Picture Sunday.

I want to thank all of you for your well wishes. My feet are healing properly. After almost 30 years of diabetes it can be a very scary thing. Anyway here are some pictures of a hike my hubby and I love to take.

We have lots of pelicans here. For some reason this one has adopted this duck as his buddy.

The beginning of our hike.

There are random fire hydrants all over this trail up in the mountains. This one amuses me as it is right by the river.

The other bank of the river.

This trails leads all the way up into the mountains.

More water.

I always feel like I'm going through a fairy land when I go through these wooded tunnels.

The view of Antelope Island from up there is amazing.

Here we are about half way up I think, that little trail at the bottom left hand corner is where we started.. Have a great rest of your weekend. :)

Why I have been gone part 2

As I said in my last post I knew I was in big trouble!
Not only was my now loosened shoe cutting into my feet I could feel the blisters and they were huge. 
When I got home and took my shoes off and looked at the damage they seemed fine to me but felt bruised.
By the time my husband got home I couldn't walk. He checked my feet and found two blisters about and inch long on each foot. They were right were the toes and feet connect. Then multiple small blisters along with two blood blisters. 
To most people this is not that big of an issue. To me it could very well mean the lose of my feet. Essentially I was screwed. 
I have always worked very hard at keeping my feet in good condition. I don't wear heels or anything that can damage them as for most diabetics when you start losing your feet the end is near. No offense, I'm not ready to kick the bucket quite yet. 
I was confined to bed for a couple of days then the bleeding started. That was fun. Nothing like having sticky feet when you wake up only to discover they are red with blood. Anyway I will pass on most of the rest of the details as they are not pretty. 
Good news is as of now nothing seems infected. I'm looking pretty good. My diabetes is fighting me with crazy high blood sugars that I am trying to control but it is a fight. 
So if I disappear again without notice you know something is definitely wrong.

Why I have been absent.

Due to some pretty serious health issues this week I have gone awol. I apologize. As most of you know I am diabetic. Diabetes does not like me nor I it. However, we have to co exist. As annoying as we are to each other, most times we manage ok. However, last week after my last post, I did something that seriously pissed my diabetes off.
It all started with the high school my son attends not answering my phone calls, nor returning them. Finally I get ahold of someone and they say that the person I need to talk to should be in the next day and to come in and see him. I wondered at this point if these people were mental as everyone knows I cannot drive anymore due to my eyes.
I agreed however, as I could not see any other way around it. Now to most people this does not sound like a big deal. Everyone was working and I couldn't get a ride. Then I thought I had one but it ended up falling through. 
So I walked with my son. It wasn't a bad walk on the way there. Still early enough that the weather was not to hot. 
Let me explain here that it is two miles to the front gate, then another 6 miles to the school. That's right. 8 miles there. The kicker was that when I got there the guy had left. So we left a message AGAIN, and started walking home. That's when it hit. My blood sugar was dropping. I ate what I had with me but knew it wouldn't be enough to get me home. So we walked another mile to get to a store and grabbed some food. At this point I realize that my feet have swelled. As I sat there I loosened my laces and the pain hit. 
Please understand that I am used to walking between 3 and 9 miles a day. However, it is usually broken up so I have rest periods after every 3 miles. Off we go again and by the time we climbed the hill to the gate I knew I was in trouble. 
As this is lengthy I will write the rest on Friday. 

Things I see when I'm out an about.

I am often asked what it looks like here in Utah. Here are some of the places I see on a daily bases on my walks. I will post a little more every week or so to give you an idea. Plus I'm learning to play with my camera. You might not enjoy this as much as I do. :) Thanks Tex Wise for teaching me to do this. 

I

A man of honor.

What qualities should a dad have? We all know a dad does not have to be a biological parent. We all know it's not a matter of money, or possessions. This is what I think a father should be like.
A man of integrity.
A man with good work habits.
A man that knows how to forgive.
A man that loves even when his heart is broken.
A man that can admit when he is wrong but stand strong in his belief's.
A man that knows that there is a time to play.
A man that can comfort even when he doesn't understand the problem. 
A man that loves his wife or at least respects the mother of his children.
A man that does not break promises.
A man that is ok threatening potential boyfriends
A man that can say things like I will open that door in a skirt if that boy comes over again.
A man that can rough house with his boys but isn't afraid to hug them and tell them he loves them.
A man of honor.
A patriot.
A man that is wise, and understanding.
A man that isn't ashamed to cry.
A man that is firm but gentle. 
Above all a man that teaches all these trait's to his boys and wants his girls to find a man with all these attributes.
In my case a Godly man that taught us at his knee to worship, love and fear God.
Thank you Dad for everything you have ever done and what you will surely do in the future. 
I could never ask for a better father. I miss you horribly. I love you.

Meet the family

This is my Lily learning to kiss.

 Meaghan and Lily

 Cayden my youngest nephew.

 Parker my youngest son

 Kyle my oldest son

Phil and I

Raising a generation of desensitized pansies

What? It's a contradiction of terms you say? Hear me out.
We are raising a generation that is so whimpy that any correction or what appears to be negative thoughts on behavior turns them into a bowl of melting jello. These kids are idealistic, but for the wrong ideals. They cannot take punishment as it is unfair. Their behavior is revolting. Their dress is revolting. The way they speak is unbelievable at best. They cannot finish a sentence coherently. I have heard more sentences finished with
"And like... Ya." What does that mean? They are overly sensitive to anything that is said. They quit jobs because someone corrected them or where not being nice. 
In our day you went out back and settled you differences and walked away friends or at least the argument was settled. You may have a black eye but things were good and clear. If you misbehaved in school you were in twice as much trouble at home and the teachers knew you had their backs. Instead, I hear parents berating under paid teachers that have 30 kid in their class that they are not allowed to discipline and the kids KNOW it. The parents take the kids side. What? We don't give A's anymore because it hurts Johnny's feelings because he only gets F's. Are you kidding me?
It's not his fault he doesn't do his homework and turn it in. Really?
They didn't give him enough time. Seriously?
We are expecting these kids to be productive members of society? Run our country?
Everyone is picking on him. Boo hoo. Toughen up buttercup. Try standing up for yourself. It always worked back in the day.
We can't discipline because it hurts the child emotionally. Yet we have more kids in Juvenile detention and in Prison than ever before.
We allow them to watch graphically violent movies, with zombies ripping people apart or serial killers blowing peoples brains out, Nay we do not only allow it we encourage it. We watch it with them.
Is it any wonder they don't think twice about taking guns into schools and blowing people away? Or in malls? Or even their own family members?
With all the self centered crap we teach our young is is any wonder that mothers kill their children, or give them up because it's just to much work, and I need some ME time. Are you freakin kidding me?
Is it any wonder that young fathers don't have what it takes to do whatever it takes to support their families? Isn't it easier to just live on welfare, food stamps, and any other government program available? After all it is the age of entitlement. Why should they have to conform and look and act a certain way just to make money when they can get it for free and still look like morons?
I want to shake people. When we were kids we used manners and said yes maam and yes sir. We didn't tell our parents no. We knew if we got that look we were gonna get it later. No need for words. We knew. These kids have no fear of repercussions for their actions. Why should they? There never has been any repercussions. Anything goes as long as it feels right. Just don't offend someone when you are doing it. 
Don't even get me started on the lack of respect for elders. In case you are wondering they have none.
I hate this lazy parenting plan that is currently in place. I heard one young lady ask her mother when she should be home. Mom said whenever. The child looked at her mother and said
"Can you just be my mom for once and tell me when I should be home?" She was 15. The mother looked at me and said 
"Can you believe what a little Bitch she is?" I stood gape jawed and responded
"I think she just wants a parent."
So this was a long rant and I don't blame you if you skipped it but I needed to put into words my frustration.

God Bless America/ A history lesson

This is an email I got from the famous Fishducky. Her button is on the right hand side of my page. Go visit if you have not met her yet. She is a hoot. 

Hi all:   If you haven't heard the story or song lately, now's your chance.  MUST SEE AND HEAR.

"God Bless America" song history

A GOOD REMINDER TO BE THANKFUL FOR AMERICA !!!!!!!

Frank Sinatra considered Kate Smith the best singer of her time, and said that when he and a million other guys first heard her sing "God Bless America" on the radio, they all pretended to have dust in their eyes as they wiped away a tear or two.

Here are the facts... The link at the bottom will take you to a video showing the very first public singing of "GOD BLESS AMERICA". But before you watch it, you should also know the story behind the first public showing of the song.

The time was 1940. America was still in a terrible economic depression. Hitler was taking over Europe and Americans were afraid we'd have to go to war. It was a time of hardship and worry for most Americans.

This was the era just before TV, when radio shows were HUGE, and American families sat around their radios in the evenings, listening to their favorite entertainers, and no entertainer of that era was bigger than Kate Smith.

Kate was also large; plus size, as we now say, and the popular phrase still used today is in deference to her, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings". Kate Smith might not have made it big in the age of TV, but with her voice coming over the radio, she was the biggest star of her time.

Kate was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day would bring . She had hope for America , and faith in her fellow Americans. She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she went to the famous American song-writer, Irving Berlin (who also wrote "White Christmas") and asked him to write a song

that would make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, he said he had just the song for her.     

He went to his files and found a song that he had written, but never published, 22 years before - way back in 1917. He gave it to her and she worked on it with her studio orchestra. She and Irving Berlin were not sure how the song would be received by the public, but both agreed they would not take any profits from God Bless America . Any profits would go to theBoy Scouts of America. Over the years, the Boy Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties from this song.

This video starts out with Kate Smith coming into the radio studio with the orchestra and an audience. She introduces the new song for the very first time, and starts singing. After the first couple verses, with her voice in the background still singing, scenes are shown from the 1940 movie, "You're In The Army Now." At the 4:20 mark of the video you see a young actor in the movie, sitting in an office, reading a paper; it's Ronald Reagan. And. Appearing in that scene with the future President, is future U.S. Senator CA (R) George Murphy. Earlier, actress Joan Leslie appears. And, character actor, George Tobiasand a few others familiar faces, but of unknown names.

 To this day, God Bless America stirs our patriotic feelings and pride in our country. Back in 1940, when Kate Smith went looking for a song to raise the spirits of her fellow Americans, I doubt whether she realized just how successful the results would be for her fellow Americans during those years of hardship and worry..... and for many generations of

Americans to follow.

Now that you know the story of the song, I hope you'll enjoy it and treasure it even more.

Many people don't know there's a lead in to the song since it usually starts with "God Bless America ....." So here's the entire song as originally sung..... ENJOY

https://www.youtube.com/embed/TnQDW-NMaRs?rel=0

Taps

Just realized that my Memorial Day post never posted. Sorry I am slow to the draw. Being the grandaughter of two veterans, sister to one veteran, married into the military twice, I have a pretty good understanding of what our men and women in the service have to go through. However, I did not know this about Taps. I love that song anyway and I am privileged to hear it every night at 9. I hope you enjoy this little piece of history.
> If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps was  played; this brings out a new meaning of  it.
> 
>  Here is something Every American should know.
> 
> We in the United States  have all heard the haunting song, 'Taps...' It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes.
> 
> But, do you know the story behind the song?  If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.
> 
> Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Elli was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia . The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.
> 
> 
> During the night, Captain Elli heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a  Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment..
> 
> When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.
> 
> 
> The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.
> 
> The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.
> 
> The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
> 
> The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
> 
> But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.
> 
> The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's
> uniform.
> 
> This wish was granted.
> 
> The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps' used at military funerals was born.
> 
> 
> 
> The words
>  are:
> 
> Day is
>  done.
> Gone the sun.
> From the
>  lakes
> From the
>  hills.
> From the sky.
> All is
>  well.
> Safely
>  rest.
> God is nigh.
> 
> Fading
>  light.
> Dims the sight.
> And a
>  star.
> Gems the sky.
> Gleaming
>  bright.
> From
>  afar.
> Drawing
>  nigh.
> Falls the
>  night.
> 
> Thanks and
>  praise.
> For our
>  days.
> Neath the
>  sun
> Neath the
>  stars.
> Neath the sky
> As we
>  go.
> This we know.
> God
>  is nigh
> 
> 
> I too have felt the chills while listening to 'Taps' but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse.  I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along.
> 
> I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.
> 
> Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.
> 
> Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
> 
> Please send this on after a short prayer.
> 
>  Make this a Prayer wheel for our soldiers ... please don't breakit.
> 
>  I didn't!

I love my life.

I went to the store yesterday. It was a big chain store, which I won't name but will say there are lots of "People of" emails that go around with some pretty interesting pictures of people.
I gathered a few items. A couple of shirts, a bike tire, some bike patches, and other small things. When Phil and I went to check out we found the shortest line and committed to it. It was a mistake. 
The cashier, a young man of who knows what age, was extremely slow. There was one person in front of us, and each item he rang up he stopped to look at. I have never seen anything like it. Another young man stood by him patiently trying to help him, but as the line behind us grew, he went and opened another register. I watched the second young man check out four people before our cashier had finished with the lady in front of me. Another employee now stood next to our cashier trying to encourage movement. 
I almost changed lanes but my things were already on the belt and so I waited.
As he began the slow and painful process of ringing up my items two things caught my eye and my sick sense of humor.
Directly in front of him was a sign that said "Fast Cash Now"
Nope. Nothing fast in this lane.
Directly behind him was a sign that said "Right now, Pain relief center." 
My thought was "Please God make it so."
Phil meanwhile kept giving me the stank eye and telling me to behave as I started to giggle.
I took a picture on my phone I just have to get him to show me how to put it on here. I love my life.