Happy Birthday Marines! It's the birthday of the United States Marine Corps. It is also the night of many balls and celebrations across the country. A commitment. A desire to serve. A country worth sacrificing your life for. Our farm boy is a cake bearer for his unit tonight. He will don his dress blues for the first time since graduation. We are proud parents. We, along with all here, at the Davis Farm say thank you to all our Veteran's. We are grateful. We are honored. We will never forget. Day #9 of Thankfulness I am Thankful for: 2 farm boys willing to serve our ... View Post
I’m Not Sure I’m Supposed to Understand
We're home from Parris Island. Our second farm boy graduated from Marine Boot Camp. He is living our Oldest Farm Boy's dream. You see our two boys were so different. Each with a heart to serve; just in different ways. And there's just so much I don't understand. I'm not sure I'm supposed to understand. Why does a handsome, hard working red head hit a telephone pole in the middle of the night and never come home? Why did his hopes and dreams to serve our country die with him? I'm not sure I'm supposed to understand. Why would the youngest farm boy start his own career and suddenly ... View Post
The Night the Lights Went Out
The night the lights went out, my oldest farm boy met Jesus. He hit the telephone pole by the bank and the lights went out. The town was in darkness as my boy breathed his last. I walked around our home stepping into praise as I moved; in darkness. Praise for my legs, for hot water, for a shower, for clothing. A practice needed to walk through the darkest time in my life. He left this earth shy of his 18th birthday, and before his ship date to Parris Island. Tonight, our youngest farm boy embarks on a 54 our journey to become a United States Marine. The journey his brother never ... View Post
30 Days of Thankfulness, He’s Leaving too, Day #29
I watch him as he drives. He leaves in 5 days. He is heading where his brother was supposed to go. I breathe in deeply. I can't stop the tears from coming; even if I tried. Sometimes I'm so tired of trying not to cry. It takes so much energy to breathe slowly, open my eyes wide and keep the tears from flowing. You see our second born son enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He leaves for Parris Island on Sunday morning. I struggle to make sense of this. One son is gone. He resides in heaven. His recruiting officer said, "He had a higher calling. " Even now I feel the pit ... View Post
The Ultimate Sacrifice Day #11 of Thankfulness
Fancy pants dining. It's what they do. All these kids. From the time they were little. Aunt Clara's china being used. The candle light glowing. It's in those moments I see the table full. All the seats occupied. The laughter and joy around the farmhouse table. Things have changed. So much. One space remains empty; forever. The future, here on this earth, not mine to know. I know he was dedicated. Committed. He wanted to serve this country with his life. The eleventh ... View Post
Raising My Ebenezer
The smell intoxicating. I never knew how much those lilacs would come to mean to me. The years visiting my mother and father in law's grave. Breathing the deep scent. Now as I sit here at my sons grave, the tears flow and the ache gnaws away; the heady scent is refreshing; comforting. For each moment needs to be turned to Praise. Because we are a people created to praise. To give glory and honor to the One who created all. It's strange to sit at your sons grave, in a century old cemetery and seek praise. But that's what I do. I give praise and thanks in the ... View Post
