end love. I went in search of ways to touch those that are serving our country. I found an old family business that understands the needs of military personnel because of the fact that a baker and cook for the army actually started this business upon his discharge during WWII. My Little Taste of Italy is a business that has stood the test of time throughout four generations of family members. Mamma Gloria anAs Valentine’s Day approaches I am left with thoughts of how I can make a difference in the lives of those that are far from home. Those that live a life I personal do not understand because I have never been there, but that deeply impact my life; the men and women of the armed forces of America.

My son served two terms in Iraq and missed most of his son’s early life; a period that can never be recaptured. He traded those moments of the first few inches of crawling across the floor, ever mindful of loving arms waiting, the first precious tottering steps surrounded by laughter and affection, the holiday of that first word sputtered around a mouthful of joy. During this time my son, my boy now a man, drove a scorching and arid Humvie crawling across endless sand; 39 hours without relief and ever mindful of enemy fire, the first tottering steps of setting up camp in a friendless land, the silent holidays spent around a mouthful of MRE (otherwise known as flavored cardboard).

So uneducated was I when he called to tell me he was being deployed I told him not to forget his sunscreen. That was the only thing I could relate to. We laughed together over that and then told each other of our love for each other. Not until his return did I know to the extent that his life was eternally tainted. His health, both physical and mental, has been changed forever. I was unaware of any of this until recently and am now convicted that I must make a difference in some small way.

I can’t go take the place of these highly trained individuals. I don’t have the education, strength, or youth, however; I do have the ability to send love. I went in search of ways to touch those that are serving our country. I found an old family business that understands the needs of military personnel because of the fact that a baker and cook for the army actually started this business upon his discharge during WWII. My Little Taste of Italy is a business that has stood the test of time throughout four generations of family members. Mamma Gloria and

red. He traded those moments of the first few inches of crawling across the floor, ever mindful of loving arms waiting, the first precious tottering steps surrounded by laughter and affection, the holiday of that first word sputtered around a mouthful of joy. During this time my son, my boy now a man, drove a scorching and arid Humvie crawling across endless sand; 39 hours without relief and ever mindful of enemy fire, the first tottering steps of setting up camp in a friendless land, the silent holidays spent around a mouthful of MRE (otherwise known as flavored cardboard).

So uneducated was I when he called to tell me he was being deployed I told him not to forget his sunscreen. That was the only thing I could relate to. We laughed together over that and then told each other of our love for each other. Not until his return did I know to the extent that his life was eternally tainted. His health, both physical and mental, has been changed forever. I was unaware of any of this until recently and am now convicted that I must make a difference in some small way.

I can’t go take the place of these highly trained individuals. I don’t have the education, strength, or youth, however; I do have the ability to send love. I went in search of ways to touch those that are serving our country. I found an old family business that understands the needs of military personnel because of the fact that a baker and cook for the army actually started this business upon his discharge during WWII. My Little Taste of Italy is a business that has stood the test of time throughout four generations of family members. Mamma Gloria an

nemy fire, the first tottering steps of setting up camp in a friendless land, the silent holidays spent around a mouthful of MRE (otherwise known as flavored cardboard).

So uneducated was I when he called to tell me he was being deployed I told him not to forget his sunscreen. That was the only thing I could relate to. We laughed together over that and then told each other of our love for each other. Not until his return did I know to the extent that his life was eternally tainted. His health, both physical and mental, has been changed forever. I was unaware of any of this until recently and am now convicted that I must make a difference in some small way.

I can’t go take the place of these highly trained individuals. I don’t have the education, strength, or youth, however; I do have the ability to send love. I went in search of ways to touch those that are serving our country. I found an old family business that understands the needs of military personnel because of the fact that a baker and cook for the army actually started this business upon his discharge during WWII. My Little Taste of Italy is a business that has stood the test of time throughout four generations of family members. Mamma Gloria an

ot until his return did I know to the extent that his life was eternally tainted. His health, both physical and mental, has been changed forever. I was unaware of any of this until recently and am now convicted that I must make a difference in some small way.

I can’t go take the place of these highly trained individuals. I don’t have the education, strength, or youth, however; I do have the ability to send love. I went in search of ways to touch those that are serving our country. I found an old family business that understands the needs of military personnel because of the fact that a baker and cook for the army actually started this business upon his discharge during WWII. My Little Taste of Italy is a business that has stood the test of time throughout four generations of family members. Mamma Gloria an

end love. I went in search of ways to touch those that are serving our country. I found an old family business that understands the needs of military personnel because of the fact that a baker and cook for the army actually started this business upon his discharge during WWII. My Little Taste of Italy is a business that has stood the test of time throughout four generations of family members. Mamma Gloria and her daughter Liz head up an incredible team of bakers that send home baked goodness to the service person on your list.

I know from listening to the stories of miserable holiday food overseas that nothing means more to our service people than a little bit of home cooking. For this reason I will turn to My Little Taste of Italy to send homebaked Italian treats to the people on my list overseas this Valentine’s Day.

© Kim Mutch Emerson