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A Marine's thanksgiving note

This morning I ran across these thoughts from A U.S marine, Staff Sgt. Mark A. Wojciechowski, concerning the Holiday that we call thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving often passes to some as another holiday: a day of food, family and football, with little more than just tradition and routine setting the tone. To some, it reminds them of the "American Heritage," the whole pilgrims came, made peace with the Indians, shared a harvest together -- and we still celebrate that today.

Thanksgiving is also, to most, a time to give thanks to the Lord, from which all things are made possible and whom without, there would be nothing to be thankful or unthankful for.

Perhaps it is now, [as] I am growing older and have a newfound respect for simpler and less tangible things, or the fact that I am unable to be where I would like to be sometimes, [that] I can describe what Thanksgiving means to me.

Obviously, Thanksgiving means being thankful for the things you have, but what does that include? I am thankful for being blessed with a wonderful family, a family that supports me in every way and is always there for me, even though I try not to need them as much as I probably should. I am thankful for health and well-being, not only my own, but the health and well-being of those around me which I love.

I am thankful for the society we live in and the comforts we take for granted each and every day. Although many will think our system is far from perfect, at least we can rest our heads each night without even so much as a remote worry of bombs being dropped, bullets being shot or poverty in our future.

Of all of the things I am thankful for, none of them would be as rich as they are without giving proper thanks to all of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, in wars past and present, to give me the liberty and freedom.

Even though I am serving in the military and will be spending this holiday away from my home and my family, I am thankful for all of my brethren -- the troops that are currently serving in harm's way. Not only are they away from their families, but they won't even have the pleasure of safety or rest this holiday weekend.

I hope you have a happy and safe holiday. After all, I think being together is one of the things people overlook. It doesn't mean as much until you can't have it.

As for me, my holiday will be just fine. I will be surrounded by a great group of guys, which I have come to love as brothers.

Staff Sgt. Mark A. Wojciechowski ("Tony Wojo"), was killed in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on April 30, 2009.

A Declaration of Freedom

Hey guys, this is something that you should check out. It's called the Manhattan Declaration, and it's really good. Check out this stuff from the last paragraph; it pretty much sums it all up!

"Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar's. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God's."

Follow the link to go to the website where you can read the whole thing, and then sign it. It's the first really strong stand for christian morals anybody has taken around here in America in a long while.

manhattandeclaration.org

Pass it along!

Fishing tales

Yep, that's right, fishing. Never would have thought it, huh? Yeah right, ME? Do the fishing thing? OK, I didn't fish, but I was around fishermen, assisting in landing their prize(s).

Thursday night. We want to get involved in as much of the action as we can, so we go with Grace Baptist church to do some visitation. And guess what? Before the night is over, we're seeing 3 people bow their heads. Pray the sinners prayer. And be born again into the family of God. SWEEEEEEEEEEEET! Some awesome fishing story, I tell ya.

OK, so then, since we're near the ocean, and we hear they got fish in there, we get little bro Jason rigged up with a pole and some bait, and we're off the pier. And before we know it, he's hauled in a shark! OK, so it was 21 or so inches long, but until you can catch one PERIOD, we'll laud him for his achievement. And no, it didn't bite our heads off.

OK, so I like fishing. On the lake, on the river, on the coast, it's awesome. But as much as I enjoy the feel of a fighter on the end of my line, I'll trade it for fishing for men, any day of the week!

Just can't beat it.

Aviation Wednesday

Yesterday was a cool aviation themed day! A brother in the church that we're staying with took Jon and I to see the Harrier jump jets at MCAS Cherry Point. Very cool. Then later, on the way to church, we stopped in by invitation to see a former bush pilot friend of ours' airport that he uses for missionary aviation support. Had dinner with he and his wife, and a few other aviation missionaries that were with him, then to church! Pretty sweet day!

Harriers on the tarmac

One of the planes that the brother (who is a aircraft mechanic) is currently working on

Awesome to see 'em up close and personal

The missionary aviation station

inside the hanger? a Cessna 206 and a 152

an 1800 ft. runway is no problem... for a bush pilot...

Here's Dad talking to a WWII vet, who just happens to be the recipient of both the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross

Two veteran bush pilots, Jack Hunt and Mark Robertson.

Family time on the coast

This week we're on the east end on North Carolina. And with the weather being this nice, how can you resist a trip to the shore?

If nothing else, the pictures are nice...

















But, thankfully, they were not the only source of enjoyment. Sure do have fun with the family... :)

Question

Which is your most favorite picture on thebackporchview? Feel free to browse around, check out the archives, then let me know what you think!

Friendship Baptist Church

Pastor Hickman, his family, and his church have been a blessing to us here in St. Pauls, NC. We were in services with them on Wednesday, and for some unknown reason they amazingly decided to have us stay for homecoming services on Sunday! Has to be the Lord...

Well, we sang, and Dad, Myself, and Jonathan all got to preach!

And lo and behold, they still took us to eat afterwards!

LGBM

Hey Ya'll, update. Dad's back is doing a good deal better. We took him to the Chiropractor, yesterday, and then this morning. The Doc took x-rays, and I guess it's a bulging disk, which I guess is because of the tightness of the back muscles. Well, he gave him some adjustments, some kind of cream, and he seems to be improving. (at least he can walk now.. :) ) Thanx for all the prayers!

Hey ya'll, just a quick prayer request. My dad has had back trouble for years. There are good days and bad, but the past few days have been all bad. This morning the pain is to the point that he cannot move. If y'all could take a few minutes and pray for him, we would greatly appreciate it!

Your Life... Your Decision

Airborne and Special Ops Museum

Even though we are missionaries to the military, we won't let a chance pass to learn more, and to rub shoulders with our servicemen (and women). On Friday we went to a museum outside of Fort Bragg, which is the home of the highly decorated 82nd Airborne Division. It didn't disappoint. It's really incredible to see what the special forces fly in, jump out of, shoot, eat, sleep in, drive around in; the whole enchilada!

As we were walking in, over some memorials for soldiers killed in the most recent wars, this woman comes up and says, "That one is my husband." He was a Helicopter pilot that was shot down just 2 years ago. Amazing.

A tank...

A Humvee...




And a couple of fully outfitted (realistic) dudes.