Lest We Forget

It is those words that I cannot seem to get out of my head as I walk through Arlington Cemetery, on a beautiful sunny morning in May. Miles of white headstones perfectly lined up, row after row, go beyond as far as my eye can see. It is a hountingly beautiful sight. I have to stop for a minute, because on this day, the view seems to have taken my breath away. It is not my first visit to Arlington Cemetery, but it is the first time that I seem to know so many of our nations heroes buried there. I forced myself to stop for a moment to look and to listen. It was early morning, and what I heard were birds singing their morning song, the American flag flying over Fort Myer was flapping loudly in the wind, I could hear the honor guard and the clapping of their horses hoofs as they transported one of our fallen to their final resting place and somewhere in the distance, I could hear a 21 gun salute. It was 8:30 in the morning. Though I did not know who was being buried that day, somewhere deep within me, I was so moved by their valor and their courage. No, I did not know them, but I know many who came before them. I prayed that they were all there in spirit to greet them with open arms. I was reminded in that moment that they are all forever lost to us, yet we enjoy such a great gift from them. Our Freedom...

It is a visit to Arlington Cemetary or a day like Memorial Day that open the gates to our hearts. To be reminded of every person, past and present, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Liberty and in the name of Freedom!

It is on this Memorial Day that we, at United Grace, are reminded that the best way to honor our fallen is to serve those left behind. We designed our Gold Star Grace collection with that goal in mind. We hope that all who wear this collection will know that we will never forget and we will never stop trying to find ways to serve them. 

Lest we forget... 

By: Donna Jones 

This Star Will Always Lead Me Home

"This star will always lead me home"

We recently received an order for a Blue Star Grace Pendant from a young soldier in Afghanistan. This was a special gift for his wife, who was at home, missing him. He asked that we include a note from him that simply said.. "This star will always lead me home" 

We were so moved by this; first, it reminded us of the incredible sacrifice our military families have to make. It is impossible to imagine what it is like to have someone you love deployed to a foreign land, fighting for his country. You would have to live it to understand it. The separation for an entire year and living every day of it with fear for their safety is just the beginning of the struggles our military families face. 

It has been said that we often take for granted the very things that deserve our gratitude. This simple request made us pause with gratitude. It gave us the grace to stop and remember why we started our company and the confidence that our mission is our true north and we must continue to follow it. 

This brings me to the second reason we were so moved by this sweet soldiers request.  The star has long been used as a symbol to honor our county and our military. When we were designing our collections, we wanted one element that could speak to the wearer without words! The star, cut deeply into the stone, is the element that says, I am loved, I have loved, I have sacrificed, I have been strong, I have been courageous, I have been loyal, and I have given all! Yes, this star says all of that and so much more without ever saying a word! We pray that every star cut into every stone will lead a soldier home. 

May you be united by grace! 

Donna Jones 

What's in a name?

United Grace

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”

We are often asked “why United Grace”? It is not always easy to describe in words what inspired the name of our company. I believe that is because it is a “feeling” more than it is a word. You will hear us say (a lot) that “it is the bond with others that creates comfort for us all”.  What we are saying is that it is the feeling of togetherness, of being united, as human beings, with a common goal that serves as our inspiration.

We believe in the pride of our nation. We believe in the idea that “together we can move mountains” and we believe that the light of unity can illuminate the whole earth! Our hope is that all who wear our jewelry will feel a sense of belonging. When you are wearing a piece from our collections, we feel you are sharing your light with others. May you shine so bright that they can see you from the moon and may you always be UNITED BY GRACE.

Donna Jones

For the Love of Liberty

The Liberty Grace Collection: unitedgrace.com

                   For the Love of Liberty:

A Celebration of LIBERTY

United Grace proudly presents our Liberty Grace Collection.  Since the first shot fired in the American Revolutionary War, our soldiers have dedicated their lives to preserving our liberty.

Encased in finest white topaz gemstone, is our subtle and perfectly centered, triple hand-cut 5-point star.  Set in 14 ct gold.

This collection honors those who have shown persistence and dedication in the pursuit of liberty and a nation that stands with a grateful heart.

To those who continue to fight and defend our flag, to those who wait behind in support, and to those who appreciate the continued sacrifices in the name of Liberty and Freedom, this collection is for you. 

        ♥Say "I Love You" with a Custom Designed Pendant from United Grace this Valentines Day♥

                                                          Exclusively at Unitedgrace.com

                                                                       877-947-2233

For the Love of The Gold Star

The Gold Star: a symbol familiar to all who love the men and women in uniform. For some, the Gold Star is a way of life.  It is carrying on without the one they love. The Gold Star is a symbol of loss, love, dedication, loyalty, remembrance, sacrifice, pride, sorrow, a lifetime love. United Grace and The American Widow Project has made a vow to our Gold Star widows and loved ones....One For One. For every Gold Star Purchased, one will be donated to a Military Widow through The American Widow Project.
If you would like to sponsor a widow with the gift of a Gold Star, your purchase will benefit not one, but two Military Widows. In the name of love...for the Love of the Gold Star.
For more information, please visit: unitedgrace.com or call:
877-947-2233

For the Love...

...of Blue Star Families.

This Valentine's Day, United Grace honors our Blue Star Families and the love the Blue Star represents. It is the love that lasts a lifetime. For this love stands strong to support the men and women who dedicate their lives to protect our freedoms. It is a love felt by the mothers of the children they farewell and welcome home. It is a love felt by the young wife who welcomes a new life to the world, while her brave service member looks on from an internet connection. It is a love felt by the children who look up to their own personal hero, the one who wears camo and combat boots to work. 

Wearing your Blue Star is a symbol of pride and patriotism. It is a a symbol to unite those who share the same strengths: a gorgeous display of thanks, appreciation and everlasting love.

Honor your Blue Star love with her very own Blue Star this Valentine's day. 

unitedgrace.com

Call: 877-947-2233

2013 Things you Did Right

December 31, 2013, in Military Life by Jacey Eckhart


Read more: http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2013/12/new-years-things-you-did-right.html#ixzz2pZwEXg2N
SpouseBUZZ.com

I’m pretty sure it is a bad sign when people start making New Year’s resolutions for you.

My husband wants me to join him on his fabulous new caffeine-free lifestyle. He also keeps dropping the word “paleo” into conversation.

My mom cut out a little article for me about how Diet Coke does not, in fact, help you lose weight.


My money guy keeps reminding me about how I need to put more into my IRA than the contents of my change jar at tax time and my daughter joyously uses her Mint app in front of me –as if I will be divinely inspired to do the same.

I swear, these guys may have my best interests at heart, but they just don’t get the point of New Year’s at all.

Granted, I am just as flawed as they think I am, but New Year’s is simply NOT THE TIME. The fail rate is just too high.

Instead, the only self-improvement anyone needs to make on New Year’s Eve is the one where you look back over the past year and count all the things you did right in 2013.

This is not something I generally do. I like to wake up every day and count the ways I invariably messed up the week before, messed up the day before, and messed up that very day– even though it is only 5:30 a.m.

This is because I have the same brain as everyone else. We humans are wired to constantly scan for areas of improvement because it helps us stay alive and perpetuate the species.

We are biologically designed to rewind our run-in with a sabre-tooth tiger the day before so that we do not run into a sabre-tooth tiger again today.

Most of the time, that works exactly how it is supposed to work. Yet it can make us feel like we are perpetually being chased by sabre-toothed tigers.

That’s why we have New Years. Because we are supposed to look back over the calendar of the old year and feel surprised at just how much we did right.

I’ll bet you attended a bazillion meetings. I bet you woke up on time for work hundreds of times. I’ll bet you went to the dentist once or twice and got shots for your dog and made your mother happy at least once.

If you have kids, I’ll bet you fed them and I’ll bet they grew. I’ll bet you have driven them to Mommy and Me classes or speech therapy or trumpet lessons or football practice or dance recitals or job interviews. I’ll bet you reminded them to brush their teeth more than 700 times this week alone.

If you are military, I might put money on the fact that half of you have moved this year, touched every item you possessed and had to find someone new to cut your hair. I’ll bet the deployment you finished in 2013 might have already begun to fade–even as the next one looms.

If you have had a tragedy in your family this year (and every family has their years of tragedy), you have already started the incredible work of experiencing tragedy and living with tragedy and moving through tragedy. That work is huge and you already started.

The little things we finish every day are easily forgotten, lost in the maelstrom of all that is left to do. When you look back over a year and think of all the things you did right, there is a little power in that—the kind that propels you forward into the next year.



Read more: http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2013/12/new-years-things-you-did-right.html#ixzz2pZw6B6Tf
SpouseBUZZ.com