(Photos courtesy of Dakotah.)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
It's finally finished!
I bought the material to make this suit more than two years ago. After a lot of frustration and a little screaming, it is finally finished and it turned out very well! Can't tell in the pictures but it's black with pink pinstripes. Note to self: never make anything with lapels again!!!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Visiting Austin
Sunday we go to the cemetery like we do every Sunday. As we drive down the lane I look for the place where my baby lies. I see his stuffed animals there as we left them. We stop on the side of the road. I get out and start walking toward my baby's grave. As I walk I glance around at the other baby graves. I'm almost to Austin's grave when I see a new marker. I walk over and look down at the little marker. I read the name and see that this baby lived a little while before he died.
My heart immediately goes out to the mother who only last week lost her son. I know how she feels, I know all the pain and sorrow and disbelief that she is feeling. I am full of sadness that someone else has to endure this suffering. I wonder about her. I wonder how she is doing at this moment.
I walk over to my baby's grave. I clean it off and shake the dirt from his animals. And I think. I think about the day I lost my baby. I think about how I felt to hold him in my arms and then to have him taken. I stare at his picture on his headstone and remember looking at him in my arms. I look from Austin's picture to Colby and search for some resemblance between them.
It's time to go. It's too cold to be out any longer. I look back at the new marker and I think that Austin has a new friend by him. We say goodbye to Austin and tell him we'll be back next week. I start to walk away but I pause and look back. I whisper, "I love you" one more time. I start to walk again, but again I pause and look over my shoulder at the place where I have laid my son. Finally, I get in the car. I watch Austin's grave as we drive away until I can't see it anymore. Until next week..........I love you.
My heart immediately goes out to the mother who only last week lost her son. I know how she feels, I know all the pain and sorrow and disbelief that she is feeling. I am full of sadness that someone else has to endure this suffering. I wonder about her. I wonder how she is doing at this moment.
I walk over to my baby's grave. I clean it off and shake the dirt from his animals. And I think. I think about the day I lost my baby. I think about how I felt to hold him in my arms and then to have him taken. I stare at his picture on his headstone and remember looking at him in my arms. I look from Austin's picture to Colby and search for some resemblance between them.
It's time to go. It's too cold to be out any longer. I look back at the new marker and I think that Austin has a new friend by him. We say goodbye to Austin and tell him we'll be back next week. I start to walk away but I pause and look back. I whisper, "I love you" one more time. I start to walk again, but again I pause and look over my shoulder at the place where I have laid my son. Finally, I get in the car. I watch Austin's grave as we drive away until I can't see it anymore. Until next week..........I love you.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Colby and Brenna...
...sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S........ oh wait, they are too young for that stuff. For now, Brenna will settle for taking toys away from Colby. Colby, try as he might, just can't get it back!
Monday, December 28, 2009
My Texas Trip Part Three: Off Base Sightseeing
Remember the Alamo!!
It's always exciting to be in the middle of history and imagine what happened
in the exact place I'm standing.
It's always exciting to be in the middle of history and imagine what happened
in the exact place I'm standing.
We went to the wax museum. (My dad trying to be tough.)
So can I say I've met Oprah?
Then we went to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum. Talk about some crazy stuff!!
Can you tell what this picture is made of? Look really close.
Can you tell what this picture is made of? Look really close.
It's made from toast.
How about Elvis? What is he made from?
How about Elvis? What is he made from?
Take a closer look.
Yeah, he's made entirely of real butterflies.
Do you think this real chicken head clock would look good in my living room?
This is made from sculpted sea shells.
Three eyed turtle....Believe it? Or Not?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
My TexasTrip Part Two: Life On An Air Force Base
Remember that I was so excited to go to Texas where it was warmer? Forget it!! A cold spell moved over them just in time for our trip. It was freezing outside and my brother's graduation was outside. We bundled up as best as we could but, yeah, we froze. After more than two hours outside my fingers no longer worked and I couldn't stop shivering. Colby was bundled up warmly in a couple blankets but he kept poking one hand out. He was warmer than anyone.
The graduation was an amazing sight, though. It was amazing to see hundreds of people moving in perfect formation. It was pretty impressive.
The first video is of my brother's flight passing for inspection. The second is of the entire mass moving forward together.
On the bus ride back from the parade grounds. The heater worked on the bus!
This is Blake's underwear rolled into neat, tight rolls with no wrinkles.
This drawer amused me. Blake had everything so precise and I teased him about how he had the items laid out. He said they had to be that way and showed me in his booklet a picture showing EXACTLY how to lay out the toiletries. Who decides this stuff? He said that they will check the inside of the toothpaste and his razor and if they are dirty he gets demerits.
Blake was made the Latrine Queen and was in charge of other trainees who had toilet detail. If the bathroom wasn't immaculate, Blake got in trouble for it. This is a big bathroom to have spotless every single day.
My niece Grace loved to push Colby around.
On Sunday we went to church with Blake at 7:00 am (that's Central time, folks! 5:00am where I live.) Very interesting! All the trainees were in their uniforms and didn't do much talking. I wouldn't either if I was getting yelled at all the time; I'd keep quiet, too. After the service, quite a few trainees came up to see Colby. You don't get a lot of babies on base. One trainee in particular zoomed right onto Colby and asked how old he was. I said he was seven months and the trainee started to cry. He said he had a five month old at home. We let him hold Colby to get a baby fix. Another trainee said he had a three WEEK old at home. He was just starting basic training.
It's hard for me to understand why people with families would want to join the military. I have seen how hard it is for my niece Gracie. I just don't understand. But being with my brother and being on the base has increased my sense of patriotism. I am proud of my brother and all other airmen that are sacrificing their lives for me, for my freedoms and beliefs. I may not get why they would want to do this (especially the women) but I am grateful that they are willing to do this. It was such an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I was able to go. I am glad to say that I am proud to be an American.
I love you, Blakie.
Coming soon: Part Three: Off-Base Sightseeing
The graduation was an amazing sight, though. It was amazing to see hundreds of people moving in perfect formation. It was pretty impressive.
The first video is of my brother's flight passing for inspection. The second is of the entire mass moving forward together.
My brother's flight is in the middle.
My brother's flight earned recognition as the Warrior Flight. They earned the most points of all the flights during BEAST week. (Which I guess lives up to its name.)
Blake is standing with the glasses on.
Blake is standing with the glasses on.
On the bus ride back from the parade grounds. The heater worked on the bus!
We got to have a little tour of Blake's dorm. I was fascinated by how precise everything (and I mean everything) has to be. You hear about it, but it was interesting to see it.
This is the inside of Blake's locker. Notice how the hangers are evenly spaced.
This is the inside of Blake's locker. Notice how the hangers are evenly spaced.
This is Blake's underwear rolled into neat, tight rolls with no wrinkles.
Blake's flashlight has to be center and flush with the edge.
Hat has to be on the left flush with the edge, too.
Hat has to be on the left flush with the edge, too.
This drawer amused me. Blake had everything so precise and I teased him about how he had the items laid out. He said they had to be that way and showed me in his booklet a picture showing EXACTLY how to lay out the toiletries. Who decides this stuff? He said that they will check the inside of the toothpaste and his razor and if they are dirty he gets demerits.
Blake's bed with his shoes neatly lined up.
Blake was made the Latrine Queen and was in charge of other trainees who had toilet detail. If the bathroom wasn't immaculate, Blake got in trouble for it. This is a big bathroom to have spotless every single day.
Airman Johnson
Around the parade grounds they had airplanes. (What else??) They had been retired from active duty.
Colby posing in front of an airplane. It was warm this day finally!
Colby posing in front of an airplane. It was warm this day finally!
My niece Grace loved to push Colby around.
This huge airplane kept taking off and landing around us. They are very loud and very big.
Colby's exhausted after all that walking!
On Sunday we went to church with Blake at 7:00 am (that's Central time, folks! 5:00am where I live.) Very interesting! All the trainees were in their uniforms and didn't do much talking. I wouldn't either if I was getting yelled at all the time; I'd keep quiet, too. After the service, quite a few trainees came up to see Colby. You don't get a lot of babies on base. One trainee in particular zoomed right onto Colby and asked how old he was. I said he was seven months and the trainee started to cry. He said he had a five month old at home. We let him hold Colby to get a baby fix. Another trainee said he had a three WEEK old at home. He was just starting basic training.
It's hard for me to understand why people with families would want to join the military. I have seen how hard it is for my niece Gracie. I just don't understand. But being with my brother and being on the base has increased my sense of patriotism. I am proud of my brother and all other airmen that are sacrificing their lives for me, for my freedoms and beliefs. I may not get why they would want to do this (especially the women) but I am grateful that they are willing to do this. It was such an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I was able to go. I am glad to say that I am proud to be an American.
I love you, Blakie.
Coming soon: Part Three: Off-Base Sightseeing
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