Mela Kamin – What I Say in between Songs

When I think of my Grandpa, I’m proud.
.

.
I’m proud because he went off to fight in a war when he was barely an adult. On a furlough after basic training, he went home & got married. Then, he left his new, teenage wife in a small, country town and headed off for the unknowns of battle.
.
His travels took him to Africa and then all over Europe. He jumped out of planes as part of the highly-decorated 82nd Airborne division of the Army. He was a Paratrooper, or as Hitler called them – “a devil in baggy pants.” He was in the group of Airborne who crossed the Waal River in small collapsible boats to take ‘the other end of the bridge.’ He was wounded in January of ‘45 and sent back to England. He returned to his unit in Germany, crossed the Elbe River, returned to France and pulled occupation duty in Berlin until November ‘45. He was discharged in Dec. ‘45.
.
Through his service, he wrote home – beautiful, poignant, wise-beyond-his-years letters to his young bride, trying to cease the worry he knew she carried every day. He gave her advice from a world away, eased her burden with talk of his return and even held her through words when she lost their first child.
.
It’s a sad reality – being separated from your loved ones – but it’s not what the war was like.
.
He saw lots of loss and experienced a lot of pain – physical and emotional. His Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. James Megellas, wrote a book about his experience called All the Way to Berlin. In it, Megellas chronicles their part in Anzio Beachhead, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and more. Megellas is the most decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division and is in his 90s. He and his wife used to come visit my Grandparents almost every Summer when I was a kid. I remember how honored my Grandpa was that his old pal “Maggie” would come to visit. My Grandpa also amassed a large number of awards, the most notable being the Purple Heart.
.
My Grandpa didn’t tell a lot of stories about the war, but if he got started on one, he told it like it was yesterday. That type of experience leaves heavy impressions – ones that can’t be wiped away simply by the passage of time. And those stories left an impression on me too. At a young age, I couldn’t fathom the kind of courage it took to go there, be there, do that, see that, live that.
.
I still can’t.
.
My Grandpa made it back to his wife, got a job on Machine #9 in the paper mill of the small town I grew up in and lived a long, happy life into his 80s. He was fiercely patriotic and wore his red, white & blue almost every single day. We had a special kinship as our birthdays were just days apart. We celebrated together every year until I was grown and moved away. I named my eldest son after him.
.

.
When I think of my Dad, I’m proud.
.

.
My Dad was in Vietnam from 1966-1970. He was a crew chief on the B52s in the Air Force. He made sure everything was in top, working order at all times. It’s no surprise to me, because my whole life, he’s been able to fix anything, make anything and explain how anything works.
.
He didn’t talk about the war too much – still doesn’t. He kept the stories light, I assume to spare us the hard details and maybe to spare himself having to relive them. A “funny” story he told us was about a time he was in Guam and lost his line badge (his ID). He found himself face on the floor of a bus surrounded by armed MPs. Not really ha-ha funny, Dad.
.
It makes a good story, but that’s not what the war was like.
.
Thankfully, both my Grandpa and my Dad made it home from their respective times at war. My Grandpa was called a hero. He was a highly decorated soldier, having fought in some of the most incredible battles of WWII. My Dad came home and was expected to go back to life as usual … that his time there wasn’t even worth mentioning. No fanfare, no thank you, no write-ups or special services. A Vietnam Vet is sort of the Ugly Stepsister to a WWII Vet’s Cinderella.
.
To many, Vietnam shouldn’t be uttered in the same breath as World War II. It was radically opposed and exploited by the media, which fed the opposition – but that’s not what the war was like.
.
My Dad had to swallow his pride and any fear he may have had, take orders and view the world through the lens of war – just like my Grandpa. He had to leave the love of his life, my Mom, to go fight, just like my Grandpa.
.
I might not know the horrors either my Grandpa or my Dad had to face, but I know they both willingly put themselves in harm’s way to preserve freedom for this great nation. They are both brave, they are both patriots, they are both proud of their service. And, I am proud of both of them.
.
This past Memorial weekend, the worship service we attended honored all veterans, all branches of service. It was humbling, throat-choking, nose-stinging emotional. My Dad is a hero to me in so many ways. This just put it all into proper perspective – to not fully understand what he went through to be standing there, singing with all his might “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
.

.
Young men and women sacrificing their families, dreams and sometimes lives for our freedom … seeing things we hope we never see; doing things we hope we never have to do; learning things we never imagine having to be trained for; risking their lives moment-by-moment while we sit comfortably passing judgment and pretending we understand the real price of freedom.
.
That’s what war is like.

What do you choose to surround yourself with? I choose LOVE. When I look around my home, I see lots of family pictures, art that makes me smile, quotes that inspire me and scripture that feeds my soul.
.
When I saw that Sandy was hosting a Home is … Beautiful Art and Photography party, I had to join in! If you know me, then you know I LOVE photos. I love looking at them and taking them. I’ve learned a lot being the wife of a professional photographer … not enough that I could do his job, but enough that I get some pretty good shots myself sometimes. Having a professional in the family means that I get SPOI-LED with fabulous shots of our kids.
.
Now, we just need the time to decide which ones we love and get them printed & framed. I noticed we don’t have many recent photos on the walls.
.
I also noticed as I went around the house, that we have A LOT on the walls. I didn’t even go upstairs! This is just a smattering of our lives on the main level and downstairs.
.
This was a wonderful exercise to do. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I really looked at those pictures and paintings. You get so used to your surroundings at home that sometimes the pictures just blend into the daily scenery. I’m grateful to have taken some moments to really see my family, relive memories, smile back at the pictures and pray for these blessings.
.
This is a chalkboard frame that you see as you enter our home. I change out the verse every now and then. This one is my favorite verse – Isaiah 43:1 – a hug from God.
.

.
Greg & I love Kinkade paintings. We have three (the others are a Victorian Christmas scene and San Francisco). This one hangs in our living room. Greg surprised me with it for my birthday/Mother’s Day many years ago.
.

.
This hangs in the hall as you walk into our kitchen. I like these little collages of their early childhood. It’s fun to be able to display a bunch of photos that show their personalities.
.

.
This year’s school pictures in a beautiful frame Greg’s cousin gave us … 3 spots – perfect.
.

.
These photos line the stairway. Again – more personality and great shots Greg took.
.

.
This is one of the newest additions – this I PRAY canvas I created with my youngest’s picture and lyrics from my song. I LOVE IT and want to do some more like that. Below that is a trio of our oldest when she was just 4, being extra cute for Greg at the studio.
.

.
Here’s a photo wall in our family room.
.

.
Here is a Jack Vettriano painting we have in our dining room. Greg picked it out.
.

.
These framed prints are stencil art I created using PhotoShop. I love how they turned out and Greg framed them for me for Mother’s Day. He knows me so well – photos and art always make me happy.
.

.
This one’s downstairs … I captured my oldest boy playing with the sprinkler when he was about 4 – I think it’s sweet.
.

.
This is on a wall downstairs where we have some instruments and where our old keyboard used to be. When I made the transition to singer/songwriter, I knew I wanted this Martin Luther quote in our home. It reminds me of the importance of God’s Word and the gift of music He gave to us.
.

.
I have this in my craft room.
.

.
These are little canvases my oldest two created a LONG time ago. I have them hanging with this Learn to Fly metal art – they are also in my craft room.
.

.
And, last but not least – this trio is in my laundry room. I love the photo of my oldest holding my youngest. And the chalkboards hold our KAMIN oath: Kindness first, Always love, Make others smile, Invite others to know Jesus, Never give up. The other reminds us, before we leave the door, that we make a choice WHOM we serve. I pray we make the choice to follow & serve Jesus in each of our actions – big or small.
.

.
Well, there’s a look into what we surround ourselves with here at the Kamin house. Thanks, Sandy for hosting! Hop over to Sandy’s to see her lovely home and the others who have linked up.

.

Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise and call her blessed . . .”

.
Seriously? That must be other kids. I think my children will rise up and call me STRESSED.
.
Lately, I’ve hung back, not saying much here because honestly, I was feeling irritated, frustrated, exhausted and yes, even angry – with circumstances, troubles in friends’ lives, the status quo, the magnitude of everything I have to do and the mounting list of what I want to do.
.
Doesn’t sound like deep, uplifting content, does it?
.
Well, I’m usually tempted to gloss over the problems and put on the mask of my “brand” – happy, joyful, carefree, filled with love, patience and other fruit of the spirit.
.
I don’t want to use this journal as a place to dump what’s dirty in my life, but I don’t want it to be a reflection I don’t recognize either.
.
Let me be clear – I know I’m blessed, even when I’m stressing. I realize how tiny & pointless my stresses are. Perspective lets me know I’ve got it SO good. But, that doesn’t minimize how BIG my struggles seem sometimes. The weight of everyday disappointments and my perception of others’ expectations is HEAVY.
.
Things bother me, I have issues, I snap at my kids, I moan and groan in lumbering sighs every time I look around at what needs to be done.
.
Truthfully, I waste time reading blogs and using Twitter & Facebook – trying to do “what’s right” – building my brand, upsizing my digital footprint, making connections. I have no problem with social media and the tools, but I didn’t have a good handle on my life before those arrived on the scene. Now, they took the place of other necessary activities and the possibility of me having free time.
.
Free time is a thing of the past – I feel like I need to be using every minute to be visible or I’m a failure – ME, ME, ME – Hey, look at me! It’s self-imposed chaos and has turned into a prideful activity.
.

• I read A LOT, but it’s usually not the Bible.
• I pray, but it’s often rushed and lacks a silence and depth I long for.
• I spend time with my kids, but it’s usually shuffling them from place to place and managing my ability to get “work” done with them around.

.
I’m not shutting out the world – I’m usually shutting them out of mine.
.
I need to say NO, so that I can free myself up to be able to say YES when God asks something of me. My stresses are red flags that tell me I’m disconnected from Him and those He’s put in my life.
.
Blessings are God-made – Stresses are man-made.
.
So, if you don’t hear from me for a while, it’s not because I don’t have anything to say – it might just be because I’m listening more.
.
Shutting up is Biblical. Look it up.
.
I’d be interested to hear what you think. Would you be called blessed or stressed?