We Should All Be Thankful for Our Veterans

Nov11

I probably don’t say thank you to our veterans enough. None of us do. To many, just saying thank you probably seems so empty. It feels like it has lost some of it’s meaning. It can come off as hollow. “oh, you’re a veteran? Thank you for your service.” It seems like such an automatic response.

I read an article recently, which I want to link to but can’t seem to find, by a veteran who said he wishes people would stop thanking him. For all the reasons I mentioned above. At first, I was really irritated by the article. Especially because my brother is currently deployed. My sister in law served in Iraq. My father was in the Air Force. My grandfather fought with the Navy in WWII. My uncles went throught Vietnam. I have had cousins in the Air Force, the Navy and the Coast Guard. Members of my family have served in every branch of the United States military. But as I read through his points, I understood what he was getting at. He didn’t want someone to thank him because they felt obligated to. And that makes sense. But I fundamentally disagree with him.

We should not stop saying thank you. What we should do is start meaning it again. I always try to say thank you to someone who has served or is currently serving. Because I truly mean it when I say “thank you for your service.” What I’m really saying is, “thank you for protecting me.”

Because that’s truly what our men and women who serve are doing. They are protecting us. From dangers seen and unseen. Known and unkown. They are voluntarily giving up time with their families to ensure that I have the safety to spend time with mine.

And I’m a complete stranger to most of them.

That’s why I think it’s important to say thank you. Because we are all strangers. Yet they serve for us. Because of them, I know I don’t have to fight.

And for that, I am eternally thankful.

Viva Vallarta

Nov8

Last month I was fortunate enough to take an amazing vacation.

Thanks to Brett’s uncle (and his aunt having her birthday to prompt the trip) the whole family was able to go! It was a surprise party for his aunt, and his uncle (and Brett, and his uncle’s assistant) have been planning it for a year! And even though there were several things that almost spoiled the surprise, the whole thing managed to go off without the surprise being ruined!!!!

Mary was very surprised to see her whole family in MEXICO!

That’s right, this surprise party took place in another country! There were 17 of us. And it was such a wonderful time.

I feel so thankful to be included as part of this family. Everyone is so genuinely kind and they truly get along and enjoy each other’s company.

Here are a few shots from the trip.

Our view from the dining room terrace.

Our day in Sayulita. My favorite place on Earth.

Brett and me after surfing. I’m fierce!

Brett as a living mannequin in a boutique in downtown Vallarta.

At the Cheeky Monkey. Best drinks in town (and SUPER CHEAP)!

Brett’s sister, mom and cousin. Three of the nicest women I know.

A huge!!! THANK YOU to Dave and Mary for such an amazing trip!

A Decade Later

Sep12

Where were you when…

That’s the question today, isn’t it?

I remember with vivid detail that day. For starters, it was beautiful. Sunny, blue sky. I was a freshman at the University of Central Oklahoma. I was driving to my first class of the day – Music Theory.

I remember wishing my radio in the car worked because the 25 minute drive was sort of boring and I usually listened to NPR. I’m a geek, what can I say.

When I arrived at class, the room was unusually empty. I walked back into the hallway to check for a missed announcement about class being cancelled. One of my class mates saw me and said “we’re in here.” She was talking about the room next door – it had a tv. She told me an airplane had hit one of the towers in New York.

As we stood in that room, watching history unfold before our eyes, we all gasped in collective shock and horror as we saw a second plane crash into the other tower. I remember tears starting to form in my eyes.

My classes were cancelled and all I could do was cry. I felt numb. I kept thinking “why would someone do such a thing?” “WHO would do such a terrible thing?”

Now, a decade later, I think the question should be “where are we NOW….

Are we safer as a nation? More united as a whole? Are we less? The same?

My hope, for our nation, is that we never forget that hatred lives. But I hope we remember, too, that love, peace and kindness DO triumph. That goodness prevails over evil. That lightness drives out darkness.

I hope ordinary citizens continue to be heroes for their families, friends and neighbors. That the lives lost and the sacrifices made live on in each of us.

That we continue to heal. We pause to remember, look back. But that as we do so, we remember to continue to look forward. Toward the future. Toward hope. Peace. Love. Kindness.

So, where were YOU when…. And where are you NOW?

09.11.2001/09.11.2011 never forgotten.

A Wedding Weekend

Sep9

As I type the first part of this post I am sitting on an airplane heading toward Oklahoma City for my baby sister’s wedding.

I am excited, nervous and stressed all at the same time. And it’s not even my wedding!!!

I’m excited because I helped plan this wedding and did a bunch of it from another state. And because I’m the maid of honor (another sister, Maura, is the matron of honor). And because weddings are exciting.

I’m nervous because I don’t love to fly. I had to check two bags (one which has my dress and the wedding programs)! And because I want the wedding to go smoothly.

I’m stressed because it’s a wedding and there is a lot involved. I want this to be a great wedding for Janine.

I recently told someone that one of my most favorite things in the world is being a sister. I love it. I can’t imagine a life without my sisters. ALL of them. And so, as a sister, I worry about all the things that could go wrong.

The optimist in me says everything is going to run smoothly and everything will be perfect! I’m trying to listen to her and ignore the realist.

Update to follow after the wedding.

UPDATE:
IT WAS WONDERFUL!

Head for the Cure!

Aug23

So a few weeks ago, Brett’s sister had a great idea. Let’s sign up for the Head for the Cure 5k, a race/walk that raises awareness and dontations for brain cancer research, that’s coming to Kansas City at the end of August. We can race as a team in support of Uncle Jim (Suddreth).

It was such a great idea! So here we are just a few days away from the race and I am getting sort of excited. I was so excited when we first registered, that I set up a fundraising page for our team, Team Mongo!

If you would like to support our team, and help find a cure for the disease, please click here to make your donation. Please make your donation in honor of Jim Suddreth.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to make a difference!

A Day in the Life

The musings of a conundrum of a female; half warrior, half princess. Wholly awesome.