Happy Memorial Day!

It's Memorial Day!! What an amazing day it is! I think that this is such an important day, to honor and appreciate those who have served our country and kept us safe. It is because of them that we're able to live freely here in the United States of America. I feel truly blessed to have such generous, selfless people that care so much about our country, that they put their life on the line every day for us.

After the War on Terror started, so many people have turned their backs on our country and it's such ashame that they have. I believe that they should be ashamed of themselves. It's not the people that are over in Afghanistan and Iraq that are complaining, it is those that sit at home on-line all day, that go out with their friends, that have their families at home that they see each and everyday that complain. Who are they to say what they say!? It's embarassing that we have such dishonorable people in our country. I do not like war, nobody does. But I do understand it. "They are over there to keep them from blowing our heads off over here." Think about it. Sure, many innocent lives are lost in wars, that isn't anything that anybody is happy about. But since we went there, we haven't had anymore terrorist attacks here, harming us or our children who can play freely in our yards without worrying about somebody throwing a grenade at them, or we can walk our streets without the fear of suicide bombers. That is something to be so thankful for.

There are two very, very important men in my life that are veterans. Both of which, served in the Korean War. They are my grandfathers. George Michael Hynes, aka "Mike" and Robert Leo Elmer, aka "Leo". I have learned so much about life through them, I have learned to be honest, loyal and genuine through those two men. I know to stand up for myself, my beliefs and be proud of myself and my accomplishments through them. I know to never be ashamed of who I am or what I have done, because it's ok and I'm a good person. My Grandpa Elmer is probably the best man I know. He is so giving and so caring. He would do anything for anybody. Just on Monday, he had his second knee replacement. He is doing well, although the first few days were difficult after surgery, he was very confused. My Grandpa Hynes was full of lessons. We knew not to cross him, not because he was mean or anything like that. He was just quiet. He said things with a deep meaning and purpose and those things have been forever embedded in my memory. "Never smoke." He said that to me, probably thousands of times and that's no exaggeration. He was a smoker for a long time, then he developed emphazema which contributed to his death on January 7, 2003. I learned that I was pregnant with Jayden just 5 days before on January 2. I never got a chance to tell him I was about to have a baby, but I know that he watches over us and is proud of us. He always told us that he wishes that we'd never have to work (meaning the girls in the family), if he could, he would take care of us all. That men should take care of us. And while, I don't believe that I shouldn't have to work throughout my life, I know that his meaning behind it was a well-intentioned, protective-male one. It always made me feel good that he thought so highly of us that he felt we should be on a pedestal, and he made us feel important. Jayden's middle name (he actually has two), are after Grandpa Hynes. Micah-Hynes. Micah, similar to Michael, yet different, also, my favorite book in the bible...and Hynes for the obvious reasons.

I have a tattoo on my upper right arm that has a big heart, pink in color, with a beautiful purple rose above it. There is a banner above the rose that says "GRANDPA," and inside the heart, two smaller banners, one reading, "HYNES," the other reading, "ELMER."

Today is a day that I think of both of my grandfathers, say prayers for them and give them a huge THANK YOU!! I also think of all of the other men and women that provide us, as a country, our freedoms and safety. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...from the bottom of my heart!

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On another note, yesterday, while text messaging my childhood best friend, Jamie, we decided it was time that we got together. We had a falling out in 2004, but once Liam passed away, we got back into contact, not nearly as closely as we should have! But last night, we went to Tombstones for some drinks! It was a lot of fun catching up. I got to see her brother and her parents, who I see occasionally, but miss just as much as I've missed Jamie! We may be doing something on Friday together. That would be so much fun!