is your thanks..'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.
A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did.. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.
I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base... It will be about time for a sandwich.
God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

I love to see the temple

I love to see the Temple, I hope to be sealed there someday.

Things I love

I saw this on my aunts blog and decided that I would steal it from her.
As I reflect back on many things that have changed recently in life, I am grateful for many things especially....

loving parents that would do anything for me or Mitch
working at Nordstrom
walking through wet mud, letting it squish through my feet
traveling through Europe years ago with my family
a clean house that smells of warm freshly baked bread
spending a evening alone with my husband when he isnt at his 2nd job
fresh manicure and nail fill
carwashes
payday
holding hands walking on the beach
Hawaii
learning something new
pantene pro v conditioner
diet coke
laying in the grass watching the clouds float by
spring
william sonoma chocolate chip cookies
flip flops
bare mineral makeup
mac lip gloss
fresh lemonade
feeling happy and healthy.

What are your favorites?

up stairs family room

last night we decided that we would just go look at some furniture with no intent to buy but we fell in love with this set. We dont have it yet, but it should be ready by moving day!

Do you officially become an adult when you are excited to buy some of these?
well if the answer is yes, I guess we became adults tonight! They even have a wrinkle steam release cycle, its so exciting

Be careful what you wish for because it just might come true!!

I have a feeling that I might be counting more sheep than I care to remember tonight. Isnt it interesting how life can do a complete 360 degree change in a matter of minutes! That is how I am feeling at the moment. You know when you look back at life and you arent thrilled with the way things are going but you just stick with it and then you wonder how you ever would have done it any differently? That is what I am crossing my fingers and hoping for.

A week ago I took of some time to go on a mini vacation with Mitch for our 2nd Anniversary. While I was away from work clearing my head, we spend some time in Las Vegas, finished house hunting and started packing up all of our things. When I walked into work on Monday I was greeted by my boss who informed me that the Murray store had an opening and she encouraged me to go for the position. After being able to think about it for a few minutes it became official and another thing in our lives changed.

This last week I have been sick but I have a feeling that its just stress, right? Stress affects you right? Thats what I am going to blame it on for now :)

By the end of the month we should be new residence to Bountiful Utah. I almost cant even let the reality of it hit me until we sign the final papers. We are so excited to finally have our own home and a place to grow and learn new things as a small little family. Its amazing how many little papers you have to sign and initial in order to prove that you are who you say you are in order to own a home. Its been a fun process that I never thought that I would ever go through.

we also were informed that our Bank had closed for business. You can imagine how frustrating this is while trying to buy a home. While our funds were tied up it really makes you think about how hard it could be someday to get to your money when you really need it.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I cant wait till I can call my new life normal! Until then, I am off to count sheep.... 1............2..........