What Is Memorial Day?

Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, honors the men and women who died while serving in the American military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, it and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

I am so grateful to Kirk's family for teaching me about "Decoration Day"

I had never decorated a family members grave (I didn't even know that was done)

And as far as I had known none of my family had died during a war...

Kirk's family has...

In Italy...

His family never had the opportunity to say bye or to visit where his body has been laid to rest.

I know there are so many other's that can not say that...

To those who have served...

I love Memorial Day...

I love going and decorating graves,

I love having family picnics,

I love knowing why we celebrate this weekend,

AND I LOVE

 being an American.

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

http://www.history.com/topics/memorial-day-history

Josh and Ali

are celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary today!

2 Years!!!

The funny part is that it seems that Ali has been part of our family "forever".

We love having her as a daughter and appreciate how she put ups with takes care of Josh.

I still can remember like it was yesterday when Josh and I went to Twin Falls and he shared his feelings for Ali and that he wanted to marry her. 

They were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

They had their reception the same night in Burley.

and with any good reception you can bet there will be a mess made on the couple's car.

I could not believe all the people that came to congratulate them and celebrate in their happiness.

You have to love it when you see your children happy.

Congrats Josh and Ali wishing you many more years to come.

We love you

I am not sure why my pictures look strange...I will blame it on Blogger.

Just Asking...

Is there a food that if you just hear the name about makes you puke???

I have one....

white beans and ham..

just typing it has me gagging...

Especially if you add the word...

Ketchup with it.

It is kind of a long story...

I come from a family  of queasy tummy people.

If  one person even makes the sound of a gag...or a sound close to it, you can pretty much bet that someone else will be dry heaving or gagging, with ultimately ending with 5 kids PUKING everywhere.

(As an adult I now know why we did not take many family vacations...someone ALWAYS got car sick...get the picture.)

Anyway, back to white beans and ham...

I am not sure why my mom thought we should eat this disgusting meal, but she did, the smell while it was cooking was enough to make you sick (and my mom was an amazing cook)

My brother...the 2nd... as a 5 year old had to have ketchup on EVERYTHING. 

 This night LONG AGO...he figured if he put ketchup in his white beans and ham it might...just might cover the taste.

So, we all watched to see if it would help.

I still remember his face and that little deep gag that comes from the bottom of your throat...

Yep, that is all it took...we were all PUKING, running for the outside door to the yard, trying not to throw up all over my mom's kitchen table.

Can you see 5 children under the age of 10 trying not to step in the other's mess as we were running from the house???

Mom was NOT impressed.

To this day...the smell gags me.

I try every year after Easter to make it for Kirk, because for some unknown reason he likes it.

I usually spend most of the time gagging and complaining with at least one time running for the bathroom to puke.

  May 25th is  Argentina's Revolution Day, to celebate they eat something called Locro., so my sweet daughter Kira ask if we can make it for Sergio....

and I am like SURE...what do we need?

Ham, white beans...and the list continues on her blog.

I still can not get the smell out of my mind, but I do believe it is the first time in 30 years that I have made it and not puked at least once and gagged ALL DAY!

I am just trying to figure out how I can throw the left overs in the fridge away without anyone noticing.

Because really, I do not want my veggies tasting like ...

GAG.....

Just saying...

Thanks to all of you for being there for me.

I HATE This Stuff...

I am back to 50mgs a day again...and today I can feel it.

I will start cutting back 10mgs every 4 days until I am back to

my 5mg....

I hope my family still loves me when this is done.

Julie Thinks I Should Have This...

One of my favorite blogs to follow is Julie  and her "madhouse".

She just makes me plain happy.

Today I received this from her...

Thanks Julie,

But there are rules and the rules to this award are:

1. Link back the person who awarded you.

 OK Julie you have been linked and watch out for my friends!

2. Tell us things about yourself. 



I am a daughter





I am a sister



I am a wife



I am a mother



I am a grandmother

My heart is a gift from a "donor" that I like to refer to as my hero

I like to bake

I like to find cemeteries and do family history

and I believe in Miracles

Now I am to choose blogger's that I think are "stylish" to share in the award...

Sadly, a lot of the blogs that I follow are going private, I would tell you of so many to check out..

but I will list just a couple  a few

Of course Julie's

* my daughter, Kira's who I can not say enough about

*my sister, Lene's she is an amazing mother of 5

*my dear blogging friend that I have had the honor to meet Linda

*Deb's Blog is one of the first I started to follow she can shop garage sales like nobody

* great idea's at My Computer is My Canvas

* unique recipes and ideas at Tartelette

*if you need a good laugh PLEASE visit the Cheeseboy

*Bryan  just received a new heart and his story and friends are touching

and then there is Miss H, oh how I love her blog

well, that should give you a start for some fun blogs

and while you are at it

Take a "stylish blogger award"

because really,  if you are reading mine yours must be AMAZING!

WHEW......

This morning when I woke up there was something shining through my blinds and I even thought  that my retinas were burning ...

it was  then I remembered what I had seen on the Internet and YouTube about

May 21, 2011

The day of the RAPTURE...

Suddenly,  I could hear this voice...at first it was soft and then it was SHOUTING at me...

"MOM WAKE UP YOUR ALARM IS GOING OFF

AND YOU NEED TO GET UP AND TAKE YOUR PILLS"

It has been such a long time since I have seen SUN SHINE that I was in awe just looking at it.

To be honest I had never heard of this Mister Camping before all of the "jokes"  about his prediction the day of Rapture was upon us..

For a moment, I thought, YEP, this is heaven...

And I lived today like I have not lived in a very long time...

I went to a rollerblading hockey game,

I planted flowers

and I mowed the lawn...

I can not remember the last time I was able to mow the lawn and felt the sun on my face.

PURE HEAVEN!

One Year Ago...

I did this...

Yep that is 2 miles.

Kira always kept my boards decorated.

A year later...

I am doing this...

being a grandma. I am not sure how many miles I do during the day,

 but I know I feel like it is A LOT of chasing walking!!!

Friday the 13th of May, Heart Attack



I hope I did not scare you to think this was one of THOSE  heart attacks that most women do not even know that they had. The heart attack that you don't see or feel. The one that you might notice something is different, but you can not put your finger on, you might  find that you are always tired, or cold and even have  cold sweats,(yea kind of like "the change"), or there is a constant pain between your shoulders.
No not one of THOSE heart attacks!!
This kind...

After a LONG day at the hospital what a sweet surprise
to come home and see my drive way and yard marked with bright hearts!
Best Heart Attack EVER!!!
Thank you,
 Whit, Heather, Kayleen, Rob, Kira, Sergio and
Derek .
I could see this heart attack and I felt it too.

1st Anniversary

What a year!!!!

A year ago at this I was out of surgery and had a new heart beating so strong it was rocking my body!

So, what all has taken place in the past year that I believe would be seen as a miracle.

*Ro and his family

*Kira and Sergio arrive in the states

*Derek gets home from his mission the same week I  get my new heart

*May 13, 2010 I get the awaited phone call "They have a heart for me"

*May 14, 2011 Transplant of a new heart is a success.

*Feeling a Love for a complete stranger and their family.

*My understanding of Miracles.

*Feeling the prayers from so many people and faiths

*10 days after transplant I am able to leave the hospital

*Lene spending mother's day with me in Utah

* Miss Celes arrives, Our first grand baby

*We find out that another grand baby will be coming in February.

*Having energy to do anything...so we checked out as much as we wanted to in Utah.

*Well enough for an apartment.

*Lene and family spend the whole summer, they didn't have to leave after a week!!!

*Going HOME!

*I truly fall in love again.

*Green Cards

*I get to enjoy Holidays, and remember them!

* Miss H joins our family

and the miracles continue to be a part of our life's.

To my blogging friends THANK YOU

for all of your words of encouragement, your prayers and your friendship.

I have had an amazing year and you have all been a very big part of it.

Now to start on year 2....

What Do I Say?

In just 3 days it will be my one year anniversary with this new,

little, amazing heart.

I was told that I can write a "gratitude" letter to my donors family.

They will get to choose if they respond or if I get to know more about my donor besides the basics ie:

 male or female, age, where they were from, ect.

I have been thinking about this for a year and now that it is here~ I do not know how to say what is in my heart.

I am crying just doing this blog.

How do I tell someone that maybe the worst day of their life was the most amazing day of mine.

How do I thank them.

How do I share my feelings?

How do I tell them the  things I have been able to experience because of their loved one?

I do not know where to start,

I know this will sound really strange, but I think my heart is missing them this week.

I have not had tears in about a year, but this week I have cried allot.

What do I  say to the people that are part of my hero's life?

What do I say?

Dear Donor Family,

I wish I could put my feelings and thoughts into words...