In memory of Memere/Dorothy

Dorothy Jean....May 6, 1937-December 26, 2008

The day after Christmas, Dorothy Jean went home.

She was always singing, even when she was barely audible, she continued to try.

She loved music and in her last days requested Christmas songs to be sung to in her hospital bed.

Memere and I had a crazy relationship. She was always trying to fix things and I was never up for being fixed. In the past 4 years while stationed in California, we began to understand each other.

I thought she was a very busy and caring person. In fact I thought she was too caring. She always followed the lives of every person she ever met. She even attended funerals of people she barely knew because she thought someone should be there. She was never easy to surprise, but I was able to help pull a few off before she left.

Some of her favorite things were ice skating, singing, paper dolls and taking photos. She had so many photos that her table was buried in them one year as she tried to create scrapbooks for each child before she was gone. I am not sure if she ever finished them. I think what she truly wanted was to be remembered. She left a beautiful legacy for her family. She wanted to be sure my girls had a wonderful Christmas. She made pillowcases with Hawaiian prints for them to sleep on and the girls say they think of her every night. They call them their "Memere love pillows.

Everyone joked for years that Robert had married his mother. We are both writers, love photos and scrapbooking. We both try to be in control of everything in our worlds and can never get it.

The parallels go on and on.

One thing I know about Dorothy is that she had a huge heart and love for others. She never wanted to do the wrong thing and just wanted to be included. I saw that many times she was left behind and she hid her hurt well.

She wanted everything to always be perfectly perfect.

She was loved very much by so many people and she will be missed in this world. She was an amazing woman.

50th Wedding anniversary 2005.

Mele Kalikimaka

Mele Kalikimaka~

Christmas Rainbow

I was talking to Robert on the phone Christmas morning and was explaining that it just never stops raining these past weeks. He, of course, alerted me that there might be an awesome rainbow. We walked outside in our backyard to this awesome view. Complete rainbows...always amazing. Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas From Hawai'i

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhiB5Y-iEW4&NR=1

Home in Iraq

Robert just sent this photo to me so I thought I would share. This is the Tigris river where he is stationed for the next year. He looks really calm and cool in this photo.

PEARL HARBOR

Pearl Harbor

Sunday December 7, 1941

"A Day that will Live in Infamy"...F.D. Roosevelt

Today we went back in history because I Love a true story, but if someone would have told me back in junior high when I was tortured by my history teacher (or in high school when I was tortured by my history teacher) that I would enjoy learning about history or even CARE anything about what happened before the 80's, I would have laughed. Come to think about it, I actually think I did a time or two.

Anywho.....I digress.

I think Pearl Harbor and WWII was one of the only eras in history that opened any interest in my mind. I loved learning about Hitler and Nazi camps. I was shocked at the horror of it all and was thrilled that I knew someone who had been there fighting. My grandfathers both fought in WWII but neither was ever willing to talk about it.

I never thought I would be in Hawai'i, at Pearl Harbor on Sunday December 7th. What are the odds. It was chilling to be standing in front of this historical marker on the same day of the week.

We decided to take our chances and try to get a seat for the tour. We woke up early and headed out on our mission. We were greeted on the highway by the "missing man" formation fly-by just before 8am. That was when the first bombs hit the harbor. The girls were in awe. It was so cool to watch the one plane leave the others as the "V" flew over the highway in front of us. We arrived to Pearl Harbor shortly after that and I was so excited to get a ticket to go on the boat to the ship's resting place and pay tribute to those 1,177 men who are still there. We had the option to leave and come back because our tour wasn't until 1pm, but instead we went through the pieces of memorabilia, replicas of ships, planes and letters written just days before the bombs to loved ones back home. It was very sad to read letters, much like the ones we get now, from sailors who were so young. To look at the photos and see the place where it happened. It was like it happened yesterday. It was so fresh and real standing there knowing that sunken ship was in the harbor with those sailors who didn't escape, those same ones in the photos I was looking at on the walls.

I used the entire day to educate my girls on the details of what led to the events at Pearl Harbor, the sacrifices these young men made and the sadness of a nation at war because of this day in history. They read the marked pieces with great interest and thought about the things with open hearts. I was so amazed at the thoughts and ideas they were expressing.

It eventually became our turn to get on the boat to see the ship. We made our way to the memorial hall as others were leaving to go back to the shore and the smell of the oil hit me. The oil that continues to leak from the ship makes rainbows in the water surface just above the ship. They call these "tears of the sucken sailors." The legacy of the tears is thought to be for all the survivors. The tears will flow until the last survivor is laid to rest.

The girls were very sad at the fact that there were so many families who lost more than one son that day. We looked at the names and Thorin pointed out how many "Jones" brothers were on the ship. They expressed sadness for the moms of those young men. There were 36 sets of brothers (33 pairs and three sets of three) and one father-son pair. When she (the Arizona) was bombed on December 7, 1941, 24 of those sets and the father-son pair died.

On October 26, 1944, the War Department announced a new policy to remove surviving sons from the hazards of combat. If a family had lost two or more sons in the armed forces and had only one surviving son, either the family or the son could apply for him to be removed from hazardous duties. This policy is still in effect today. This was the basis behind "Saving Private Ryan."

We found out during our tour that there was indeed one less survivor. He was being buried at sea with his shipmates of the USS Arizona that afternoon. It was sad to see all the wreaths and flowers from all the people. It was like you stepped into a funeral home and I almost expected to see caskets. The ship was technically a casket, so I was correct in that aspect.

The survivors who have been buried at the Arizona have been added to the wall and there was a black strip covering the newest addition until after the memorial.

The event was a complete blessing and we were a part of something only a few people can say they experienced. We were at Pearl Harbor on a Sunday, on the day it happened. We attended the memorial service honoring the fallen as well as the survivors. We were there the day they buried another survivor.

All these things are amazing by themselves, but my girls and I will be able to tell our friends and family about the day we met survivors of Pearl Harbor. These were not just people who were there on that day, but members of the USS Arizona. Those were their friends; their brothers we were honoring that day. There were 7 in attendance of the memorial and the girls met and spoke to 5 of these men. They were 85-94 years old and looking great. Thorin was allowed to ask them a few questions and I was so proud of her respect and poise.

She wanted to know how they survived, why they were still here today. The answers were varied. Some were heart felt while others tried to joke at first. The best answer of the day was from the sailor in full uniform who was 94 years old. He said he really didn't know how he survived, but that his "commander" wasn't ready for him to quit. He lived through the horror of Pearl Harbor and the war that followed and he knew he was there because God still needed him.

The saddest part of the war for a survivor I spoke to was that there were people in America who didn't know where Pearl Harbor was and why it was so important.

I want to help everyone out who is reading here today. I have added some links to give you some insight into the history and details of Pearl Harbor. It is so touching to witness

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/07/AR2008120702018.html?hpid=sec-metro

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?s=9473583

http://www.nps.gov/usar/historyculture/people.htm

http://www.ccdemo.info/PearlHarbor/PearlHarborDayRemembered.html

http://www.khnl.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3211579&h1=Thousands%20remember%20attack%20and%20response%20at%20Pearl%20Harbor&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=215267&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=78156917

Iraqi Thanksgiving

Greetings All,

Tonight we completed a successful Thanksgiving celebration with our Iraqi Counterparts. A tradition on our little FOB (Forward Operating Base) is to bring in a ton of food and then invite the Iraqi officers to share in a Thanksgiving celebration. Many of the Iraqi's already started their "leave" cycle(they work either 21 days and then go home 7 days or 10 days on 10 off). They take leave so they can drive home and give their paycheck to their wives (just like in the states except there are no checkbooks and credit cards).
Anyway, since there weren't the normal number of officers around we talked the General into letting the senior Iraqi NCO's to eat with us too.Of course, my guys picking up the food got delayed so we started dinner a little late but no one seemed to mind. We had the Iraqi conference room set up with tables, chairs, etc. so all we had to do was bring inthe food. There were a few short comments, a historical narrative, and a prayer. Then our officers served everyone as is the American Army Tradition.
The Iraqi's were a little worried that the well done prime rib was ham but once their fears were appeased they all ate with a vengeance. We had Iraqi rice, well done (sad) prime rib, roast turkey,turkey parts, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes,salad, Iraqi custard, corn on the cobb, chitlans, and cranberry jelly.There was also carrot cake and pumpkin pie. The Iraqi ate some of just about everything and raided the deserts heavily. They also guzzled down the sparkling red grape juice.
After the officers finished, most left the area so the jundi (soldiers)could come in. The Arab custom aligns with stratus eating. The muckitymucks eat first, then the next level officials/guests, and on down to the lowliest individual. Little goes to waste. After dinner my guys and some of the NCOs took advantage of the general's pool table and ping pong table. Not something the junior guys get to play on since it's reserved for the chosen few. It was a nice event.
Couple things missing to make it a real Thanksgiving include helping my girls make plates, listening to all the old family stories, and drinking wine and talking politics with my liberal family members (since all the right wingers are to stiff in their views).Oh, and since I haven't sent this out yet. I'm in my Iraq home. My job is a little different then I thought. I'll be spending more time working team issues as the XO instead of working primarily with the Iraqis. I'll still be a part of the advisor effort but more of my time will be spent ensuring the US guys get the support they need, synchronize operations,and beat up individuals who aren't producing. Still better then beingstuck at the Division HQ though.

God Bless to All.
Robert

Can anyone say "jazz hands"

Well, the home photo shoot was such a success that I even got Cannon to smile while wearing a BOX on her head. I know, what is that thing? I can only say that the dance teacher thinks it's CUTE. I think it is cruel and ridiculous torture.

She would look cute in anything. Now she has to dance in it!

I thought I would share the cute photos of the girls in their first dance costumes. I love that they are Christmas colors. Too bad I already have my holiday photo done.The girls are getting so excited about the show. They are practicing and love to dance. Pray for the bobby pins to defy gravity for 5 minutes.

We also did the birthday photos today. They are all posted here today. Check out all the photos below.

Birthday girls

Today we did Cannon's 4th birthday shoot and Thorin and Sorenna had birthday milestones since we moved into the new house. Thorin turned 8 this summer and got some new glasses. Sorenna just celebrated her 6.5 birthday. We thought we would do the official photo shoot day and save a little of who they are for our future.

They look so much older in these photos. I love photo shoot day!

My sweet Cannon turns 4

Today was photo shoot day. There were many reasons, but mostly because Cannon turns 4 this month and it will be a little crazy at the end of the month. I thought she had such a sweet face and attitude today, so I figured I would capture it.

These are the many faces and crazy ways of my shy miss Cannon. It is hard to believe that the girl in these photos is a quiet, shy little pixie. She is no bigger than a 2-3 year old, but is amazing and fun like her big sisters. She is very independant and just a joy to have in our family. I am so glad God blessed us with this fabulous girl. Can't imagine our family without her.

Our Hawaiian Home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIWdn2DN6rQ

It was too large to load, so I hope this works!

Well it is finally here. The video tour of our home. I tried doing it with sound, but the girls were too excited when I was talking. I had to be silent and just walk through the house or I had the girls commenting and jumping to get in the video...very distracting to say the least.

I hope you enjoy the tour. There are 2 rooms you were not able to see because one is a storage room and the other really looks like one now!

The video starts in the front of our house. You enter the lanai (enclosed patio). We recently cleared that out and this will be where the girls do art projects, crafts and I do crafty things too.

Then you enter our open area living room and dining room with the built in curios! LOVE THEM!

The tour goes to the right wing with the 3 bedrooms. The middle one is ours and the back one is all three girls' room. The main bathroom is there too.

The other side of the house is the girls' playroom, the kitchen, the laundry room, bathroom and 2 maids' rooms.

It is a very nice house and it is finally a home!

Change?

Last night, America made history. We elected an african-american. Ok, that is not my take on it, but that is what the papers and news reports are telling us to think. I feel like we should have been voting on AN AMERICAN....not one that sees himself as less america by still identifying himself as an outsider.
I know many who are Italian, jewish, hispanic. I never hear them distinguish this trait. When asked where they are from, they simply say I am an American!
They are an american who happens to be irish....not an Irish-American.
That small difference is what seems to divide so many in conversations today. The voices were heated and defending. You could not speak without offending. I am not saying that McCain was perfect, but he has fought for his country, almost died for his country. He wants to see our country succeed.
If anyone was aware, the last 4 years have been controlled by the Dems. They have majority in the Congress! Of course if it flips and the Reps are in the majority it will make it look like our new Dem leader is doing what he promised!
All this talk of new hope, change and a new day...that has me quite scared. He promised people he would pull the troops out. That worries me too. If he starts pulling our troops out. The ones still over there will be in more danger than when the war started. That will be my husband.
I hate hearing people say "it's about time", and "black power", but what I hate most is the comment I read that said "I am so proud of all the people who suffered so that this day could come".
Tell me he didn't win the election on reverse racism!
I also looked on line and some of the states have not reported 100%. The 54-46% makes me want to understand this process even more. How can the election be decided if all the votes are not in and none of the absentee voters overseas have been tallied?
Our guys in Iraq didn't get a voice. When I read that they don't count those votes unless the vote is close....how much closer can you get?
I want a president who is proud of the American flag. Hawaiians can be very Anti-american for what I have seen here. They fight about their own race within the islands and our president comes from that way of thinking.
I just pray that it is a good change and my husband isn't putting his life on the line so that our president can give all that he's earned to someone not willing to work because they can get a hand-out instead of a hand-up!

FINALLY a rainbow!

We are in what they call "the rainbow state." We have rainbows on everything....almost like we should be in San Fran!

We would see them so often that it became boring after a while, I was beginning to believe that you were not allowed to photograph them. It was like there was a forcefield around them. Every time we saw a rainbow it was pouring down rain or we had no idea where the camera was ...or both! There was one where we saw both ends and it was so pretty.

This photo was taken while I was waiting around for the girl's dance class. It took 4 months to get it, but there it is...FINALLY!

I am still trying to get a good one, but this one will do!

Cannon makes a friend

I know many of you who know Cannon knows that she is a real "chatterbox".
My father-in-law doesn't get to talk at all when she is on the phone with him. She sometimes does come up for air to ask " are you still there pepere?", which he promptly says he yes.....she carries on!
But, when this cute girl is at school, she can't remember her own name from the complete shyness. It is sweet and silly, but I had no idea if she would ever make any friends to have enough to invite to her birthday party. In the last few weeks she has been talking about some of her friends and how they are so funny and crazy. I have asked her to point them out and I have yet to see her warm up to anyone when I dropped her off...so much of a loner.

At the Halloween party I stayed to help and she had this one little girl who was so fun. They decided to do the MUMMY station together. Cannon calls her "anna banana"....but it is not like the word banana....it actually is pronounced as AWE...... so it is awe-na ba-naw-na .....so it is cute when she calls her that.

Here is her fun mummy time.

Our Halloween fun

Here are photos of some of the fun things we did this month to celebrate Halloween. Robert and I went to a party at (one of ) the General's home. It was decorated with so many cool things and we had a blast at the first grown-up costume party we have ever attended with ZERO kids!

Robert had this entire line made up about how he was a chicken farmer who met "rave" city girl on line and his email was chicken lover and mine was Rave CHICK!

get it??? The general laughed...I thought he was nuts!

SO .....it was a really fun party. We didn't get the full effect in this photo. He had his boots on and I looked like something out of beetlejuice with striped hose, and black mini and pattened leather boots!

I gotta find a photo!


Robert carved his first pumpkin with the girls on Monday so they could have a fun memory together. It was very cute and the girls loved pulling out the GUTS!

Thorin is in the background of the photo looking a little weak from a headache....and like past deployment pre-parties, she puked the rest of the night.

Even better: Friday morning she tells me the pumpkin has a web in it. I am thinking "how can a spider be so quick?"

Well, it wasn't a spider. It was some sort of black and white foamy looking MOLD!!!! I was freaked out! It was completely disgusting. By the end of the night, it had collapsed the pumpkin and was starting to grow on the outside...GROSS!!!!! and DOUBLE GROSS!!!

This is the front porch with my Jessie (from Toy Story) and her 2 barnyard cats!

They were the funniest cats. Don't ask me how they both ended up being cats, I really have no idea when that conversation happened. The girls had a blast going through our new neighborhood. We even decorated a bit. Cannon swayed her hips back and forth so she could feel the tail move. For a girl who should not have a hip sway....she can knock it out of the park!

The sign on the porch (surfboard) I made at a craft day. It makes the porch look homey. The only thing I want more than anything....to paint that green door RED!

Robert is leaving again

I am sad to say that Robert is going back to war. I have had so much to do with the move and things to get done for class it has been easy to move it to the back of my mind. The reality hit really hard today when the girls were crying. He had to say his goodbyes to them at bedtime. They were begging him not to go, telling him that he shouldn't have to go back. They read the book "night catch" where the dad and kid play catch with the north star. He cut out a star and hung it in their room so tomorrow they can throw it to him and he can throw it back when he gets there. The concept is that they are throwing the north star to each other to stay connected. It will be a sad year for us all. They are upset he will miss their first dance recital. Cannon keeps talking about Iraq as if he is going there for a few hours. She asked if she could go with him. That just makes me so sad. I think she will have a hard time understanding the time.
In the last few weeks they packed in some fun times. We went to the zoo, the beach, they carved a pumpkin, and so much more. We got our family photo updated and it is really nice for a change.
The next few days are going to be the hardest for all of us. Robert will be in charge of getting all the guys on the plane and will be tired. The girls have events all week and it will be hard to come home when we know Robert won't be there. I have school and am stressing over the last few weeks.
Please pray for us and especially for Robert and his men. They need to do great things and come home to their families!

New family photo

Well, it's that time again. Time when Robert starts stressing about what is going to happen THIS time in Iraq. Time when the girls start clinging to dad as if every time he walks out the door, he is leaving for the year. Time when the list of to-dos to get ready for the year are longer than the time left to do them. But most importantly, it is time for the family photo.

This is a superstition, ritual, whatever you want to call it, it is just our thing.

My overactive mind goes through the "what ifs" and I have to get Robert to do all the things he might regret if he didn't. Plus, if we didn't get one...I would regret it.

Write the note to the girls, say goodbye to the family, get a current family photo when he leaves and another when he returns. Hence, our last family photo was in Dec. 2005 when Robert returned with the CAV. Cannon was out of her brace and 1 year old. She is much bigger and we now have our family photo.

It was a great weekend getaway and we have the photos to prove it.

Please pray for Robert as he gets ready to leave, pray for us as we prepare for our 14 months apart and pray for his work to be useful and life changing for the Iraqi people. He will be helping the Iraqi army get on their feet and take the country on their own soon.

Thanks for the prayers.

Living History Day

This was one really fun day. We went to the Tropic Lightning Museum (Robert's new unit) and learned about all the things they have done, how they were formed and saw all the eras in showcases. The girls brought their friend from Fort Irwin who moved here in August. They get along so well. We saw bagpipe players, Scotish dancers, civil war dramas and much more. The favorite of the day was the German Shepherd who could fly(not jump) into trees. Very sweet dog, but crazy during the "bad guy" show. The girls might be on TV and are for sure in the paper next week. This is just a taste of the fun things they were allowed to do today. Sorenna loved the tunnel, Cannon looked very mean and Thorin looks very cool. They won 2nd place as a team in the chalk art. They drew a flag, liberty bell, statue of liberty and a few other things. It was a great day.

Nike Run 5K

Today we went for a run in Waikiki. It was part of the school service project and we had a blast. Thorin ran almost the entire thing. After the run they went and did kid activities to include a painted tattoo. When we had done all we could do, we went to the beach to walk around. The girls dumped their shoes and headed to the water. It was an awesome day. We now know where the best beach on south Oahu is and will be spending a weekend there before Robert leaves. More photos soon...stay tuned!

Waikiki

The girls were invited to a birthday party at the zoo today so that gave us an excuse to go do something fun. We had a very good time at the party. Sorenna questioned our tour guide for hours and got lots of information about rhinos, giraffes and hippos. She loved the tour of the apes and monkeys. We took our own tour of the rest of the zoo and ventured to the beach after that. It was a beautiful day with tons of beach lovers. The girls jumped in the ocean, ran on the shore and then humored me for a photo op on a stoney wall.

This is not the prettiest beach we have seen here, but the first one where we remembered our camera.....I know....I am not right here! I am now back to my camera toting self. More photos to be posted from now on!

Third time is a charm?

Robert has officially announced that he will be leaving next month to visit Iraq for a year-long get-away.
He will be going back to Iraq in hopes that this time he can finish what he started over there. His unit will be headed there in the next few weeks in waves and will return near Thanksgiving next year. He will miss Cannon turning 4 and maybe 5?
We will tell the girls some time this month when they are set in all the new things thrown at them in the past 3 months.
I would love for you to add him to any prayer list and to think of us here while he is gone. We are just grateful it is only 12-13 months instead of 15-16.
We have many things to square away before he goes, but I will continue to keep everyone in the loop.

The sounds of Hawaii

I have wanted to write about some of the sounds of Hawaii but just haven't been near my computer when I thought about it.
Tonight as I sit here cleaning the office of clutter and posting about the girls I realized it was once again 11pm (2300 hours). At that time every night you can hear TAPS echoing through the winds. I was told that every army post does that and for our 5 years in California it was a nightly ritual. I can only assume that I never heard it because I was closed up tight in my home and was too far to hear it through the walls.
Hawaii is a different world. The windows are open every night. The sounds of geckos chirping and bugs clicking are louder than I thought. The cool air feels great and being able to see the world and hear it while doing daily chores is somewhat peaceful.
But when most people are in bed or heading that way, I am peacefully enjoying the sounds of paradise.

Dancing Divas

Today was a very big day. The girls tried out their first dance class. I have to say it was very entertaining to watch them navigate across the floor. Thorin was very strong and determined as she is in most of her life. Her concentration levels were through the roof.
Sorenna was very floaty and graceful. Her arms seemed to stretch for miles.
Cannon was in her own class and the little ones are always the most unpredictable. She was enjoying the slippery sliding of her taps shoes on the wood floor. She looked like a little jewelry box top. The three girls were glowing and thrilled to be in class. The teacher announced her plans for a show with costumes and I thought they were going to exploded with happiness. It is so nice to see them getting settled in their new home and now a new adventure.