Veterans' (Poppy) Day

At 0500 Z the morning of 11 Nov 1918, an armistice was signed in a private railway car in the Compiegne Forest, by General de Division Ferdinand Foch (for the Allies, General de Division is his rank, 'Supreme Allied Commander, Marshall of France' is an award) and Herr Matthias Erzberger (for Germany, he was a politician). The armistice ended fighting on the Western Front and with it, WWI. Fighting ceased six hours after the agreement was signed, hence the "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" marks the end of the war and is now observed as Remembrance Day in most of the British Commonwealth, but also as Poppy Day, Armistice Day, and Veterans Day. World War I was formally ended by the Treaty of Versailles, 28 Jun. 1919. Gen Foch advocated the very harsh terms imposed in the Armistice and Treaty in an effort to make Germany unable to attack France "ever again". After the treaty was signed, Foch (who was described as having "the most original and subtle mind in the French Army") is said to have remarked after the Treaty of Versailles, "This is not a peace. It is an armistice for 20 years". That same day, Charles I of Austria, who was also Charles IV of Hungary (what was formerly known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire) "renounced participation" in state affairs but did not abdicate. Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany (who had "unconditionally" supported whatever the Austro-Hungarians wanted to do) had abdicated the day before.



Because the United States entered the war late, and did not contribute the massive numbers of ground troops generated by the 5 major powers (Central Powers = Germany & Austria-Hungary, Allies = England/Commonwealth & France plus the US & others later on), and the Russians (nominally Allies, but kinda separate) WW I casualties in the US were not felt as keenly as was the case in Europe. Military deaths totaled about 9.7M (Allies-3.9M, Central-4.0M, Russians 1.8M) with an additional 6.8M civilian casualties, mostly from starvation. Furthermore, note that the great majority of military casualties came from the male, 17-30 age group, so there was no baby boom following WW I. Despite the fact that WW II killed more than 6x the number of WW I, if you go up to the Tooele Cemetery you will see that the monument contains nearly as many name for WW I as for WW II.



Some examples of combat losses



Battle of the Somne, 1st of Jul to 13th of Nov 1916: 624,000 casualties Allied Powers and 595,0000 casualties Central Powers. The English alone lost 58,000 on the first day, with roughly 1/3 killed outright. The opening day of the battle on 1 July 1916 was the single, highest one-day combat loss in the history of the British Army. Because of the composition of the British Army, at this point a (regional) volunteer force with many battalions comprising men from specific local areas, these losses had a profound social impact and have given the battle a lasting cultural legacy in Britain. The casualties also had a tremendous social impact on the Dominion of Newfoundland, as a large percentage of the Newfoundland men that had volunteered to serve were lost that first day.



Gallipoli, 15 Dec 1915: ~250,000 casualties on each side (UK and Turks). That's a total of half a million men.



1st Ypres, 19th of Oct to the 22nd of Nov 1914: ~135000 casualties on each side, 15-20% outright dead. In German, "Kindermord bei Ypern" = "Massacre of the Innocents of Ypres" due to the large % of recruits and reservists in that battle.



2nd Ypres, 22nd of Apr to 25th of May 1915: ~70,000 Allies, ~35,000 Central



During the Second Battle of Ypres a Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2 May, 1915 by an exploding shell. His friend, a Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae, was asked to conduct the burial service owing to the chaplain being called away on duty elsewhere. It is believed that later that evening John began the draft for his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'.



In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.



We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.



Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.


Hence the British observance of Remembrance or Poppy Day.

Remembering 04Jun2011

I know it may be crazy and overly sentimental but that is me, maybe I really am a true sap at heart.

Here is some of what I read to my sweetheart at our ring ceremony:

James,

These hands that hold yours on our wedding day, the day when we promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever, these are the hands of your best friend, full of love for you. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together we build our future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countlesstimes wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold our children. These are the hands that will help you to hold our family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

I love my darling husband and am so thankful to our Father in Heaven for all of the tears, all of the heartache all of the love and all of the joy that has brought me to be James' wife.

Please go and share your love with someone today!

Me and My Dad

Me and My Daddio, walking towards my future with James. It is truely amazing how most of the good qualities I have found in James, I already knew about because my dad showed them to me all my life. He is a great man and a wonderful father. He has taught me so much about the love of Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of the Atonement. Now I have a wonderful husband who continues to teach me and show me what real love means, what being an eternal companion is all about!

More Wedding Pictures

Married

On 04June 2011 I was sealed to the most beautiful man ever! James and I have been right for each other from the start. I never knew he was really out there, someone who could really love me for me, really laugh at what i think is funny and smile and be happy with me. He exemplifies everything that I have ever wanted and most importantly everything that Heavenly Father has wanted for me.

So here goes girls.. Don't EVER settle. I am 36 years old and have never been married. I always thought that I needed to change my corkieness or that I needed to be better. Ok, sure, there are things in my life that I have worked really hard on but I did't have to change, just refine some of my weaknesses. Through the power of the atonement, I have been able to make weak things strong. So the take home is, work on yourself, refine yourself but love yourself for you are the way Heavenly Father made you and he has someone out there for you, for EACH of you. Don't give up, don't loose Faith in yourself or in Heavenly Father. Pray for your Eternal Companion and don't ever give up or settle for less!

Ok I'll get off my soap box now...

It was such a glorious event! Thank you to EVERYONE!

Wedding Prep

Wedding Plans are in full swing! I have not put any pictures of my ring out there for anyone to see yet, so here you go. I don't know if you can see it really well but I love it! When we went "jewlery" shopping, James and the sales clerk kept pointing out all of these rings that ere just way too big! When I spotted this one, the sparkle caught my eye! It came with a matching wedding band so how perfect could it be. Know, I worry because we all know just how destracted I become with shiny things and wow does this sparkle! I love it. Sometimes when I am at work, like ifI am lecturing infront of my students, I will catch a glymps of the shiny thing on my finger and it just makes me smile so much. I love James. He was so sweet with his perposal. He took me to the spot where we had our first date and got down on one knee and said all this mushy romantic stuff and then he pulled out the ring, and remember i get destracted by shiny things. So after he put it on my finger and stood up, I put my hands on the side of his head and said"wait, James, I want to make sure, I did say yes, right? Cause I say YES! YES! YES!" it was a bit funny!

The dress, ok, come on girls we all try to deny it but when we are getting married, after we have found the perfect man, it is ALL ABOUT THE DRESS! Here is a little shot of my dress. This was the second time I tried it on. When I put it on for the first time, it felt so right, so like me! I have to have a little bit here and there altered but not much, mostly in the shoulders! I did go and try on other dresses but did not feel the same, so I went back to Kathleen's Bridal (funny right, kathleens's see it is perfect) tried it on again and I almost felt as good in it as on my first date with James when he gave me this look across the table and I totally melted! Oh yeah June 4th bring it on!

We willbe sealed in the Bountiful temple on June 4th! I am so EXCITED! We are having a ring ceremony and a reception in Tooele the same day.

I am so grateful to have found James! I know that Heavenly Fathers has much bigger and better plans for each of us then we have for ourselves. HE really KNOWS each of us BETTER then we know ourselves. He gives us what we need at exactly the time we need it. I spent so may hours on my knees in prayer with my Father in heaven, crying out to him for my eternal companion. In those times of sorrow, I was ALWAYS comforted but the ache for my love never left. I am so amazed and humbled by the love Heavenly Father has for each of His children!

This new phase in my life is going to be terrific! I am so thankful for all of my family and friends that are able to fly so far to come and join James and I in such a celebration! I also am so grateful to all who cannot come in person but send their prayers and love! I really feel all of the out pouring of prayer for my union with James.

Thank you All

Catch up:

I have been so busy. If that an excuse for not writing for almost a year? Ok, maybe not! Life is good! Since March, I have had lots to do and talk about .....where to begin?...

So In early spring, I did some PR work at the motor raceway in Tooele. I know some of you would be saying"that Kathleen she is so good, always helping" Well truth be told, I found out that James ( he is the one running from the camera, on the right) was going to be there too and I have had a crush on him for about six months before and hadn't had the guts to talk to him.

So I did talk to him during our hours at the booth and WOW, i made a total fool of myself. (I'm sure you are all thinking"whats new about that". So I got his number and called him. I asked him if he would be my "desicnated Mormon" and escort me to a choir concert on temple square. Thankfully he agreed. If you ask him to tell the story, it will be a little different! He says that he constantly was inviting me to go to church with him. Which is totally true but I don't think he really understood the ramifications of being a single guy bringing a "new girl' to church!

I have also been working ALOT! I have traveled to Indiana and to Nebraska during the heat of summer!

But I have also been able to have alot of fun too! James and I got to see my fav family! We had such a good time on pioneer day! it was so special to be able to see Jed play the organ in the conference center!

The holidays were wonderful! James and I went back to Virginia and got to see mostly all of the family for thanksgiving. Christmas was very nice and simple we stayed at home and made our first Christmas Goose! Yeah I know I helped cook a goose with the bones still in!

All and all life is good, I can't complain! I sure hope everyone is enjoying the beginings of 2011!

Ma's House

Remember all of the Bird houses and bird feeders..... Oh and the flowers and trees!

I wonder what the record is for the number of people we could fit on the lawn glider?

Here is the side veiw, Such an inviting porch! I sure loved sitting out inthe yeard with all the children playing, just chatting or listening to the birds!

This house has been home to so many for a lot of years. This house and the fantastic person who lived in it are both physically gone now, but will always be remembered as the rock in our family. It is now our responsibilities to make all of our homes a rock for all to enter and feel the love of Jesus Christ. We all have our faults and weaknesses but when we add the love of our Father in Heaven and the Strength of our family, we are a fortress to be reckoned with! I love each and every one of my family members, EVERYONE brings something to strengthen our love and commitment to each other and to bettering the world!

One special sweet soul, my Ma!

This is my "Ma". She is actually a lot of people's " Ma". My Ma passed away this last week. I have no doubt that the love, care, friendship, service, and strong hold that she gave each of us here on earth, she is giving to all the people she has so dearly missed and those she will get to know now that she has moved on. I have such fond memories of my Ma, just sitting and talking with her was always a treat! She gave the best hugs! Made the best biscuits and shared the love of Christ with everyone.

Here she is with one of my great aunts, sure had a good time that visit. Do you see that smile on her face, I can only imagine how big of a smile she has now. Some people think it is selfish for me to miss her, but isn't there a difference in missing her and wanting her here. She has moved on to grow and progress further in her relationship with our Father in Heaven. I will forever be grateful for the time we had together on this earth and I look forward to seeing her again when it is my turn to pass on. I love my Heavenly Father for allowing such a strong soul to be on this earth for so long, she lived a very good 91years! The greatest gift she ever gave me was teaching me that the Love of Christ is for everyone no matter what you have done, there is healing in His Arms, through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can all repent and be healed, permanently. I love you Ma!

In Loving Memory

Oh to my Pig:
Well it is the end of a great era, Curly my beloved pig is no more, he has finally made it to stuff animal heaven, maybe he and my dog are now reunited, she sure did love trying to chew him up!!! He was the last in a long line of pigs, there was mamma and baby ham, there was snot nose, gosh so many pigs!!! Now Robious and River can fight over him!

He was a great pig!

I'll miss that not so curly tail!