I have become one of those "people" that makes friends on the internet. Today this is not so unusual, people use the internet for business and social reasons. I especially like the idea that I can meet people from all over the world and never leave my living room! I found the Proud Army Mom website in May of this year, and I joined immediately. Having a son in Baghdad gave me a desire to chat with other moms who knew what I was feeling. There are so many reasons I can say why this site has helped me in my walk as an Army mom, but most recently I received an unexpected surprise and I want to share this with you. We have tribute pages for our soldiers, and a fellow mom, Pauline, was asking us to cut and paste a particular piece to send to her
son - I enjoy sending messages to the troops, so I thought it was another one of
those types of projects.... then I noticed the soldier's last name - wait a
minute, I have relatives on my dad's side of the family with that last name!
It is an unusual name, so I wrote to this mom and expressed that we might be
related. After a couple of emails/exchanges of information, oh my goodness!! I
am related to this young man, SPC Joe!! His dad and I are first cousins!
Joe's grandmother, Ruby, and my father, Fred, are sister and brother! How
amazing!! I lost touch with most of my cousins when our family moved across the
state when I was 14 (I am almost 44 now), so I haven't had contact with these
families for years - this is why I didn't know about them. I would never have
thought I would find a relative here, although I feel like I have found a hoard
of sisters - now I have both Friends AND Family to keep in touch with here!I am looking forward to staying in touch with this family, maybe
getting together (as an added bonus, it appears we only live a few hours away
from each other!), and making a connection. I sent Joe a Christmas card and
some pictures of my family to see if he remembers my parents (they remember him
and told me he was "a nice boy".). And to top it off, he may be serving close
to the same area my son is serving - they might talk to each other and not
even know they are related! I am so thankful for this PAM site - who knew the added joy I would receive?? I wonder how many other family members I might find here, or if any of you are
My Full name is Elizabeth Charlotte (Weideman) Bingham (but I prefer Beth), born January 4, 1960 (which makes me almost 44, just to save your brain power for more important things!). After High school I went to college, and with lots of years of life between my college stints, I finished in 1993 with a B.S. in Liberal Studies with 3 minors (English, Music, and Secondary Education). I wanted to be a High School teacher when I grew up, but jobs in our little community seem to have a waiting list, After many jobs including working in our local domestic violence agency for 3 years, I have opted to be a Home Visitor (Family Support Worker) for a local agency, providing voluntary services to first birth families. I enjoy my job very much - what is not to love? Holding babies and visiting mom's!?!! There is a lot more to it than that, but that sounds more fun! I have a husband, Scott (married since Aug of 1983), and 2 children: Anthony (Tony), 23, and Sarah, 18. Tony is Army, Sarah is college. Mom is lonely! I do have a few hobbies and I am trying to learn new things. I love dogs and cows. I love to sing, and I am a member of the church worship team - we sing contemporary christian music. I enjoy reading, walking, and more recently writing letters! I have also decided, although I do not sew, that I want to learn how to quilt, so I am starting a quilting class soon. I love to laugh, and I love to meet new people. I have a dry sense of humor, and sometimes a fairly twisted mind, but I try to keep it all in check - MOST of the time! But I am who I am, so I try not to hide it too much. It seems much of my life is taken up with military mom stuff, but I enjoy it and it makes me feel I am doing something for the war effort. What will I do with the rest of my life? I am not sure, but I am constantly trying new things, so it may be very interesting when I am 80 to see what I have ended up doing with my life: whatever it is I KNOW I will enjoy it, because that is just who I am!! One thing is for sure: I am proud to be an American! That will never change.
There seems to be some reason in this world to give others nick names. Some are accidental, like children learning to say a name for the first time and not quite getting it right, or someone that speaks a different language and has a hard to pronounce name (or a hard time pronouncing a name). I remember a guy in college from Israel - I still do not remember his name because I couldn't understand his pronunciation of it, but he reminded me of a Teddy bear, so I dubbed him Teddy and it stuck. He kind of liked it! Then there are names that are given with the intention to inflict ridicule and pain. I don't think we need to talk about those. But there are some that are given out of love and respect. That is how I got the name Commander Buzzard. You all probably think it has to do with the Army - well, in a way, but not what you think. Let me explain. Several years ago, when my son was still in high school and not even thinking about the army, a man came to our church and spoke a prophetic word over me. He said many things, but he said that I would be a General in the Lord's Army. You had to have known me at that time: I was so NOT interested in anything military! B*O*R*I*N*G!!!! I didn't know any military terms, really, and I was kind of annoyed that I would get this word. It had to do with youth and prayer. I was a Youth Leader at the church and I was teaching at a Home School Co-op called S.O.J.A. (Spirit of Joshua Academy). I helped organize and start this school, and I was the head teacher. I had 36 7th -12th graders. What a fun job! Really! Not to take away from the fun of talking about the school, but to make a long story short, the students one day asked me to tell a personal story about myself that wasn't the most flattering. I was always giving them awkward assignments to stretch their minds, so I decided what was good for them was good for me! I told them about the crazy "General" word, and how much I thought it was a mistake, and then I told them that I would not have married my husband if his family hadn't changed their last name to Bingham. You see, Scott's grandpa didn't like his last name growing up - Buzzard - so he changed it when he became an adult. If I had met Scott and his last name had been Buzzard, I would have instantly wrote him off (come on, ladies, be honest: you know when we meet a guy we like we try on his last name to see if it fits!) Well, Beth Buzzard was not cutting it! And especially not as a teacher; can you imagine the grief - I certainly could and I wanted none of it... how shallow is that?!! I told you it wasn't flattering! After that, one of the student's dubbed me "Commander Buzzard" (they tried General Buzzard first but it just didn't have the same ring to it), and it stuck. To this day, one of the students, who is off to college in the east, still refers to me as CB. As for the "General" part - it really has come to pass. My husband and I are in charge of prayer on Friday nights at our church, and when things need to be done, people always say "ask the General" (maybe they just refer to me as that because I do not mind commanding people around and making sure things get done!). And I have joined a group called "Generals of Intercessory Prayer". On top of all that, now I have a son in the military and I have become VERY interested in military things. Knowing the terminology has made a HUGE difference in how to warfare in many aspects of my life. I believe it has made me stronger. Or maybe I just feel more powerful with such an authoritative title. Whichever it is, I have enjoyed it! How about you? Any nick names you can share? I am always fascinated as to how people get to be who they are, or why certain names stick. I would love to hear about yours..... if you dare! It is funny. but as I am posting this one of my old students just came on line, to my yahoo address, and is talking to "commander Buzzard!". Isn't that a kick?? He cracked his ankle and wants advice from the Commander.... ain't that sweet??
my kids always wanted me to sing it when they were young, and my daughter even wants me to sing it at her wedding someday (like THAT is going to happen! I wouldn't be able to do it through the tears!!) Beth
Goodnight Kiss
By Steve and Annie Chapman
I count it as a privilege, I count it cause for praise
to kiss my children goodnight at the close of every day.
For I know too soon they're up and gone
and walking out the door;
And I'll never have a child to kiss, goodnight anymore.
It's very strange how times have changed, from the present to
the past -
when did they grow so quickly?
The time has gone so fast!
For it seems that only yesterday, I helped him with his shirt;
or pattin' my baby on the back,
or kissed away a hurt.
Tell a story, read a book, wipe a nose, or tie a shoe:
they never ask me to rub their back the way they used to do.
Once it was a bother, just a troublesome kind of chore -
but now I would give anything, to do it just once more!
Mommy, bounce me on your knee! Daddy, flip me in the air:
throw a rubber ball to me, and help me comb my hair.
Mommy, tickle my tummy! And Daddy hold me high - let's go
outside for awhile, and make a kite to fly!
I count it as a privilege, I count it cause for praise
to kiss my children goodnight at the close of every day.
For I know too soon they're up and gone
and walking out the door;
and I'll never have a child to kiss goodnight anymore.
And I'll never have a child to kiss: Goodnight, anymore.
12-12-03
Reaching out to America�s Future
Reaching out to America�s Future
In times past, when thinking about the future, it was easy: the future was thought of as simplistic. You graduate from high school, then college, you raise a family: if you did all those things up to code, then you lived a successful life. But now our future is growing more and more difficult. It may be because we are living in a time always thought of as the future - the year 2001 was never going to come. Well, it is here and directly upon us. The things we see today in the lives of people are hardships and insecurities. If you succeed in life today it means you have survived. You know the games you know what it takes to live.
There are many things to reach out to in America today:
The abused: we need to provide security for them. Build up the shelters around America and let them know that we are there for them.
The depressed: don�t just provide false hopes that medicines will give you a great life. Do something about it! There are other ways to deal with depression; sometimes listening can even lighten someone�s load.
The needy: Give! America today is so set on possessions and a good reputation that many people give to the needy just to make themselves look good. Lets bind together as a country and lift up one another, watch each other�s back instead of trying to out-do each other.
The homeless: the population of homeless is rising as we speak. For many it is insecurities in them selves, feelings of inadequacies and failure. People either don�t realize, or choose to ignore, that homeless people live right here in the United States- many in our own towns. It is great to send money and food to starving people in other nations, as long as we don�t turn our heads from the children next door that don�t know where their next meal is coming from.
All of these things are not what makes our future brighter, it dims it. So how can America reach out to our future?
Patriotism and a respect for our country, being proud to be an American, don�t be ashamed to be here. America is called land of the free home of the brave for a reason. We have freedom here: Freedom of beliefs, freedom of speech, freedom to be who we want to be. Our ancestors came here to escape the tyranny of a land where freedom was being quenched. Through the seeds of a desire for freedom the roots of democracy flourish today. The desire to stimulate those roots is what is given to a proud past where men have fought and died for the very things we take for granted today. This generation will never understand what it was like to be a part of WWI, WWII, Korean War, or Vietnam. But this generation will get a taste of war at a different level. They say on the news today that American�s should be ready for more terrorist attacks, that Anthrax is becoming a major concern, and that the Taliban is still refusing to give up Bin Laden. Yet were not supposed to worry and were supposed to try to continue �business as usual�. For many people this is scary. Are we loosing our courage? Are we loosing our country? What should we be expecting? The generations that see and hear these things think about �before all of this happened�, and how standing up to salute the flag was a minor thing that didn�t mean anything to most. But today, standing and saying those words somehow puts unity in our midst, and makes us proud to be Americans. American�s now are singing at the baseball games �God Bless America� which shows a greater appreciation nationwide for what freedom means. What all of these have in common is the simple but unbreakable basic human right of FREEDOM! If we uphold the standard that is being set, this generation and for generations to come will fulfill the phrase �Reaching Out To America�s Future�: by being proud of our American heritage.
Beth Bingham/Sarah Bingham
(Commander Buzzard/lil buzz)
Iraq War News
Posted by: Patti / 11:24 AM
12-12-03
Packages to Troops
Thanks to the generosity of Union schools and this community, we were able to send 25 packages to 12 soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade 1st Armored Division (4/1 FA)!! They will have happier holidays because of all of you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart….
Beth Bingham
PAM (Proud Army Mom) of Specialist Anthony Bingham, Baghdad, Iraq
Weight of package Cost to send
1. 12 lbs 1.5 oz $ 20.99
2. 10 lbs 2 oz 19.15
3. 13 lbs 13 oz 21.84
4. 27 lbs 4 oz 30.32
5. 26 lbs 4 oz 29.87
6. 25 lbs 2 oz 29.39
7. 40 lbs 9 oz 37.79
8. 12 lbs 10 oz 20.99
9. 12 lbs 6 oz 20.99
10. 13 lbs 12.5 oz 21.84
11. 13 lbs 1 oz 21.84
12. 12 lbs .5 oz 20.99
13. 14 lbs 4.5 oz 22.64
14. 14 lbs 14 oz 22.64
15. 13 lbs 15.5 oz 21.84
16. 12 lbs 3 oz 20.99
17. 18 lbs 3 oz 25.48
18. 14 lbs 10.5 oz 22.64
19. 25 lbs 5 oz 28.90
20. 24 lbs 4 oz 28.39
21. 18 lbs 3 oz 25.38
22. 10 lbs 15.5 oz 19.15
23. 23 lbs .5 oz 28.39
24. 11 lbs 15 oz 20.10
25. 21 lbs 14.5 oz 27.30
TOTAL: 443 lbs 12.5 oz $609.94
My community, Union, OR, is a small town of 2000 people. Needless to say, I was STUNNED and GRATEFUL that people cared so much! This is what supporting our troops is all about! So proud to be an American!!
