MACARTHUR by Mitchell Yockelson....a book review

How did Douglas MacArthur earn the nickname "America's General"?  This question is thoroughly answered in the biography, MACARTHUR, written by Mitchell Yockelson.

There are so many interesting tid bits of information in this book for me.  Having been married to a soldier for over 7 yrs, (we are still married but he is no longer in the Army!) it was interesting to hear of MacArthur's relationships with other powerful soldiers.  Such as, Black Jack Pershing...My Dear's first 'job' in the Army was working on the Pershing Missile in Southern West Germany.  And Major Dwight Eisenhower, who later became president of our great USA!

MacArthur's Father, Arthur MacArthur, was a decorated Civil War soldier.   He fought on the side of the Yankees in such skirmishes as Stones River, TN (Murfreesboro) and received a Medal of Honor for his actions on Missionary Ridge, TN (Chattanooga.) 

Arthur MacArthur and Douglas MacArthur were the first Father and Son to receive the same military award....the Medal of Honor!

Douglas' parents were a highly important part of his life.  Until his death in 1896, Arthur was a very involved Father.  In 1899, when Douglas moved to West Point, his Mother, Pinky, moved with him.  Douglas cared for her, always moving her with him, or to a place of safety, until her death in December, 1935, in the Philippines.  Douglas later brought his Mother's remains back to the states and buried her in Arlington Cemetery next to his Father.

The book chronicles MacArthur's early military career up until his resignation from the Army in 1851, after 52 years of military service.  It also explores his personal life and how he was a leader both on and off the battlefield.

I have enjoyed reading the book.  I learned so much about the World Wars that I did not know.  I also learned that the Korean conflict began on June 25, 1950.....forty years before my first child was born!  There are several interesting facts and stories that I can't even begin to share them with you - you might want to consider just getting the book and reading it yourself!!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....like strong military leaders that fought to keep our freedoms!

God's girl,

Pamela

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

She's 18?!?

Today is my baby girl's 18th birthday, the one I call Cupcake.  And, Funfetti cupcakes are what we made to share with her friends tomorrow while they play like children at Chuck E. Cheese!

I am simply amazed that 18 yrs have passed since that warm, sunshine-y day in El Paso when she finally decided to join our family.  I remember some pretty long, hard days during these 18 yrs, and if you've followed my blog since the beginning I'm sure you remember some of them, too!  However, to realize that the time has passed and today she becomes an adult is just mind-boggling!

Many times I have referred to the fact that this is the child that has kept me on my knees...and trust me, that is a good thing!  She has reminded me over and over again that I am not a perfect Mom, that I can only be her Mom by sitting at the feet of Jesus each and every day and because of that, I am a better wife to My Dear and better Mom to her and CD - and for that, I would not trade!

Cupcake has shown me a new way to live, to love, to know God because she has never been afraid to ask the hard questions.  I know some of you would say she argued with me, and at times, she did, but her stubborn desire to know the ins and outs of life and the rules have made me question many things that I held as firm belief.  Come to find out, I should have questioned them long ago, but I was afraid.  I'm so thankful that she was not afraid to explore and question the world around her!

Some highlights, and lowlights, that I remember of these years:

Cupcake did not like to be swaddled!  She preferred to be free....imagine that!
She NEVER liked a schedule!  Never!
She smiled and laughed at CD more than she ever did at me, they were fast friends!
I loved her hair up in a "waterfall"....it just made her little round face so cute!
She loved all things Winnie the Pooh!
My precious 4 yr old, at my feet, asking Jesus to start a relationship in her heart.
She has always loved to learn and was very anxious to start Kindergarten....at the door of the school, she never even looked back to wave goodbye on her first day.
Cupcake liked playing soccer, until she got a cleat scraped across her nose....my poor baby!
In 4th grade she told me she was thinking of trying out for the band, and proceeded to come home letting me know she would be playing the trumpet!  WHAT?  Why not the flute?  I don't know, but she was really good at the trumpet!
She's really good at Art and being creative, too!
BOYS....not sure why, but they have always held a certain appeal for her - to the point of driving us insane, I think!
I have always loved hearing my girls giggle and converse together....makes my Momma's heart feel good, especially as they have grown.
The hard years....8th, 9th and 10th grade.  I'm not sure I ever showed her enough grace, but she made sure that I loved her during that time!
My 'little bitty' coming home from a job fair and letting me know she would be a lifeguard!  Really? 
Watching her grow through this difficult year....she was the one that took care of me on those days when I simply could not imagine moving after losing David. 
Seeing Cupcake and my big Sissy enjoying one anothers company - they are so much alike!
Just last week, we got to have fun making her mum for homecoming....she is so creative!

I LOVE MY CUPCAKE!!!  I LOVE MY BUNNY-GIRL!!! I LOVE MY LITTLE BITTY!!!
I am so thankful that God chose My Dear and I to raise her in His love and admonition.  We are truly blessed for her being part of our family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY GIRL!!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....like my 18 yr old, Cupcake!

God's girl,

Pamela

A weekend of laughter and tears! - Women of Faith

I was totally blessed and overwhelmed to, as a blogger, receive tickets to Women of Faith; Over the Top in my area last weekend! I will be honest, though, and tell you that I did not take full advantage as a blogger of all that was offered. I never met with the speakers, I didn't take many pictures, I didn't even take notes because I had everything in my bag BUT a pen!! I was pretty much just a regular gal there for a good God time....and that is exactly what I had!!!

My blog readers know that this year has been very difficult and gearing up for school totally kicked me to the curb! (Speaking of school, did you watch on Facebook as God performed a miracle for CD and she was able to return to school this semester??? That was awesome!!) CD is back at her Bible college, starting her second year. Cupcake is a senior, and I'm still not sure where the time went!

Anyway, I said all that to say this: I needed a Women of Faith weekend - BAD!!! Unfortunately, just getting there wasn't easy. Trying to settle things for My Dear and Cupcake proved to be difficult, even though it is just the two of them!

However, I boarded the train just before 9am on Friday morn and made my way downtown!

The morning started with a tremendous praise time led by the Women of Faith Worship Team followed by Patsy Clairmont and Andy Andrews....LOTS of energy and laughter from those two!!!

Andy Andrews makes ADHD look absolutely hysterical! He simply cannot stay in one spot, and I think he gives hope to the Mom's and Grandma's that their precious, energetic children can become productive adults!!!

As he told about his homeless experience, I picked up a juicy morsel that I hope to keep close for quite some time...the greatest things happen in life because of how we act when life's not fair! We've taught our girls that life is not fair, that God is truly just and that is why we depend on Him and His wisdom. Mr. Andrews helped me to wrap my brain around the fact that when hardships come, my attitude is very important! I've heard it for years, but concept to reality has been hard to teach!!!

Patsy Clairmont is just a spit-fire full of wisdom! I always have a chance to laugh, and usually a chance to cry, during her sessions!!!

Ok...my thoughts are still a jumble and I know you didn't drop by to read a moment by moment account of a Women of Faith weekend so...

Brenda Warner. Oh, if I could have a couple of hours and some tea with her, I know I would walk away with so much knowledge, friendship and wisdom to last for a long time! She has a very matter-of-fact way of telling her story but I sat there and cried through most of it. She was a Marine, I was an Army wife. She is Mom to a special needs child, I was a sister of one. She's married to a football player, and I LOVE football!!

As Ms. Warner was wrapping up her session, my heart was fully open and I felt so vulnerable. I wasn't sure what God had planned for the afternoon, but my heart was ready for it!

And then....I know Sandi Patty shared a portion of her story, but I could not tell you what it was. I just remember that toward the end, she began singing her hit song, "We Shall Behold Him' and it was beautiful. Of course, my mind went to David, already beholding the glory of our Lord, and the tears began to fall again.

Then, the kicker.....she motioned for someone in the audience to join her on stage, and it was Lisa Smith. If you don't know her story, Ms. Smith is Down's, a physically handicapped young lady. Her sign language is beautiful, her movements are large, her face just shines as she signs! By this point, I was full out weeping!

The tears are falling again as I type. There will soon come a day when I will see David again. I will hug his sweet neck, kiss his precious bald spot, hear another "I love you." However, before I get to do all that, I will have the opportunity of a lifetime - to fully, heart open, worship my Savior and King in full abandon, face to face!!! I can't imagine....I think I will probably be speechless as I enter the splendor of Heaven. To see my Lord, and say Thank You. To let Him know that I love Him with my whole being....that will be Heavenly!!!

Thank you to the Women of Faith team for allowing me a way to be there! Thank you to Thomas Nelson, because without the BookSneeze program, I would have never had the opportunity to be there! Thank you, Women of Faith, for also hosting a prayer room. My time with Susan was so anointed and God breathed peace over me as she prayed!

I'm not sure that what is truly in my heart has been conveyed here! I can truly say....

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.......

God's girl,

Pamela

My only compensation for this article is the tickets I was given to attend Women of Faith.

Did you know....

That I love chocolate?

That I won, with God's grace, an Xbox 360 Kinect for my family for Christmas?

That I recently won gift cards to my favorite TexMex restaurant? (Facebook contest!)

That I love God? (I hope so!)

That life has been different this summer than we thought it would be? (I'll try to post more about that later!)

That I've lived in 5 US states and 2 countries? (US and West Germany)

That I love to read?

That I was once a Teacher's Aide in an Art classroom?

That I became the Art teacher after that?

That I have crap craft stuff everywhere in my house....the living room, the garage, the bedroom, the laundry room....

That I am 'somewhat' of an artist?

Oh, maybe you thought I was but did you really know? If you know me irl* then yes, you would know that!

And, that is my segue into this post....

One reason that I am not posting as often here in the last few months is because I now write an article for Examiner.com. I am the National Children's Craft Examiner - and yes, that is a mouthful!

I am really not a good salesperson, so I've just sort of written my articles and hoped people would be interested enough to click on the title and see what I had to say. My readership has grown - I had over 100 more page views for June than I did for May - so somebody is reading it!

However, I know that I need to somewhat 'advertise' what I put time and effort into and work hard on! So, here's my first advertisement:

I really like to watch children get excited about creating a piece of art work of their very own! On Examiner.com I give parents, grandparents and caregivers tips and suggestions for engaging a young creative and encouraging them to be what they naturally are....creative!

Thank you for reading my advertisement!!!

I hope that if you are involved in a young child's life in any capacity, that you will please take the time to check out my article. I enjoy encouraging others, but this is a very different format than I am used to and it is a bit challenging at times!

However, I am so thankful for this opportunity! And while I love to be creative myself, if any of you would like to see me work on something special (in other words, if you have an artsy idea for young creatives!) please let me know and I will see what I can accomplish!

Okay, enough about what I have been up to lately....what are y'all doing special or different this summer? I would love to hear about it!!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....like young creatives

God's girl,

Pamela

*in real life