Found a Mother's Day Gift Yet ?
Love You More Than You Know
Mothers' Stories About Sending Their Sons and Daughters to War
http://www.grayco.com/cleveland/books/10553/index.shtml
Ed & Janie were our friends from Church. We didn't know each other that well, but we did see them often. Knowing that we were new in the business, Ed & Janie listed their home with us out of kindness. After 6 months, the listing expired and a hard winter was upon us. We did get one offer and lots of looks before 9/11. Taking a breather during the Holidays, they re-listed with us. Low and behold, the evening before their youngest daughter left for college, the deal was signed to sell their home. Yes, that would be August 2001.
Ed & Janie rented for a year or so and had been working on plans to build a home on a country lot of 10-15 acres. Ed & I met for breakfast one cold and snowy February morning. Their plans had condensed a little and we drove to a private little street near the Village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. It was a very private, wooded, 2 acre property with a ravine and lots of trees. The snow drifts were about 4 feet...not sure if we even got out of the car. Ed loved the location and brought Janie to look it over. They got out of the car and found another for sale buried in a pile of snow. This lot (not in the MLS) was just one house away from the first.
Ed & Janie debated over these 2 lots, making offers on both. It was a tough decision. When they finally decided, we bought the other lot and built our home just one house away from them (THANK THE LORD for the neighbor between us who made sure she told all lookers that there wasn't any water on the properties). We've been neighbors for nearly 6 years now, and we are VERY BLESSED to be their neighbors.
Their son Joe joined the Ohio Army National Guard. It was a stressful time for the family. Janie always asked for prayers for Joe and all of our soldiers, and still does. We gladly joined the chorus.
There is an official bio that follows...but every successful Realtor has someone who really cared if they succeeded or not. For Joan & I, it was Ed & Janie.
About Janie Reinart
A storyteller with a passion for reading and writing, Janie Reinart seeks ways to give people a voice to tell their own stories. In writing groups, in workshops, and in school residency programs, Janie encourages
emerging writers to play with words, telling their stories through prose and poetry. (Just sit down and write!) An educator and freelance writer, she received her degree in Theatre, English, and Secondary Education from Ursuline College. Most weekends you will find Janie praying and singing with the choir at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Not only is she the mother of Tracy, James, Katie, Joe, and Meme, she loves being the Grandmommy of Jack and Hannah, and is looking forward to more grandbabies in the near future. She and her husband, Ed have been married for thirty-eight years and live in Bainbridge Township, Ohio. Janie continues to pray for all of our soldiers and their families.
LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW
by Janie Reinart and Mary Anne Mayer
In these stories, written by local author Janie Reinart and her friend Mary Anne Mayer, 45 mothers of U.S. service men and women open their hearts and share what it feels like when your son or daughter leaves home to fight a war. Some were stunned when they learned that their _baby_ had enlisted. Others had long been familiar with military life. But all of these mothers knew their world had just changed the day their child called home and said, _Mom, I_m being deployed . . ._ They discovered the strange mix of pride and fear. The anxiety of not knowing exactly where in Iraq or Afghanistan your son is, whether your daughter is facing mortar fire or enduring heat and boredom. Elation at the arrival of the briefest postcard or email message. The daily dread, when returning home from work or a trip to the grocery store, of seeing a government car in the driveway and two soldiers at the door . . . Anyone who reads their stories will admire their faith and courage--and better understand the sacrifices made by our U.S. service
men and women and their families. A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book will be donated to
ReMIND.org, a Bob Woodruff Foundation initiative for injured service members and their families. The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund will also receive donations.
Thank you for sharing information about her book with your family and friends and for re-blogging.
Many Blessings,
Jim & Joan
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