Thank You Soldier, For the Gift of Freedom

I hope with all of my heart that you are doing well, healthy and in good spirits.

I am going camping this weekend. My family used to camp every weekend when I was growing up in Wyoming... I hardly ever get to it now – I guess I’m not the camping aficionado I once aspired (or was forced) to be. The weather here in Arizona has been dang hot (105 plus) so I am looking forward to the cooler climate. I am going with a few friends to an obscure little mining town built on the side of a mountain called Jerome, Arizona. . I really enjoy visiting, perusing and snooping in the town. It's quite small, a "ghost" town, with quaint little shops and amazing galleries filled by local artist's work. I'm looking forward to it. I have to laugh that I put quaint little shops since I cannot afford anything in these “not so” quaint shops. Like any tourist trap, they really put a high price on their goods! I’ll be better off stopping at the gas station on the way home to purchase any little mementos I “think” I need!

I got a nice surprise a few days ago - my Aunt sent me a wonderful arrangement of flowers. It’s a beautiful bouquet full of huge yellow sunflowers, bright orange lilies and earthy colored carnations... Very fall feeling, really pretty and they fill my senses with the wonderful smell of fresh flowers. I had them sitting on my desk for most of the week and they made me smile each time my eyes found them or my nose caught whiff of them. I took the arrangement home and they are STILL blooming and going strong!

I teach fitness at the community college. I'd been training at the college to become a Yoga Instructor and have earned a 200 hour certification which means I have been unleashed on unsuspecting students. My husband was my guinea pig for practicing the spoken delivery of yoga poses and says it's not yoga, but yo-OH-OH-OH-ga! He has learned a lot - mostly that he's probably not doing it correctly unless it's hurting somewhere.

Well, I truly hope that you are well. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and praying for your health, happiness and SAFE return home. Thank you for the gift of freedom and for your selflessness – I am so very proud of you.