Anzac Day –
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on April 25 each year to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.  It now commemorates all those who have served and died in every military operation for these two countries since that time.  On Anzac Day in Australia and on Memorial Day in the USA; it is always touching to read the accounts of military heroism throughout the years.  A saying that I keep reading goes like this, “They died that we might live.”  It’s sobering and makes me think of how easy it is to take our freedom for granted.  However, I also think more importantly of the One whose sacrifice cannot be compared to anything that a man has done.  How that Jesus Christ died at Calvary so that His people might live for eternity. --- And yet how easy it is to take our salvation for granted too.

Shaped Like a Bowl -
Years ago we read in a book that one area a family could save money is to do home haircuts.  I got excited about it and thought it would be a fun and easy job.  Therefore I was really surprised when Frank got out a mirror and started giving me instructions on how to hold his hair at a certain angle before cutting.  I didn’t realize that there was mathematical precision to the whole process.  Then the unexpected happened.  Premature gray hairs started popping out.  Before long his hair was mostly gray and cowlicks came out of nowhere that had a mind of their own.  We decided that the best thing was for him to have a military style haircut, which he does himself.  The only part I help with now is to trim up the back.  The other night I was trimming when all of a sudden I heard, “How short are you getting the back, way up to the middle of my ears?  Because I always disliked that look where the back of a man’s or boy’s hair looks like a bowl was placed on their head and it was cut around it.”  Well I was only trying to get things even and it seemed like just as the left side was just right, the right side was a little long.  So I clipped the right side and then the left side and so forth.  After his comment I said, “Okay, I’m just barely going to trim one little bit more and then it’s finished.  The thought of a bowl never crossed my mind, but as he walked out the door, I thought, “Yep, my medium sized Rubbermaid bowl would fit just perfectly over his head.”

Loyalty Cards –
Loyalty cards are popular here in Australia.  Various clothing stores, grocery stores, and even butcher shops have them.  After so many purchases you get discounts.  The difficult part is remembering that you have a loyalty card.  I’ll buy something only to remember 20 seconds later that I have one and ask the cashier if my purchase can be added to it.  The answer is no.  You have to present the loyalty card “before” you make your purchase.  There are absolutely no allowances made for an aging, forgetful person.  I was thinking of writing on my errand list, the initials L.C. (for loyalty card) next to the stores where we have one.  But then I could imagine how Frank and I would be scrutinizing the list wondering what we are supposed to buy that is L.C.

    A friend in Christ,
    Sister Cyd James