Why "TAPS" is Played

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which Taps was played; this brings out a new meaning to it.

Here is something Every American should know...but most don't, until they read this:

We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, "Taps". It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes.

But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia . The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.

Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals was born.

The words are:

Day is done ... Gone the sun

From the lakes ... From the hills ...
From the sky .. All is well.

Safely rest .. God is nigh..

Fading light .. Dims the sight ..

And a star ... Gems the sky

Gleaming bright from afar ..

Drawing nigh. Falls the night.
Thanks and praise ... For our days.

Neath the sun ... Neath the stars...

Neath the sky. As we go
This we know .. God is nigh

I too have felt chills while listening to "Taps" but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either, so I thought I'd pass it along.

I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.

Remember those lost and harmed while serving their country and also those presently serving in the Armed Forces. Please remember to pray for our soldiers this weekend and for the families who have sacrificed loved ones for our freedom.

Back to The Basics

MOM- What Are You Doing to Get Back to Basics?
(Darla Shine)


Get back home. Get back in the kitchen. Play with your children. Pray with your family. Entertain. Invite friends and family over. Bring back Sunday family dinners. Spend less. Cook more. Buy on sale. Use coupons. Make more from scratch. Be creative with leftovers.


Hang your laundry on a line. Iced tea on the porch. Lemonade stands. Longer skirts. Less Diva. More classic. Less cleavage. Thank you notes. A call to say hello. Take up a hobby. Talk to your neighbor. Bake an apple pie. Help an old lady.

Learn how to make preserves. Go to Church on Sunday. Scrub your floor on your hands and knees. Go bike riding. Take long walks with your hubby hand in hand. Eat more nuts and berries. Eat less. Volunteer. Plant a tree. Take your children to a farm. Pick your own strawberries. Go fishing. Go camping. Shut off the air conditioning and open the windows.


Teach your children to waltz and cha-cha. Make a roast. Wear an apron. Wear lipstick and high heals. Shut off the TV. Read a book. Play scrabble.

Take a milk bath. Say hello to the cashier. Talk to the butcher. Take omega 3 instead of antidepressants. Sell your pie. Faux paint a dresser. Use egg yolk for a facial. Drive less. Book your children less. Save more. Stop using credit cards. Go green. Try alternative healing.


Cook for your family.
Keep a beautiful home.
Be a beautiful woman.
Contribute to your community.
Thank God for all you have.

--Darla Shine

25 Things My Mother Taught Me

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'

2. My mother taught me RELIGION
'You better pray that stain will come out of the carpet.'

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL
'If you don't straighten up,
I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'

4. My mother taught me LOGIC
' Because I said so, that's why.'

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck,
you're not going to the store with me.'

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT .
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'

7. My mother taught me IRONY
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'

10. . My mother taught me about STAMINA
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
'Stop a acting like your father!'

15. My mother taught me about ENVY
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world
who don' t have wonderful parents like you do.'

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION
'Just wait until we get home.'

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING
'You are going to get it when you get home!'

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.'

19. My mother taught me ESP
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'

20. My mother taught me HUMOR
'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.'

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT
'If you don't e at your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'

22. My mother taught me GENETICS
'You're just like your father.'

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'

24.My mother taught me WISDOM
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'


Happy Mother's Day!

Lakita

Okay, so I have to tell you my puppy story!

As you know, I posted a story a couple of weeks ago about my puppy Providence that I got about 2 years ago. I absolutely loved that puppy, and my heart was broken when he developed a post reaction to his vaccine shot, and started going into seizures. 2 days later he passed away. It has taken me 2 years to build up the courage to get another puppy, and after much prayer and consideration, my husband and I decided that now was a good time. It always amazes me how God cares about every single detail of our lives. I have to tell you our story.

We have been looking for about 4 months for a puppy, and I have done tons of research trying to decide what that right breed would be for us. I was drawn to the Siberian Husky, and really wanted a dog that I could take out on the trails hiking, and that loved to be outdoors. I had checked out some books from the library on Siberian Huskies to read up on them. One night we were watching a movie and there was a girl in the movie named Lakita. I told my husband, Dave, that if we get a Husky, I wanted to name her Lakita, having no idea what it meant.

Well, about a week later, I was looking at puppies on craigslist, and there was an ad for a 6 month old Siberian Husky puppy that was a stray. She had jumped into the yard of this family. At first they didn't feed her, thinking she would return home, but she kept hanging around. One day, to their surprise, she discovered their doggy door, and they found her in the house. From then on they took her in, and tried everything to find the original owners, but no one came forward to claim her. After several weeks, they decided it was time to find her a good home. They would have loved to keep her, but they had just gotten a new puppy from the pound, and their other dog had just had 8 pups. (That's a lot of dogs! LOL)

They really felt like she needed more individual attention than they could give her, so they went on a mission to find her a good home. They received over 75 emails from people responding to their ad! She emailed me back and forth for about 2 weeks, and finally decided that out of all of the people she had interviewed, she felt our family would be the best fit for her. She even said that if we took her home, and things just didn't work out, that we could bring her back. She sent me a picture of her, and of course I fell in love with her right away!

I then decided to get online and look up the name Lakita to see what it meant, as that is what I wanted her name to be. When I checked it out, my eyes got real big, and my husband said..."what's wrong?" I said, "you'll never guess what Lakita means." He said "what? I said "found treasure." There couldn't have been a more perfect name for her!

Well 2 weeks ago today we brought Lakita home, and she has been such a joy to all of us already. She has a very sweet personality, and I have loved taking her out walking and hiking. She is doing obedience classes, and has learned so much already! We have definitely adopted her as part of our family, and look forward to many years ahead of companionship and good times with her. She is truly our "found treasure."