The Marine's Hymn

First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.

The night before the burial of her husband 2nd Lt. James Cathey of the United States Marine Corps, killed in Iraq, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of him, and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it" she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted".

This is an excerpt from a series by a pair of journalists who were chronicling the stories of families who lost loved ones in Iraq. I found the picture so moving, I kept coming back to it. When I looked into the whole series, and this story in particular, it moved me to tears.

There was a book I read for a college class once called "Canek" that was about South American culture, particularly the ancient Mayan cultures. At one point in the story, they talked about needing to send men off to war, and so they sent their young men off to fight, but these men were young and foolish and they ran and did not fight. And so they sent their felons and prisoners, who were horrified at what they saw and threw down their arms and ran. Finally there was no one left to fight except the husbands and fathers. And these men fought with honor and bravery and fierceness - because they had something worth defending. That thought has never left me, and I have kept that book all these years.

To love another human being so unselfishly that you would give your life for them is a hard concept to understand, I think, until you become a parent. To love our country and our liberties and our ideals enough to be willing to give your life for them is an even greater commitment. And this is why we need to honor our Servicemen and Women, and support their families, and teach our children patriotism.

And on this Valentines Day, I see no greater illustration of love. A man who died because he loved his country, and his wife who so visibly loved him that she spent her last possible night with him, and the Marine who watched over them both. What the photo does not show you, what you find out if you read the whole article that goes with this photo, is that she is pregnant with his son.

Danny's Song

And even though we ain't got money
I'm so in love with ya honey
And everything will bring a chain of love
And in the mornin' when I rise
You bring a tear of joy to my eyes
- Loggins and Messina

JOY and HAPPINESS

We jokingly refer to it as "The Julie Principle" at my house because of my receptionist, Julie. She grew up with a mother who was extremely negative and, because of that, tells her sons if they can't speak to the joy and happiness of a situation, it's better to say nothing at all. So this year, I told my family our one and only New Year's resolution should be to follow the Julie Principle. She got a kick out of that. But there's truth to the statement that attitude is everything. Even when things get extremely difficult or go horribly wrong, I try to look at what I got from or learned from the situation. Laura going to Ireland for several months and I will miss her terribly? It gave me reason to go to Europe where I not only visited her but also visited my sister and her family. All this work on finding a new school? I am finding I had skills and stamina I never knew I was capable of. The positives.

And I do my best to find joy. Or let it find me.

The things in my home that bring me joy are intentional...my kitten and the time I create so I can play with her....the Christmas lights on my deck railing that I choose to leave up long past the holiday because they are second only to rainbows and stained glass....the birds in their many forms: the carvings, framed art, kitchen accessories, feeders....my angel collection, especially the ones I bought in honor of special relatives....family photos and artifacts: my past and present and future.

But I also just let joy find me. It can be a song that comes on the radio, a gorgeous view while I'm driving, or the unexpected words of a loved one. These are not things that just happen to be. They are not things I take for granted. They are deep and make each day a treasure. They are everywhere if you open yourself to them. They are sparkles for the soul.