Survivors
September 20, 2004This is a sad day for America. Another one of our American hostages was beheaded in Iraq. God carry that family through the next painful days and months ahead. We also had another Central Illinoisian listed in our paper who died in Iraq. Todd Engstrom was a security manager for EOD Technology Inc. serving in Iraq. He's 35, born the same year my son was and his parents and wife is in Athens, the city where my son graduated from high school, that's pretty close to home. Todd has a son in Tennessee so the whole country will claim this one, too, but that's OK. It's truly heart felt. And as I was coming into work, I stopped at a state building for a "rules of the road" book for my bicycle and couldn't get in. The door was locked. The couple inside said, "There's a perk out there." I quickly made my way back to my car and headed on to work and just around the corner police cars were surrounding the capitol building here in Springfield, Illinois. I got to work and heard on the radio where a guard in the capitol had been shot and later died. As I left work to come home for lunch (I work two blocks from the capitol), the place is lite up with police cars as they think they have this suspect cornered in an apartment building. Also in the paper today was an article where the city officers harassed one of my coworkers as he was on his break taking his usual walk. He came back in just as pale as could be. He was pretty angry. This young man is as tame as a kitten and this was so uncalled for. What unrest we see all around us. As for me, I'm doing great. I bought a bicycle and I've been enjoying riding it around my trailer court. I canned seven pints of spiced pears today and last couple weeks, I got 25 pints of peaches frozen in my freezer. I got my patio water stained, and my trees trimmed, and so much done here at home. I'm so much more confident this year and feel ready to gain new heights. Sunday, September 26, is National Gold Star Mother's Day. Be sure and remember us on that day as we set aside this day to honor the memory of our dear ones. Blessings. September 2004Another season is upon us and it's time to makes things ready for winter. Sometimes those months can be long but I chose to use that time to catch up on my reading, my crafts, and join in on a bible study at church. I did clean house a lot this summer. Cleaned out cards, letters, and so much correspondence from veterans organizations that I no long correspond with. I even let go of some of my loved ones pictures that were turning yellow. Believe me, I still have lots of pictures but I really did clean house. And it feels so good. I'm giving away one of my four drawer filing cabinets so you can imagine I got rid of a lot of papers. So when it leaves, I'll have a little more room. My life is slowing taking shape after such a devastating blow. I put out a big patch of mums last week so by next year, I should have more color in my yard. Should be very refreshing. I have a small memorial garden that has hostas in it but they don't bloom a lot. They are pretty and green and I like that, too. One of the highlights of my summer was to go to a Crabbfest concert with the Crabb Family and met Dottie Rambo. This is southern gospel music and most groups were young and I don't know them but Dottie is my all time favorite song writer. I had my picture made with her for my 60th birthday and then I was ready to come home. I have enjoyed my patio this summer but now I'm bring in my house plants and thinking of the chores I need to do inside. I write letters so that's my #1 hobby. I do a lot of bible studies, and them there's my sewing and crafts. And I still work so that's a chunk out of my day, too. I'm so thankful I still have work as the state is downsizing, laying people off, and all; I have more overtime than I can handle. Perhaps you could share how do you plan to spend the coming holidays? Carolyn is a contributing writer for 4MilitaryFamilies.com. | 
