TrevorCarpenter.com

Today, in the USA, we celebrate our veterans. Across the country, Americans will celebrate in different ways. There will be parades. There will be help offered to widows and families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. There will be comforting for those who’s loved ones are earning the veteran’s status right now.

I’d like to honor one man. His name is Orvene Carpenter. He is my Papaw.

In the summer of 1943, my Papaw knew too well that the draft would soon come to him. His older brother Jess had been drafted just two years earlier. Then, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, his draft was extended until the war’s end.

Knowing that he’d be drafted, my Papaw decided to join the US Marine Corps. By the following year, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Air Wing, in the Atolls. Their role was to patrol the seas for the Japanese Navy, specifically their subs. Papaw was a gunner on the rear of a SBD Dauntless dive bomber. (I had the chance to photograph one of those at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum a few months back.)

Growing up, I loved having Papaw share his stories of the war. He’d tell us of the Marines and their efforts in the South Pacific.

My Papaw is one of those last few who rose to the occasion, to defend our freedoms, from the cowardice of Nazi Germany, the Italian Fascists, and the Japanese Empire. He is one of The Great Generation. Growing up on an Arkansas farm, the son of a preacher, my Papaw was not unlike the many normal, hardworking young men from across the US who raised their hands, or were encouraged to do so, and go “over there”.

Today, take a few moments to call someone you know, who also raised their hand, to defend yours and my freedom. Today, honor a veteran near you.

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Just this past week I celebrated 10 years of marriage to the most wonderful woman on earth. Just over 10 years ago, I met her for the first time.

I was helping teach a Bible study for teenage kids at a small church in Covina. The pastor’s daughter brought her along, they were friends, to a church leadership meeting at his house. It wasn’t long before her sparkling eyes caught my attention. It was August 28th, 1997.

Quickly finding out where she worked, I rearranged my routine to include daily trips to the Starbucks, where she made lattes for the pretentious Glendora crowd. Within days, we were chatting up a storm, so much that her boss would harass her to work instead of talk. As her birthday approached, I invited her to attend a concert at the Long Beach Symphony Pops. She declined. Being her birthday weekend, she was already committed to celebrate with her family. In fact, she was booked all weekend. However, on her actual birthday, she was free. I quickly secured the date, and the rest is history!

I was already attending the Long Beach Pops, because several of my friends were performing. One such friend, Steve Mirau, caught a ride home with me afterward. During the drive, I told him that I had this weird feeling that I was going to marry Deanna. I just knew.

Before Christmas that year, we were engaged. September 19th, the following year, we were wed.

The journey has been amazing, and I wouldn’t change one bit of it. Even some of the pitfalls have produced some of the most wonderful experiences for us. I can recall one instance when I hurt her, and her grace filled response broke me to tears as I saw my wife BE Jesus to me. Her forgiveness and grace was unbelievable. Outside of Christ, this would not be possible.

That goes for our entire marriage. Outside of Christ, it would not have been possible. The Lord’s gift of Deanna, to me, has been the most wonderful, life-changing gift. It approaches my own gift of salvation, in value.

Deanna, I love you.

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Hey friends! Today, in the USA, it’s Constitution Day. What is that, you ask? Well, today marks the 221st anniversary of the signing of our Constitution.

You know, our Constitution is the oldest constitution, still being used, in the world. It’s also the shortest. I guess we just get to the point. Few understand that the efforts of Benjamin Franklin helped keep the design of this great document cohesive. When many were fighting and arguing, Franklin would remind the men with his wise council to remain focused on the end result. These few facts can be learned in many places. In my own recent interest in our great heritage, I have found several resources benefit the Constitutionally minded scholar.

• The US Archives
• ConstitutionFacts.com
• The National Constitution Center
• Wikipedia: US Constitution

These resources have helped expand my mind, and they will help you too. At home, in our homeschool curriculum, we have found a wonderful emphasis on the founding fathers and their influence on American society and structure. I’m actually planning on taking some of the resources intended for use in education, and adding it to our home education. I look forward to the day when I can pursue my interest in Colonial and Revolutionary America with my children.

It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. . . . Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. - John Adams

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