Today is my Birthday

Today is my birthday. I do not know why but I did not feel very happy this morning. I guess because this has been such a tough year. Losing Lolly Pop Kid was the single worst thing that I have ever been through. I did not feel like celebrating and I so wish I could change everything about this past year.

But. I. Can’t.

There were two amazing things that happened today. First LCpl Honda, who has been deployed since Sept. called me. It was hard to hear him, as it was on Christmas, but he called me to wish me a Happy Birthday. I never expected to get a call today. It was great to talk to him. I can’t wait for him to come home.

I went outside as the sun was rising and saw this.

Red clouds. Lolly clouds. I usually see them on Tuesdays. The day he became an angel. Taking a closer look, the cloud looks like an angel. I could be wrong, but I felt his love and birthday wishes. I had the realization that he does not want me to feel bad all the time. Which I already knew, but it is hard to live it.  Still, it is hard to celebrate things in life when you are missing someone. It is hard to watch your family members hurt. It is hard to miss people that are not at home. It is hard to not know exactly what is going on with the people that are not at home. I hate talking in code. I hate OSPEC. I understand, but I still do not like it.

I guess I just needed a time-out today. I will go on. I feel very comforted by the events that have occurred already today. Tomorrow will be a new day. I will get up and move on. I know I will have bad days. But I will keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Today is my birthday. Thank you Lord for the gifts I received.

Angel Tuesday

Today’s Angel Tuesday child is Ethan who became an Angel on July 26, 2008. He went to heaven because of a horrible drowning accident.

Ethan, a beautiful 6 year old with a smile that exudes radiant energy and a huge open-mouth laugh that delighted everyone. All that knew Ethan commented on his smile.

Ethan loved creating ships with Legos and playing with Star Wars toys. He loved tossing a football and listening to his Veggie Tales CD.

 

 

 

 

On what would have been Ethan’s 7th Birthday his family held a Global Star Wars party where many people from all over the world watched the movie Star Wars.

Ethan just plain loved Star Wars.

Ethan is and will always be very much loved and missed by his family. His mom Lisa keeps a blog where she has written so beautifully about Ethan, her family’s loss and how they manage the “new normal.” Lisa is also a wonderful photographer as there are many poignant photos of Ethan and her family.

 

 

Please visit Hey Jude. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Please also remember our Angel Lolly Pop Kid.

Baby Pics!

Here are some great pics of our twin grandsons. I found bloggie names: Fuzzy & Wuzzy. This is because Flower Child pointed out that Fuzz had fuzzie hair all over his back as did Wuzz, so Fuzzy (A) & Wuzzy (B)! Family members please email me and I will tell you who is who.

Happy Family

Wuzzy

Fuzzy

Hippie Guy with his sons. 

Flower child with her sons.

Grandma & Grandpa with Wuzzy & Fuzzy.

Grandma with Fuzzy and Wuzzy.

Fuzzy

Wuzzy

Goodnight sweet boys.

 

 

“We Made Humans.”

Hippie Guy and Flower Child became the proud parents of twin baby boys yesterday. The whole family is doing fine and we are thankful to be able to welcome two healthly and beautiful babies into our family.

It is funny because Flower Child was scheduled to have a C section yesterday at 1:00pm, but nature decided to step in as she went into labor the night before so they arrived just a bit earlier in the day. This was the day God intended them to come and they most certainly did.

I must admit that my son Hippie Guy looked a little shell-shocked right after the birth. I do believe he was given that wonderful little life changing gift every new parent receives upon the birth of their child.  Responsibility. Not that he isn’t already responsible, because he is, but now there is a bit of a twist on that.

Flower Child looked very serene and beautiful except for the 3 hour period from the twins’ birth to when the nurse finally brought them to her. I think if she could of got out of bed at that point it is quite possible there would have been a few wounded nurses. Seriously.

If you are wondering about the title it was a remark that Flower Child made while we were discussing the birth experience. Yes, Flower Child and Hippie Guy, you made humans. And two fine ones at that.

I will post a couple of pictures now, but I left my camera at the hospital and I will be posting more pictures later when I get it back. Plus I need to think of bloggie names for the twins. So far my mind seems to be blank concerning this. Any suggestions? But please keep it nice and clean.

So for the time being they will still be A and B. This is A.

This is B.

Today we sent our hearts to Heaven.

Two years ago today Lolly Pop Kid was born.  Today we celebrated his birthday without him.

Two years ago today our lives were a little fuller.   Today they are a lot emptier.

Two years ago today I became a grandma for the second time.  Today I feel stripped of that honor.

Two years ago today four people became a family.  Today that family is forever changed.

Two years ago today I touched vibrant red hair.  Twelve days ago I touched it for the last time.

One year ago today I watched Lolly eat a Lolly Pop. Today I watched Lolly’s balloons go to heaven.

One year ago today I watched Lolly open gifts. Today we watched Lolly receive gifts in the sky.

Twenty years ago I watched two children play. Today I watched two adults, one consoling, one grieving.

Twenty years ago I sat with a friend and watched those children. Today I sat with a friend and watched those children.

For two years I watched two people love their son.  Today I watched two people love their son.

Two years ago today we celebrated a life.  Today we celebrated a life.

Today we sent our hearts to heaven.

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

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