R.I.P Neil Armstrong

Today the world lost an inspirational man.  He may not have inspired all, but he inspired many.  Among those that he has inspired are my children, especially my boys.  They have learned a lot from Neil Armstrong.

They learned that being a Boy Scout, and an Eagle Scout, is something that is important.  It is something that they can attain, just like their father did.

They learned that if you really want to do something you have to work hard and study hard to get it.  Nothing comes easy in life.  Neil Armstrong studied hard and became a pilot at the age of 16.

They learned that dreams can come true.  Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot upon the moon, something that up until then was thought to be unthinkable.  That "one small step" matters a lot.

They learned the importance of modesty in your accomplishments.  Even though Neil Armstrong is a name that is known across the world, he was not a man who sought attention.  In fact he actively stayed out of the lime light.  His focus was on his family, his friends, and his work.  He could have let his achievement go to his head, but he chose to continue living as he had.

They learned the importance of standing up for the things they believe in.  Even though Neil Armstrong shied from publicity he made a rare public appearance when NASA's Constellation program was cancelled. 

My boys have learned many things from Mr. Armstrong, but foremost they have learned to reach for the stars.  To push themselves to fulfill their full potential.

That it is not to say that these lessons have not been learned elsewhere along the way, as they have.  They have been learned repeatedly and through different sources.  Neil Armstrong was just one of my children's teachers.  He was a teacher of many things to them, even though he did not know them.  I am grateful to this man, this legend, for the example he has been to my children.  I am grateful for his contributions to the space program.  I am grateful to his family for sharing him with the world. 

The Eagle has landed, rest in peace Neil Armstrong, rest in peace.

Loss and Grieving

My brother-in-law and his wife just lost a baby to miscarriage recently.  My heart goes out to them and breaks for them.  It has brought back so many emotions for me this past week.  All the talk of miscarriage has brought to the forefront the memories of my losses.  The memories are still all too fresh and clear to me even though it has been a couple years since my last.  My brother-in-law and his wife decided to bury the fetus yesterday.  My sweet husband took the morning off and went to the burial so I could stay home.  I know I should have gone to be a support, but emotionally I know I could not have handled it.  I've been depressed and crying so much this past week as it is.  Part of that is for their loss and part for mine.  Miscarriage just sucks.  No matter how you look at it or how far along you were it is never fun.  It is  always heart wrenching.  I am sure I will always mourn those babies that did not make it.  However I will forever be grateful for the ones who did make it.

Saying Goodbye

Last Friday I attended a funeral for a beautiful woman, Rebecca Wingo.  She was one of those people who was beautiful not just on the outside, but on the inside.  Her smile would light up a room and she was a self-proclaimed hugger. 

I left early for the funeral so that I could pick up a couple hams that had been donated by the Honey Baked Ham Company.  I found where we were to set up food and met one of the other ladies bringing food coming in.  We got a ham ready to be served and went out to wait for the others bringing food.  While we were waiting I was asked if I would let people know they could have a t-shirt.  Rebecca's favorite color was purple and there were purple t-shirts with a beautiful RW logo and her picture on the back.  So I spent the next hour and a half greeting mourners, handing out t-shirts and memorial cards, and letting them know where to find the food.  I did not know many of those who I greeted, but we all knew Rebecca.  I received many hugs.  I shared tears and smiles.  I was thankful to be able to help out in that small way. 

Once the funeral was ready to begin I slipped inside the doors.  It as standing room only and so I waited in the foyer.  When a member of the Air Force honor guard played taps as others from the honor guard handed folded flags to Rebecca's daughters and her mother it really hit home.  I was going to sit on a sofa in the foyer, but another friend found me and took me back to the room where my MLM friends were.  For those who do not know, MLM was a mom's website which was shut down last year.  While it was up I met many amazing women who I call friends, those friends included Rebecca. We had the funeral piped into the room we were in, but mainly spent our time remembering Rebecca in our own way.  We shared memories of her, we smiled and we laughed.  We felt that was how she would have wanted to remember her.  At the end of the funeral purple and silver balloons were released and swirled off into the distance.  We fed many more people, received many more hugs, we said good-bye one last time to Rebecca.  At the end of the night we packed up all the leftover food which had been donated and it was taken to feed Rebecca's family for the next few nights. 

At the end of the night I was one of the last few people to leave the funeral home.  I was exhausted, both physically and mentally.  However, I was also comforted and uplifted.  I am glad that I went to pay my last respects to Rebecca.  I am glad that I was able to help in my small way.  I am glad that I was able to know Rebecca.

Her Smile
Though her smile is gone forever,

And her hand I cannot touch,

I still have so many memories,

Of the one I loved so much.
Her memory is my keepsake,

with which I'll never part.

God has her in his keeping,

I have her in my heart.
Sadly missed,

but never forgotten.

For those who may want to help out Rebecca's daughters, their father has asked for all donations to go to the girls 529 fund that he and Rebecca set up before her death. 

‎529 Fund for the Wingo Girls - checks must be made payable to Nebraska Educational Savings Trust. In the memo line, include the account number

Nebraska Educational Savings Trust
NEST Advisor College Savings Plan

P.O. Box 30277
Omaha, NE 68103-1377

Account Number: 748788940-01 only checks please or Paypal acct 529 for Wingo Girls.

Don't Forget to Say "I Love You"

It has been a strange few days.  Archer was gone to scout camp this week, my sweetheart is in Mexico City, and so it was just the three youngest and I for most of the week.  We did fine alone, but it just has not felt right in the house all week.  Thankfully my best friend helped to keep us busy so we were not sitting home feeling lonely.  We took the kids to see Spy Kids 4 (part of a summer movie series), took the kids swimming, and took them to see the new Spiderman movie. 

The night before we went to see the Spiderman movie, technically the early morning, there was a shooting at a movie theater nearby.  Twelve people died and 58 (I believe) were injured.  It gave us a moment of pause before we headed to the theater.  In the end we decided that we could not let fear rule us.  Plus I did not want to explain the shooting to my kids, they did not and do not need to know about it right now.  There is enough time for them to be confronted by the evil things in the world as they get older.  Instead I will let them live in their peaceful childhood for as long as possible.  Unfortunately many children no longer have that peace.  Two of those children belong to an acquaintance of mine who lost her life in the shooting.  Thankfully those girls are surrounded by people who love them, but they lost their mother due to an evil man.  My heart goes out to all those effected by this shooting.

I really am looking forward to my sweetheart returning home tomorrow and being able to curl up in his arms.  Maybe I'll let myself have a good cry.  If I'm honest I won't let myself, it will just happen as I tend to blubber like a baby on a regular basis since my last miscarriage.  I would rather do it with my husband there to comfort me though.  Tonight I have all my children home, safe in bed.  I hope they know how much I love them, I try to show them all the time how much I love them.  Do not forget to hold those you love close.  Let them know how much you love them.  Do not let the little petty things get in the way.  You never know what will happen in life, so live it fully and with much love, happiness, and joy.