Veterans Day the small town way

The kids and I headed out of town to spend the weekend with my parents.  I just wasn't feeling it as far as my Veteran's Day breakfast was concerned.  I wanted to do something more intimate with my dad, a Veteran himself.

After arriving, I quickly ran over to my sister's house where I had gotten several things to make badges to wear on Veterans Day.  We assembled them and were ready to wear them the next day.

After breakfast my parents and I agreed to go to the Veteran Memorial Park there in town.  I wanted to see it. I wanted my children to see it.  When we arrived at the park, a program was just beginning.  I stood there with my children as I watched many veterans including my dad salute the flag.  We heard songs, and thoughts, and heard the 21 gun salute.  We had a moment of peace for the fallen veterans.  It was beautiful.  I had given my dad his hat to wear that day if he wanted to.  Other vets were wearing hats, or uniforms.  One old veteran had a hat saying he was an ex prisoner of war.  We walked around the different memorials and I saw many family members names.  I was proud of them and their service.  I had explained to the kids that this was a place of reverence and respect.  They were good and just walked around watching, listening, and experiencing what I wanted them to. We got a picture of us with my dad by the Vietnam Memorial since it was that time when he served.

Later that day, we met my parents for lunch along with my siblings to surprise my dad.  We didn't want to embarrass him, but to honor our very own hero.  I wanted all of my brothers and sisters to remember him.  We had a nice lunch and then we headed home.

While driving away I reflected on our day.  The program at the park, the kids excited to wear their badges, flag lined streets, and lunch with my dad, my hero.  For SO many reasons!  I love you Dad.  Thank you for being who you are, what you stand for, what you have always stood for, being a great example of patriotism.

So grateful we made the trip to celebrate Veterans Day the small town way.

Making my dad's hat

I'll be heading to my parents tomorrow morning with the kids in honor of Veteran's Day.  My dad is a Veteran and one of my biggest heroes.  I wanted to get him a hat that he could wear but I couldn't find one at the last minute.  So, I decided to customize a hat that I had found.  Here's how it works:

1. Get a piece of freezer paper and hold it up to the computer screen and trace whatever picture or words you want on your fabric.  Then cut it out with scissors or a razor blade thingy.  haha

2.  Then you're going to iron your template onto the fabric with the shiny side down.

 3.  Use fabric paint and paint in your stencil.  I remove the stencil almost immediately after I'm done painting so that it comes up really clean.

4.  There you go.  Your very own one of a kind hat, shirt, whatever.  It's awesome!!

Veteran's Day 2012

We had ten Veterans over for breakfast today.  Makes me so happy.  We had a yummy breakfast, each of the Veterans introduced themselves and told when they served, their responsibilities and their thoughts on being a Veteran.  I loved it.  I cried each time I got up to speak.  That's okay though.  My own dad was able to be with us today.  What an honor to have him at my thing.  He's my biggest hero.  :)  I love you dad.

This week my mind has been all over the place.  I was excited for the opportunity to vote on Tuesday.  It was election day.  The candidates for president were Mitt Romney and President Barrack Obama.  I was nervous throughout the day and could hardly even watch the television to see the results.  When I heard that President Obama was re-elected, my heart sank.  My own kids were telling me that they had no need to go to medical school now and that they were just going to be _______.  I worried about my future, my family's future, our country's future.  I wondered if I was even proud to be an American.  But then I watched the following movie our family made for the Veterans this year and I had a change of heart.  I love our country.  I love those that have served or are currently serving our country.  I love our forefathers and those before me that have sacrificed so much for me to have the life I have in America.  I need to have faith.  God bless the USA!!!

Veteran's Day...MY way

Remember that big cuarenta-era I was going to have this year?  I had big visions of a gorgeous dress along with all my friends and family at a Ball for my 40th birthday.  But...I grew up in the last few months.  I couldn't see spending all that money frivolously when I could do something really great and for a better cause.  So, I decided to go bigger and better on recognizing our Veterans this year.

I've spent days getting ready for today.  I have a perma-grin on my face right now.  I'm so happy.  It was so much better than the perfect dress.  The kids and I served breakfast to eight Veterans/Heroes and their families.  We had eighteen guests over this morning.

We rolled out the red carpet* for our Veteran's this morning.  Had our new flag hanging on the front of the house.  Had a welcome sign with balloons upon arrival.  And 54 long stemmed red roses around.

(Kind of feel like the Von Trapp family with the picture above.  House.  7 kids.  Flag of our Nation on the front of our house.  Makes me happy.)

We had an amazing breakfast!  I can't wait for lunch to eat it all over again.  We had cran-apple juice, mint hot chocolate, fresh berries and pineapple, bacon, the most amazing frittata (thanks E), lemon poppy seed muffins, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and all bran muffins.

We compiled a book for each Veteran with thoughts and thank yous from each family member.  Here are my thoughts:

"Dear Veterans,
From the time I was a little girl, I have loved those that have served our country.  I grew up having a dad that was drafted in the army and other family members that had enlisted or were also drafted for different wars.  I remember hearing their stories.  They were heroes to me.  As the years have gone by, my appreciation and love has grown for all Veterans and what they represent.  Freedom, safety, pride, gratitude, sacrifice, and patriotism.  It's important for me to teach my children to recognize and remember the Veterans of The United States of America.  This past year I have interviewed and questioned all of my family Veterans and have compiled a book for each of my children.  I cannot let them forget you.  You are the heroes that I teach my children about.  We talk about you often.  None of you are any less important than the next Veteran.  We have needed all of you.  We have the lives we have, because of you.  You are not forgotten!


Thank you so much for serving the country that I love.  Happy Veteran's Day."

We recognized each Veteran individually and then had them tell what branch they served in and when.  I expressed my thanks to each of them and told them when and why I learned to love our Veterans the way I do.

The kids and I sang "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood.  It was hard fighting back the tears.  I love that song and so do my boys.  They were singing at the top of their lungs.  Even little g who has become a great reader this year was singing out with such pride.

Each Veteran and family member thanked me several times.  They were so grateful.  I'm so grateful.

I can't wait for next year.  It will be bigger and better still.  I'll be looking for more Veteran Heroes all year.

I'm going to go collapse now.  With a smile on my face of course.  Then in a couple of hours, we'll do our visits to those that couldn't come this morning and call our family Veterans.

*I bought three runners and three quart cans of red latex paint and got to painting them last night.  G and I took turns using the paint roller to get them done.  We were quite thrilled with how they turned out.  After all is said and done, I need one more for next year.  Oh ya, don't pay attention to the walkway.  Hard lesson learned.  Don't pay the worker until they are DONE with the project.

You're not forgotten

C is in the nation's capital today.  I've had this unexplainable feeling of reverence all day knowing that he is in Washington D.C.and Arlington, VA.   I love that city.  Actually, all that it means to those of us that love the United States of America.  And I do! 

I think of my eighteen year old son walking from one memorial to the next.  Hoping that he's taking it all in and appreciating all that we have as Americans.  Hoping that I've taught him to love our country and veterans enough.  Hoping that he too has those feelings of reverence as he witnesses for himself the different war memorials, monuments, grave sites, past presidents, and possibly the flag that inspired, "The Star Spangled Banner". 

Actually, I found myself crying earlier today in the Marshall's parking lot thinking about those that have served our country.  I can't wait to hear about C's experience there.

A year ago I made the announcement that I was going to have a quarenta-era on my birthday this year. I know I told you to be looking for your dresses, but I've had a change of heart.   I'm learning that I'm evolving and that becoming 40 is wonderful in so many ways that we don't hear about.  I do love a gorgeous dress, glam, and dress up.  But as much as I loved the quinceñera dress that triggered that whole thing, I'm dreaming of something larger.  Something more meaningful.  Something that really is me at this point in my life and that I want to pass down for generations to come.

I've interviewed my family veterans this year.  I've so enjoyed it.  I've learned things that I've never known.  I've gotten an even greater appreciation for those that serve.  I feel like I need to make others aware of those that have served or are serving our country.  My children and I always remember our family veterans each Veteran's Day.  But I can do more.  WE can do more.  It's about making others aware.  Remembering them so that they're not forgotten.  Remembering our country and how freedom isn't free.

I'm going to be doing something great for Veteran's Day instead.  I'm thrilled.  Start now and think about those veterans in your life.  Think about how you can remember them and how you can create awareness for those that have served and not just think of it as a "day off".

Care to join me and my family on my "40th" celebration?  I'll be celebrating my 40th becoming me on Veteran's Day, November 11th.  Let me know if you're in.  Let me know if you can help.  Let me know if you're willing to create awareness for those that have helped keep our country free. 

Thank you Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and all those that have served our country or helped other nations.  My son is there today and has seen your memorials.  I can't help but remember the time I walked through history fourteen years ago when I was there and the feelings I had as I stood in front of each memorial.  It was much more than just seeing the statues, the buildings, the grave sites, and the monuments.  I felt a certain reverence.  An appreciation.  A feeling of gratitude.  A longing to return someday.  I will.  But today, it is my son's turn.  I'm so grateful that he has this opportunity to see one of the neatest things one can ever witness and experience.

You're not forgotten.

Living amongst heroes

I'm sitting here wanting to share my thoughts, but I just can't seem to find the right words. (THAT, is an understatement! I've written and re-written this umpteen jillion times.) The more I think about it, the more tears run down my face.

Tomorrow the kids and I will be making our usual Veteran's Day phone calls to our family members and friends that have served our country. We'll sing our simple song and then thank them for their service and sacrifice, and that we remember them. Those that live close by, we'll make personal visits, give them letters and we're adding homemade cookies this year.

As I was talking to G and J this past week about the coming holiday, G made a comment that still has me dumb founded. It caught me off guard and really made me think. We were talking about our Veteran heroes and the fact that C had just turned 18. C has wondered when he'll be receiving his "drafting" papers. I feel dumb saying this, but I didn't know that they still did that. Anyway...G overheard the conversation one day and then asked me about it another. In a rather disappointed voice he said, "If you have to go to jail rather than be drafted, that isn't free. I thought we were a free country!"

A flood of emotions came over me and that's when I knew that cooking dinner had to go on hold. I could hear in his voice that he was upset with that. I needed to silence or rather educate him so that he wouldn't grow up in ignorance or even worse, not appreciate the Veterans that I have had such a special feeling for all my life. I knew that I had a teaching opportunity in front of me. I knew that I had a real opportunity to teach patriotism to my son. It wasn't just about making phone calls and cookies anymore. It was about teaching my son about true sacrifices, the fact that freedom isn't free and how we are taught in the scriptures by Moroni to defend our country, our people, our rights, our religion, and to defend liberty.

Suddenly, all of my family heroes became super heroes in my eyes. Not once have I ever heard any of them complain about their freedom taken from them when they were drafted. I only know of some of the sacrifices that each of them made. I'll never know them all. No one can ever know anyone's entire story. I've seen some with emotional and physical scars as a result of serving in different wars and how it's taken a toll on their lives. Yet, they proudly stand as Veterans. They are remarkable, selfless, and humble people. These people are what patriotism is all about.

So to each of my family Veterans. Thank you. Thank you for your years of service. Thank you for putting your lives on hold. Thank you for teaching me to love this country. Thank you for being you and the way that you have conducted yourselves as a U.S. Veteran my entire life. YOU, are my heroes. I love you! As a mother of seven children and a daughter of a U.S. Veteran, I will continue to teach my children about the costs of remaining free. They too will know of each family Veteran hero. They will grow up having a love and appreciation for each one of you. Your service will not be in vain. You will not be forgotten.

To my friends and others that have served and are now serving our country today...Thank you. Thank you for taking such great pride in the work that you do. Thank you for defending our country and helping others. Thank you for making the many sacrifices that have and continue to do. Thank you for being willing to live far from family, leaving your own families for long periods of time or in a moments notice, seeing what we don't see and keeping us free back home. Our family loves and appreciates you.

It's wonderful to know that we live amongst heroes.

Happy Veterans Day!

Remembering our Veterans

Oh, I loved today. I love every Veteran's Day. I wish it were more than just one day a year. Seriously, we should recognize them more than that!

For Family Home Evening we discussed what we would do for our Vets this year. We had a good discussion. We told the children of their own family members that had served in various branches of the military. We pointed out the sacrifices that each of them had made for each one of us.

I've had a special place in my heart for Veterans ever since I can remember. I remember hearing a story when I was young about a young man that had served in the Vietnam War. When upon returning home his older brother was then drafted to the Vietnam War. Having known what the war was about and the horror having seen it first hand, returned to Vietnam in his brother's place so that his older brother wouldn't have to go to war to see and experience all that he had.

That Vietnam vet was my uncle. He went back so that my dad wouldn't have to. Can you even imagine? I can't. He's been a hero in my eyes for years. That war changed his life. He's struggled, but I've always loved him. I've been his number one fan.

We did our usual calls to our family vets today. They were cute. My aunt kidded that she sat around all day waiting for us to call and sing to her. That made me happy. Love you aunt Nae.

I wrote letters to veterans that have lived in our wards here. We delivered them with Rice Crispy Treat Kisses and sang "our" song. The kids thought it was torture and dumb. I reassured them that it made people's day to know that someone remembered them. I think it was the fact that they weren't hiding behind a phone. It was fun and I love our tradition.

So, my dad is a veteran. I couldn't call him seeing how he's in the MTC right now. That was hard. I so badly wanted to thank him for his service and sacrifice even more so than on his birthday or Christmas morning.

My dad was drafted in the army. He learned two languages. One he never used. He was sent far away with me and my mom when I was a baby. He served three years. THREE years. That's a lot to be drafted for when you're in the middle of schooling, serving a mission and newly married. When I think about his service and sacrifice I can't help but think of my mom too. It's not always just the vets that make that sacrifice.

So to you Dad and Mom, thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for the sacrifices that you made on behalf of our country. Thank you for NEVER saying a negative thing about it. What an example. What patriotism. It's through your example that I have learned to love my country and those that serve it. I'm trying to instill those same values in my children.

To all you vets or those that are serving our country today. I thank you. I thank you for your courage. I admire your willingness and dedication to serve our country. I appreciate the sacrifices that you and your families make on a daily basis so that our country remains free. I love your patriotism and how your wore or wear your uniform with pride.

I'm grateful. I'm blessed. I love our Vets!

Did you thank a vet today?

Remembering the Veterans

My handsome hubby, my grandpa, my dad, my uncle, my aunt, my hubby's grandpa and his uncle. They are MY heros!

So, today was a great day. The kids and I did our usual phone calls to our family members that have served in the armed forces. Some were drafted, some enlisted, some served in Vietnam and some gave back time in return for scholarships. We sing a little song we made up several years ago. It's simple and we sound terrible, but the kids count on it every year. This year, we didn't just do our family members. We called up several people from wards we've lived in and did the same thing. We went around the circle and each child expressed thanks in their own way after singing together. Then I thanked them personally and fought the tears as I expressed my gratitude for their years of service and sacrifice. Everyone really appreciated the calls and some admitted that they got "choked up". They just like being recognized. After all, it is Veteran's Day. Let's make sure we let them know we appreciate them. If it weren't for people like them, our country wouldn't be the wonderful country that it is today. To my family veterans, thank you.