Life and times #2

It seems that December is just a busy month. Besides Dustin's baptism, it was of course, his birthday. We celebrated with a delicious dinner and homemade cake followed by opening a few gifts.

The cake was fun to create and easy to make and was none other than ..... you guessed it .... something to do with military. As I've said before when you enter our house lately you enter the militarized zone.

There were a few things Dustin got for his birthday that he's been waiting with bated breath to get.

The look of excitement from a boy with a new pellet gun

Number one, a pellet gun. This has been sort of a big deal. Big because I would rather have waited until he was like ten or twenty (ok, just kidding), Ken, who was raised on a farm learned to shoot probably before he could walk. Ok, ok, not really but you get what I'm saying. Eight seemed like a good compromise. For Dustin, one of his favorite things to do is head out to Grandpa's farm, put some empty cans out in the middle of a field and shoot them with a .22, and he's pretty good at it too. After Dustin got his pellet gun, he later complained saying "It's like I don't even have one, because I can only use it when you or dad are with me and it stays locked up!" Oh the woes of an eight year old! Duh! Again, if we lived on a farm it might be a bit different, but there's not a man out there that hasn't told me their "adventures" as a young boy with their BB gun which makes any woman wonder how boys even make it alive until their 18th birthday. Don't get me wrong, I am a supporter of the right to own a gun and have a few myself, but of course believe that training, respect, practicing safety, etc are a must. Daria claims she will "never" own a gun but if she did it would be the "pink" one that they advertise on the back of the box! She cracks me up.

Meet Joe, G.I. Joe and his 1964 jeep.

The second thing Dustin got was a 1964 G.I. Joe jeep. Yep, thanks to Celeste and my super savvy e-Bay buying, found that prized possession a while back. They just don't make toys like that any longer, so this was a big treat for Dustin. It actually has a spot light that works, and the headlights work, if we can figure out how to wire the old wires. Of course a few old G.I. Joe's were added to it. These are the "real" G.I. Joe's that came out before the movie, so they are actually modeled after real servicemen.

I had to include this picture, which strangely seems to have something to do with the first picture on this post. You know the one with Daria looking so sweet and kind with Joe. Not sure what happened to him but this picture looks oddly suspicious.

Honor anyway

As the day wore on I couldn't help but think of how disappointed I was not to be able to attend the return of Jeffery Johnson due to Dustin's appointment. Dustin was disappointed too. Then I realized if I picked him up from school just 30 minutes earlier, maybe, just maybe we would have enough time to show our respect and make it to his appointment..... and we did

It's difficult to describe the scene and emotions accurately. Suffice it to say, that from the local airport all the way to where I was standing (next to the funeral home) people were lined up on the streets. Hundreds and hundreds of people. Businesses closed, a few schools came out, a school choir sang for a 5 mile procession, flags waived, and it was quiet. All except the sound of the sirens and the mild hum of the Patriot Guard riders. Local leaders and congressmen attended in respect.

and he returns home

and not a dry eye

I love the Patriot Guard Riders. This is the first time I've seen so many, maybe over 100 or more, they just kept coming and coming.... and they will be at the funeral tomorrow too, standing in a flag line at the request of the family.

Semper Fi

for a view of the plane landing and those lined up on the highway go to this link.

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/05/19/tomball_magnolia_potpourri/news/052610_po_as_marine_cpl_johnson.txt

Our Nation Remembers...

Have you watched the movie "Taking Chance?" a true story based off of a Marine Chance Phelps who was killed in Iraq in 2004. It is one of my all time favorite movies, one that my whole family was moved by, and in my opinion one of the best movies ever made. I encourage you to watch it, and even watch it with your family when the kids are old enough to discuss the difficult consequences of war and serving. It is absolutely kid friendly, no violence, no sex, but does contain two curse words (I never like to justify cursing in movies so feel to warn you, however the curse words are mild if that makes any sense.)

This movie is moving and will reach the core of the soul. It brings out the depth of human emotions but especially helps us recognize what a family experiences when their loved one is killed in action. (just be careful when you choose to watch it, my mom and I watched it the last time she visited, right before she had to leave for the airport. Uhm .... not a good idea unless you want to go to the airport with big puffy red eyes and a stopped up nose)

The reason I bring this up is because of a poignant scene in the movie. As Chances body is being returned to his hometown, when he arrives, the streets are lined with citizens and Boy Scouts standing in silence holding American flags in honor of Chance's sacrifice.

Today, in our town, at 2pm this scene will become real once again as the body of Lance Corporal Jeffery W. Johnson, age 21, who was killed in Afghanistan on May 11, will be returned home to his family. The city has asked the citizens to come out, and line the streets in support. The Patriot Guard Riders will also attend, as they always do when requested.

I am extremely disappointed that I will not be able to attend to show my support and appreciation, as Dustin has a doctors appointment. But my mind will reflect on this throughout the day and my prayers for comfort and peace for the family and wife he is survived by.



May we always remember that freedom always comes with a cost, and is truly never free.

the Life and Times .... catching up on some important memories part 1

Dustin trying not to be nervous because he will be the center of attention

Well, a late out of date blog is slightly better than no blog at all right?? Thus the beginning of my "catching up on important memories" blog series. There has actually been a lot to blog about in the last 6 months, so I will make an attempt to bring everyone up to date on the happenings in our little family.

I'll start with December 2009. December is a busy memorable month under normal circumstances. However this past December it was even more memorable for Dustin, not just because it was Christmas time, and not just because December is his birthday month, but because he was able to be baptized, and join Cub Scouts.

I suppose we call could have smiled a bit bigger but this just happened to be the best shot we had.

Dustin and the Dad

I love this shot because it reminds me that Dustin just can't be serious about anything. He's always a bundle of excited energy!

Dustin and the Big Sister. Daria actually volunteered to give the talk on the Holy Ghost, although a few days before she experienced a bit of "did I really volunteer for that - nervous - what have I got myself into" emotions. She did a fine job and made a sweet card for Dustin too.

This is Dustin's primary teacher Sister B. Sister B. is the best teacher for the kids who are about to be baptized. I admire her for so many reasons and was so thrilled when Dustin got her for a teacher.

So let's recap. Dustin had a great baptism day. The room was full of well wishers all to celebrate Dustin's big day. Brother L. gave a great talk on baptism. In fact I wish I could have recorded it because I felt that it was one of the best talks on baptism for a child that I've ever heard. I wish I would have been able to record it. Brother L. is a good friend of ours. We've known him since we moved here. What was really cool and I thought inspired was that while Brother L. did not know Dustin's love and infatuation with the military, his talk centered around the Stripling Warriors, David, and "fighting" for the right things. It was very moving and I think explained baptism and the gospel to Dustin in a way that he could relate to, and Brother L. even gave him a sword of his own to remember this special night by. Dustin received his own set of scriptures, a tie tack from Grandma M. and a really neat baptism towel from Grandpa Reed and Grandma Carol.

Some things that made me laugh recently

Earlier this year when Dustin lost a tooth he left a note under his pillow for the Toothfairy asking if she would please leave him a twenty dollar bill. Our Toothfairy is pretty frugal, always leaves a dollar, something to do with your teeth (toothpaste, floss, etc) and a poem. The next time he lost a tooth he left a note wondering if she would leave him a two dollar bill because "he's always wanted one". Again, she left him a dollar, some toothpaste, a poem and then said that the next time he lost a tooth she would bring him a two dollar bill. So Saturday night (note the day and time) we were eating out at a restaurant. Dustin pulls his tooth out and with excitement exclaims "Alright! now I get a two dollar bill because the Toothfairy promised!" I thought I was going to bust out laughing and secretly hoped the Toothfairy could come up with a two dollar bill on a Saturday night ..... and the Toothfairy did not fail us. Dustin left a note under his pillow reminding the Toothfairy that she promised him a two dollar bill and of course was delighted to wake up to find one under his pillow.

I was talking to my sister on the phone yesterday. She spent the morning going through boxes of old items in her garage. Then she said "You are not going to believe what I found!!!!" I tried to imagine what nifty little piece of personal treasure she might have come across when she said "I found my Star Trek the Next Generation Technical Manual!!!" Apparently she hadn't seen it for a long time. This made us both laugh! It's funny the little things that people have as a hobby or are interested in. She still can't find her Klingon dictionary. We both laughed again!

Participated in a mother daughter activity last night at church. Daria was worried that I wouldn't be able to attend because I have Cubs every Wednesday. The activity was fun and what made me laugh was after all the "concern that I might not be able to attend" Daria had the "I really want my mom to be there but I don't want her to know I want her to be there attitude" during the activity. It cracked me up. However afterwords she boasts to Dustin "Mom and I had a great time it was so fun!" Like any good mom I just smiled but could not help but laugh!