Kevin, Bekah, and Crew
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Twenty-Eight
Kevin's 28th birthday is on Saturday, the 18th, and I am already excited. We have simply plans with friends, nothing fancy. But we will spend it with friends, and for that, I am looking forward to the weekend. As I was looking through old pictures last night, I found some from an Angles game Kevin and I went to last year. As we got ready to go into the park I began snapping pictures of my husband. I have always though he was handsome. Even from the first time I saw him in the eight o'clock history class in 2001. His hair was big, and little crazy, but he was cute. Even now in these cheesy sunglasses I bought him, I find him so attractive. And he's all mine!
Just Different
This has been a very unique Easter for me. A first in many ways. My family came down to visit and stay with me during my brother's spring break. So last Saturday, my mother, brother, and their dog, Abby, picked up my grandmother and Sparky in Bakersfield and headed down to my house. Then my dad flew in on Tuesday night after teaching his class at the seminary. So most of the week we had six people, two dogs, and the occasional 9 month old. Our house was quite full! But about a year ago, God blessed us with a very nice house that accommodates the crowd quite comfortably. My family always earn their keep while I go to work. My brother looked after the dogs all week cleaning up their mess almost every day. My grandmother cleaned my kitchen and polished all my silver. My mother did my laundry. Dad always does odd jobs around the house. And everyone made wonderful food all week. It was like having live in help for the week.
But on Friday, everyone left, it was quiet, and Kevin and I began to prepare our hearts and minds for Good Friday. Our church doesn't have a building, and we are still trying to find unique ways to bring our "body" together. Most small groups met together on Friday night to watch the DVD the Sandals staff had put together. The point was to remember how tragic Jesus death was to those who lived through it. Everything crumbled for the followers. Everything they had put their hope and faith in seemed lost. God gave his son to earth, knowing he would die. We were asked to put ourselves in the shoes of Joseph or Aramathia to try to feel what he may have been feeling.
Throughout the DVD, we were asked to remember what grief was like. Having really only experienced grief once, I remembered my friend Guin. It was like I was reliving that week once again. Getting the phone call from Guin's grandma at work. The shock. The disbelief. I couldn't believe she was really gone. Feeling numb. The anger at Guin. The anger and guilt of not doing more, not being a better friend. Bethany and I even joked that she had gotten caught up in something dangerous and was actually in a witness protection program out in Phoenix. But even with the closed casket, we knew. She was gone. I've said it before; it doesn't get better, just different.
Then I tried to turn those feelings to identify with the disciples. They had spent every day with Christ. And even though he told them he would die and return on the third day, they didn't understand. How stupid they probably felt on Saturday. Thinking they had been fooled. Their faith completely shaken, not even know what to believe or where to turn.
Then there was Sunday. When Christ returns, raised from the dead. When the stone was rolled away, not so Christ could come out, but to show he was not there. The living was not among the dead. But his death was real. And he was then, and is still, alive. I have seen many funerals, and like Guin, they did not come back to life. We try to make funerals a happy time; remembering the good times, and celebrating when our family and friends are with Christ, but funerals are still sad. It is a loss. But today is a true celebration. Christ is alive. He is risen from the dead. It marks the beginning of a new time. Where we can come to God directly. Where a sacrifice has been made on our behalf. We are no longer tied to the old law. We have a new covenant.
Today in church, we all pulled confetti poppers indicating a true celebration. It was cheesy, but it made me smile. It was a good celebration.
But on Friday, everyone left, it was quiet, and Kevin and I began to prepare our hearts and minds for Good Friday. Our church doesn't have a building, and we are still trying to find unique ways to bring our "body" together. Most small groups met together on Friday night to watch the DVD the Sandals staff had put together. The point was to remember how tragic Jesus death was to those who lived through it. Everything crumbled for the followers. Everything they had put their hope and faith in seemed lost. God gave his son to earth, knowing he would die. We were asked to put ourselves in the shoes of Joseph or Aramathia to try to feel what he may have been feeling.
Throughout the DVD, we were asked to remember what grief was like. Having really only experienced grief once, I remembered my friend Guin. It was like I was reliving that week once again. Getting the phone call from Guin's grandma at work. The shock. The disbelief. I couldn't believe she was really gone. Feeling numb. The anger at Guin. The anger and guilt of not doing more, not being a better friend. Bethany and I even joked that she had gotten caught up in something dangerous and was actually in a witness protection program out in Phoenix. But even with the closed casket, we knew. She was gone. I've said it before; it doesn't get better, just different.
Then I tried to turn those feelings to identify with the disciples. They had spent every day with Christ. And even though he told them he would die and return on the third day, they didn't understand. How stupid they probably felt on Saturday. Thinking they had been fooled. Their faith completely shaken, not even know what to believe or where to turn.
Then there was Sunday. When Christ returns, raised from the dead. When the stone was rolled away, not so Christ could come out, but to show he was not there. The living was not among the dead. But his death was real. And he was then, and is still, alive. I have seen many funerals, and like Guin, they did not come back to life. We try to make funerals a happy time; remembering the good times, and celebrating when our family and friends are with Christ, but funerals are still sad. It is a loss. But today is a true celebration. Christ is alive. He is risen from the dead. It marks the beginning of a new time. Where we can come to God directly. Where a sacrifice has been made on our behalf. We are no longer tied to the old law. We have a new covenant.
Today in church, we all pulled confetti poppers indicating a true celebration. It was cheesy, but it made me smile. It was a good celebration.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Toy Story Love
Kevin and I are really enjoying our Disneyland passes. Me more than him. But if I buy the guy a corn dog and a coke, he is happy.
Toy Story Mania is probably our favorite attraction. It really is a lot of fun, as long as the line is not ridiculous.
Kevin always beats me though. Usually by quite a bit. I try to tell him it is because I didn't fry my brain on video games as a child, but we both know that wouldn't matter. I'm not even good at the Online Toy Story Mania. We have a good time when we go. This last time I won the Beaver. I laughed and laughed.
So after Kevin gloats about winning, I took him over to the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.
I am much better at this game and haven't lost to him yet. Although, he may have figured out my secret when we got stuck on the ride the last time. I'm sure he'll have another chance to beat me next time.
Toy Story Mania is probably our favorite attraction. It really is a lot of fun, as long as the line is not ridiculous.
Kevin always beats me though. Usually by quite a bit. I try to tell him it is because I didn't fry my brain on video games as a child, but we both know that wouldn't matter. I'm not even good at the Online Toy Story Mania. We have a good time when we go. This last time I won the Beaver. I laughed and laughed.
So after Kevin gloats about winning, I took him over to the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.
I am much better at this game and haven't lost to him yet. Although, he may have figured out my secret when we got stuck on the ride the last time. I'm sure he'll have another chance to beat me next time.
Plain White T's
Apparently The Plain White T's have been around for a while, I just had no idea who they were. I don't follow music much, I simply listen to whatever is on the radio. But this song is being played more and more, and I absolutely love it! It has the accoustical sound similar to what I think would sound like the Beatles or even the Wonders!
One, two
One, two, three, four
Give me more lovin' then I've ever had
Make it all better when I'm feelin' sad
Tell me that I'm special
Even when I know I'm not
Make me feel good when I hurt so bad
Barely gettin' mad
I'm so glad I found you
I love bein' around you
You make it easy
It's as easy as one, two
One, two, three, four
There's only one thing to do
Three words for you
(I love you)
I love you
There's only one way to say
Those three words
That's what I'll do
(I love you)
I love you
Give me more lovin' from the very start
Piece me back together when I fall apart
Tell me things
You never even tell your closest friends
Make me feel good when I hurt so bad
Best that I've had
I'm so glad I found you
I love bein' around you
You make it easy
It's as easy as one, two
One, two, three, four
There's only one thing to do
Three words for you
(I love you)
I love you
There's only one way to say
Those three words
That's what I'll do
(I love you)
I love you
(I love you)
I love you
You make it easy
It's as easy as one, two
One, two, three, four
There's only one thing to do
Three words for you
(I love you)
I love you
One, two
One, two, three, four
Give me more lovin' then I've ever had
Make it all better when I'm feelin' sad
Tell me that I'm special
Even when I know I'm not
Make me feel good when I hurt so bad
Barely gettin' mad
I'm so glad I found you
I love bein' around you
You make it easy
It's as easy as one, two
One, two, three, four
There's only one thing to do
Three words for you
(I love you)
I love you
There's only one way to say
Those three words
That's what I'll do
(I love you)
I love you
Give me more lovin' from the very start
Piece me back together when I fall apart
Tell me things
You never even tell your closest friends
Make me feel good when I hurt so bad
Best that I've had
I'm so glad I found you
I love bein' around you
You make it easy
It's as easy as one, two
One, two, three, four
There's only one thing to do
Three words for you
(I love you)
I love you
There's only one way to say
Those three words
That's what I'll do
(I love you)
I love you
(I love you)
I love you
You make it easy
It's as easy as one, two
One, two, three, four
There's only one thing to do
Three words for you
(I love you)
I love you
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
American Soldier
The NBC Nightly News has been doing a spot every night called Making A Difference. Last night they section was Restoring Hope to a Fallen Soldiers Family. It recognized Grateful Nation Montana; an organization formed for the specific purpose of facilitating college educations for the
children of soldiers killed while on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. The family NBC recognized last night was a soldier's wife, 24 years old, with two small children. It was a beautiful story that still has me crying. He was so young, and the children are so young, they may not actually have memories of their father. It broke my heart. It was very nice to see organizations like Grateful Nation Montana. Working in Financial Aid, I know that the government has also taken steps to look out for these children as well.
The reporter mentioned that Montana has the highest soldier death rate of any state in the union. I started my google search to find out why and discovered Montana has the highest recruiting rates in the nation. Natives of the state claim it has to do with the deep values rooted in the people of the state. However, the higher the enlistment, the higher the death rate. The ironic flip side (I think it's ironic) is that D.C. has the lowest recruiting rate.
However, as I read other articles, I began to find more and more articles about soldiers returning with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or major depression resulting from combat. Last year, the Army reported 143 suicides, the highest number since the Army began keeping records in 1980. Close to 150 suicides in the Army alone! Again, tears streamed from my eyes. Soldiers actually come home from combat alive only to be facing their own mental war and decide they can no longer fight it. How awful. I'm crying again just as I think about it. I found an article in the Great Fall Tribune about a bill on its way through Congress that would provide support to identify mental stress and help soldiers overcome it. It reflected on the neglect we as a nation gave our soldiers after the Vietnam Conflict/War, hoping to prevent the same from happening to this current generation.
As I read on I saw Montana stepped up to the plate again. Currently, states have different mental health assessment procedures for returning combat troops. Some soldiers are asked to fill out questionnaires self-identifying their problems, while others receive face-to-face counseling. Only Montana conducts face-to-face screenings for the full two years after deployment, then adds a mental health component to the physical exam given each soldier each year.
Montana also identified the importance of keeping soldiers together after they return home as a unique sort of support group. In some states, soldiers returning from combat are given the first 90 days off, but Guard in Montana has begun bringing soldiers and their families together in civilian clothes at a convention center where they can socialize together, but also attend seminars on such things as marriage enrichment, anger management, personal finance, and learning how to drive as civilians again. I had never even thought about teaching soldiers how to be a civilian again.
Go Montana! I hope the program is successful and shows the rest of the country what can be done to support our returning soldiers.
children of soldiers killed while on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. The family NBC recognized last night was a soldier's wife, 24 years old, with two small children. It was a beautiful story that still has me crying. He was so young, and the children are so young, they may not actually have memories of their father. It broke my heart. It was very nice to see organizations like Grateful Nation Montana. Working in Financial Aid, I know that the government has also taken steps to look out for these children as well.The reporter mentioned that Montana has the highest soldier death rate of any state in the union. I started my google search to find out why and discovered Montana has the highest recruiting rates in the nation. Natives of the state claim it has to do with the deep values rooted in the people of the state. However, the higher the enlistment, the higher the death rate. The ironic flip side (I think it's ironic) is that D.C. has the lowest recruiting rate.
However, as I read other articles, I began to find more and more articles about soldiers returning with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or major depression resulting from combat. Last year, the Army reported 143 suicides, the highest number since the Army began keeping records in 1980. Close to 150 suicides in the Army alone! Again, tears streamed from my eyes. Soldiers actually come home from combat alive only to be facing their own mental war and decide they can no longer fight it. How awful. I'm crying again just as I think about it. I found an article in the Great Fall Tribune about a bill on its way through Congress that would provide support to identify mental stress and help soldiers overcome it. It reflected on the neglect we as a nation gave our soldiers after the Vietnam Conflict/War, hoping to prevent the same from happening to this current generation.
As I read on I saw Montana stepped up to the plate again. Currently, states have different mental health assessment procedures for returning combat troops. Some soldiers are asked to fill out questionnaires self-identifying their problems, while others receive face-to-face counseling. Only Montana conducts face-to-face screenings for the full two years after deployment, then adds a mental health component to the physical exam given each soldier each year.
Montana also identified the importance of keeping soldiers together after they return home as a unique sort of support group. In some states, soldiers returning from combat are given the first 90 days off, but Guard in Montana has begun bringing soldiers and their families together in civilian clothes at a convention center where they can socialize together, but also attend seminars on such things as marriage enrichment, anger management, personal finance, and learning how to drive as civilians again. I had never even thought about teaching soldiers how to be a civilian again.
Go Montana! I hope the program is successful and shows the rest of the country what can be done to support our returning soldiers.
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