Mark and Regina: Seminary Class

My freshman year I was not only new to secondary education, I was new to the school district--having moved across town--and new to seminary, too. Seminary started before school because it was a religious class from our church and had to be held when the other students wouldn't be affected by it. It was my favorite "class" because I knew most of the group and I love our religion. I enjoy thinking back to seminary because it's where Mark and I had the most exposure to each other--something I'm now eternally grateful for.

Our clas had about 15 students altogether. We would come somewhere around 7:00 am and spent an hour or so learning gospel principles. Our instructor was excited about teaching using creative off-the-wall examples to teach us and illustrate certain concepts. He also required a morning devotional that we all took turns doing; some of us not so eagerly.

I particularly enjoyed doing the devotionals at that time in my life. I would use music, make little handouts with quotes on them, find verses from scripture I felt especially drawn to, and I'd get up in front of the class leading them in my little devotional. Mark, liked my devotionals, too, but for different reasons than the substance of the devotionals.For whatever reason, he liked that scrawny, huge
frame-wearing, blonde girl in front of the class. He has always been able to see far more than whatever I've made out of the relfection in my mirror each day. Sometimes I really wish I could get a glimpse of who he sees when he looks at me.

Throughout that year we had experiences that brought us closer together as friends, and a one or two that were less wonderful.

It's funny, when we first moved to that side of town I wasn't all that impressed or excited about having to go to school with a whole new group of kids, I now see it as divine intervention bring Mark and I one step closer to our life together.

Mark and Regina

So often I'm asked how Mark and I met, how we found each other after time, everyone just loves the story. So, I thought I'd share, bit by bit, our story in small chapters.

Mark and I met when I was 13 (or there about) and he was 15 outside our church in the parking lot. To tell you the truth, I can't remember the exact time of year but I do know that it was warm enough not to wear a jacket and it was just getting dark around 7:30-8:00 in the evening. We'd been to a youth activity where we had our first encounter.

He was outside talking to someone, my friend, Shawna, I think, and came outside to see what she was up to. Of course, she was talking to a "guy"--Mark, as it turns out--she was dark and beautiful with the curvy figure I'd wanted to possess, thick dark brown hair, and she had a fun personality, it was often I'd find some boy pining away for her. I, on the other hand, was skinny with as many curves as a pencil, glasses, and permed blonde hair, so I was often jealous of her, even if she was being "worshipped" (yeah, that's how I imagined it) by a nerdy guy.

Mark was wearing a light colored shirt and blue jeans. His his short black hair was slick and combed ala 1950--almost, and he was having a conversation with Shawna about pain tolerance. You know how teens are; awkward.

I'm not sure when I got into the conversation and interaction, but there was some lifting and caring involved. Why was this 15 year old boy carrying a 13 year old girl around the parking lot when she had perfectly good legs? I don't know. You'll have to ask a 15 year old boy why that would happen. Why would a 13 year old girl allow herself to be carted off by a vurtual stranger? Again, I don't know, I'm sure my current brain must be newly hatched because I can't imagine allowing anyone to carry me around now! Well, ok, Mark can, and does. Maybe it was some mystical spell he cast on me, I just knew I could trust him,and into his arms I went--my first view of my home.

I would have never guessed that 20 years later we'd be married with ten children to love and care for. He was gangly and awkward, I was scrawny and dopey. Things have changed since then. Today he's extremely handsome, sexy, strong as an ox, tall (well, he's always been taller than me), confident, balanced, and the exact man I would design for all of our girls to marry if I could. I have filled out a bit, figured out how to eat a sandwich, found a curve or two, acquired some contacts and better looking glasses, and mellowed out my obnoxious giddy school-girl angsts.

You never know what a chance meeting will do. I'd say we spent maybe and hour together that night, an hour that I sadly have to say didn't leave that much of an impression because I have to strain for the memories--I really just have one small moment captured in my head, a snapshot of him and a recording of one phrase than ring in my ears whenever calling up that time.

We now have a 13 year old girl and it tickles me yet frightens (maybe "frighten" is a little strong) me to think that she could know today the man she'll be married to when she's 32. If she does, I hope he's even half as wonderful, sweet, devoted, disciplined, and doting as her dad, my sweethear, Mark.

After that night, we didn't really see each other until a year later when I started my freshman year in high school, he was a junior, and we shared a seminary class together before our regular classes. It was during that year that our metamorphasis began.

Soldiers Angels

Visit this link to find out more ~~~ http://www.soldiersangels.org/


Soldiers' Angels was started by a self-described ordinary mother of an ordinary young man turned hero, Sgt. Brandon Varn. Brandon was deployed in Iraq and has since honorably completed his mission and has returned back to his proud and loving family.

In the summer of 2003, he wrote home expressing his concern that some soldiers did not receive any mail or support from home. Being a caring and loving mother, she decided not to allow a situation like that to continue. She contacted a few friends and extended family to ask if they would write to a soldier or two. Within a few short months, Soldiers' Angels went from a mother writing a few extra letters to an Internet Community with thousands of angels worldwide.

With more and more merchants donating services, money and items for packages, the Angels reorganized as a 501 c 3 non-profit so all donations would be tax deductible. Soldiers' Angels currently supports tens of thousands of American Service Members stationed wherever we raise our nation's flag, and that number continues to grow daily. Soldiers' Angels are dedicated in supporting our military during and after their deployment.

In December of 2004 a worldwide support forum was created in the hopes of providing a place where the needs of our heroes could be fulfilled.


Now this ordinary mother's youngest son, Bretton Varn, is serving his country in Iraq as he continues his family's legacy of bravery, honor and commitment. As with all of our brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces, our thoughts and prayers are with Brett and his family as he begins his tour in service to his nation.

May God Bless Our Troops!






"I was with that which others did not want to be,
I went to where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.
I asked nothing of those who gave nothing,
and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness that I feel.
I have seen the face of terror, felt the stinging cold of fear,
And enjoyed the sweet taste of a moments love.
I have cried pain and hope,
But most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least some day I'll be able to say,
That I was proud what I was, A Soldier."
~anonymous

Treats for Troops

www.Treatsfortroops.com/#

Care packages are so helpful for our soldiers when they're feeling down...please check out this website...you can even look though some pictures of our country's heros.

USA Freedom Corps

About USA Freedom Corps > Special Initiatives >
Support our Troops and Their Families
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hundreds of thousands of men and women from all over America are serving in our armed forces and away from their homes. While they serve our country, those of us “on the homefront” can be making a difference too.

Many Americans are looking for ways to support members of the military and their families. The following are some of the ways you can express your support for our troops, give time and care to their families, and help strengthen their communities.

America Supports You
America Supports You was launched by the Department of Defense to help recognize the efforts of Americans across the country to support our military and to communicate that support to members of our Armed Forces serving at home and overseas.

Using the website, http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, Americans can show their support by posting a message to the troops, requesting and wearing the program’s free dog tag, or finding an organization through which they can donate frequent flyer miles, send gift certificates, help sponsor homes for disabled troops, or send letters, messages, and care packages.

USO Care Package Program

The USO Care Package Program was created to provide a safe and secure way for the public to show their support for our men and women in uniform.

For a $25 dollar donation, Americans can sponsor a care package for a service member who is either en route to an overseas assignment or currently deployed. Each USO Care Package is assembled by volunteers and contains, at a minimum, a 100-minute international calling card, a disposable camera, toiletries, sunscreen, and a message of support from a Care Package sponsor. Over 480,000 care packages have been distributed as of December 2004.

Additional information about the USO Care Package Program is available at http://www.usocares.org or by calling (877) USO-GIVE.

The USO is a Congressionally-chartered non-profit corporation whose mission is to provide morale, welfare, and recreation-type services to military personnel. The USO operates 125 centers, including centers in Kuwait and Qatar, and will soon open a center in Afghanistan.

Other Ways to Show Support for the U.S. Military
Help for Troops

Through Operation Dear Abby, send e-mail messages to deployed troops of any Service from your home state.

Through Operation Uplink, contribute to the purchase of phone cards that will be distributed to military personnel and hospitalized veterans.

Through AMVETS Voices From Home™ contribute to the purchase of instant voice email packages so military families can send voice emails to the troops in remote locations.
Help for Families

Offer your time and resources as an individual, organization, or business to give families of deployed troops help with activities such as household repairs, spring cleanings, and yard work or specialized skills such as financial planning or legal advice. Volunteer by contacting a local chapter of any of the following organizations: American Legion, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, BPO Elks of the USA, Camp Fire USA, National 4-H Headquarters, National Fraternal Congress of America, Rebuilding Together, The Salvation Army, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Center National Network, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and YMCA of the USA.

Volunteer with one of the youth serving organizations helping to tutor or take care of children while a parent or caregiver is stationed away from home. Some of these organizations include the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire USA, National 4-H Headquarters, and YMCA of the USA.

If you want to donate money, there are many organizations that help military families. Each of the branches of the armed services has a military relief society that offer low interest loans and other emergency financial assistance to military families: Army Emergency Relief, Navy/Marine Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance.
Help for Educators

Teachers can find new resources on the U.S. Department of Education web site meant to help them work with students with a parent or other relative deployed in the military. The web site also offers information on effectively working with students generally who may have questions or ideas about war.
Help for Others

Think about sharing your time and compassion with a veteran at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital or other facility.

Search for a way to help in your community through the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network.

God Bless Grandma

Here's a quote from a government employee who witnessed a recent
interaction between an elderly woman and an antiwar protester in a Metro
station in D.C.


"There were protesters on the train platform handing out pamphlets on
the evils of America . I politely declined to take one.

"An elderly woman was behind me getting off the escalator and a young
(20ish) female protester offered grandma a pamphlet, which she politely
declined.

"The young protester put her hand on the grandma's shoulder as a gesture
of friendship, and in a very soft voice said, 'Lady, don't you care
about the children of Iraq ?'

The old woman looked up at her and said, "Honey, my father died in
Germany during World War II, I lost my husband in the Korean War, and a
son in Vietnam All three died so you could have the right to stand
here, and bad mouth our country. If you touch me again. I'll stick this
umbrella up your [backside] and open it."

~God Bless Grandma, and God Bless America ~

What no one ever told me about breastfeeding

As a woman who has breastfed five children (currently breastfeeding number 5) I wanted to share a few things no one ever told me about breastfeeding.



No one ever told me I would feel so in love, not only with my baby but with myself; I am at awe.

No one ever told me my milk could be used for healing cuts, scrapes, burns, and rashes, yet it works so quickly without any sting and I MADE it for free.

No one ever told me I would feel so sexy and confident.

No one ever told me it could be so fun; I can shoot my hubby from across the room.

No one ever told me I would feel so satisfied with who I am, with what I am, and with life because of my ability to nourish a human being from my body.

No one ever told me my husband would find it so attractive and desirable.

No one ever told me I would feel so connected to my mother or other women.

No one ever told me I would feel so much respect and reverence for motherhood and life.

No one ever told me I would feel so important, powerful, and fierce.

No one ever told me I would feel so incredibly grateful, honored, or at peace.