WILL YOU WEAR BLUE

International Picture of the Year
Here are two very touching photos honored this year

First Place :

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.


During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.'

Second Place

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted'

Will You Wear Blue??

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans are showing solidarity and support for our troops by wearing BLUE each and every Friday until the troops all come home. Let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue to let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is .'We need your support and your prayers.'

Please remember to pray for our troops and their families at home, as well as those who have lost their loved ones in war.

By wearing blue we are reminded of their sacrifice and our freedom. Wearing blue keeps us mindful of their greatest need. Join myself and thousands of Americans as we support our troops with our prayers of strength; protection; valor and the Lord's favor in bringing them all back home SOON!

Will you honor our troops by wearing BLUE on Fridays?

Patrina <")>><
warrior bride in boots

iPray 2010 - Prayer for the Sanctity of Life

Dear Lord, you know each heart. Even before it’s created in the womb, you’ve already written plans for each life. We are so fearfully and wonderfully made. Forgive us Lord, when we choose to disregard your plans.

Today, Lord Jesus, I want to lift up to you every Mother that has found themselves at the crossroads – of carrying the created life of their unborn child. I offer you praise for every life that was saved. I thank you Lord, that I was one of them. Everyone reading this today was saved. Many, only by the grace of God survived. May those of us who have lived – grow into the designed plan that you have created for us before the beginning of time.

For those little blessings that did not make it full term, I thank you Lord for receiving them into your family in Heaven. May they one day be joined together – Mother & child –as you designed.

I pray a special blessing over the Mothers who have lost a child through abortion – whether by their choice or the choice of another. It’s easy sometimes to take life for granted. But when the life of an unborn child is lost, whether by abortion or miscarriage, it becomes a matter of the soul - a connection left unfulfilled. Lord, I grieve with those who have lost a child this way. Every mother who has lost bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh knows the sanctity of life. The very blood within their veins spilled out and into the tiny life of their unborn child.

You, O Lord are the creator of life. You created the design for connection between Mother and child, before the beginning of time. The fact that these unborn babies aren’t here in the earth realm doesn’t change your plan. So, today, I pray divine connection between these lost little blessings – now within your care – and the mother’s who placed them there – willingly, thoughtlessly or through no choice of their own. They’re all the same in your scope of things. The sanctity of life and their unblemished innocence- placed them there.

My humble prayer is that every mother who has stood face to face at the window between life and loss of life – will come to know the heartbeat of their lost unborn child. Reach down from Heaven, O Lord, and heal their broken connection. May they not be separated for eternity.

Thank you, Lord, for your indescribable gift of life. For your infinite mercy and grace. I praise you, Lord for receiving these little blessings into your own family, that they might enjoy eternity with you. May we not forget how precious we are to you. How valuable life is in your hands – for we were created to love and be loved by God. Help us, O Lord, to see life from your perspective. We need so desperately to see. Open our eyes and our hearts. Surprise us with glimpses from Heaven. May we see in the spirit realm – the multitudes of tiny footprints that are now at home in the family of God. We give you Glory, Lord.

In the precious Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


Patrina <")>><

Read daily Prayers for iPray 2010 through the month of February at: ZOE