Review: The Fight of Our Lives

The book “The Fight of Our Lives,” by William Bennett and Seth Leibsohn was written as a wake up call to American's about Radical Islam and it's many dangers.  When I first started to read this book I was afraid it was going to be full of Islam bashing and religious overtones, but it wasn't.  It did touch on the Koran, the Bible, Christianity and Judaism but in away that was informative not hateful.  While some of the book was over my head it was very interesting to read their point of view on how sad America has become as a nation in confronting terrorism head on.  I don't often keep up on current political events and this book covered so many events that I had never realized had ever happened.  Having said that this book really brought me up to speed on what's going on in the world today, which I think is important for everyone.  I feel it would have been a better read however had I been up on these current events.  

I was over half way through with this book when the information was released that Osama Bin Laden had been found and killed.  There was so much information touched on in this book that related to him and the effects he had on us as a nation that I was thankful I had started reading this so I was aware.  I'm a little ashamed actually on how unaware I actually was so I'm very thankful that I was reading this in light of recent activities that have taken place.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Booksneeze Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

April 23, 2011 A mothers love... no matter what...

Her Smile
Though her smile is gone forever,
and her hand we cannot touch,
still we have so many memories
of the one we love so much.
Her memory is our keepsake
with which we will never part.
God has her in His keeping,
we have her in our hearts.

I was witness to the death of my Gramma today. It was everything you would imagine witnessing a death would be. Sad, touching, scary, creepy, and eye opening.

I was sitting at the head of the bed, in view was Gramma and my Mother. My Mom was leaning into Gramma holding her hand to her chest. Gramma's body was shaking and her lips moving in and out blowing air. She didn't have her teeth in so her face looked a little saggy around the mouth. Gramma wasn't coherent when I got there. Her eyes were only open a slit and it looked as though her body had already started to shut down. Mom offered to move so I could say goodbye to Gramma, but I declined. While I didn't mind being there for my Mom, to support her, I wasn't comfortable being that close to Gramma in her state. To be honest, I was scared of getting close to her.  She didn't look like Gramma anymore.  The room was small and full of family all watching Gramma take in her last breaths. Gramma stopped breathing a few times and my heart jumped into my throat, but then she'd gasp and start again. "Just kidding" I imagined Gramma saying. That thought made me smile. Finally Gramma's body stopped shaking and her breathing was no longer a gasp. I could see a vein in her neck pulsating with her heart beat. Her breathing got lighter and lighter and then finally stopped. The vein continued to pulsate, I watched it thinking Gramma would gasp for air again and we'd start all over. The vein stopped... and it was over. Mom started to cry, the rest of the room stayed silent. I couldn't watch Mom cry like that, it made me cry, both my older brother and I ducked out of the room. It's hard to see your parents so vulnerable. While it was a sad day to watch Gramma take her last breath it was also a good day. Gramma's quality of life had diminished so much and she was so lonely. I've been told that Gramma loved to dance so I can imagine now that she's reunited with Grandpa they are dancing in heaven. 

 In Loving Memory ofLois Lucille Beron ~Born~November 24, 1926 Duluth, Minnesota ~Died~April 23, 2011 Duluth, Minnesota ~Memorial Service~2:00pmWednesday, April 27, 2011Bell Brothers Funeral ChapelDuluth, Minnesota ~Officiating~Rev. Jeffrey Holter ~Music~Organist, Sharon NylanderVocalist, Bill Bastian ~Musical Selections~"You Raise Me Up""The Lords Prayer" ~Inurnment~Oneota CemeteryDuluth, Minnesota