Memorial Day 2008

Summer has finally arrived in West Virginia, just in time for Memorial Day!

To kick off the unofficial start of summer, we took a picnic lunch to Coopers Rock State Forest with my brother Jeff and sister-in-law Cecelia. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect for hiking....low 70s, slight breeze, sunny. Morgan got to experience her first real picnic and got to see some of the most beautiful sights in Appalachia.

We were sad to miss the annual Woodchoppers Festival in Webster Springs, but we may have started a new family tradition. We will certainly be going back to Coopers Rock again this summer for another picnic and more fun.

We are so thankful to all the servicemen and women who have served (especially Great-Grandpa Ralph, Great-Grandpa Don, and Grandpa "Lips") and those who continue to serve (especially Uncle Chris) in order for us to be free. We live in the land of the free, ONLY because of the brave. God bless our military.

Visitors from Afar

Today my dear friend Catherine and her family stopped by our house on their way back home from a visit to our nation's capital. Catherine and I have been friends for 15 years (gasp! Half of our lifetime!!). Patrick and I had a really great time with Josh, Catherine, and their adorable kids. Hannah is 7 months older than Morgan, and Jack is 11 months younger. The kids had a great time playing together, and surprisingly Morgan was a pretty good host!


The girls played with the baby dolls, kitchen, and necklaces, while Jack enjoyed exploring the living room and having some toys all to himself! We had a wonderful visit, although it was WAY too short! We hope to see more of our friends as the summer months roll on. Perhaps we'll even make it to their house one day!

Here's Hannah, posing just like Winston the Wood Otter in the background.

Amen!

Thoughts for Today

I Believe... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe... That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe... That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe... That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe... The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, young and old, whose babies are with them or far away.

Tagged

I was tagged by a friend over e-mail, but thought it'd be more fun to do it here. So here goes!

What I was doing 10 yrs ago: I was getting ready to end my first year of college, taking finals and packing stuff to move out of the dorm. I was helping my roommate prepare to fly with me to Europe to visit my parents. I was spending a lot of time with my new boyfriend (now husband) before I left for the summer.

Five things on my to do list for today:

1. Return phone calls at work
2. Balance my checkbook
3. Return items to WalMart
4. Pick up car from Ford garage
5. Pack for weekend trip to Buckhannon (done!)

Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Buy a big house in Cheat Lake (and hire a housekeeper and cook since I hate doing both), pay off our debts, put money away for Morgan's college and wedding, pay off the home mortgages that my family members are currently paying on, open my own business, take an Antartic cruise, spend a month in Australia, buy a vacation villa in Italy or Spain, start a couple scholarship funds for youth with disabilities, donate to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep foundation and March of Dimes, donate money to my elementary school (St. Mary's in Goldsboro, NC), buy a luxury box at the WVU football stadium, and of course increase my monthly donations to church. I am sure there are many other things I would do, but that's what I can come up with in 2 minutes.

Three of my bad habits:

1. Popping gum
2. Eating while driving
3. Not throwing away anything (I am such a packrat)

Five places I have lived:

1. Philippines
2. Apple Valley, CA
3. Las Vegas, NV
4. Germany
5. Belgium

Five jobs I have had:

1. T-shirt design applicator
2. Grocery bagger and runner
3. Resident assistant in the dorms
4. Graduate teaching assistant
5. Program manager for 2 statewide and 1 national program


OK, I am tagging Catherine, Alaina, and anyone else who wants to participate! Make sure you leave me a message and a link to your answers once you have finished.

Sigh....

More Prayers for Julie G.

You may recall back in February I asked for your prayers for my babysitter Ellen's daughter-in-law Julie. Julie had just found out she was expecting her second child and was having some complications. I learned today that Julie lost the baby on Tuesday, May 6th, at 17 weeks gestation. I ask that you please keep keep Ellen's entire family in your prayers, and especially Julie as she mourns the loss. Ellen said that Julie is very down, especially with Mother's Day approaching. I can't imagine how she feels, and I know our prayers will help. Thanks for keeping them in your prayers today!

It finally bloomed!

This dogwood was planted a few years ago for my grandmother. After she passed away in 2005 we thought my father killed it with his heavy saturation of weed killer on our lawn. It has not bloomed since 2004. This year, as you can see, it is in full bloom, and is lovely. Dad is off the hook for being a tree killer (although he still has the title of the "Mad Pruner") and we are really enjoying this tree. Even through the snow (!!!) this week it has been beautiful.