When my daughter Mari was five years old, I went to WalMart to find a cute costume for her to wear for Halloween. I’d seen inflatable costumes before but they were usually silly ones like a sumo wrestler, or a fat woman in a bikini. Those never interested me nor did I think they were that great. However, this in particular year they had some of the cutest costumes. One of which was a big purple dinosaur with yellow horns on the back. It was perfect and I picked it up. When I got it home, I … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Pie Anyone?
When I think of the different things that start to come out during the fall for the things people like to eat, things that come to mind are caramel apples, candy corn, cranberry sauce, squashes, turkey, the multi color corn (maze corn), apple pie, stuffing, and so many more. However, I think my very favorite is pumpkin pie. Ever since I can remember, this time of year brings out the pumpkin pies. And not even just the pie but pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, and maybe some other things I don’t … [Read more...]
What Autumn Brings
In the past when I thought about autumn, or fall, I’d think about how the leaves started to change bring about all the beautiful colors. The vivid reds, oranges, and golds. Or how about the weather and temperature changes. In the lower 48, the temps have changed a whole lot yet, but they are starting to make their decent downward as we make our way towards winter. The mountain peaks, if you live by them, have started to show snow on the tops. It’s a beautiful site to behind. As we drive out … [Read more...]
NaBloPoMo
I'm excited. I've recently found a website that many may have heard of before called BlogHer. Most of us have heard, or even participated in, NaNoWriMo, which happens every November. Well, BlogHer has their own version for those who write blogs only it's every month with a new one word topic to write on throughout the month. It's called NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). I participated in this on my daughter's dedication website Mommy's Angel In Heaven. and it was really kewl. What's … [Read more...]
Dedicating this to My Daughter in Heaven
I think most people who visit this site and read what I write know that this site was started as a dedication website in honor of my daughter who left this earth for heaven on July 16, 2008. I've been so blessed as a result of this decision. When I go to write something for on here, it almost always ends up being about my daughter somehow, the tragedy, or how I've been doing along the way. I've been very open about my journey over the past five years. I want to be true to who I am and that … [Read more...]
Serving the ONE
I can remember growing up and going to church when I was in high school and hearing about the missionaries that serve around the world. However, I could never pictures me as one. You basically pick up your life and go to a new place, often times a new culture, and have to start fresh somewhere. It just wasn't my thing and I guess God never called me to be one as my husband never wanted to be one either. The last 20 years we've been together have always had the army apart of them. Even the short … [Read more...]
Joining the Army in High School
When I was 17 and a Junior in high school, an announcement during my 2nd period class one day said that a U.S. Army recruiter would be in the counseling area at lunch if anyone was interested in talking to him. For some, reason it did. Now you might be asking why. I have no earthly idea. Had I ever thought about joining the army before that day? Not once. Never crossed my mind. So at lunchtime I went and talked to the guy. Within a couple of weeks I had signed up on April 19, 1991. That day … [Read more...]
Live for Today
What if you could do things in your life that would enable you to live longer. Would you do it? I don't think I would. I say this because I know that God already has a plan for my life so no matter what I do or don't do He will take me home when it's my time. That day will be a glorious day as I'm reunited with my daughter, Granny and Grandpa. None of know the exact time and place our time will end. However, we need to live our lives as though it were our last day. I think of the song by … [Read more...]
“Just Because”
The "Just Because" gift. I love giving these kind of gift to someone else. Maybe I see something in the store I know they will like or that reminds me of that person. Or maybe I know the person needs some help with something so I try to either help them or find something I can give them that might help. When I hear, "Thank you, but you didn't have to." I just reply, "No I didn't but I wanted to." Isn't that what giving is supposed to be about. How many times out there today that someone gives a … [Read more...]
Feeling Un-hopeless
Un-hopeless. Nope. Not a word. However, I think it's obvious what it mean. In life we have those times where it seems like whatever is going on we feel hopeless or we can't control what's going on around us. But when we think about it do we really ever control anything? On the surface, it may appear that we are in control. But what if our carefully laid plans all of a sudden take an unexpected turn. Do we feel hopeless? Is all lost because it didn't go the way we wanted? The answer is no. When … [Read more...]