Sack Lunches

So I heard this story on the radio the other and had the DJ email it to me and I thought you would all enjoy it.


The Sack Lunches
>
>
> I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down
> in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight.
> 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I
> will get a short nap,' I thought.
>
>
> Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the
> aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding
> me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you
> headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
>
>
> 'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for
> two weeks for special training, and then we're being
> deployed to Iraq '
>
> After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made
> that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would
> be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly
> decided a lunch would help pass the time.
>
> As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his
> buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like
> a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't
> be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago
> '
>
> His friend agreed.
>
> I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying
> lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the
> flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to
> all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed
> tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My
> son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are
> doing it for him.'
>
> Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the
> soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked,
> 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
>
> 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She
> turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute
> later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is
> your thanks.'
>
> After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the
> plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I
> saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take
> this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
>
> Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain
> coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he
> walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he
> was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.
> When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand,
> an said, 'I want to shake your hand.'
>
> Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the
> Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I
> was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone
> bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never
> forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from
> all of the passengers.
>
> Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch
> my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me
> reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left
> another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
>
> When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and
> started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door
> was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket,
> turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another
> twenty-five dollars!
>
> Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering
> for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and
> handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you
> some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a
> sandwich. God Bless You.'
>
> Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect
> of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I
> whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers
> were giving their all for our country. I could only give
> them a couple of meals.
>
> It seemed so little...
>
>
>
>
>
> A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a
> blank check Made payable to 'The United States of
> America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my
> life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people
> in This country who no longer understand it.'

Oh the joy of work

So I spend my days working at a residential treatment facility here in Utah. It can be very difficult and yet very satisfying work. When I walk in to go and pick up my girls from their day at school they all come and give me hugs and they all want to tell me about what they did that day. It makes me happy to know that I have made a difference in someone's life when they need it the most. I enjoy seeing how excited they get about little things, like mint oreo cookies. And also when they are getting close to the end of their program and to hear how far they have come and how much they have changed, because that is our entire goal of this place, to help these kids see that they are better and that they can become more than the direction that they were headed in. Life is not easy here, but in the end it is worth it. I especially enjoy seeing kids come out of the places that they were in before coming here. I went to the AA meeting and got to learn a lot out about the kids, where they come from and why they are here. I enjoy talking to some of the girls when they tell me that they don't want to go back to the life that they were living. It gives me hope that these kids will make it when they leave here.
On another note. One of my best friends came to visit this last weekend and we had a blast! I miss my Maggie and it was so good to see her. I took her up to the Olimpic Park in Park City, which I hadn't been to in a long time. We decided that we want to be bobsledders because that would just be so freaking cool. Yeah we are truley kids at heart. I also got to take her to temple square for the first time. It was a very special experience. She is trying to get back active in the church and get her life on track. I was able to feel the spirit very strongly as we talked about the importance of the temple and certain gospel principles. I am so greatful that I got to have that experience with her.
Tonight is going to be another great experience. I get to go to the Jordan Temple for the first time and do a baptism session with a few of the girls. I am excited, it has been too long since I went to the temple and I feel honored that they would ask me to go with them. I am excited to see a new temple that I haven't been to yet. Any ways, I had better go and get ready for work. I am also now going to be an assistant basketball coach for our girls team. It is always something new and exciting.