A Thought for Memorial Day

Adam wrote this the day his friend in arms, Sgt. Keiser, became a casualty of war. It is entitled "Still and Quiet"



I've seen flags waving proudly in parades and being carried by Honor Guards. I've seen children waving the flag on the 4th of July and being saluted by Boy Scouts and Veterans. But the flag I'll always remember wasn't being cheered for or saluted. It wasn't being burned by American-haters on the evening news or the smoking flaming focal point of a college protest. The flag I will always remember was still and quiet. I didn't have to raise my eyes to see it flying atop a high flagpole; in fact, I had to bow my head to see it. This flag covered the body of a soldier; a solider that had paid the ultimate price for freedom just a few hours earlier.

In the dark night of Iraq, behind a battalion aid station, in a dimly lit tent, the American flag lay draped over one of her sons. Even though it wasn't flying proudly against a light blue sky, its colors were brilliant. The blue was deep, rich and dark, and looked black in some places under the dim fluorescent light. The stripes and stars where pure and white without a smudge or imperfection. The red stripes were the color of blood … the blood that stained the front of my uniform. The blood of the warrior that lay under that flag.

That night, I saw firsthand what those stripes represent. I saw the American flag with more respect and more honor. I had forgotten how beautiful it was. Maybe it was because everything there was brown or tan or camouflage, so devoid of color. Maybe it was the fluorescent light hanging from the tent above the fallen soldier. Maybe it was because we were not allowed fly the flag there. But that flag’s colors were beautiful as it laid over this soldier, still and quiet, with silent honor.

Who most appreciates the flag? Is it the soldier who wears it on his sleeve and salutes it as it is retired for the evening? Is it the fallen comrade that has it draped over his casket for his last trip home? I'm not sure. But I do know that I'll never forget that solider and his flag. And when I see the flag flying at a school, in a parade, in front of my home or being saluted by proud Americans citizens, I'll remember when each of my fallen comrades went home with their own flag.

(In silent memory of Sgt Keiser)

Spc Adam B. Christensen

Judd Family Reunited (La Familia Judd Reunida

The first time we've all been together since Jan 2008

Extreme Bathroom Makeover (Reconstruyendo el Bano)

The bathroom was the most hideous place I'd ever seen. Adam tore down the walls just before Christmas. We came back from Phoenix to find that Flint and Forrest had put up the drywall and textured it. What a surprise! Little by little we began to fix it up. Over spring break, we knuckled in and finished the priming, painting, and moulding. We still can't get over how amazing and refreshing it looks. We have our own little seaside retreat in our country home ♥¸¸.•*¨*•♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
(Antes, el bano era el lugar mas feo. Adan saco los paredes antes de la navidad. Regresamos de Fenix y encontramos una sorpresa...los hermanos de Adan contruyeron nuevos paredes exactamente como habiamos planeado. Que bendicion! Poco a poco mejoramos el bano hasta que llegamos a las vacaciones entre los semestres. Trabajamos durissisisisisisisisimo pintando y agregando los detalles. Todavia nos asombra que salio tan lindo. Es como tomar aire fresca)

The original bathroom (El bano original)
Adam had fun tearing out the disgusting walls (Adan cuando estaba sacando paredes)
We put in vinyl tile for New Years (Para ano nuevo, pusimos valdosa en la ducha)
Perfecting the grout line (notice there is no window...it took until February to come in)(no tuvimos ventana hasta el febrero..desde la navidad)
Not bad...time for round two (Lindo...Empezamos otra vez)(we also added the new door)
Taped and ready for primer and paint (Cintado y listo para pintar)
Adam's mad painting skills (Adan pinto los paredes altos)
Nailing on the beadboard. It was harder than it looks...we soon discovered that the floor, ceiling, and walls are not square or even. (Los angulos de los paredes eran tan malos que eso fue muy dificil)
The tricky part (La parte dificil)
My flexible husband (Mi esposo es muy flexible)
Saying goodbye to the ugly paint on the ceiling (Adios a la pintura vieja) (it was decades old)
Voila!
Complete with new sink from Lowe's, light fixtures, and a much simpler mirror (Listo con nuevo lavamanos, luces y un espejo mas simple)
Like a breath of fresh air! (Como tomar aire fresco!)