First let me thank all of you who responded to my post of the passing of my wonderful wife. I thank you for your prayers and comments. I wish I could personally thank you all in person. She was a wonderful person who will be greatly missed by me, her children, her grandchildren and patients. Bless you all.

A gentleman from the Funeral Home came to visit me today. He was a nice man and very considerate. He wanted to know how I and the family were doing. He left me with a brochure which I really didn't want but being a kind and gentler man today than two weeks ago I accepted it. I only mention this as the reason I am posting tonight. It discussed proper etiquette regarding Thank you cards and other appropriate issues. What it didn't discuss was when it was acceptable to return to your internet/blogging friends and family. Again, I just wish it were possible to personally thank all of your for your kind thoughts and prayers.

Mark 1:11 was named and dedicated to my youngest son, Jacob, who is in the ARMY. He is currently stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with the 82nd AIRBORNE Division. He is in the same unit that Airborne Dad of the One Percenters son, Mark, is in although as of this time they have actually never met.

Mark 1:11 for those of you who may not know it is a Chapter and verse in the Bible. It is what God said about Jesus after Jesus was baptized by John.

Passage Mark 1:11:
¹¹And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

I felt this was an appropriate passage and summed up my feelings for him even before he joined the ARMY. I explain all this to lead up why I am posting tonight. During the past two weeks he spent nearly every hour of his leave with me. He drove me to the Doctors, to the Mall, and yes to the Funeral Home. He stood by while I wept and he stood by while I slept. Ramrod straight in his dress greens and spit shined boots. Nearly never showing emotion only concern for me and his brother and sister. In a statement, "he was there." This is not to say his brother and sister were not, but only to say he was. His mother was so terribly proud of him and worried like all mother's and father's do when he was deployed. She prayed daily not only for him but all the soldiers, sailors, marines and airman. She was a Blue Star mom and proud of it. She would approve of my posting tonight. This is why.

Jacob called today. He was on his way home from work. It was about 6:30PM for you civilians, 1830 hours for the military families. It was the usual questions about how you doing.? How was work? I returned on Tuesday. Everything OK? I did inform him I had received his text about his need to spill the contents of his stomach on his first run Tuesday morning. I got it about the time I was eating my breakfast. What timing. He just chuckled and said he would try to do it again. I told him he need not bother as I have been on runs and got sick also, so I know the feeling.

Then as a matter of fact he told me he had received the Army Achievement Medal today. He said it was presented by the BC (Brigade Commander) at an awards ceremony this afternoon. It was for dedication to his job and outstanding achievement in the performance of his duties. Of course I wanted to know all the facts and what it was about. He simply replied, I was just doing what I am trained and paid to do dad, that's all. Just my job.

After we hung up I thought to myself, Isn't that what they all are doing? What they are trained to do. Protect us, uphold the Constitution of the United States and keep us safe from harm. Every young man and woman who puts on a military uniform should be called up in front of the brigade and given a medal. Thanks to them all.

ABNMOMMA would approve of my posting, I'm sure.