A Day for Remembering

Memorial Day is more than a three day weekend.

For those that have lost a loved one in the service, it's a day to mourn, and remember.

This day is for Jesse Mizener, and all the soldiers like him, who never came home.

We are the shoulders for their families to cry on today, and we're the ones that know the pain.

We don't hold a BBQ.  We don't have a picnic.  We sit at home, and provide comfort for each other, and our friends.

Because one young man died on January 7, 2004, my family has an extended family.  We have become friends with his wife, his brother, and his mom.  We watch his son grow, and his son has many fathers, even though none of them can replace Jesse.  Most of the unit still keeps in touch.  And we take care of our family.

Being in contact with his family has brought healing to them, and us.  It has helped some in his unit to heal also.  I don't know the entire story, and I probably never will, but I know that my husband feels guilt every day because he couldn't bring all of his soldiers home.  I also know that Jesse's family goes through a lot every day.  Time doesn't heal the wounds, it just hurts a little less.

Please, think of Jesse Mizener today, and all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  And remember why we have Memorial Day.

PFC Jesse Mizener KIA 7 Jan 2004

Proud daddy.

Jesse and his brother Brian, as kids, and then as adults.  Brian is now my family.

SoapBox Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Thanks to Influenster, I got to try SoapBox Shampoo and Conditioner. 

I was reluctant to try it with my freaky frizzy hair, but it was great.

I tried it twice to make sure that it wasn't a fluke.

The first time, I blow dried my hair and it was silky soft all day.

The next day it was still silky soft and I was surprised.  

The shampoo had a lot of lather, and the conditioner went a long way.

It's not often that I have a shampoo and conditioner that makes my hair soft AND manageable.

So, I decided to use my normal shampoo and conditioner, and use the SoapBox again a couple days later.  Again, my hair was softer and silkier than with my normal shampoo.  I'm impressed.

The other thing that is awesome about SoapBox, is that there are codes on the back of the bottles that you can enter on their website and each code entered provides a month of clean water in countries that need it.  My codes went to Cambodia and Ethiopia.  

This is what the screen will look like when you enter your codes:

Overall, I'm impressed with this shampoo and conditioner and will continue to use them.  

*Disclaimer: I received this product from Influenster for the purpose of review, however, all opinions are my own.*

Happy Mother's Day to the Not Mom's

I have to admit, I stole the "Not" something from one of my friends when she said yesterday that she was "not" dating her not boyfriend, for exactly six months.

Many of us bask in the cards and flowers.  Then I have a few friends that have joined a club that we shouldn't be a member of.  We've lost a little one and on this day, our arms are empty, and our soul is hurting.  

My friend Zita, who lost her daughter to a head injury, is facing her first Mother's Day without her daughter, and my heart hurts for her.  And my friend Espy, who never even got to take her son home from the hospital, my heart cries for her.  Two friends that have lost a child.  They joined a club that is exclusive but no one wants to join it.  

Then there are those mom's who lost a child they never knew.  These moms have lost their little ones before they had a chance to enjoy the pregnancy.  This has happened to me TEN times.  This is why I cling to my children so hard.

And, there is the small group of mom's that do what's best for their children.  I made that choice with my oldest child, and was forced into with my daughter.  Until last week, I didn't even know what my daughter looked like.  I wonder if she even knows that I'm alive, or what I look like?  I wonder if she thinks about me?  

So, for all my friends that are Mom's, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!  For those that have Angel Babies, I'm thinking about you on this hard day and know that my heart hurts for you.  For those that are not mom yet, you will have a chance someday.  And for those that have made the sacrifice, either voluntarily or involuntarily, you are not alone.  

To the daddy's and grandparents also, Happy Mother's Day.  

Me, I'm going to be up at the school helping other's with Geology, Analytic Geometry, and Archaeology.  Yes...tutoring 4 people in three subjects.  Someday, I will get paid for this!!