Christmas day 2011

Merry Christmas, to all.

Veterans Day 2011

Oct.15

...............

Oct.13, 2011

I found this blooming, by the guide/support wire for the electrical pole, today. While most of the flowers and garden plants have extensive frost damage, this purple balloon flower has managed to re-appear, after being dormant / pronounced dead (LOL), for 3 years.

Mourning Reality. (@ the Country Pumper)

I went to get a gallon of milk....the expiration date reads Oct.13th.....I drew a complete blank, stopped dead in my tracks, and had to ask what today's date is. (Pretty sure Dave, Jodi , & Nancy think I'm crazy..........)



Reality hit me, fair and square.As I stood holding the gallon of milk..............



Somewhere along the path, I've stopped counting the "13th's" as the months go by, (marking how many months it's been, since the Army knocked on the door.)

But, today, I realized I've also stopped "looking ahead", to see what day it's going to fall on (so I could make sure nothing got scheduled for that day).

"FREEDOM IS NOT FREE"

"FREEDOM IS NOT FREE"

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze
A young soldier saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He’d stand out in any crowd.

I thought, how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers’ tears?

How many Pilots’ planes shot down?
How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves?
No, Freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant “Amen”
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, Freedom is not free!!



©Copyright 1981 by Kelly Strong

We are Soldiers

narrated by Gunnar's Mom............

Just the way I am..........

Word.

He sits in Heaven

He sits in Heaven

He sits in Heaven, watching you.
He's sorry for all he's put you through.
He sees your tears, grief you try to hide.
The lonely nights, endless since he died.
He wants you to know, he loved his life,
Happiness like sunshine, through struggle and strife.
You raised him with kindness, with discipline and love.
From a boy to a man, when push came to shove.
He thanks you Mom, for seeing him through,
sometimes it was hard, but you knew what to do.
He thanks you Dad, for the love you spent,
bonding father to son, time was heaven sent.
He thanks you Brother, for being a friend,
for loving and caring to the bitter end.
He thanks you Sister, for what you taught,
that family is precious, it means alot.
He misses you all and He's watching you.
Keep him close to your heart, feel his love shine through.

The "lost" patch..........

This "patch" was my birthday gift from Gunnar (along with a set of dog tags) for my 44th birthday, in 2004, when he was home for R&R over the 4th of July. It was part of the patriotic Christmas tree at Doren's Bar, when Gunnar died. When I brought it home, I put it somewhere, "really" safe. I finally found it, again, during the last blizzard. I've been going to "retake" the picture, and add the dog tags. I however, am a procrastinator............

July2,2011

From gunnar's mom

Some days, nothing brings more comfort, than wearing one of Gunnar's old shirts. Today, as hard as I try, the above photo stays embedded in my mind! (pic taken July 4, 2004, while Gunnar was home on R & R) Try, as I might, I just can't force myself, to wear this shirt. I hope your "grin" is as big as Gunnar's. (The joke's on Mom!) Pictured below is the back, of this shirt. (click on the pic, to enlarge!)

From

Raise Your Flag-Official Music Video

Requests & signs.......

I had a request to place "something special" at Gunnar's grave, for Memorial Day and after much thought, the "dirt toy" days won. See above pic.
Yesterday,I was picking rock, in the yard. My mind wandered back in time, thinking about how many kids had played in that old rotten willow tree, and in the sandbox, under it's shade. I bent down, to pick up a rock, and laying right beside it was a little steel dump truck. It's rusty, and full of sand. Thank you, Gunnar, for the "sign".
Tyler, I hope it meets your approval, also.

FALLEN HEROES

From the time I was conceived
God had for me a plan.
He wanted me to get involved
to help my fellow man.
I know some were against it
but God knows what is best.
Since the day he took me home
I've had perfect rest.
Heaven is so beautiful
I'm walking streets of gold.
Now I'm serving others
including saints of old.
I know some still have anger
about the way I died
yet God and I both have seen
the many tears you've cried.
He is a God of comfort
whose love will never cease.
Give your feelings to him
and he will give you peace.
As difficult as it may be
please don't hold a grudge.
Remember this my loved ones
God alone will judge.
Then on that resurrection day
when all the dead will rise
the Lord will reunite us
together in the skies.
Please don't be sad
and mourn for me
I'm doing what I love;
serving God
and watching you
from his throne above.
(written by: Joye Atkinson)

Cemetery pictures

~~~~~~~~~

psalm 23 Memorial day tribute

Grandpa Senska

Dean Sylvester Senska, 85, Woonsocket, died Monday, March 21, 2011, at Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center, Wessington Springs.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church, Woonsocket, with the Rev. Rhonda Wellsandt-Zell officiating. Burial will be at a later date.

He was born on July 12, 1925, in Woonsocket to Glen and Laura (Walrath) Senska.

He completed Milwaukee Country Grade School and graduated from Forestburg High School.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Following his discharge, he returned to the family farm

He married Dianna Moore on May 29, 1960. When cancer forced him to semi-retire in 1981, he spent many hours wood-working and building furniture. He loved camping and fishing. He was one of the original contributors to the Forestburg Improvement Association and the last acting president. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Woonsocket.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dianna; three children Douglas (Debey) of Forestburg, Darwin of Artesian, and Debra of Atlanta, Ga.; two granddaughters, Diaana Jo & Mara; two great-grandsons, Jayden & Luke; a brother, Millard of Woonsocket; a sister, Glenda (Avery) Thompson of Chamberlain; three sisters-in-law, Kathryn (Eldon) of Aberdeen, Phyllis (Boyd) of Sioux Falls and Phyllis (Ed) of Mankato; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Lynn, Eldon, Boyd, Donald and baby Adair Edward; and a grandson, Gunnar.

A quote, for this day.

"All that we can know about those we have loved and lost is that they would wish us to remember them with a more intensified realization of their reality. The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude."

-Thornton Wilder

22 jan.

On the day that you were born the angels got together, And decided to create a dream come true, So they sprinkled moondust in your hair ...
Happy Birthday, in Heaven, Gunnar. I love you, with every beat of my heart. ~Mom

1/13/2011

n Loving Memory of You

Quietly I'm remembering you
in the silence of my heart.
Each thought of you, a treasure
while we are now apart.

At times I'm filled with longing;
Your face I'd love to see,
To feel your warmth, to hear your voice,
to have you here with me.

But God has a plan; He created you
and numbered all your days.
May he hold you in His loving arms
and surround me with His grace.

With the hope of reunion in Heaven one day,
I entrust you to His care.
Cherished memories of you live on in my heart.
Your life is a gift we share.

by Debbie Heydrick