This is sooooo politically correct

Sarah's Getting Married

We are planning a wedding and its all about Sarah. The dress will be here today it just needs to be hemmed. The long list of "to do's" was completed on Tuesday. Sarah and Shea took care of all that stuff. Next week will be a week of fun, like the Bridal Shower on Thursday night. Anjee and Bill will be here to help with the shower and get ready for the wedding. All I have to do is cater the food. Wow, what was I thinking????? Me in the kitchen???? I must have drank too much....But, I guess the biggest question has been "what is the mom wearing?" Now, who really cares??? What I do know is that I will have great shoes with whatever I wear.

Oh what a night.....

It was an amazing night...the Oregon All Military Gala was held on Saturday, August 23rd at the Salem Conference Center. This event hosted six Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Gold Star families and several hundred Oregon military heroes. It was truly history in the making. Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Art Jackson, Richard Pittman, Roger Donlon, Rudy Hernandez, and Nicki Bacon came to Oregon as our honored guests. These men are amazing and they just keep giving to their country, with wisdom, patriotism, and honor.

SSgt Christian Bagge, US Army and Disabled veteran returned to the Oregon All Military Gala as our guest. Last year Christian was our guest speaker and we were awed by his heroism. This year Christian brought his beautiful wife, Melissa.

Anjee and Bill came home from Arizona to attend the Gala. Jeff Clippinger and Rich Cervantes also flew in to be part of the celebration. It was a night to celebrate "Real American Heroes" with "A Salute to Patriots" as the evening theme. Dinner and dancing were included, but among all this Military Royalty, who needs to eat....

I NEED A VACATION.....

It's my first day back to work and already I wish I could get away... Things piled up while I was away and I can hardly get into my office. On top of it all I forgot my office keys this morning and had to call security to open my door. They think its funny when I do things like that. They should have been around during my first five years when I would lose my car keys, run out of gas and sometimes get the "boot" because I hadn't paid my parking tickets. Yes, they give parking tickets at Chemeketa....and I even hear that they will turn you over to collection if you don't pay up. So, far I have been able to talk my way out of a big parking ticket bill.

This week will be HELL week. If you don't hear from me please contact Chemeketa Community College and let them know that I'm lost in the nursing labs.....:)

And, I'd rather be someplace near a nice warm beach....

We are finally home.....

What a great experience for us all. Billie was a trooper, putting up with the long trip to OK City and back. She weathered the trip literally, with harsh storms all the way home. Needless to say she was very happy to be home. Shea on the other hand is already planning for next years return visit. HMMMM, I'm thinking more that Cancun or Italy...........anyone game????? Maybe I will go by myself.

Here are a few more pictures of my amazing daughter....wouldn't her great grandfather be proud!

AQHYA WORLD SHOW UPDATE

Shea and Billie were a winning team at the world show. Unfortunately, the judges did not provide the scores that would have put them at the top. Here are a few pictures to share with you all. It has been a great time. On Shea's first day of showing she developed a wrenched back and even in dire pain she rode like a champ. Billie could sense that Shea wasn't herself and performed for both of them. We love her even more than before, it that is possible. Showmanship was awesome. It was a great pattern, but again after the judges watched all 197 competitors it was hard to remember the best. The good news is that Shea wants to come back next year for a return engagement.....she plans to bring pain meds for that trip....:)

WE ARE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.....

Today is Shea's first day to show. I'm sure it will be a long day since it is not expected that Horsemanship will begin until tonight. Shea's outfit still has not arrived, so even if it isn't until tomorrow that she shows we would be happy for a little more time. I will post pictures soon....stay tuned.

Too much to share about DC.....

Here are a few pictures of the momuments at the Capitol Mall. It was a very emotional trip. Maybe because I am so much more aware of the sacrifices we have made for freedom, for peace and for the world. I am proud to be an American, to have a son who is a US Marine, and for the opportunity to know so many amazing people who share this part of my life. Thank you to the Marines I love......

Washington DC

I had the most amazing trip to Washington D.C. It was much more than I ever would have imagined. I joined the Marine Parents United conference and we spent three days touring before the conference began on Friday evening. There is so much to share but I will begin with the greatest part and that is friends. For the past four years I have attended the conference and each year I reconnect with great friends, special because we share a common love for our Marines. This year is was great to reconnect, share and renew our friendships. But, I also got to meet new Marine parents, share and connect with the newbies. I remember those days of a total focus of where my Marine was, who he was with and fear for his safety. Being with these parents makes me so much more aware of how precious life is and how important we are to each other.

YOU GO GIRL!!!

My baby girl is off to the American Quarter Horse World Youth Show. Today they are in Colorado, Kansas and then Oklahoma. Billie is taking the trip like a pro. She is stubborn about drinking water during the ride, but seems to be doing great otherwise. This has been a great experience for Shea. They even ran out of gas in the middle of Utah....go figure, sounds like something her mom would do.

I will join her and her team on Saturday. I can hardly wait...who wouldn't want to go spend a weeks vacation in a hot. hummid and dusty horse show with high maintenance women.....who else but mom!!!

Monday is show day for Shea and Billie. So, stay tuned for an update.

Life is good, because God is good!

Today is a good day....a close friend reminds me that with God all things are possible. So, my days begin with honoring my blessings and they will end with the same. Thank you MWN for your passion for what is good and right. Stay motivated....

Like a needle in a hay stack....the right dress is hard to find

I have been looking, no SEARCHING for the right dress to wear to the Oregon All Military Gala for nearly a year. It has not been an easy task. I usually have something in mind and know exactly what I like and don't like. This year has been a bit more difficult. I thought a new diet would help, WRONG!! I didn't lose the extra 20 lbs (it used to be 10), and my workout schedule as been on hold. I can't tell you why, it just doesn't seem like there are enough hours in a day as it is, and then to use them walking through my beautiful neighborhood seems like a waste of time. It used to be relaxing and a time to think. Now I just hope and pray that I stop "thinking", it seems to get me into trouble.

So, back to the shopping dilemma. The dress!! I love all of these but none are the perfect one. So,this morning at 7:00am I arrived at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale with all those other early bird shoppers. And guess what!! I found it! Not my first choice but definitely a close second and its not black. So, now, what shoes do I wear?????

Kim this is for you!!!!

Kim and Scott Ellis are our extended family who live north of us. Monday night Shea and I had to make a fast run to Portland to try to find material for her new showmanship outfit. Well, we had no luck with the fabric but we did get to meet up with the Ellis family. First we got to watch Jake's very exciting baseball game. Oh, did that bring back memories....I remember the "rain outs" and the games that should have been "rained out". Jake, you made me remember and miss those times. I'm sure glad that I'm a parent that participates, rather than sitting on the sidelines of life. Kim and Scott are parents that participate. Shea asked me how do you raise kids like Jake and Matthew Ellis? Kids like Jake and Matthew are special like their parents. Keep your kids close and make them the most important thing in the world.

After the ballgame we had a nice dinner at McMenamins. Scotts parents were also there and we had a great visit. Kim and Scott, thank you for sharing your family with us. We miss you!

And, then baby Bill will be ONE!

And, on March 26th the family will be having a big 1st birthday party for our newest baby, Bill. Shea, Aunt Carrie and Uncle Clark and I will travel to sunny Phoenix to celebrate...... I remember his daddies first birthday. It was also his baptism. It was a warm sunny 1st of March and we had a big family celebration. His great grandparents were there too. There were three Bills, great grandpa, dad, and baby Bill. And, I announced that I was pregnant with Sarah and
Aunt Carrie was pregnant with Tommy. It seems like yesterday.....

BIRTHDAYS ARE COMING

In just seven days my son will celebrate his 28th birthday. It's hard to believe that he is that old. Sometimes he acts like he is 15 and other times he seems 68. Anjee says that he has an old spirit....whatever. I will always see him as my first baby, in my eyes he will never be grown up.

First Hair Cut

My grandson had his first hair cut this weekend. Not that his hair needed to be cut, but I guess for guys its just not 'in" to have it hanging in your eyes.....his big brother got a hair cut so Bill did too. And, see he has blond hair like his grandma....that's my boy!