just having a ruff moment

DAY 119 

I have someone very close to me somewhere I can't talk about, or really I'd rather not talk about. This has been going on for over 7 months now and it never gets any easier. I though it would but it hasn't and I don't know that it ever will. Only a few people know the situation and what is going on, so its hard for me to really talk about it. About every week - week & half I get to hear from this someone and a lot of times it's the high light of my week. Yet I still break down in tears in my husbands arms because its so hard for me to take this all in. It's so hard to really let it set in that this has really happened and there isn't a single thing that I can do about it. I have to sit back and let time run its course, which is much easier said than done.

When the hubbs checked the mail this evening, I got the sweetest Valentines Day card & letter :) Made my night which I totally needed but once again left me in tears. You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach were you feel like you can't breath or really catch your breath, yea it was one of those moments. I hope and pray every night that the next two years goes by fast so that this will all be behind us.

Lantern Floating Hawaii

Every Memorial Day thousands of people gather on Oahu's South shore at Ala Moana Beach Park for the Lantern Floating Ceremony led by Her Holiness Keishu Shinso, the spiritual head of Shinnyo-en. The ceremony remembers those who gave their lives in conflict, illness & natural disaster allowing for reflection on the memories of loved ones.

We arrived in plenty of time to get great seating with a wonderful view of the stage but not to close were we would get mobbed by a bunch of people. Chatting away while writing on our lanterns we reminisced over past get together's & memories we had. Taking in the moment & Enjoying one last group gathering "in Hawaii" with the Brooks family.




This was the 13th Annual Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony, More than 3,000 candle-lit lanterns bearing individual and community remembrances prayers were let off into the ocean. The ceremony brings over 40,000 Hawaii residents and visitors from around the world and from various cultures and traditions to celebrate in the ceremony. I was lucky enough to be able to attend myself this year with a few close friends. Remembering my loved ones that have passes on before me, Honoring my Papa (Donald J. Thompson Sr.) and a fellow Wolfhound SPC Gregory Rundell. It truly is a special experience that touches every ones heart that attends. Words can't describe the feeling you have when Her Holiness is speaking and watching everyone release their lantern into the ocean. There are tears, tears of joy, happiness, sadness and love for the ones we have lost but still hold near and dear to our hearts and soul.
The theme of Lantern Floating Hawaii is "Many Rivers, One Ocean." We all come from different walks of life and backgrounds, yet we are all able to come together as one honoring the memory of family & friends.





The Lantern Floating Hawaii tradition is a unique event bringing together people from all cultures, nations, and faiths. Its a way to express our gratitude for the past while looking towards a brighter future. And that is just what I did, while remembering my Papa & everything he did for me & my family I chose to live a better life for him. I know he is so proud of were I am in life today & that he is watching over me. I can't help but wish he was here to tell me in person. He really was such an amazing man, that taught me so much about life.

Memorial Day 2011

When I was younger I looked forward to long weekends at the river with the family. BBQing it up and enjoying some time on the water in the sun. Now as life has changed & I've grown up and been put in a completely different environment that being a Military Spouse. Memorial Day isn't just another BBQ get out of work free for the day holiday.
Memorial Day allows us to honor our service men and woman whom have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Now they may not have chosen to die but they knew going in to serve The United States of America that it might happen. We honor then every day in everything we do, but today is set aside to completely & 100% focus on them.

God Bless our military men and women! Thank you for sacrificing so much so that we can all be safe in our beds at night and for protecting our freedom.....we will never forget! ♥ As well as remember this Memorial Day when you're gettin' your grill on, smiling and laughing that in another house somewhere there is an empty chair where a hero should be sitting. They gave up their life so that you can sit with your family. So take a moment to think about those heroes who did not make it home and those who are still serving around the world. I have been so blessed to have my hero return home to me from his first deployment and as we near the end of our second I can't help but say an extra prayer every night in hopes that the time will go by fast and he will return safely back in to my loving arms. There is never a time were you sit back and think oh he will be ok its almost over, because you know what you just never know.



I thank God for opening my eyes to a new walk of life, that when I was younger I may not have paid much attention to. Thank you to my husband my hero for allowing me to be apart of your life and stand by you and support you. You choose to put your life in danger so we "I" can live in Freedom & not have to look behind me as I go in the the grocery store.
I am so proud to call myself an army wife (not just any army wife but HIS wife).. remember what today stands for and never forget our fallen the ones who fought till the end.

I took a moment out of my day today to go and pay my respects to a fellow Wolfhound & friend who was lost during our first deployment. With a lei laid around the 2nd Brigade Memorial honoring the ones lost over the last few years during OIF and flags place around it you can't help but be touched by the love that the soldiers back here on the home front have for their fallen brothers. SPC Rundell was loved by everyone and touch many people with he life. We will always remember him and everything his life stood for. "Once a Wolfhound always a Wolfhound"