Please help...

Many of you have been hearing in the news that our government is thinking about changing the military's retirement.  I am asking you to take some time and write a letter to your congressmen or representative to help protect our nation's military.   History has proved that we need to have incentives to have a VOLUNTEER military.  Do we really want the draft put back in place?  We also have to ask ourselves what is next?  If they take away our retirement will they take away our VA benefits, GI bill, medical, etc. to help with their budget?  Can you look in the eye of a veteran and tell them that their time spent in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc. was not worthy enough of help in the future?  Many of our veterans retire with a portion of disability and are unable to work; their retirement and disability helps to cover their expenses.  If you feel how I feel; please take a moment of your time to advocate for our military families.  Thank you!

Please contact at the link below:

http://www.contactingthecongress.org

Test Car

So here is a picture of what I call a "test car."  I have seen these cars around Germany often, but could never take a picture because I was driving.  Thanks to your good ole German stau (traffic jam); I was able to get a picture to share with all of you.   They wrap these cars in black so that you can't tell what brand it is.  They are a pain to drive behind because they will be going 50 kph which is about 30 mph and then floor it.  Must be nice to drive a brand new car.  Anyways, I thought that you might enjoy these pictures since we don't get to see things like this in the states.

Letter to Military Spouse

While I have never had the pleasure of meeting you or your husband, I felt the need to write you and express a very deep feeling that I have in my heart.

I, as a person, am not brave. I do not tackle things head on, as I hate confrontation. I will travel 100 miles out of my way just to avoid a conflict. I am an American woman that has no idea what is going on in the military other than what I hear on the news.

I have never had to let go of someone so that they could go fight for people that they didn't know, people that sometimes do not appreciate or understand what they are fighting for.

I have never had a sleepless night of worry because of a report that another bomb has exploded and I still haven't heard from my husband.

I have never had to wait for months on end to hold the one that I loved so.

I have never had to tell my children that daddy wasn't coming home tonight because he was so far away fighting for something that they aren't yet old enough to understand.

I have never had to hold my head high and suppress the tears as I hear that it will be at least another six months of separation before my loved one gets to come home.

I have never had to deal with a holiday away from the one that I thought I would share every day of my life with.

And I have never had to feel the panic rising in my heart at the sound of a ringing phone or knock at the door for fear that it is the news that everyone is terrified of getting.

For the reasons listed above, I can not tell you that I understand how you feel. I can not tell you that you must be strong. I can not say that you shouldn't be angry, because you "knew what you were getting into when you married a military man". I can not say these things because I have never had to walk in your shoes.

What I can say for certain is that because of your unselfish acts of bravery and your husbands willingness to stand up for those who see him as "just another soldier" - - I will never have to walk in your shoes.

I do understand that as a military wife you are expected to uphold a certain amount of control, but I never understood how you could do it, until now. I have figured out that you are not like other women. You are of a special breed. You have a strength within you that holds life together in the darkest of hours, a strength of which I will never possess. The faith you have is what makes you stand out in a crowd; it makes you glow with emotion and swell with pride at the mention of The United States of America.

You are a special lady, a wonderful partner and a glorious American.

I have more respect for your husband than I could ever tell you, but until recently I never thought much about those that the soldier leaves at home during deployment.

Until this moment I could never put into words exactly what America meant to me.

Until this moment, I had no real reason to.... Until I heard of you.

Your husband and his military family hold this nation close, safe from those who wish to hurt us...but you and those like you are the backbone of the American family. You keep the wheels in motion and the hearts alive while most would just break completely down. Military families make this nation what it is today.

You give us all hope and you emit a warming light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Because of you and your family...I am able to be me. I am able to have my family. I am able to walk free in this great land. Because of you and your family, I can look ahead to the future with the knowledge that life is going to be okay. Because of you and your family, I can awake to a new day, everyday.

I realize that you are a stronger person than I will ever be because of these things and I just wanted to take the time today to say thank you to you and your family for allowing me that freedom.

I will never be able to repay this debt to you, as it is unmatchable. However, I hope that you know that no matter where you are...what you are doing...what has happened today...or what will happen tomorrow...Your husband will NEVER be "just another soldier" to me.... And you, dear sweet lady, will never be forgotten.

You are all in my prayer's everyday and I pray that God will bring you back together with your loved one safely.

May God Bless You!

(Author Unknown)

Heidelberg

This past weekend we attended a USO trip to Heidelberg.  Normally we can find a cheaper way to get to these places on our own then paying the price the USO charges, but this trip was a nice cheap day trip so we went.  It was nice to support the USO and not really have to plan anything.  Heidelberg, was a nice German town.  A very German town.  It was not bombed during WWII so the buildings were very beautiful.  Where we live suffered a lot of bombings during WWII so it was nice to see what "Old Germany" looked like.  


We went up to the lookout point up on the mountain by tram and got to see the city from above.  We then went down to the castle which was only two stops down on the tram.  We didn't get to go into the castle which was a little disappointing, but we did get to see a wedding.  How neat... getting married in a castle!  

We also went and toured the old bridge which is another famous destination in Heidelberg.  We got to walk across and look back up at the castle on the hill.  My favorite part of the bridge was a tradition they have started.  By engraving locks and placing them on the bridge.