We Have an Angel

I am writing this post to tell all that I probably won't be blogging for awhile.

On Tuesday my grandson, Lolly Pop Kid went to heaven. It was very sudden and unexpected. Our hearts are broken. We miss him so much. If you wish please say a prayer for his mommie, Cinderalla, his daddy, Tango and his sister Butterfly.

And that's all I have to say about that...

Rest in Peace our sweet Angel

Military Monday - Soldier for a Day

This post is near and dear to my heart because it demonstrates that our military not only participates in honorable actions overseas, but also here at home. But there is another reason I wanted to post this story.

When my granddaughter, Butterfly was four years old we were shocked and devastated to find out she was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was a very trying time for our family and I won't go into details because that is a post for another day. Thank God she has been in remission since six weeks after the diagnosis. She completed her treatment and is now a very happy, sweet eight year old and we give thanks every day to have her with us.

Kayla Collyer-Platzer is a fifteen year old teenager. Her dream was to join the army in the future and follow her sister's footsteps.  She was diagnosed last month with stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Nicole Vandall, sister of Kayla, who is stationed at Fort Greely, told her commanders of Kayla's diagnosis and her wish to become a soldier. They jumped at the chance to make Kayla's dream come true and so Nicole told Kayla she would be her "secretary for the day" and then Nicole and the other soldiers surprised Kayla by making her a "soldier for the day."

Kayla experienced a ride on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and she practiced physical training in the morning and got to shoot an M4 carbine. The full story can be found here. There is a video here

Kayla's prognosis is good but still please pray for her during her fight against cancer. So next time you thank a military member remember that they don't just fight wars in foreign lands. They fight here too.

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Just a Fun Ole Friday

Well, today I don't have anything very profound to speak about, just some announcements and comments concerning my life.

First of all: Ta Da

I just ordered a new computer! Yes, I decided to take the plunge because:

#1 My computer is about 5 years old which makes it ancient in computer land.

#2 I am pretty sure my current computer has a few creepy crawlers because it does not always cooperate.

#3 New computer comes equipped with a wireless router so I can take that sucker in my bathroom/walk-in closet/"3rd" bedroom (those of you that have seen it know what I mean) if I so desire.

It should arrive either Monday or Tues. Here is a picture of my new favorite piece of electronics.

Ohh yes baby, it's red.

In other news, I have an update on the arrival date of Hippie Guy and Flower Child's twins. Looks like the second week of August if they don't decide to make an appearance earlier. All is well with mother and children and Hippie Guy no longer has a deer in the headlight look. So we are looking forward to the birth and the baby shower next weekend with family and friends.

Other great news is Sgt. Red should be arriving from the Sandbox in the next couple of weeks. This has been a long year deployment and his family especially Crafty will be glad to have him home. His detachment was successful in the training of Iraqi Army soldiers. Apparently the IA no longer have trouble handling their own weapons as they have quit shooting themselves in the foot so to speak. Congratulation Sgt Red and the rest of your team!

LCpl Honda had been out floating with the Navy for about a week now in preparation for his upcoming deployment. Haven't heard anything but I expected that.

So I saved the best news for last. Cinderella called the other night to tell me that she will be a college graduate on Oct 23, 2009!!! Way to go Cinderella. We are all so proud of you!!!! Look forward to seeing you in your cap and gown! (and beware, because I am sure you remember what you did to me at my graduation)  ;) She also told me that she bought Miley Cyrus tickets for Butterfly and will surprise her with those in Sept. So everyone SSHHHH!!! It's a secret!

I think that is about it except Happy Father's Day to all. Be seeing you on Sunday Dad!

I am going to leave with a joke that was sent to me by my SIL, Ocean Girl (yea sweetie, you got a bloggie name now!) It is about Forrest Gump and considering the name of this blog I just had to post it here. Enjoy All!

FORREST GUMP GOES TO HEAVEN.The day finally arrived.
Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven.

 

He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself.
However, the gates are closed,
and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.

St. Peter said, 'Well, Forrest,
it is certainly good to see you.
We have heard a lot about you.
I must tell you, though,
that the place is filling up fast,
and we have been administering
an entrance examination for everyone.
The test is short, but you have to
pass it before you can get into Heaven.'

Forrest responds, 'It sure is
good to be here, St. Peter, sir.
But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam.
I sure hope that the test ain't too hard.
Life was a big enough test as it was.'

St. Peter continued, 'Yes, I
know, Forrest,
but the test is only three questions.
First:
What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second:
How many seconds are there in a year?
Third:
What is God's first name?'

Forrest leaves to think the questions over.
He returns the next day and sees St. Peter,
who waves him up, and says,
'Now that you have had a chance
to think the questions over,
tell me your answers'

Forrest replied, 'Well, the
first one --
which two days in the week begins with the letter 'T'?
Shucks, that one is easy.
That would be Today and Tomorrow.'

The Saint's eyes opened wide and
he exclaimed, 'Forrest,
that is not what I was thinking,
but you do have a point,
and I guess I did not specify,
so I will give you credit for that answer.
How about the next one?' asked St... Peter.

'How many seconds in a year?
Now that one is harder,' replied Forrest,
but I thunk and thunk about that,
and I guess the only answer can be twelve.'

Astounded, St. Peter said, 'Twelve?
Twelve? Forrest,
how in Heaven's name could you come
up with twelve seconds in a year?'

Forrest replied, 'Shucks, there's
got to be twelve:
January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... '

'Hold it,' interrupts St. Peter.
'I see where you are going with this, and I see your point,
though that was not quite what I had in mind....
but I will have to give
you credit for that one, too.
Let us go on with the third and final question.
Can you tell me God's first name'?

'Sure,' Forrest replied,
'it's Andy.'

'Andy?' exclaimed an exasperated
and frustrated St Peter.

'Ok, I can understand how you
came up with your answers to my first two questions,
but just how in the world
did you come up with the name Andy
as the first name of God?'

'Shucks, that was the easiest
one of all,' Forrest replied. '
I learnt it from the song,
'ANDY WALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.'

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates,
and said:
'RUN Forrest, RUN.'

Give me a sense of humor, Lord.
Give me the ability to understand a clean joke,
To get some humor out of life,
And to pass it on to other folks.

Yes Ma'am

Ma'am  Ma'am  Ma'am  Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am

Ma'am  Ma'am  Ma'am  Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am Ma'am

Sorry.

I could not control myself.

*UPDATE*

The really nice and much smarter than me military wife at Most Certainly Not had to chutzpah to get Boxer's address and post it. I am reposting it here too. So get your pens and papers movin'.

Ma'am (Barbara Boxer)
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553
(202) 224-0454 fax

Keep 'em Safe

I came across an article about an 11 year boy whose father is deployed to Afghanistan. Xavier Johnson misses his dad very much just as many other children that have parents  deployed to war zones.

Xavier found a way to cope by making a rap song about his father's deployment. He preformed the song at a number of military talent shows and he and his father, Capt. Alfonso Johnson made a video and posted it on YouTube.

I found it very inspriring and I am sure most of you will too. If you are military and have children please let them watch this video. Perhaps it will make them feel a little more comforted knowing they are not alone. Many of these kids feel exactly as Xavier does.

Even if you are not military please pass this video on.

Thank you Capt. Alfonso Johnson for your service and thank you Xavier for having the courage to express your feelings along with the talent to put it in a song.

Wordless Wednesday - Twins

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Military Monday - Soldier Gets Silver Star for Afghan Battle

With blood gushing from his head and covering his legs, Staff Sgt. Sean Samaroo thought he was going to die.

So Samaroo said "good-bye to my wife and son" out loud.

But Thursday, 11 months after that searing battle in Afghanistan, the Army paratrooper, flanked by his wife, Natasha, and 13-year-old son, Dylan, received the Silver Star medal for heroism.

"There were a lot of heroes out there and some of them didn't get recognized as much as me," Samaroo said following a ceremony at Fort Jackson. "But I'm pretty thankful and honored."

The amiable 35-year-old Oklahoma native received the nation's third-highest award for his heroism during an early morning attack July 13 at Wanat, Afghanistan.

Badly outnumbered, Samaroo and some 50 U.S. soldiers stopped 200 Taliban fighters from overtaking their patrol base during a four-hour fight in the Waygul River Valley of Konar province.

The unit from Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, suffered nearly 75 percent casualties. When the fighting ended, nine soldiers were dead and 27 were wounded. An estimated 40 Taliban were killed and a comparable number wounded.

Samaroo is one of 11 soldiers who fought at Wanat to receive a Silver Star. Two soldiers were awarded the medal posthumously.

Congratulations fo Staff Sgt Samaroo and the rest of the 11 brave soldiers. Thank you all for your service.

Read the rest of the story here.

Quote of the Week - Flag Day 14 June 2009

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

 - Francis Scott Key -

Absolutley Amazing!

 

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God Bless America

Gotta Love Mudpuppy

Mudpuppy is a soldier in Afghanistan that used to blog but decided to make his blog private. He still stays in touch with his adopted Mom Airman Mom. That way his followers still get a chance to hear about him. Airman Mom put up a post from Mudpuppy today.

Go here and read it right now.

 

See. Gotta love him.

Wordless Wednesday - US Army 234th Birthday 14 June 1775

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Comments for Sgt. Daniel Thornhill

I just want to say thank you to everyone who left a comment for Sgt. Daniel Thornhill and all who I know sent him a card. I would like to send the comments to him so please continue to leave comments and even though his birthday will be passed I will print out the comments next Sunday June 14 and mail them to him. He deserves to see the support demonstrated here. Thanks once again and you can leave a comment for Sgt. Daniel Thornhill here

Military Monday - Signs of Respect

In Sullivan Illinois, the residents have found a great way to honor their military residents serving in the US Armed Forces. When many were deployed to Afghanistan in 2004, the soldier's names were nailed to lampposts. As more and more young people volunteered in Sullivan, population 4,400, the parents decided to keep up the tradition.

More than a hundred town residents have served abroad and dozens more will still deploy to either Iraq or Afghanistan.  Some names have hung more than once while spouses and siblings are displayed two to a post.

This is the town's small, informal way of showing its respect to those members of the community who for the most part joined the military out of patriotism.

In Sullivan, the effort to support military personnel and their families includes churches, care package packing parties and coffee klatches. The wonderful thing here is the residents have taken their support an additional step by putting up the signs and honoring their military even further.

As we military family members know, support is imperative during deployment. It is hard for non-military people to understand the fear and helplessness when a loved one deploys for a war zone. The signs are a great way of reminding people on a daily basis that someone's family member is in harm's way and protecting each and every one of us.

Since my son will soon be deployed my need for support and understanding grows with each passing day. I think doing something like this in my hometown would be a great comfort to me. Maybe since this story is out other towns might want to do something like this too.

So I say spread the word and maybe this could grab some momentum and before we know it many towns and cities could be demonstrating yet one more way to say thank you to our brave military.

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Now, baby makes four

My son Hippie Guy and Daughter-in-law Flower Child went for an ultrasound today. We found out earlier in the pregnancy that they were having a boy. Well today it was revealed that there is not only one boy, but two boys. Yes they are having Twins!

I have to admit being a little bit in shock. Hippie called me at work today and all I could say was, "Are you kidding me!" "Are you kidding me! "Are you kidding me!!!"

Same scenario with Corvette, Cinderella, LCpl Honda, Grandma M & Grandpa DingDon.

Needless to say we were all in sort of a state of shock. Just so you know, this was not caused by invetro (not sure of sp) or any kind of human intervention. My son and DIL really wanted to be parents for awhile now and I do believe a higher power decided to give them not only one but two babies! And it seems that they are identical twin boys. The ultrasound reveals that the babies are in the same sac.

So once again my heart is taking a picture. A big picture! I feel lucky, blessed and really excited!

I am putting a few ultrasound pics up so the rest of my family can see the first pics of our new, beautiful grandsons.

This Baby A & B's heads.

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This is baby A's fuzzy head.

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This is baby B's cute face!

So now I have to come up with two baby blog names. Any suggestions!

Quote of the Week - D-Day

"There is one great thing that you men will all be able to say after this war is over and you are home once again. You may be thankful that twenty years from now when you are sitting by the fireplace with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did in the great World War II, you WON'T have to cough, shift him to the other knee and say, Well, your Granddaddy shoveled shit in Louisiana. No, Sir, you can look him straight in the eye and say, Son, your Granddaddy rode with the Great Third Army and a Son-of-a-Goddamned-Bitch named Georgie Patton!" ~

- General George S. Patton, Jr  -

(This speech was delivered to Patton's troops on June 5, 1944)

I do believe the Grandsons will be able to say something similar.

God Bless our troops - then and now.

Happy Birthday Butterfly

Eight years ago, tomorrow you came into our lives. I never could have imagined how a child that I did not bear myself could be so special and loved. But you are. I remember I did not meet you until you were about a month old because you were born an army brat on a post far away from your Grandpa and I. When we finally did meet, you were lying on a bed. Grandpa and I walked up and stood over just taking you in. Grandpa and I both looked at each other at the same time with huge smiles and teary eyes. We then looked back down at you I remember your mommie saying, "You can pick her up!"

 I guess the moment was a little overwhelming and I remember thinking we were standing there for a long time. It was as if the moment froze in time. It is burned into my memory. On that day, in that moment my heart took a picture. It was not the first time and it will not be the last. The many heart pictures that make up the mural of your life now surround that picture.

 Have the happiest of birthdays sweet Butterfly. I look forward to continuing to watch you flutter your wings.

Sgt. Daniel Thornhill - Please help this Patriot

Sgt. Daniel Thornhill was seriously injured in Afghanistan two years agoby a suicide bomber. He lost both legs, is paralyzed from the waist down and suffered severe burns on his hands, arms and body. You can read an article about Sgt. Thornhill here.

His parents are asking for help. No financial help but they would like to help brighten his upcoming birthday. They are asking that people just send their son a card for his birthday. This young man has sacrificed a lot for our country and it would be great if everyone reading this could join in and send him a card. His birthday is next week.

Please help and please pass the word. This is a real simple way to give back to someone who has given so much for the American people. His address is below. Thank you.

Mailing address:
Sgt. Daniel Thornhill
Fort Sam Houston Fisher House
3623 George C. Beach Rd
Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234

Wordless Wednesday - Battle of Midway 1942 June 4-7

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Military Monday (a day late) Honor Flights

Yes I know it is not Monday but I have a good excuse. Since adopting Lucie (see the post below) on Saturday I have taken her on a few walks. Now let's just say that she is a little leash ignorant and tends to almost take me for a walk. So when I got up Monday morning I could hardly move because I was so sore. So needless to say I spent the day laying on the couch and taking hot showers to relieve the soreness. After a day of Iburprofren and rest I feel a little better. No major muscles are pulled. This is either going to be really good for me or kill me.

So anyway here is the post that I planned to put up on Monday.

Honor Flights is a charity that provides free transportation to World War II veterans that have never been to Washington DC to see the WWII Memorial.  There are flights out of most US major cities several times a month.

The reasoning behind this charity is that based on recent 2008 statistics, we are losing World War II veterans at the rate of approximately 1,000 per day. There are plans in place to eventually be able to provide this service to Korean and Vietman war vets.

The first Honor Flight took place in May of 2005. Six planes flew out of Springfield, Ohio taking twelve World War II veterans on a visit to the memorial in Washington, DC.

Honor Flight's website can be found here. I found out about Honor Flights through the Chicago Tribune. See a video about a recent group of vets from the Chicago are that were able to travel to the nation's capital and see thier memorial.  There a more pictures here.

If you are a vet, give this trip some thought. Afterall it is your memorial and you deserve to see. I did and I was humbled and I am not even a vet. Just a daughter on one and mother of two.

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