Better Than a Kiss

Hanukkah celebration in Iraq

In Iraq, my best friends were both Jewish. They did not have a vehicle to go to their service, but I did. So every Friday, I gave them a ride to receive their Sabbath, and I waited until the service was over to give them a ride back to our area.

I did that every week, and I stayed for the service, so they included me in their family, and I became an adopted child. I even learned the prayers and songs and was respectful of all the traditions and was expected of me as a gentile. I loved my friends, and I was made to feel welcome.

On Hanukkah, we had boxes of things sent to the Jewish community full of things to eat and enjoy during the festivities and among them were these jars of chocolate that were to die for, and I wanted it. So we played a game for the last jar. If I remember well, it was a simple six degrees of separation with movie stars. And Lieutenant Seiden and I had a draw, and neither one wanted to part with the price.

In the end, we took a picture, opened the jar and we ate the chocolate together, between the ten of us that were still joking and laughing at the table. It was a great night, and I wish I had stayed in contact with all these excellent people, but we were all from different units, and that is the nature of war and the Army.

Till this day I don’t know what happened to handsome LT Seiden. I hope all is well with him, and he got promoted and married, and the Lord had blessed him and his family in a mighty way.

As for me, I am writing, and getting the house ready for my sisters who visit over the summer. And I still have that feeling that I will have a friend visiting this summer. I do not know who the friend is. The Lord knows who he is I just know I must have the pool ready. And like a Latino family, we are having a BBQ. Plus, the Bible does say in Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing, some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hey, food, music, and ice tea, it’s hot in Florida.

You all have a Blessed day

A Stolen Cup-o-Coffee

This big boy is Dexter, my English Springer Spaniel buddy. He loves coffee, and I found out the stupid way.

Back when I was living in Maryland, I was sitting on my floor working on some charcoal sketches. The dog was sleeping near to me, and I laid my cup-o-coffee by my side when the phone rang. I left everything and went to get the phone. I was away for about five minutes, but it took precisely that for Dexter to drink my coffee.

He is an amazing dog and has outgrown his love for coffee because we do not let any cups near him. In this picture, he has a face of “I don’t care, cause I enjoyed the coffee. But please, Mom, don’t be angry at me.” Needless to say after his cup-o-coffee he was crazier than a squirrel on caffeine.

He is a loon and a happy old dog.

Have a blessed day

Choose to Look at Life with Lens of Blessings

A Mantis with White eyes became my blessing

This picture was taken in August 2011. I was part of a NATO training in Moldova. I was in my capacity as the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Command Surgeon, and Environmental Scientist. I was doing my job and giving some ideas to a Belgium crew when this beautiful white eye Mantis stood on the shoulders of the woman I was talking. The woman got all scared when she noticed it, but I calmed her and saved the life of this beauty.

I am so proud of this picture because that Mantis posed for this picture. She just stood there and let the photographer fidget with the camera for about 5 minutes, and she stood there like nothing. Finally, the gentleman that wasn’t afraid of the mantis took the picture.

I remember that day. I was in pain. It was a week after I had to do a series of early morning workouts and running. And my body was sore, I had been on my feet for long hours in this training, and I had been part of simulations. But that simple Mantis made my day. I was still in pain, and I had to work until late that night, but that mantis stayed on my shoulder for a good hour after that picture was taken. I felt blessed. 

That day I chose to look at life with a different lens. You should too and you will see that many times blessings do come to you every day. 

Choose to have a great and wonderful day, be blessed.