week one

Today's our first softball game for the co-ed team for work. It's just a practice but I'm still mega nervous! I wish I didn't get so nervous for things but I can't help that. I was nervous for women's volleyball and that turned out good so I hope this does too. Just don't let any of us get hurt!! Good Luck Team!!

more rain...

Hello again. So JA is back home and doing pretty well. She gets tired by the smallest chores and sleeps a lot, but that's good since she didn't sleep well for the week she was in the hospital. Let's hope it continues to get better and she'll be better then her old self in no time.

When you go through something like that, and then another thing gets added on, it really tests the human strength to endure hardships. My Grandma's doctor found a tumor in her head the other week at the doctors office. She got a brain scan on yesterday to see what it is. They said it's not cancer and they think she's had it for a long, long time. Yet again, I hope they are right and it's really nothing. She already told us that she's not doing anything about it. She said she's too old to fight it now, and if the doctor said don't worry, she's not going to worry.

I hope this is the last of the bad news for our family. We need something good to happen soon!
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This is just a eulogy that I found that a man wrote for his brother. It's such a touching letter and I thought I'd share it.

Darren Opicka’s eulogy for his older brother, Dean Opicka, killed in action in Iraq April 14, 2008:

Good morning. My name is Darren and I am Deano’s little brother currently stationed in Camp Pendleton, California. I’ve completed two successful combat tours. I’ve walked in the same soil that took Dean from us.

My parents always told us how many people are praying for you every single day and that’s always meant so much to me.

But looking back, me and Deano, the youngest two of four boys, and I believe the best looking, we always spent a lot of time singing karaoke, singing in the car or playing some kind of sport. It always seemed it was so convenient, every single day, come chore time, it was the fourth quarter in our front yard football game in which me and Dean took turns being Brett Favre trying to throw the winning touchdown pass against the Bears. You know we always won.

Come baseball season, me and Dean would spend many hours throwing the baseball around the front yard until one day there was a nearly perfect circle in one of the barn windows. It soon became obvious to mom and dad, and yet still to this day, no one threw it.

I’m sure the past week of everybody rekindling memories of Deano, everybody’s come to know something. I came to learn that my brother was the most organized packrat – ever. (He was) so meticulous that he sent himself letters from Iraq with receipts in them and he kept these organized forever. I don’t understand how he did it, but he did.

I know when Dean finally made it to heaven and he met God, he continued exactly where left off. When God got to him, he said, “Dean, here’s your receipt.”

People always wonder through their actions and what they’ve done, if they’ll affect people and change lives. Everyone knew Dean as a giver in all aspects of life. It never mattered what Dean had, but rather what you needed. Me and Dean were both very proud not just to be brothers, but also United States Marines – to serve the great nation, to serve an outstanding tradition and freedom. Dean’s passion and what he believed in led him to the greatest sacrifice for freedom – his life which he gave honorably.

We all have guardian angels. But I know on that fourteenth day of April, I got another one. One I could never have imagined nor asked for. Dean’s going to be the best guardian angel to walk by my side and to watch over me. Dean, you’re going to be missed by all. You’ve been an amazing Marine, a tremendous friend of all and the most incredible finacee, son and brother anyone could ever have asked for and will forever be in our hearts.

We love you Dean, it’s time for you to get some rest. Brother, you not only earned it, but deserve it. Your mission’s over. You’re home now.

and then the rain came pouring down.....

We were doing well. J.A. was moved to a regular room, and her pace-maker came off Saturday early-evening. It was great...we all were so relieved, I think I slept the best ever. (It probably helped that I babysat for a 7 year old, 3 1/2 year old and 20 month old that day too. I would like to send a personal thank-you to the inventor of Play-Doh and SpongeBob Square Pants....you saved me. I am forever grateful.)

I awoke to a note on the kitchen counter, "J.A. got moved back to ICU around midnight when her heart rate dropped to the 30's. She has the pace-maker attached again. I will call you if I get any updates." I felt sick, like I might black-out. How could this happen?!?! I just couldn't concentrate all day. She was doing so well and then BAM, back to step one. She will be in ICU for 48 hours so they can monitor her. I guess I'm sad it happened but glad it happened. What if that went on after she got home? She could have died! The nurses who watch all the patients monitors are the ones who caught it and came into the room to check on her. I really hope she doesn't have to get the pacemaker but if it keeps her alive, there really is no choice is there. It's just so crazy because she's only 28! I pray every night for her full recovery, please do the same if you can.

So far, So good

Hello All! Yesterday was a very stressful day for my family (well my second immediate family since I live with my aunt, uncle and cousin.) My cousin, their daughter and sister respectively, had to have open heart surgery yesterday. She had it about 4 years ago I think and the temporary valve that was put in was working, but another leak showed up in a different spot. So a new permanent aortic valve had to be put in yesterday. We woke at 4:30 am to get to the hospital by 6:00. We arrived and JA (my cousin) and JW (her husband) were already there. We talked a little, said a little prayer and off to the 2nd floor for the surgery. It was all going ok until JA started crying a little. Then my aunt was crying and I was trying not to. She's so strong it's unbelievable. I really look up to her for being 28 and having two heart surgeries already and taking everything in stride. I'm happy to say that all went well, or as well as a second heart surgery can go. We were at the hospital from 6 am - 6 pm when we went home. She is doing well and we're just waiting and praying for her to get off the pace-maker and have her heart fire properly on it's own. It's so used to having to 'fire' more then the normal heart that it was going a little faster then they wanted it to yesterday. The pace-maker should help it go to a normal rate and then the pace-maker will come off. She should be better then ever once she is fully recovered! YEAH!!!

In the meantime, we are all taking turns watching their 3 children (one from a previous marriage of JW) They are so adorable and I'm happy to say that the little girl HM is my god-daughter! They are always a hoot and I look forward to spending more time with them! Take Care all!!

The Times They Are A Changin'

My cousin is 16. The girl he likes is 18. When they hang out, it's just like I'm back in junior high all over again. They hit one another, say mean (dumb) things, keep moving closer to eventually they are sitting by each other. And then their is the other stages that I never experienced in my younger days. The texting, phone calls, Facebook pokes! We didn't have cell phones for one....we had bag phones. Yup, you remember the huge phone in a bag you plugged into your cigarette lighter. We had those and you definitely didn't whip them out in social gatherings to make a call.
Texting...now there's another one. We didn't even have phones, let alone the ability to text. I didn't get into texting until college!! Now little kids like 12 are texting! And the parents!! They text each others parents too! What!??!! I can't imagine texting my friends mom! It's just so foreign to me!

This day and age, Facebook is a regular everyday word. "facebook pic" "that's going on facebook" "facebook quote!" It's crazy how like everyone can say it and everyone else knows what that person is talking about. I still think facebook should be for college students only though. If a high school principal or someone got on there....yikes! These high school kids are a little riskier then my social circle ever was. The drinking and drugs! I mean you should never do drugs but the drinking, wait until college. Actually don't start at all! All it does is eat up your money. I was on my cousin's facebook and his friends had messages about needing to get drunk this weekend. I was shocked! I like to think I'm not naive but I guess I didn't realize how many kids do it.

Also, the pictures from the halloween parties!! They are dressed like slutty everything! Yet again, not until college did we get 'slutty' and even then it was too cold for me to go prancing around Water Street in thigh highs with my butt hanging out. I guess our children need to mature faster then ever these days which makes me a little scared. What will it be like by the time I have kids?

Now I understand why people always said, "Back in my day....."

annoyed....

So I get kind of annoyed at the tech department here at work. We are suppose to have private email folders but they check them and they check all of our emails. Ok I understand you need to monitor the server and computers and what-not. But do you need to go through all of our folders and check them? Do you need to read all of our emails? Umm no!! They can check what websites we go on and everything. As a matter of fact, they probably could be reading this as I type it! I understand to a certain extent yet where does the invasion of privacy line get crossed?

**I'm Kinda A Big Deal**

Wouldn't it be cool to have a famous friend? Not like reality show famous where you get taped every time you are with them, but like musician famous or athlete famous. I think it would be pretty fun. Probably if you stayed inside or out on your own property though otherwise you could be hounded by fans and the media (depending on how big of a star). I think I would want to be friends with like a person who is a star, but not super famous that they can't leave their home without being mobbed. Like some country music stars are just regular people in their hometown's. That would be cool to hang with someone like that...to get to live the life for a little while but not like 'completely' live the life!
Ok this was a totally random thought but I figured I'd shoot it out there.

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Right when I think it's going well....here I am again. My boss just got back from lunch with V.P. - PR. Great! I really don't know why she doesn't want to go to lunch with me or anyone. God people, get over the fact that I'm like at least 8 years younger then all of you! Is that it? Otherwise I have no clue what it is. Am I suppose to be more talkative? I don't know what to talk to you about?! I don't want to have my only interactions with you be about work. I wish someone would just tell me what the deal is!! It's like I'm the last one picked for dodge ball. I seriously feel like I'm back in high school!

my new job.....

So my new job gives me the luxury of getting the first chance at tickets for events. No I don't get a discount and I can't get as many as I want but I also can talk to our ticket-person who can hook me up with the best seats available once they are on sale. Ok last night we saw Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner....I'm not even a big fan of either and I thought it was a really good concert. I'm not a fan of the costume changes all the time but they weren't that long so it was ok. But what I wanted to share was an awesome song I had never heard from Carrie Underwood and another song from Josh Gracin that's his new release that I love! Below are the lyrics and I recommend you go to rhapsody.com and listen for yourselves!

Carrie Underwood "Just a Dream"

It was two weeks after the day she turned 18
all dressed in white
going to the church that night
She had his box of letters in the passenger seat
A six pence in her shoe
Something borrowed, something blue
And when the church doors opened up wide
She put her veil down trying to hide the tears
Oh she just couldn't believe it
She heard the trumpets from the military band
And the flowers fell out of her hands

Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever
Now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

The preacher man said "Let us bow our heads and pray"
"Lord please lift his soul and heal this hurt"
Then the congregation all stood up and sang
The saddest song that she ever heard
Then they handed her a folded up flag
And she held on to all she had left of him
oh and what could've been
Then the guns rang one last shot
And it felt like a bullet in her heart

Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever
Now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever
Now I'll never know
oh I'll never know
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream
Oh this is just a dream
Just a dream
Yeah
Yeah

Josh Turner "Another Try"

All the things I felt and never shared
All the times that she was lonely with me there
The tears I wouldn't let fall from my eyes
And how I let her go without a fight

The reasons I'm alone I know by heart
But I don't want to spend forever in the dark
I swear next time I'll hang on for dear life
If love ever gives me another try

There's no changing things that we regret
The best that we can hope for is one more chance
If the hands of time could just move in reverse
I wouldn't make the same mistake again with her

The reasons I'm alone I know by heart
But I don't want to spend forever in the dark
I swear next time I'll hang on for dear life
If love ever gives me another try

The reasons I'm alone I know by heart
But I don't want to spend forever in the dark
I swear next time I'll hang on for dear life
If love ever gives me another try