It’s been years since I said the swore into the military and put my life truly in the hands of another.

In the moment I stood there, swearing in and saying words I had never considered, I began to understand the gravity of what I was doing.

I look back now at those days, months and year and they feel so far away. While they are long gone, the memories and the lessons learned are kept in my heart.

I made many friends and we experienced things many can not understand. Yet, many today are experiencing life in a way I could never imagine. War seemed imminent for many months that I served, but I was never called for that.

Today, it’s all around.

As I think about my own years and the years many of my friends have given, I think about the founding of our country. I consider the lives lost and the tears that have been wept.

Those tears, those lives are in vain if we continue to give up more rights as individuals seeking others to control and keep things ‘fair.’ These rights and entitlements are driving our nation into the ground and it makes me weep.

I pray that as we take a weekend to celebrate Memorial Day, each and every American will pick up a book about American History and ponder the vision our founding fathers had. I pray each person will consider that the Pilgrims crossed that ocean so that all could worship God without fear of persecution.

Our country was founded on more than ‘seeking the American dream.’ It was founded on lives who took their faith to heart and crossed an ocean-giving all they had so their children could grow up worshiping the God of the Universe. Yet, today, Christians are afraid to share their faith and are targeted as extremists.

What is the vision of our country now? Where has it gone and why?

I’ll be celebrating with my family this weekend. We will share with our children the vision of our founding fathers, the truth about lives lost and reading the Bible.  Our vision will remain on Him – His word…and our cheeks will be wet with tears flowing as we remember the lives of those who have given all to ensure the freedom of the original vision is never lost.

Will you join me?

sharing at 5 Minute Friday

The post Ponder the Vision of the United States This Memorial Day Weekend appeared first on Mom's Mustard Seeds.

Our love of reading recently took us on an adventure with a little bear named Growly, as  I was blessed to receive a copy of “Begin” to review and enjoy with my family. Growly is a sweet bear cub heading out into the world for his Big Adventure. This Adventure will take him away from his home and family, while he goes out to become an adult. Upon his return, he will own his favorite family cabin and begin his own life with a sweet little bear that he loves.

Before Growly leaves, he receives a message (by way of a bird) that a friend of his grandfather’s, CJ (who never returned from his adventure) is in danger. This message takes Growly’s adventure over the Precipice, where no bear (other than CJ) has ever ventured.

Growly’s adventure takes him on ziplines and flying through the sky in a parasail, while also on a daring adventure in a boat (made by monkeys) over the white peaks of river rapids. Indeed, Growly goes on an adventure of epic proportions.

This sweet book is one in which your 8-12 year old can read and enjoy alone. Or, you and your entire family can enjoy the adventure together.  There are sweet glimpses of true friendship growing and learning to stick together through thick and thin. It is written in a way that will keep you reading for hours and the illustrations are absolutely adorable.

My family enjoyed this book and we can’t wait to read the next in the series.  It is a book every home will enjoy and I know will bless every child who hears it or reads it.

The Growly Books are written by Philip and Erin Ulrich of Design by Insight, a website and book design company and illustrated by Annie Barnett from BeSmallStudios.

The print book  is available directly from The Growly Books Website (http://thegrowlybooks.com) for $7.99 (introductory price). Some fun freebies will be included with purchase of the print book from the website. You can also purchase the Kindle edition here –> The Growly Books: Begin

GIVEAWAY

One person will be selected (via Rafflecopter) to receive one 8″ x 10″ print of a color illustration from the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Introducing the Growly Books – Begin – with a Giveaway! appeared first on Mom's Mustard Seeds.