I am participating in the 21 Day of Gratitude Challenge Hop hosted by Inspired by Famila. Today’s theme or focus is gratitude for family. I am truly fortunate to have a loving and supportive family. When someone is in need or needs support, my family rallies around them. I saw that happen when my brother-in-law was sent to Afghanistan last year.
Charles headed to Afghanistan right after Thanksgiving last year leaving my sister Catherine and their two children behind. We send cards and care packages to my brother-in-law as well as gifts for my sister and the kids. It was so important to remember them and show them they were important.
We held my sister, brother-in-law and their kids in our prayers. I didn’t always know the specifics of what to pray for, but we handed over prayers knowing that God would hear them and send the answers that were needed.
A couple of weeks ago JDaniel and I went to our local veterans memorial to help plant flags in the ground. There was a number of local newspaper and television reporters present. Each went around asking the various groups present as to why they decided to come to the memorial to help to plant flags. I told them what I had told JDaniel on our way over to the memorial. We came to remember those who served our country by getting their memorial ready for Veterans Day and that we have two veterans that recently fought for our country overseas.
A couple of weeks ago JDaniel and I went to our local veterans memorial to help plant flags in the ground. There was a number of local newspaper and television reporters present. Each went around asking the various groups present as to why they decided to come to the memorial to help to plant flags. I told them what I had told JDaniel on our way over to the memorial. We came to remember those who served our country by getting their memorial ready for Veterans Day and that we have two veterans that recently fought for our country overseas.
The event organizers were so impressed with all the work JDaniel did that day. He helped plant flags when we first got there. Then he moved on to distributing flags to those who were using stakes create holes to place the flags in. Finally, he helped me by holding my collection of flags to be planted so they won’t touch the ground. JDaniel worked for over two hours.
When we left that day, we both felt like we had done something special. It was truly special to look back and see the field filled with flags knowing that we had planted some of them as a tribute to those in our family who have served.
The Gratitude Challenge runs from November 1st- 21st. Each day one or two bloggers will be sharing an encouraging quote focused on being thankful, grateful, kindness… They will also share an activity or share their 21 Gratitude moment. Stop by and visit their website on the date listed below to read their Contagious Gratitude story or activity.
Here are the lovely bloggers and each day they have posted:
- Nov 1st. – Mari at Inspired by Familia – Day One Girlfriends are necessary…
- 3rd Devany at Still Playing School Day Three- In Memory of Violet (Hold your little ones a little longer)
- 6th – Kim at The Educators’ Spin On It Day Six – I Am Thankful For You Chocolate Bar Wrappers & Craft (free printable)
- 7th Kristina at Toddler Approved! Day Seven – Parenting Challenges: I am Grateful for the kids who are the hardest to love.
- 8th – Amy at The Connection We Share Day Eight – Before I Tuck Him In – Teaching Gratitude
- & Bits of Positivity – Gratitude for New Adventures… In Parenting
- 9th – Jane at Mama Pea Pod – Day Nine –How the Magic of My Kids Kept Me Alive
- 10th Jen at Mum in the Madhouse – Choose Happiness
- & The Eyes of a Boy Remembering the Loss, Thankful for the Present
- 11th Melissa at Mama Miss Thankful FREE Print & Thankful Jar
- 12th Jen at Plain Vanilla Mom
- 13th Annette at Tips from a Typical Mom
- 14th Natalie at Learning with Mouse
- 15th Carla at Preschool Powol Packets
- 16th Giselle at Kids Yoga Stories
- 19th Ariadne at Positive Parenting Connection
- 20th Jen Farr at Kitchen Counter Chronicles
- 21st Jen Fischer at The Good Long Road
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The field looks great. You and JDaniel did a wonderful job.
Beautiful! What a wonderful way to celebrate our Vets! :)-Ashley
What a wonderful tribute. Hopefully your brother in law is staying safe.
WOW~! that is a lot of flags.. But it just had to make you feel blessed when you were finished.. I like to go to the local grocery store where they serve free breakfast to the Veterans.. I just like to go and shake their hands and tell them how thankful I am that they served..Then I ask them to tell me their stories.. I love the ones that have tears..they are so thankful to be thanked.. This is so important for us to do and not just on Veterans Day….everyday…Have a blessed day~! ta ta for now from Iowa:)
Wonderful. I love how seriously JDaniel took it. And the flags look beautiful.
What a great experience for both you and JDaniel!
What a beautiful way to remember…
what a wonderful job you and Daniel did ~ great photos and thanks for honoring our veterans ~ carol, xxx
Daniel did very well! Hope that there is peace in the world!
What a lovely thing to teach your son. I used to send brownies to my husband when he was stationed in Vietnam, thinking they wouldn’t crumble like cookies. I asked him when he got back if they’d arrived intact. He said, “The crumbs were delicious,” then, seeing my disappointment hastened to reassure me, “Everything you sent was like getting a hug from home. It was treasured.”
What a great experience to teach your son the meaning of Veteran’s Day.
What a great little guy you have. I love that he was so earnest and thoughtful as he helped. This is a beautiful way to show gratitude!
It is so important to instill young children about veterans. We have just had remember acne Sunday and the grandsons made poppies.
Love this post and the lovely flower from JDaniel!
I wish more parents were teaching their children patriotism as actively as you just did. Wonderful.
=)
Love this post. Making a difference while making memories!
That is an incredible tribute to the veterans and a wonderful lesson in teaching your son appreciation for those folks who put their lives in harms way FOR US!
Thank you for a great post!
that was a great thing yall did.
thank you