Christmas Past and Heavenly Snow

 A lofty snow came early to Arkansas, mid December, as we lay dreaming in our beds. We yawned, looked out the window, and saw 10-inches of snow-covered ice.

I love waking up to snow that wasn't there when I went to bed. In Arkansas, we dream of a white Christmas with fingers crossed, so I am always ecstatic when snow graces our lives before Dec. 25th.
Snowbound and off school, the grandchildren went sledding and built snowmen and ginger bread houses.

However, we were as happy to see the snow melt as to see it fall. Cabin fever hits within days of being trapped in the house, whether you're building ginger bread houses or not.

We're known as ridge-runners in the Ozarks because our country roads follow the mountain ridges and veer up and down and sideways at 45-degree angles. When the roads are ice or snow covered, it means tough sledding in an auto and we end up in ditches or snowbound for days.

Within the last 10 years or so, giant Caterpillar road equipment has leveled somewhat the mountain passes and constructed beautiful, four-lane highways. We now drive through the mountain ridges rather than around them, leaving the nickname ridge-runners in the rear view mirror. Nevertheless, the mountainous highways are still formidable when it snows.

During my childhood in Wisconsin, there was never a doubt as to whether we would have snow on Christmas but rather how much and how deep and whether the snow would be good packing snow for snow men or dry snow for sledding.

I don't remember being snowbound in Wisconsin. We just strapped snow chains on our tires and were ready to go. We built snowmen and snow slides and skated down the creeks and through ponds. We built igloos and snow forts; played duck-duck-goose in the snow and fell over backwards in knee deep snow to make snow angels. We had boots, mittens, scarves, ear muffs and long johns, all those things you don't need for Arkansas winters.

During my childhood in  Badger, Wis., the city elders flooded the fields next to our town hall building and made a huge skating pond for Badger's 300 or so residents. I skated daily.

I was so enamored with ice skating as a child that I dreampt of becoming a professional ice skater. My idol, Sonja Henning. I practiced my twirls and swan dives and when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wanted to be a figure skater.

My dad and uncles went ice fishing, driving their truck on top of frozen lakes - cutting holes through the ice and popping up their ice fishing gear. Officially, my dad's profession was listed as an ice man on my baby brother David's birth certificate.

Yes, Dad was an ice man in Randolph, Wis., because back in the 40s in rural Wisconsin, we had ice boxes and not refrigerators. Those were the days ....

Christmas in Badger, Wisc.: David with his Hopalong Cassidy doll, John with his guns and holsters, ready for a cross-handed quick draw, Jeannette, left,  in her cashmere sweater, and me in a newly coiffed hairdo for Christmas, thanks to the neighborhood barber. The little beaded moccasin pin I'm wearing was always one of my favorite things and a gift from my parents. The moccasins and pillow were made of red, white, and black beads by the Indians at nearby Wisconsin Dells.

50 Years After Vietnam

John Jr., David and Patricia

My baby brother David was blessed with long eyelashes, the "adorable" factor, blond hair and blue eyes. He is highly intelligent, has a long memory, and can talk at length on any subject. However, his greatest attribute is a kind and caring heart.
There's a Bible verse that says "even a child is known by his doing" and from childhood until today, David remains a caring person. It's just how he's wired.
He's also immensely patriotic. He's been to the Wall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He wept at the Vietnam Woman's Memorial nearby, overcome with memories of their sacrifices, and today cannot talk about the dedication of the nurses without emotion.
Patriotism and a caring heart led him to enlist at 20 years old when his country went to war in Vietnam. He served as a paratrooper on the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, stationed in Vietnam, 1967 and 1968.
The 173rd was the first major US Army ground formation deployed during the war. The brigade lost nearly 1,800 soldiers in Vietnam; notably were the many casualties at the Battle of Dak To. The 173rd is one of the most highly decorated brigades, earning over 7,700 decorations, and among those, more than 6,000 Purple Hearts.

David Braaksma, paratrooper at 20 years

Returning from Vietnam, David's bus was pelted with balloons filled with animal blood. He was publicly chided and shamed for his service.
He did what his country asked him to do. What we weren't willing to do. I always thought the men and women who served in Vietnam gave more of themselves in the service of their country than should have been asked of them.
Today, 50 years after the Vietnam War, he remains kind and patriotic. That war challenged his fiber, and he was found resolute.
As he faces open heart surgery in less than a week, I was thinking again of what he sacrificed for his country and the toll it took on him.
Hubby, Darrell, was in the Army Reserves in Aurora, Ill., during the Vietnam War, serving as an instructor stateside. When the troops came home from Vietnam, he was on call, ready to be deployed to Chicago within an hour in the event of protests in the streets.
The heroes welcome-home was late lived for the Vietnam Veterans. Today, we honor them and salute them for serving their country in a grim war that took an enormous toll on all.
David was only 20 years old at the time. What were you doing at 20?

173rd Airborne, US Army

Our father served in WWII

My father, John Braaksma, and his brother, Wally

It's not easy to sum up the pride I feel for my brother's military service or for those of my family who have served.

My father and his brothers, Wally and Ray served during WWII. I've heard many stories about how the families back home supported our troops with Victory gardens and works of patriotism during WWII, and I was reminded of that united spirit of goodwill for our troops recently at Woodland Hills Church when Dick Foth spoke.

Dick Foth, co-author of "A Trip Around the Sun," lived in Washington DC for 11 years and met with national leaders during the House and Senate breakfast groups at the National Prayer Breakfast each year.

He was a child during WWII, and was at the parade in New York when the nation welcomed home General Dwight Eisenhower. He shows a home video of Ike's welcome home and tells about the ladies in Nebraska who aided the troops during WWII. An amazing story that will make you proud of the American spirit.

It's worth a listen if you are like me and celebrate those who serve our country and those who love those who serve.

Each year we make a "trip around the sun." Dick Foth is in his 74th trip around the sun, and he recommends we make each trip around the sun an adventure.