memorial day 2

I don't know if it is the stories from Papa Charlie returning home from Vietnam and being spit on or if it is just growing up on an air base, but I have always thanked soliders in uniform for their service. I also have the kids say thank you. For Memorial Day we always go to Red Rock Canyon in Hinton, Oklahoma. This year was no different. Our campsite was right by one of the repeling areas. At one point in the evening a young man drove up. He got out and heard the music from the campsite. "Is that Veggie Tales?" (He gets bonus points in B;s book for knowing who Bob was.) He climbed the mountain and repelled a few times. Each time he came down Charlie had a different set of questions for him. He was very gracious to answer. On a trip back from the bathroom I noticed that he had infantry on his truck. I had Charlie ask if he was a solider. He answered yes. He was in the Army. She told him thank you for his service. He was so touched that he came back from his truck with the circle coin. He apologized for only have one. He wanted to give her something. I am not real sure of their significance but to me they are incredibly special. The fact that some young (he had to be late teens early 20's) would give my daughter this token just touches my heart. We looked at the coin and he left. B was very upset that he did not have a coin. The young man apologized again for only having one on him. We told him it was no big deal and that we were very honored and thankful for his service and sacrifice.



He came back sometime later. He was camping in Red Rock as well and had found a second coin in his gear that he had forgotten about. I guess taking the time to tell soldiers (young or old) means something to them. I will never forget this young solider. I pray that God keeps him and his "friends", as well as the rest of the soldiers on duty, safe. I am so thankful to live in a country where I am free.

Memorial Day

I am not real sure about Memorial Day. Growing up in the military we never went to the cemetery on Memorial Day. We never had "people" near us. We have always talked about those that had died. We always said a prayer for those who have died to keep us free or those that were currently serving. The cemetery part was never something we did. My belief is that when we die we are not "here." Sure, our bodies are still on Earth but our souls are somewhere else. Heaven or Hell. I have told my daughter that Oh'Grandma is in heaven but she knows that her body is in the cemetery. Several years ago, before Dusty's grandmother died she voiced a concern that once she was gone no one would remember her. I never understood until now what she meant. We remember her often especially Charlie who just adored her. We talk about if Grandma were her she would love this. On Wednesday of this last week Charlie said, "Mom, I need to go the cemetery to take flowers to Oh, Grandma and pray with her." I knew that every year Dusty's grandparents went to the cemetery. So, I called his mom and asked if we could go because is was something Charlie wanted to do. This is something I just don't get. I have a better understanding now but I just don't get it.

While there Charlie saw a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at one of the head stones. She stood like this for 3 minutes before she joined us back at the car. When I asked what she was saying she said it was a secret prayer between her and Jesus.



I don't know how much this meant to Grandpa until later. Memorial day was like a date for him and Grandma. Early Saturday morning, they would visit all the headstones of their relatives leaving flowers then they would met up with friends for dinner. Monday they would attend the ceremonies and then lunch with friends. This was big for him. While placing flowers on Grandma's grave he cried. "You just don't know how much this would have meant to her that you came." Sometimes I think that we do things just for those we love even when we don't understand.

Charlie had to stop and pray at every headstone we visited (7). She saw a headstone with only a flag and some kind of military shield. She asked about it. I explained that he was a veteran (and told her what war if the head stone stated it). We have talked before about a Veteran being someone who has served our country to keep us safe during war. She also would pray for those that had flags and "war" markings. She called them policemen. These prayers she said out loud. "Thank you God for keeping me safe." I have always had her thank any service men and women when we see them in their uniform. I thank them too when I am by myself. I guess she has picked up more than I thought. My heart is overflowing with pride and admiration. I pray that her faith stays as strong.

my silly kids & walking the dog

C: "Mom"
B: "Mommy"
ME: "Yes."
C: "Can we take the dogs for a walk?"
B: "AcK"
ME: "We don't have dog."
C: "Yes, we do. Shorts and Pants."
See I have this incredibly silly little girl that has the BEST pet names ever. She named her bunny Socks, her class frog at school Bubbles, and her stuffed dog Shorts. She calls this dog Short Shorts. Brantley has spent months carrying around this silly dog. So, one day Dusty bought him a dog. Dusty and Charlie decided to name him Long Pants. So, we do have two dogs: Short Shorts and Long Pants.
This evening we went on a walk, the five of us: Charlie with Short Shorts, Brantley with Long Pants and me. These two dogs were very good dogs they only barked a few times. Once at a neighbor dog. They barked until that dog barked back and scared the snot out of Charlie and Brantley. They barked once at a squirrel. I can just imagine what that squirrel must have been thinking. :) They were the best behaved dogs. They laid down on the bench while the kids played. When it was time to go home they felt it necessary to pee on the fire hydrant down the street. I can not tell you how funny we must have looked the two kids holding their stuffed puppies up to a fire hydrant hissing between giggles. Oh, the things that I do b/c I have a creative kid. And B, that sweet boy does everything his sister does and it just melts my heart. He loves her so much. I am dreading the day when he no longer follows her around like a little lost puppy.

Unity Friends With Flair

Charlie (my 4-year old) and I worked together last night making cards. I pulled out this cute doll stamp from the September KOM. This was Charlie's reaction. "Oh, momma. This is the most beautiful dollie I have ever seen. Please can I use it. I will be so careful with her." I let her and she proceeded to "decorate" her clothes with glitter glue. During bedtime this evening though, a little monkey by the name of Brantley spilled orange juice on my card and ruined it. So, sorry friends for only and "kid" card. I hope you enjoy even though there is not much inspiration.

faithsisters

I had a blast with this weeks theme. "Finding your true love" I love our "story." Or maybe I just love HIM! I attempted flowers. I did not do them correctly studio calico but I love how they turned out. Maybe my next layout with have the flowers done correctly. :) Here is the journaling for this one:
Often you ask a girl and a guy the same question and you’ll get two completely different answers. This is true for “Our Story”
Amy--
It all began New Years Eve, 1998 (going into 1999). I had seen Dusty a few times. We were both attendee’s of the girls (Norma, Julie, Jodi) parties. But, it wasn’t until New Years that I began to wonder. It was yet another party at the girls house. This was no different then the other. We, me and who ever else, were sitting in the living room. It was very crowded and there were people everywhere. I was sitting on the arm of the couch. This goofy guy, Dusty, was sitting next to me on the couch. He pulled me into his lap. It took me forever to figure out how to get myself off his lap. So, for the next five months I over analyzed why he did it. Did he like me? Did he not? Why did he pull me into his lap?
Dusty--
So her story starts at New Years. That’s a guy for you. His, not so much. She analyzed why I pulled her into my lap--I just thought it would be funny.
Amy--
So, I analyzed and he didn’t think twice about that night. So, fast forward five months to May. Julie is moving out of “the house” and moving to Tulsa. She needed help. Memorial Day weekend--Saturday we (Me, Jodi, Norma, Dusty, & others) moved her stuff to Tulsa.
Dusty--“You want to ride with me?”
Amy--”Sure.” Jodi was not happy. She did not like Dusty. She thought he was a big fake. So, I rode to Tulsa and back with Dusty. We talked. I don’t know what about. We just talked. ON the way back, I told Dusty to buckle his seat belt. He didn’t. He got stopped by a Policeman and got a ticket. (See I told you to wear your seatbelt.) When we got back to the girls house, he gave me his number and told me to call him. That was late Saturday night. It took me until noon on MOnday to get up the nerve to call.
We talked for hours over the next week. Yes, I said hours. On the 13th of June he helped me move out of Annie and Billy’s. We stopped by Sonic & Jordy’s T-ball game. He calls this our first date. (We ate. I paid. We saw went to some kind of entertainment.) Again, you see the difference in men and women. I don’t consider it a date because he didn’t ask me out. I consider our first date when I went to his apartment to watch Blue’s Brothers. Drew ended up stopping by and watching the movie with us. Drew helped me to relax. I can’t believe that I went from talking to this guy, dating him three weeks later and in seven months we were engaged.
I guess I forgot to post the last two pages I did for faithsisters.
The first one is your first spiritual moment. If you want to read the journaling you'll find it here.

This one was teen years. It has been a really busy month so I missed several of these layouts that I am hoping to get caught up with over the summer. If you are interested in the journaling you can find it here. I know it seems silly but the journaling is really long on all three layouts.

Inspiration

I have been having a ball looking at other early childhood minded blogs. I have two favorites at the moment. Dusty is definitely not going to like teacher tom by the time I get finished with my projects for the back yard. I love his idea of a water wall. We are going to make ours portable so that I take it to school. We are also going to put a pulley on the outside of the "tree house" so that the kids can tote the water up to the top and dump it out the window. We are also building a deck to put the picnic table on. I talked Dusty into taking it off occasionally and allowing the kids to use it as a stage. We will be using our castle background and now our dinosaur background as well. I love what you can do with a sheet, an overhead, and paint. We have had a great time this weekend working on it. We are also going to install a sound garden of sorts. Something to make music (bang) on. I can't wait till the first week in June to get started. I think that we will have so much fun this summer in our "playground."

Valerie's blog is also another favorite. As I was looking here Charlie saw her newest post and wants a "garden stand" as well. We will just have to see what comes of this summer.

my "school" life

Typically I do not mention my "other" life. My blog is just for the me that is at home, but I have to share. I was absent from school the day of the talent show. So my wonderful friends (a co-worker and a parent) shared the day with me. The first video is my kids preforming to Jack Hartmann's Party in the Jungle. ( I just LOVE Jack Hartmann.)
Party in the Jungle

This next video is the wonderful people I teach with. They are some of most amazing women I have ever met. They are talented and dedicated. They give and give and give. They make my days at school just wonderful. They make life fun and are always willing to give a helping hand if needed. God has blessed me with a wonderful group of women! (And Mr. Mickett too. But he is not in the video). :)

History of dance

jealous

I am very jealous to those families that have "family" time on a regular basis. I am really missing that this week. Dusty has been working a lot lately. To help out friends, b/c we went on vacation, b/c the money is nice, but I really miss him. I love that he puts up with my craziness. I love that he encourages me. He called just a few minutes ago. I just really miss him. One of these days we will have a date night. (Don't know when that will be.) And I will love it.