It's Memorial Day!! What better way to honor those who gave it all on a book blog then to share about a book with the same goal in mind? This is probably one of my top books of the year so far, so without further ado, let's get into it!

Oh, the Fallen
Abigail Kay Harris
May 31st, 2021
Military Romance (Mild)
Recommended 12+ for Understanding
4 Stars

A more thorough review is in the works, using my system, but since this post is already long, I'll just cut to the chase. (I read a pre-edited copy of the book as a beta-reader. I received a copy of the book from the author for promotional purposes. All thoughts are my own.)

This book is amazing y'all. At the point in which I was reading it, it was in the process of being edited, so of course I caught a few things here and there and even offered a few suggestions, but honestly, the story blew me away! The author's voice is unique and homey and steeped in patriotic passion for God and Country. I cried through the entire thing and debuts rarely do that for me. Abigail Kay Harris has been added to my list of auto-buy authors!

There is some mild violence and romance, but nothing gory or PG-13. I would recommend a family read it together for Memorial Day. It's the perfect tribute <3

Grab the links above for more release day fun!
God Bless America and God Bless our Gold Star Families...
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

PS. What are your favorite Memorial Day reads? How do you honor those who have given their lives for us? Tell me in the comments below!

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a blessed Memorial Day. As we pause to remember those who have died to keep us free, please take a moment to pray for their families. They are still living the nightmare of waking up everyday without their loved one. Their brothers and sisters in arms wake up everyday without a text or call from their buddy. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

The parade came, and we had the truck all gussied up, with red, white, blue, and Army green. Hud drove with his BDUs on, and I sat on the back, waving at those who gathered to honor all our fallen soldiers. We got saluted by more people than I could count.

I got a hug from a Vietnam veteran. Another from a WWII Vet. A handshake from a Confederate reenactor. A salute from a Marine who looked suspiciously like Salem Springfield, but I couldn’t be sure.

We went to the football field for the ceremony, the laying of the wreaths and the gun salute and the singing of the National Anthem done by a member of every military branch, a Capella.

Then came the moment for the music. Becca stepped onto the platform, violin in hand, a mic before her to sing at intervals…while I played her backup…on Stanley’s violin. Becca had written the song, and we had practiced like crazy all Saturday evening and between church on Sunday.

And it was perfect. It was called, Do You Remember, Because I Can’t Forget. Soul-Stirring. And heart-wrenching. I cried all the way through it. But I cried even harder when she said, “Normally a dedication is given before a song is sung. But I’m going to do it now because it’s right. This song is dedicated to two Rangers, SPL Randy Bonner[1] , and SPL Stanley Schnyder. Randy is on deployment right now, and Stanley gave it all taking Baghdad. They are both, one on earth and one in heaven, in the palm of our Savior’s Hand. No matter what, they are remembered. For us, as Christians, whether in deployment or in death, there is no Goodbye, only See You Later. And as both of our brothers have taught us, Goodbye isn’t in the Christian Family’s dictionary. If it’s in yours, please see me afterward, and I’ll gladly show you how you can become part of the Family and get rid of your goodbye. God Bless you for being here and God Bless America.”

Wow.

I could never be that bold. I was almost afraid Becca would get in trouble for witnessing at a public event like that, but no one said a word to her about it, other than to ask her how to get rid of their goodbye. She led five people to Christ that day. I got three.

***

That evening, we stayed around and helped clean the stadium, the town volunteers insisting Military and Gold Stars shouldn’t have to, but we insisted on helping. After all, the fallen belong to us too.

As we were finishing, I picked up Stanley’s violin and started to leave, but suddenly, tears rushed to my eyes. I couldn’t see Becca and not wanting to cry in front of a dozen Soldiers, Marines, and strangers. So I ducked into the nearest private place…the bleachers.

By myself in the shadows, I allowed myself to miss Stanley, hugging his violin to my chest and sobbing, trying to shove away the memories of the day I got the news.

After a few moments, I heard Becca and Salem calling for me, and I wiped my face, my moment over, but it was time for it to be over. There was a time for mourning and a time for laughter. And Stanley would want me to choose the latter. Smiling, I called out to my friends, and we walked together to the vehicles.

***

That Friday started horribly. Becca came flying into the house, dictionary in her arms and tears pouring down her face. I grabbed her and shook her. “Becca! What’s wrong?”

“Something’s happening! I was on the phone with Randy, and then somebody yelled, and he said, ‘I love you!’ and the line cut! Something wrong, Chrissy!”

She burst into tears and clung to me, and we both ended up in the kitchen floor, bawling like toddlers and not caring, praying without ceasing that God would please shield Randy.

I stayed with her all day. We eventually went over to their base house and hunkered down, waiting for the call with eager trepidation. Salem drove up from Cherry Point, two hours away, to be with his family, and we all sat in the living room, waiting and praying.

Jason shattered the silence with a straightforward question. “If God…” he cleared his throat. “If God chooses to…take Randy away…will we still love Him?”

Silence hung in the room. Becca shuddered and rested her head against my shoulder, tears seeping into my shirt. Salem ran his hands through his non-existent hair, and Mrs. Springfield closed her eyes. Mr. Springfield paused in his pacing.

I glared at the DVD case propped on the bookshelf.

“Yes.”

All heads turned towards Becca. “Because it’s not the end. God promised we will be together again. I won’t understand why. But I’ll still love Him.”

Salem nodded, his eyes red-rimmed, but as of yet, he was a genuine, stone-faced Marine. Mrs. Springfield sighed. “Yes, I’ll still love Him.”

“As hard as that would be…yes,” Mr. Springfield said.

The phone rang, but no one moved to answer it, staring at it in horror.

So I answered it.

“…Oh! Uh, hello, Miss Christina. Good to hear from you. Is Becca there?”

I squealed and nearly dropped the phone, and I know I’d left his ears ringing. “Becca! Take it! It’s him!”

Becca jumped to her feet, snatching the cordless from me. And with a voice as controlled as if she hadn’t been crying all day, she said, “Randy, don’t you ever scare me like that again! What’s the big idea?!”

I laughed so hard and hugged Mrs. Springfield and Mr. Springfield so hard. We thanked God and cried while Salem called their other son, Timothy, at the Air Force Academy and let him know Randy was all right. It was a beautiful evening.

And we ended it with that movie.

Before I left, Becca grabbed my hand and said, “Thank God, I didn’t have to say that final See You Later. Not yet.”

I hugged her tight as she cried with relief. “Not yet. It’s not time yet. But aren’t you so glad Goodbye isn’t in the dictionary?”

She nodded and wiped her eyes. “I’m gonna read that page all night…and all the letters. I’m just so grateful.”

“Me too, Becca.” I winked. “See You Later!”

***

Salem insisted I come with them to pick Randy up since I had been with them for the whole deployment. I agreed, then realized that he had motives, and I might have elbowed him in the ribs.

Randy ran up to his family, hugging his mom so tight he picked her up. She kissed his cheek; her baby was safe and sound. Becca wedged her way past her brothers to get to him next, and that’s when I saw a couple tears shining in his eyes.

He greeted his brothers, and then he looked at me. He thanked me for being there for Becca. Before I could speak, another Ranger walked up and slapped him on the shoulder. “Later, Boots.”

He grinned, “Later, Pickles.”

I stared at him. Tears rushed to my eyes. “Boots,” I whispered. Randy turned and looked at me. I’d have to show him that letter. He needed to see it.

***

Two Years Later…
 
Uncle Abel came to my wedding. And he was smiling. Becca was my maid of honor, and Mr. Springfield was Randy’s best man. Salem said he should have been the best man since he fell in love with me as a sister before Randy said anything. But Randy insisted he had fallen for me at first sight.

All I care about is that my soldier made it home. He’s deploying in about three months, but we’re okay. We have each other for now. And we will never say goodbye. Because they are not in the dictionary…neither are good cheer or Good Conduct Medal because Randy covered them up to get his See You Later Note in there…

“HEY, LIEBLING, YOU TOLD ME, IT’S NOT HERE. WHY ARE YOU LOOKING? WE ONLY HAVE ‘SEE YOU LATERS.’ BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WITH GOD AS MY WITNESS, I WILL SEE YOU LATER, HERE OR THERE. ALL MY LOVE, MY DARLING. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY…AND SO DO LITTLE SISTERS…”


[1] Note to readers. This is a short story that is part of a WIP. Randy, Becca and a brother named Tim are adopted by the Springfields, but allowed to keep their birth name. That’s why she says Bonner and not Springfield.



So what did you think? Do you like the idea of no Goodbye's for Christians? Did this end the way you thought it would? Who was your favorite Character? Let me know in the comments below!

God Bless America and Never Forget the Fallen and their families.
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Welcome back to part 3 of Goodbye Isn't in the Dictionary! (Part 1 and Part 2!) Things are heating up between Christina and Uncle Abel! Let's see what happens next!

Uncle Abel frowned. “Is this about that parade?”

I swallowed back a look of defiance. “Yes. I’m going for Stanley.”

I could have kept it together. I could have breathed through it.

But he rolled his eyes and frowned.

Like Stanly and all our fallen soldiers didn’t matter.

As if it were silly.

As if it were sinful.

I lost control.

“How dare you!” I hissed. “How dare you… forget! Stanley looked up to you! He wanted to make you proud! He bent over backward for you and gave his life, just for you to—”

“Christina, we have customers. We’ll talk about this later. And you will be here Monday. I forbid you to go to that celebration of violence.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He was our guardian…had been since Stanley passed. But we are of age, I had been even at the time our parents passed. And I can’t let him keep me from honoring my brother’s sacrifice.

“Uncle Abel, there’s nothing to talk about. I’m sorry, and I mean you no disrespect. But I’m not going to be here Monday. You knew what Hudson and I were planning. Mother and Father always taught us honoring our fallen soldiers is important, and we promised we would. I will keep my promises. I’m going to the Memorial Day parade.”

He nodded slowly, knowing my mind was made up. “Never could talk sense to your father. Your mother was the problem there. And I see you are just like her. Well, go to your parade, but don’t come on Tuesday. Your position will be filled. You are no longer needed. I love you, and I’ve tried to lead you in the good path of peace. But if you insist on honoring those who break the 6th commandment, killing people, then I cannot have you influencing the children daily. You and Hudson may stay on at the apartment, but you will not be permitted here as anything other than a customer. Good day.”

I stumbled out of the café in shock. I fumbled in my pocket for my flip phone and pressed the speed dial for my nineteen-year-old brother, two years my junior.
The sound of clanking metal and men laughing in the background met my ears. “CPL Schnyder, how may I—”

“Uncle Abel fired me!” I sobbed into the mic. “He fired me because I said I wouldn’t work on Memorial Day. And he…he’s pretty much told me to stay away!”

“Where are you?”

“At the Café.”

“Don’t go anywhere, just sit in the car. I’ll be right over.”

“But your shift doesn’t—”

“My sergeant will let me get you. Hang on.”

He muted the speaker for all of two minutes and 48 seconds. “Chrissy?”

“Yes?”

“I’m coming, he’s covering for me. Jamie will get the car. I don’t want you driving.”

Within fifteen minutes, ten minutes faster than they should have been there, my brother and his best friend were there, and I was lifted into Stanley’s truck. Hud didn’t let go of my hand once on the whole drive back to FT Bragg.

When we arrived at the base, he handed the guard our IDs and drove through moments later. It was then I realized where I was. “Hudson, why did you bring me here? The apartment—”

“Will be empty tomorrow. I’ve got a place for you to stay on base.”

“WHAT? Hudson, that’s not—”

“I’ve been working on this for several weeks, Chrissy. I was gonna surprise you tomorrow, but you beat me to it. Oh, and while you’re here, there’s a family here you’ve gotta meet. They’re here for another month, he’s Navy, been helping with a med course, but anyway, they are so nice! You’ll be staying with them tonight. Here we are.”

He parked his truck, and I instantly recognized Becca’s little Beetle.

I jumped out of the truck, and the door swung open, revealing a young man in Marine Cammies. He smiled and said, “Come on in, Becca’s in the living room.”

I hurried into the house, and Becca ran out into the hall to meet me, hugging me and crying with me and tugging me into the living room all at the same time.

We sat on the couch, and I told her the whole story. We cried some more and discussed the parade and how even though I still loved my Uncle, he had let his misguided desire for peace divide us. And we couldn’t stand like that.

Mrs. Springfield called everyone in for supper, and I was seated between Becca and Hudson. And across from the Marine with the sad smiling eyes. Salem. The one they almost didn’t get to keep. The one this war had nearly stolen. And I could see in his eyes that two years hadn’t even made a dint on his wounds.

The tacos were amazing, and Salem was shocked to find out that I eat them “like they are supposed to be” with lots of jalapenos. I laughed, and he smiled his sad smile and dug into his fifth taco. Yes, all the rumors about how much Marines eat is true. And by the looks of 17-year-old Jason’s appetite, he’ll follow right in his footsteps.

After the meal, Salem left to head back to his base in Havelock, and the rest of us headed to the living room and watched a new movie. It was about Football, but even though not one of us in the room were fans, we all loved it. The biblical principles were so strong. The determination of the characters…Hold nothing back, don’t stop fighting, don’t quit, if God chooses never to give you the desire of your heart, will you still love Him?...

That’s the line that broke me. The desire of my heart was for Stanley to have made it home. For dad to have survived the heart attack and for mom not to die of a broken heart when we were teens. For me to have a good relationship with Uncle Abel and family…but so far, none of that had panned out.

But I could still say I loved God. He was the one Who had gotten me through. And He was the reason I could cope with having three family members waiting for me over There and one trying to make his brother proud by following hard in his footsteps.

I got up and walked out for a minute. I needed a moment without three guys watching me cry. I slipped down the hallway and tried to pull myself together, missing Mom and Dad and Stanley and praying I wouldn’t lose Hud too.

Gentle arms wrapped around me, and I found myself in Mrs. Springfield’s embrace. She didn’t say a word. We just cried. And it felt so good to be understood without words.

***

The Springfields and about half of Hud’s platoon helped me get everything moved in, unpacked, and set up the next day. I couldn’t believe it. His platoon sergeant gave me a gift card to my favorite décor shop to get a few more pieces. I instantly had a deep place in my heart for all of them. I felt at that moment that I had come home.
As I set my Bible and dictionary on their honored place in the living room on a shelf, flanked by army boot bookends, I noticed Salem in the corner with a strange look on his face.

“Something up?” I asked, eyeing him holding my music case.

“Huh? Oh, I was looking at your violin.”

“You play?”

“No. Becca does. She’s playing for the parade Monday.”

I smiled. “It’s not mine.”

He looked up in surprise. “Oh, is it Hud’s?”

“Oh, dear, no,” I laughed, the idea of Hud being able to carry a tune, much less play an instrument, striking me funny. “It was Stanley’s.”

“Do you play it?”

“He taught me, but no, I don’t play it.”

“You should.” I turned as Becca set down another box and pinned me with a fierce look.

“I couldn’t play Stanley’s violin.”

“Yes, you could, and you should. What better way to honor his memory and spend some time with him than to play his violin?”

I stared at her as she took the instrument out of the case, tuned it up, rosined the bow, and handed it to me. “Boys,” she said to the two or three others in the room, “out.” And she turned heel, leading the column of heroes plus a wannabe out of the room.

I held the violin in my hands, staring at it in disbelief. Could I? Becca said I could. But should I?

I glanced at the dictionary. CHRISSY, GOODBYE ISNT IN THE DICTIONARY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY.

Taking a deep breath, I placed the bow on the strings and pulled it across. I closed my eyes. Two years had left me a little rusty, but maybe I could do this…

Stanley’s favorite song filled my ears before I even realized what I was doing. It was an old Confederate Ballad…

…If I must die for my home and land, my spirit will not falter. Here’s my heart, and here’s my hand upon my country’s alter…

…And Heaven be with us in the strife…

Yes, God had been there with Stanley through it all. He had been there as he gave his heart and hand. He had been there as Hud, and I tried to press on, day after day without them. Stanley’s spirit hadn’t faltered, and neither had mine or Hudson’s. God had seen to that.

Dear God, my heart cried, give us strength, give us peace, and give us a relationship with Uncle Abel and the family. Whether or not they ever understand, if they could know You the way they should, that’s all that matters. Let us have a See You Later with them and not a permanent Goodbye…

***

What do you think will happen next? Are you excited about Memorial Day? How do you celebrate? Does your town have a Memorial Day Parade? Tell me all about it in the comments below!

God Bless America,
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello! Long time no see! I'm sorry about the delay in posts, but this past month has been crazy busy with church and school finals! (My husband is a teacher and I helped with the pre-edits on student papers!) My health is finally improving (vitamin deficiencies can through you for a loop!), so hopefully, I'm back on track now!

I'm excited to bring you episode two of GID! (If you are new, read part one here!) Today, we're picking up where we left off, so let's jump back in!

The following morning the bell rang, and Becca entered, her wallet tucked under her arm, and a book clutched in her hands. She made a bee-line for the counter.

“Hey…can we talk?”

I nodded, knowing this was gonna be hard. “I have an hour left. But if it can’t wait—”
“It can. Cause I don’t want to rush.”

“Okay, here, take this to the corner booth and wait for me,” I said, sliding a lemonade across the counter. She took it and retreated, opening the book and settling in.
At last, the hour was up, and I came to her booth. “I know a better place for us to talk, come on.”

Moments later, we were sitting at the pier out back. “This is where he brought me last night…”

I winced. “Okay, so I blew that one…”

“No, this is fine.” Becca took a deep breath. “Randy told me you were the one who told him how to tell me.”

“It’s…what my brother did for me…before he left.”

She held the dictionary out towards me. “I don’t know what your brother did, but I wanted you to see what mine did.”

I smiled, touched that she wanted to share something so special with a stranger. I flipped to the page where “Goodbye” should have been. And I pressed my hand to my mouth to keep from audibly crying.

In neat capital letters­­—such an Army thing—he had written and glued over the entry:
“I TOLD YOU, IT’S NOT HERE. WHY ARE YOU LOOKING? WE ONLY HAVE ‘SEE YOU LATERS.’ BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WITH GOD AS MY WITNESS, I WILL SEE YOU LATER, HERE OR THERE. ALL MY LOVE, SIS. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY.”

“This,” I said, “is true big brother love.”

“He never would have thought to do it if not for you. I…thank you for giving him the idea. I will cherish this for the rest of my life.”

I hugged her, and she cried on my shoulder. I’m not a heavy make-up kind of girl, but what little mascara I had on was running all over the place.

When we pulled back, I gripped her shoulders. “When can you come back? I’ll show you what my brother did for me.”

“You don’t have to share it. I know it must be special to you.”

“I…want to. Really. Please?”

“I’ll be here Friday.”

“Meet me here at 3:00, okay?”

“I’ll be here.”

***

She met me there on the pier on Friday, and I handed her a to-go cup of lemonade. I pulled out the book that I had kept beside my Bible ever since I had gotten it. I gave it to her and waited.

She turned to that page. Like her brother, mine had covered the entry.

“GOODBYES AREN'T FOR US. WE DON’T NEED THEM. BECAUSE NOTHING WILL EVER TAKE AWAY OUR HOME IN ETERNITY. CHRISSY, GOODBYE ISNT IN THE DICTIONARY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY. ALL MY LOVE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, SEE YOU LATER.”

Big brother love.

***

Randy deployed the three weeks later. I was there with his family at Becca’s request. I gave them space, letting them say their ‘see you laters.’ He shook my hand before he headed for the plane. “See you later, Miss Christina.”

“See you later, Ranger.”

***

Becca came to see me every week. We’d drink Lemonade and talk about our brothers, and I was able to heal a little on the inside, sharing about how amazing Stanley was. And I learned what happened to her other brother, the one they almost lost. He had been a prisoner of war at the beginning of the war in Iraq. Celebrated his eighteenth birthday sick from an infected Camel bite. And Randy had been able to bring him home.

She brought letters that Randy had written home, sharing portions and allowing me to lose myself in the Army life I missed so much, all the acronyms and little jokes that are only funny to Army people. I brought some of Stanley’s letters, and we both laughed too hard at the pranks he played with his two buddies, Boots and Pickles. He never did tell me their real names, and I never got to meet them. They came to the funeral, but we were all too much of a wreck to talk. I can’t even remember what they looked like.
We cried over the honesty of our brothers. Both shared that at times, they were scared and didn’t really want to admit it to any of the guys. But then they apologized for telling us. Neither of us had minded.

Stanley wrote home, a few weeks before he died, “I’ve always respected Boots, but today, he made me respect him more. Risked his life to bring back Jerkface, the guy I told you about that pesters the snot out of everyone, especially Boots. Jerkface got hurt up really bad, and Boots nearly got himself killed going after him. J got EVACed, and Boots is going tomorrow. I’m sitting with him, watching him sleep, and…he just looks like a kid… I can easily see him as the kind that would call for his mom, then feel bad for wishing her there to see him like this. But I wish she was here. He’s too protective of us to realize it, but he needs somebody looking after him too. Big puppy if you ask me. Hey, if you ever decide soldiers aren’t that bad…😉 seriously, though, he’s a great guy.”

I rolled my eyes. “He was always trying to find me a husband. He so wanted me to marry one of his guys.”

Becca smiled and squeezed my hand. “Obviously, that’s up to God, but Boots doesn’t sound like a bad guy…I mean, he’s the one who asked if the others would like to do Bible study together, right?”

“Yes, that’s him. Who knows. I hope God does give him a good one. He sounds like he needs a protective wife.”

“Well, God will get her for him.”

We finished our lemonade and chatted a little longer, then I hurried back to work. I was trying to concentrate, but all I could think about was Memorial Day coming up. Me and my younger brother Hudson were supposed to go to the parade this year and drive Stanley’s truck…that was gonna be hard.

Uncle Abel smiled as I refilled the lemonade tank. “We’ll be closing up a little early this evening. So, we’ll see you bright and early Monday?”

I turned to him in surprise. Why it shocked me that he would have the café open on a holiday, I don’t know…but to expect me to be there? To miss Stanley’s parade? “I…I can’t come.”

He frowned. “We have inventory. Everyone will have to be here for us to finish on time.”

“Then let me do my part this evening. Please, I have to have Monday off!”

Uncle Abel frowned. “Is this about that parade?”

I swallowed back a look of defiance. “Yes. I’m going for Stanley.”

I could have kept it together. I could have breathed through it.

But he rolled his eyes and frowned.