Officer Oakley

A blessed Sunday to you! It's time once again for another wonderful challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week's challenge is hosted by sweet Candace Mitchell, who has a very special scripture and challenge for us. The scripture she chose is John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." The challenge involves making cards for our military forces. For full details, please click over to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge blog.

The importance of this scripture and challenge is more relevant than ever given the tragedy that occurred at Fort Hood this past week. As I said on the SSCC blog, is this a coincidence? I think not! God is definitely with us in that blog challenge and His timing is always perfect. Now more than ever our troops need to know how much we love and support them, and how grateful we are to them for putting their lives on the line each and every day for our freedom.

My father spent 25 years in service of our country, first as an enlisted Marine, then as a student at the Naval Academy (Annapolis), and finally as a helicopter pilot in the Air Force. He did three tours in Vietnam, where he flew air rescue.

My childhood was spent as part of a military family. I was born at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. We then moved to Bryan, TX where my sister Kim was born; then to Clark AFB in the Philippines where my sister Linda was born; then to Rome, NY where I started school; then to Luke AFB near Phoenix, AZ where my brother Andrew was born; then to Sevilla, Spain (Moron [pronounced mo-rone] AFB); then to Spangdahlem AB in Germany; then to Tupelo, MS while my dad did his last tour of Vietnam; then to Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA, where my dad retired in 1972. A year later, we moved to Riverside, California, where I still live.

Because of my dad and military family upbringing, I have the most profound respect for the military. My sister Linda also did a four-year stint in the Air Force, and my brother a six-year tour in the Navy.

Regardless of your feelings about the war in Iraq and/or Afghanistan (let's face it, no one likes war), we must always always support the men and women who lay their lives down for our freedom and the freedom of others. I hope you'll take the time to send some cards to our troops as outlined in the SSCC blog challenge.

I know my card is a bit juvenile looking, but I found I have NO patriotic stamps in my rather extensive stamp collection. Shame on me! So I went searching around for a digi stamp and found this one, called Officer Oakley, at Digital Delights by Louby Lou. I paper-pieced his uniform because I couldn't achieve the right color of navy blue with my Copics. I used a gold gel pen to make the buttons and insignia on his cap. He looks a bit like an airline pilot, don't you think? But I did remember to put a gloss on his shoes. Shiny shoes are REALLY important to military personnel. A rather simple card, but clean lines are what the military is all about.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a free day to enjoy all the things and people you love!