You are cordially invited…welcome and wanted…warmly and affectionately desired to attend our Second Annual Not For Nuthin’ Dinner.
Our first annual, first ever, Not for Nuthin Dinner where we honored America’s Gold Star Mothers was actually almost an accident. I had just gotten off the phone with my dear friend and Gold Star Mother Karen Vaughn. Talking with my trusty-sidekick-partner-in-crime-dear-assistant-and-darn-near-daughter Kristine, I was super fired up and said “I wish every mom could know a Gold Star Mom and be as inspired as I am by their sacrifice!” I tossed out the idea of having a dinner for Gold Star Moms… And just like that, she said, “Let’s do it.”
The evening that followed was a heartfelt and transformational time for everyone in attendance. We had nine Gold Star Moms and 35 civilian women. We paired up the Gold Star Mothers with warm and welcoming women who knew their son’s story and introduced them around. We enjoyed an incredible meal together and then each Gold Star Mother was presented with a box of gifts and letters. Not a dry eye in the room and every heart was moved.
In the weeks that followed, the letters we got from the Gold Star Mothers were so sweet.
“It was the first time anyone has willingly ASKED ME about my son and wanted to hear his story….”
“We felt so loved and joyful!”
“What a warm evening of incredible encouragement…it finally felt like all our hurt was ‘Not For Nuthin’!”
And that’s exactly why named it that…
One of the first times I spoke with Karen Vaughn I wanted her to know that her sweet son Aaron’s death was “Not for Nuthin’.” Her boy’s life and service and calling and final mission was worth infinitely more than just his service to our nation on foreign soil…it was a personification of the motivation of my heart. The sacrifice and great cost of our freedoms finally had a personal name and family in my heart that symbolized all the emotion I had always felt in my heart about our nation…and I want you to experience that same thing!
The civilian women who came also gave incredible feedback. Many of them wrote to tell us they now took their parenting so much more seriously. When faced with the brevity of life after speaking with the Gold Star Moms, many mamas who attended the dinner said they tucked in their children with more care each night. One woman even stated that she had been considering divorce– but after meeting the Gold Star Moms she was going to stick it out in her marriage.
So come to my home this Friday evening (4/29/16). Enjoy a wonderful meal. Meet some of the most incredible women in our nation who raised heroes and then suffered such loss on our behalf. Come hear them tell stories of their sons, their wisdom in parenting and family, their heart for the life of this nation. And walk away strengthened and inspired in your parenting and family. In your job or career. In your walk of faith, you will be standing shoulder to shoulder with some pretty amazing women.
Kelli says
I thought of you yesterday- there was a lovely piece on Gold Star families done on 60 Minutes last night. It is a beautiful program. I wish I could attend this Friday, but will find another way to get involved.
Lyette Reback says
I saw that piece on 60 minutes! Loved it! Thank you for getting involved and Believing With Me!