To The Editor:
Due to a busy life, I don't often have the time to read the whole Pine Journal newspaper when it comes. But I do take the time to go through the newspaper each week and seek out the information I need and the stories I want to read. This week's issue (March 16) had two stories that had a deep impact on me.
The first one, about the diabetes prevention program, gave me a lot of food for thought. My husband was just told he has pre-diabetes, and that has me a little scared! While I try to make sure that my family eats well and gets exercise, we sure could eat a lot better and get more exercise than we do right now! Just like many others, I'm sure I know a whole lot of the information that this program has to give, but I'm also sure there's a whole lot lot more we can learn. I think we may sign up for the next session, even if it's just for the support and encouragement! Our health could definitely stand improvement.
The second story, about the soldiers coming home, had me crying.... For the families - the spouses, children, parents - who haven't seen their soldiers for a very long year filled with overwrought emotions of every kind, from pride to fear, loneliness to anger, and everything in between.... For the soldiers who were happy to be going home alive, super excited to be with their families again, but yet anxious over the coming transition from soldier-life to home- and everyday-life.... And for our country and world that are still so messed up that our country needs to separate these and other families again and again to go wage battles against evil and for peace and safety. But seeing these soldiers come home gives all of us hope and the nudging to say, "Thank you, Lord!" through our tears of relief and happiness.
Kim Samuelson, Kettle River
