Memorial Day and what it means to me

August 2nd, 2007, I walked through the gates of Arlington National Cemetery, walked up the hill and stood under a tree to watch the changing on the guard at The Tomb of the Unknowns I've wanted to watch go to Arlington for years. I've wanted to see the men who are given the great honor of guarding the tomb, their dedication and precision.

299 days later and 878 miles away I stood at work watching President Bush lay a wreath at the tomb. I've watched the President lay the wreath many, many times, but this time it was different. I had seen what President Bush saw. I felt the feeling that you get when you are at Arlington. I watched him walk up the steps to the Amphitheater to get an address. Then same steps I have stood on, and walked up only months earlier. And even more than ever I had an appreciation for the men and women who fight/fought/and gave their lives for our country.

I'm really not fond of this song, but I wanted to stand up and sing. "I'm proud to be an American for at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died and gave that right to me..."

I'M BACK TO HYJACKING BLOGS!!!

Katie came to pick me up and take me shopping with her, but I was still eating breakfast. So, she sat down to update her blog but I asked for more yogurt so she got up to get me more, and I took over the keyboard!!!!!

Now, if you will all excuse me Katie's coming back.

Oh, and just in case you didn't know, Katie's my favorite :)

I'm a physical mess!

So... here's the deal. Mother's day I almost fell out of a tree and slightly twisted my ankle. It was sore for 2 maybe 3 days.

Monday I woke up with a terrible pain in the middle of my upper back. Kinda like a pinched nerve. Mom has done the vibrator massager thing on my back twice it's a little better. But because of it, my back is tender sometimes I'm in pain and get weak so I can't lift much of anything.

I realized last night that my left arm has been falling asleep almost every night when I am relaxing at home. I'm assuming it has something to do with my back.

I woke up at 6:45 this morning because the muscle in the back of my lower left leg cramped up. I couldn't move. Steph got me the heating pad and I applied heat for about 2 hours. It's still really tight. I took calcium tablets this morning and have been eating almonds all day. I'm going to put more heat on before I go to bed. Hopefully the cramping will go away soon.

So, yeah... I think that's it. I'm going to the Chiropractor at 8:15 Saturday morning. We are hoping that will solve the back and arm problem. As for my leg, well I think I need to slow down, drink more milk and eat consistent full meals........

AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My good morning greeting!

Yes they are dark purple!


And we have 2 bushes of them!!!

And then, well... I was experimenting with a camera trick I had heard about.. It actually (almost) worked!

The Baby Touch

You know how people say that you can see a woman's touch around the house. Well, I noticed this morning that our house has a bit of a baby touch right now :) Sarah B, came to visit us twice this week. And this morning there were still reminders of her presence around.

Diapers and a single sock

A doll, not in her usual place.

Tagged

Rebecca tagged me!

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2.Post it on your blog, and include a visual illustration if you so desire.
3.Link to the person who tagged you in their post.
4.Tag five more blogs with links.
5.Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs inviting them to play.

My six word memoir:

I am going to bed now. ;)I tag no one :)

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers, grandmas, and great-grandmas that I know!

Grandma and Me - Fall 2005

Ready? 1, 2,3!

Happy Birthday Miss Kristi!!

We love you!!

Held In His Arms

It’s almost midnight, and I am wide awake. I climbed into bed over an hour ago, to do a little reading and then go to sleep. Tomorrow is Sunday, so it’s up and at-‘em right away so we can be at church on time. But instead I lay in bed staring up at the darkened ceiling with no sign of slumber on the horizon. Why? I don’t know. I know I should be asleep, yet what keeps me awake? I start going through things in my head: am I worried about something? No. Am I unhappy? No. Stressed? Preoccupied? Lonely maybe; like so many nights of recent? No, it’s not even that. Then suddenly, in the stillness there is a knowing. Nothing changed, no voice from above, no crash of lightning, in fact everything is very quiet. But yet I know what. God is just wanting to talk to me. To be with me, commune with me and me with Him. That’s what it is. It’s that thing we call having a relationship with God. It’s like with your friends, you know when they need you, when they just want to talk, or share, or just be with you. It was like that, I knew that God just wanted to talk, to tell me that He loved me and that I am His child. That He is with me. So, I turned over and just said “Yes Lord.” That’s all He needed, an open heart, a willing vessel. I love that feeling, the one you get when you can feel God working inside of you. Cleaning out rooms of your soul that you have allowed to be dirtied by the world, but it doesn’t hurt, in fact, it feels wonderful, like stepping out of the shower after being covered in mud. That wonderful feeling of oneness with God, that compares to nothing else. Everything else dims in comparison. Do I still feel lonely? Sure, part of me does, the part that God created to be and want love. But, I don’t care. At this moment in time I am so full of the love of God for me that I don’t care! God loves me and cares about me and wants only what is perfect for me. He is holding me in his arms with His cheek next to mine saying “My child, I love you, and I am here to hold you, to listen to you, and to perform the very best for you. So be at peace my child, trust me, place your hand in mine and I will lead you and guide you forever.” My eyes are getting heavy so it’s off to bed again. But this time I have a smile on my face and the love of God overflowing in my heart.

Remembering

Last night I was laying in bed, thinking about this documentary I had seen on Isaac Stern. In the film, he talked about the Jewish Holocaust Museum he had visited in Berlin. I believe he said that it was completely silent there. By request or by the thought of what the museum stands for I don't know. But it's really quite interesting.

When I came home from teaching today, I found out that it's National Holocaust Remembrance Day. It's also the National Day of Prayer. So, pray, for our country, for our fellow people. And remember, those who went on before, what they suffered, and what we now have because of them.

Remember