Lighting candles

Although I was raised Catholic, I still have a lot to learn. I usally call my grandma Lenore when I have questions. Now I pray to her (and search the internet). Last night we went to Mass. We prayed for the names in the Memory Book at the back of our church, which now holds the names Lenore Winters, Austin Winters, and Olivia Rose McElroy. At the end of Mass we lit candles for Grandma Lenore, Austin, and Olivia (It was Olivia's birthday-and I remember when Olivia was born I lit a candle for her and her family -at the time, I called my Grandma Lenore and asked her what I was supposed to do when I lit a candle in the church). So this time I knew what to do, but when I thought about it, I didn't know EXACTLY why people light candles. I knew it was because we are praying for them, but there had to be something more. This is what I found: "Often you can find them(candles) near a statue or icon of Mary. These are called votive candles and indicate that someone is praying about something particular, either for themselves or on behalf of someone else. The word "votive" can also refer to a promise to pray for someone, as well as a wish or desire for a certain outcome on behalf of someone, such as recovery of health." As I was lighting candles, I knew there were many more people I could have lit candles for, I pray for them as well. Loved ones I have lost, family members who are ill, and dear friends who have been through so much. I love you and promise to pray for you!

8 months

Reid is 8 months old today. He is crawling, standing up, has 4 teeth (and I think some more on the way), knows what he wants (aka throws fits when he gets mad), and is eating finger food. Tonight Rudd and I had to move the mattress down on his crib because we woke up this morning to our little man standing up in his crib looking over the edge.

Thank you Dad, and all Veterans

Tuesday is Veterans Day. My dad is a Veteran, he faught in the Vietnam War. My grandma Lenore said that when he came home and told her and his dad that he enlisted, they offered to go to the Priest at their church and see what he could do to get my dad out of his obligation, but my dad declined their offer. He was pretty young when he went to war, late teens early twenties and was a door gunner on a helicopter. Have you ever seen the movie "We Were Soldiers"? It is based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once, and Young." The movie did not depict the time or place my dad fought in the war, but I think it portrayed some of what he went through. There are a few scenes showing door gunners. To this day, he cannot watch any war movies, especially We Were Soldiers, but can you blame him? He lived it, he survived it, why would he want to re-live it?

It brings tears to my eyes to think of the welcome home he recieved, or should I say the lack of support he recieved when he came home. He was spit on and had things thrown on him because he served his country. It was awful. Every Veterans Day, I call him, tell him how much I appreciate his service to our country, and that I love him. So thank you Dad for serving our country. I hope that the thanks and love I show you today and in the years to come can begin to make up for the way your were treated when you came home from war. Thank you to all of the veterans and current members of the miltary!

My dad has a Zippor lighter that he got when he was in the army, and I will never forget what it says on it: "When I die I will go to heaven because I have spent my time in hell."

Reid's 1st Halloween

We didn't go trick or treating this year, but Reid still got dressed up for Halloween. A friend got us these cute pieces to stick on our pumpkins so we didn't have to carve them.