Thoughts on Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day. I have the day off, since I am working for Veteran's while I go to school. I needed to get a few "supplemental" groceries at the store, so I went. I saw a Vietnam Veteran there with his wife, and stopped him, and thanked him for his service. He accepted my thanks, but seemed a little uncomfortable and quickly scooted off with his wife. That was our exchange.

Anyone ever had a situation like that? Everyone says "thank a veteran" on Veteran's Day. That's easier said than done, right? I mean, its always a little nerve-wracking to go up to a complete stranger and give them your heartfelt gratitude. Often, they act like they don't want to be thanked, and you end up feeling red faced and foolish.....

As a veteran myself, I get thanked every now and then for my service. At first, I was very uncomfortable with it. Don't get me wrong; I appreciated every person who thanked me, but since I never saw combat and was injured before I felt like I could really do anything valuable for my country, I often felt like I didn't deserve it. But I am slowly and surely coming to grips with my own journey and my own story, and now I find it much easier to accept someone's thanks.

Working with the Veterans' Service Office, I can't begin to recount the stories I've heard about the veterans who come to us for help. Long after they step off the battlefield, they pay the price. Though some may seem reluctant to talk about their service, or even accept your thanks, thank them anyway. Not because its easy or comfortable, but because its the right thing to do. Who knows? That veteran who you thank and seemed not to exactly "relish" the attention, may sit at home later that evening and think of what you said and find some comfort in it, some feeling that their contributions to our nation and our freedom haven't been forgotten or taken for granted.

So thank a veteran...any day of the year.

Happy Veterans Day

Dancing with the Stars

For my mom and I, Monday and Tuesday nights are like a national holiday. I am completely, utterly, desperately, and happily obsessed with Dancing with the Stars! I've lost count with how many seasons I've followed, and on many of the fan sites, people are saying that this is one of the worst seasons ever. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY disagree! I don't know when I've enjoyed a season this much. Of course, mom is reliving her girlhood crush by watching Donny Osmond (probably the most famous name this year) but the one star that has really surprised me this year is Kelly Osbourne! I'm amazed at how much I like her and like following her journey on this show. Tonight, she was absolutely glowing, and thanked all the fans for keeping her on the show, because she felt like it was making her "into a lady". What an amazing statement. There is such a feeling of fulfillment when a girl feels like a lady. I am finding myself drawn to all things "ladylike" right now. Maybe its all the time I spent in Army Greens last year, but I can't fet enough of flowers, lace, soft, feminine fragrances and cups of tea. There is a strange strength in a girl finding out she is a lady. So go Kelly!! Whether she wins the show or not, she's certainly found her own victory as a young woman.

New Day...New Look!

I've been very apprehensive about blogging again. I almost thought about giving the whole thing up and just deleting it, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it! I thought about all the fun I had putting my blog together, and all the fun memories and life stories I shared, so it must be something much more important to me than I even thought...something I need to make time for. Its tough to find inspiration when life pretty much consists of work and school, school and work...but as a person who is very very easily entertained, it can't be to difficult to keep the fingers typing. Inspiration is like a plant...it has to be watered or it dies! So I will keep on blogging, whether or not I feel like I have anything remarkably important to say or not....oh.....and my hair is getting much longer, as you can see! I love it....I feel so feminine. Its taken all the patience I have to keep up with it, but I think it will be worth it.

All's Well

Just a quick update to let the world know that me and my honey have patched things up...so life is now good again ;-) Will write more later!

Why?

I'm usually bright and sunshiney on my blog, but today I just can't be. I've got to keep it real. Why does life have to get so tough sometimes? My boyfriend is half a world away, and we are fighting, and it hurts. We can't ever fully discuss our problem because we only have short breaks of time to talk to each other. I know that things will get better...they always do, but I'm tired and hurting. So all my friends out there...please just say a prayer for me today and for my relationship, that God will give both of us wisdom.

Updates!

I am so excited. My wonderful sister helped me out of a blogging pickle. I love the new layout of my site, but I couldn't figure out how to customize my banner! My vintage 1930's Mr Sunshine was waaaay too big, and I wanted my title on my header...and Christie came to my rescue. So now it looks clean and neat and professional...thanks sissy!

I added a new site to my favorite websites app too....yes, time for some shameless self promotion...I have my own online AVON store. I got turned on to Avon by a friend of mine, and I love it. The prices and the quality are so incredibly good. I used to work at a upscale retail cosmetic store, so I know what a $50 face cream and a $25 lipstick are made of. Honestly, the Avon equivalent are just as good if not better than anything expensive I've ever tried. I already have people ordering from me and I've only been at this for less than a month!

So I am a happy girl tonight. I love my nice n neat new blog. :-)

Reflections on little boys

It was such a glorious week having my family with me. Christie, Heath, and now almost four year old Graham, who descended on Peppy's house with all the energy of a completely uninhibited little boy. Growing up with a sister, you really don't have any concept of the energy little boys possess. At random, they will beat their chests and roar, laugh like maniacs, and do "Mr. Crazy" dances with their eyes crossed till they fall over. I LOVED IT! He is growing up so fast, and I am treasuring these times with him. Christie said something really profound about little boys, that I completely understood. She said that there is something tender and bittersweet about little boys at this age. I felt it too. Little girls grow up pretending they are princesses, and in some ways never stop being princesses, at least if they find the right man someday to protect and cherish them in that special way...the way God intended it to be. But boys become men. Yes, they still like watching cartoons, and Nathaniel still starts drooling when he sees Toys R Us, but boys become the protectors of the world; the soldiers fighting wars, the bread winners, the last ones on the lifeboat. Its such a small window of time when we can actually protect our little boys. Its a time to be cherished.

My friend Laila suggested that I write down all of Graham's "isms". She is the oldest in her family and has three younger brothers, and wishes she had written down all the cute things her little brothers said and did. I'm taking her advice, and now the trick is going to be remembering them all, because there are so many! I do know that everything was about poop this time. Poopy this and poopy that....Oh, as things come to me, I'll write them down. He still pronounces his Ls as Ys...the day he gets that right will be a sad one for me.

Signing off for now, but as Graham would say...

I really yike my family!