Bluebirds and Butterflies

The Most Recognized House in the United States....

Like all children in the United States, I started learning about our great Nation at an early age.  Most all children, by the time they begin school, can already identify the President of the United States and recognize the White House when they see it. 


When you take American History in school as a child, you are introduced to all the great leaders in history...all the people who had a part in making our wonderful country what it is today....everyone who fought for the rights and freedoms that we have today and, sadly, the privileges that we sometimes take for granted.  Many people fought and gave their lives for our freedom and all the choices we are able to make in our lives today, without fear.  Along with recognizing all the great leaders and heros...people who fought and died to give us the things we have today, we also learned about our Presidents who guided our country.  I remember having to recognize and name all the Presidents of the United States in the order they were serving in office when I was in school.  As an adult, you might not be able to remember everything that you learned in history as a child.  I don't think I could name all the Presidents in order correctly today.  But, one thing that you never forget is that our freedom didn't come easy.  Many people have served our beautiful country to keep it safe and free.  

 

We live in such a great country.  As I get older, my desire to travel to some of the beautiful places that we have in the United States deepens.  I have a list of places that I would love to see in my lifetime.  One of the places on that list is the White House.  I think that everyone that pledges their allegance to our country and flag should see the White House, if possible.  After all the history classes and seeing photos of the White House in books and magazines and on television and in movies, I wanted to see the White House in person.  Recently, I had an opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., with my husband.  He was going to Washington, D.C., on a business trip and invited me to accompany him.  I was happy to join him on his trip, and we stayed two extra days to explore some of the places we wanted to visit.  At the top of my list was the White House....one of the most recognized houses in the free world.   On our first day of exploring, my husband and I took the metro and, after a short walk, we were standing at the gates of the White House.  I was very excited to finally be standing in this spot.

The gates in front of the White House are ornate with stars and emblems upon them.  

I would have loved to have toured the inside of the White House, but we didn't have a lot of notice before my husband's business trip, and, it takes time to organize a visit to tour the White House.  In order to tour the White House, you need to submit a request for a free tour via a member of Congress up to six months ahead.   I am hoping that the next time we visit Washington, D.C., we can request a tour and see the inside.  On this trip, I was just happy to be able to stand outside the White House gates and make some photos....something I had never done before.

As you near the gates of the White House there is a guard station.  This map is posted for the public to see which tells a bit about the White House and shows a diagram of the  area around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue....the most famous address in the United States.

Here is a closer view....

After viewing the map and reading the information, my husband and I walked over towards the gates to make a few photos.  After 57 years of only seeing the White House in photos and on television, I was very excited to have my husband take this photo  of me standing in front of the White House. 


The weather was overcast on the day we walked to the White House, so my photos are not as beautiful as they could have been on a nicer day, but, nonetheless, I am happy to have them.   Here is a photo of the front of the White House.  You can see the fountain in front...

Here is a of photo of my husband, Mark, that I made...

I like this photo with the trees framing the view...

Designed by James Hoban and set in an 18-acre park, the sandstone building, known as the White House, has 132 rooms on three floors with a circular portico that is a nod to a Georgian manor.  Eight years after it was begun, in November 1800, John Adams was the first President to move into the White House.  The British set it on fire in August, 1814, during the war of 1812.  Franklin D. Roosevelt built the West Wing and my favorite First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, did much redecorating. 

Another photo of me at the gate...

I love the columns in front....

Another photo of my husband, Mark...

You can see a little more of the architectural design around the front doors and windows in this next photo.   The front doors were opened at the time I made this photo, and there were a couple of people standing at the door looking out.

At the time we were making these photos, my husband and I were the only people walking along in front of the White House.   A few minutes after we began making photos, we noticed a couple of young ladies taking turns making photos of each other at the gate.   I walked up to them and asked if I could take a photo of the two of them together in exchange for them making a photo of my husband and I.  Only one of the two ladies spoke English but was very happy to have me take a photo for them.  Then, they happily took our photo.  I am thankful that I got a photo of my husband, Mark, and I together....thanks to these two ladies.

There were some vehicles and vans parked at the White House the day we were there.  It appeared that they were preparing for some type of event.  A few days after we returned home to Seattle, we saw on television that some entertainers had performed at the White House.   Perhaps, some preparations were being made for that event while we were there making photos that day.  In the next couple of photos, you can see some of the police/guards that were on the property that day....

Another photo of the White House framed with trees...

Another gate with a guard station....

There are some pretty trees around the White House.  One tree that was growing near the iron fence had this metal marker attached to it letting those passing by know that the tree is a "Red Ash."

As we were preparing to leave the area, a side door opened and, suddenly, a man carrying an umbrella walked out with the "First Dog."   The man took the dog out towards the back of the property. 

Flags flying proudly attached to all the light posts...

On the day my husband and I were viewing the White House, there were a group of people holding signs and chanting loudly in protest across the street from the White House.  They did not bother us, but these protesters were there the entire time we were making our photos, and we did kind of keep our eye on them as, I am sure, the staff and security at the White House were doing as well.  As we left the area, we were kind of happy to be following closely behind this guy....


One of the most recognized addresses....1600 Pennsylvania Avenue street sign...

It was late in the day when we left the White House.  We were looking for a place to have dinner, when I spotted a restaurant that my husband's cousin, who lives in the Washington, D.C., area, had recommended to us....."Old Ebbitt Grill."   The restaurant is located at 675 15th and G Streets...just two blocks from the White House.  My husband, Mark, and I did not have reservations, but it did not take too long to be seated.  

I loved the atmosphere of the Old Ebbitt Grill.   It is said that Theodore Roosevelt used to dine at this restaurant which is decorated with mallard ducks and sailing artifacts.  I wish I had made a few more photos of the restaurant.  Our food was very good, and we both said we would love to go back again.  When you enter the restaurant, these large vases of flowers welcome you...

This painting is near the front of the Old Ebbitt Grill...

My husband made this photo of me at our table...

Relaxing and enjoying a glass of Merlot...

My husband and I had a delicious dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill.  If you live in the Washington, D.C., area or have a chance to visit, I recommend the restaurant.  Thank you to Mark's cousin, Mike, for suggesting we try the restaurant.  

While we were dining at the Old Ebbitt Grill, my husband and I talked about how much privacy you give up when you are part of the First Family.   Just enjoying a nice private dinner would be a luxury.   As all of us know, when you take office and make the White House your home, you are always surrounded by security and  staff which, of course, is necessary to ensure the safety of the President and his family.   While we were having dinner, we imagined what our lives would be like if we were living in the White House....

Hmmm........... Mark looks pretty good behind that desk!

 What would my life be like as a First Lady?.... 

But, why not dream about being President?  In today's world, little girls can dream of becoming anything....

 

Actually, I am very happy and blessed with the life I have.  But, isn't it nice to have the freedom of choice?   After our dinner, we were so close to the White House, that I decided to walk back over and make a few pictures of the White House at night.  I wanted to see what it looked like with the lights on....

I made a few photos without my flash....

As it began to get dark, the lights came on around the property.  You can see the fountain illuminated in some of these photos. 

The White House is very pretty at dark, too...

My husband and I made a few more photos....

and then we said goodbye to the White House and began walking a few blocks before grabbing a taxi to head back to our hotel.   We had such a beautiful day in Washington, D.C., and I was so happy to have my photos to share with you.

 

I hope you enjoyed visiting the White House with us today and hope that each of you have an opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., someday and see the White House in person, too.  Have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim

My Visit to Arlington National Cemetery

This week, we are celebrating President's Day.....and this is the perfect week to be sharing my recent trip to Washington, D.C., with you! Last week, I joined my dear husband on a business trip to the "other Washington" where he was involved with some meetings with his company. I had never been to Washington, D.C., and was very excited to spend Valentine's week there with my husband. We scheduled two extra days after his meetings concluded to explore as many sights as we could fit into our schedule. I was very excited to finally be seeing some of the wonderful things I had only been able to visit through photos and readings in school in my history class :) History became very real to me last week! I have so many photos that I would like to share with you, sooooo many, that I am breaking it up into several postings. Today, I would like to take you to a place that really stirred my heart......Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

My husband and I took the metro near our hotel to Arlington Cemetery. As we neared the entrance, we saw these beautiful gates...

I loved the ornate design....

Stone eagles watch over the cemetery...

On the side of the gates, which is large enough for a vehicle to pass through, are stone arches.

Here is a photo of my husband standing under one of the archway passages...

A nice man who passed us making photos of each other at the entranceway was nice enough to make a photo of my husband and I together at the gate...

Me standing at the beginning of our walk through the Cemetery. You can see some of the many grave markers behind me...

The weather in Washington, D.C., like the area in which we live in near Seattle, has been very mild this year. The temperatures we experienced while on our trip were almost identical to what we have been having in Seattle. We experienced some rain on the day we viewed some of the museums, but this day was very sunny and beautiful. It was a perfect day to walk the grounds of this beautiful cemetery.

As you begin to see all the many, many white grave markers at the Cemetery, you begin to feel a stirring in your heart. As the sign says, these truly are "hallowed grounds" that we are walking on....

Arlington Cemetery is one of the best known of over one hundred national cemeteries in the United States. There are approximately 620 acres of property at Arlington National Cemetery which shelters the remains of over 320,000 servicemen and women. There are veterans from every war and major conflict in the history of the United States buried at this Cemetery. As one of the brochures for the Cemetery states, "This is our nation's most sacred military shrine and bears witness to the whole of American history."

If you have never been to the Arlington National Cemetery before, I cannot begin to tell you what emotions you feel when you survey all the white grave markers....it is truly a moving experience.

The property that Arlington Cemetery sits on was once home to the tribes of Native-Americans who fished the neighboring rivers. They hunted in the forests. There have been stone tools found on the property of the Cemetery that once belonged to and were used by the tribes. During the colonial period, this area was home and farmland for European settlers. George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington and step-son of George Washington, inherited the land in 1802. Raised as the nation's first presidential son, Custis dedicated his life to the commemoration of the first president. Between 1802 and 1818, he built Arlington House as the centerpiece of his 1,100 acre plantation. It was our nation's first memorial to George Washington and a home for Custis' growing family. In 1831, Custis' only surviving child, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, married Lt. Robert E. Lee of the United States Army in the front parlor at Arlington House and, for over 30 years, the house was the home to one of America's most famous soldiers and his family. By the end of May, 1861, the Lees had vacated the home and federal troops occupied the estate, using Arlington House as the headquarters. In 1864, Washington, D.C., was flooded with wounded and dead soldiers from both North and South. On May 13, the first military burials at Arlington took place at what is now Section 27 of the Cemetary. By the end of the Civil War, there were nearly 16,000 dead buried on the old plantation. Ultimately, the Lees were compensated for the loss of their property by the federal Supreme Court. Arlington House and the new cemetery remained with the War Department and served as an early cemetery headquarters. The U.S. Army began restoring the house and slave quarters in the early 1930s. In 1933, the War Department separated Arlington House and transferred it to the National Park Service. There is so much history and so many stories on these grounds. It is truly a great experience to stand here.
George Washington Parke Custis is buried at the cemetery in Section 13. As most of us know, President John F. Kennedy is buried at Arlington Cemetery as well as Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Like so many Americans, and people all over the world, I loved President Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy when I was growing up. I was in elementary school when President Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a Presidential motorcade parade in Dallas, Texas. If you were alive at this time, you will never forget where you were the day the Nation learned that President Kennedy had been shot. It was a very sad day for our country, and a day that stands out in the minds of all Americans who remember this day.

Signs point the way to the gravesite...

When you get close to the gravesite, there is a sign to remind all that this is a place of respect. At the gravesite, no one spoke above a whisper.

Approaching the graves....

An eternal flame keeps watch over the graves....

I remember Jackie Kennedy lighting this flame at the time of President John F. Kennedy's burial.

It was very touching to see the grave of President Kennedy...

A single deep pink carnation was placed at President Kennedy's grave...

I have always admired and loved Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. I still have the pillbox hat that I wore in elementary school at the time she was First Lady. Jackie Kennedy's style of dress influenced many of us during the time that she was in the White House. Designers loved to dress Jackie, and you could see the influence she had on the dress of Americans. Lots of ladies wore their own versions of her pearls, gloves, suits and pillbox hats during the 1960s. Jackie brought back a lot of culture and style to the White House. She also took great pride in restoring and refreshing some of the interior of the White House. I remember watching the tour of the White House that she personally hosted on television. Jackie continued to capture the hearts of Americans and the world even after her White House days. Many people refer to the time that President Kennedy was in office as the time of "Camelot." The Kennedys were probably as close as we ever got to America's version of a "Royal Family." Even after Jackie's White House days, we were all intrigued with her, and she continued to influence the dress of American women. Everyone remembers those famous oversized "Jackie O" sunglasses that were seen everywhere. Even today, when I see a very large pair of sunglasses, I think of Jackie. I think also women loved Jackie because she was such a good Mother. She loved her children so much and spent a lot of time with them. She was very protective and loving towards Caroline and John, Jr., and also her grandchildren. She had a love for her family, history, poetry and books which she passed along to her children. Sadly, John F. Kennedy, Jr., died with his wife and her sister in a tragic plane crash a few years ago. My heart goes out to Caroline. The Nation lost a beloved President, a beautiful former First Lady, and a handsome son who was, like his Dad, loved by many....but Caroline lost her family....a Dad, a Mother and a brother. My Mother, like me, always loved and admired Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Both my Mother and Jackie Kennedy Onassis died of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Here is the gravesite of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis....

A single deep pink carnation was placed at Jackie's grave...

The graves of their little ones who died are also there beside the President and Jackie. One child is buried on each side with the former President and First Lady in the middle...

My husband took these photos of me standing at the gravesite...

President Kennedy's burial place is the most visited single gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery.
As you walk down the steps from the gravesite area, there are walls with these words etched into them...

You will recognize this famous speech...



Walking a short distance away from President Kennedy's gravesite, we spotted a gravesite that had astroturf leading up to it and a rope separating the gravesite. I didn't realize it until I walked up to take a look, but this is the grave of Edward Kennedy.

I was unable to get a clear shot of his grave marker, but if you look very closely, you will be able to read the name and dates...

Walking through the Cemetery, we saw a section of older graves. Some with large concrete or stone crosses...

Mark spotted the grave of this five star Fleet Admiral in the Navy, Admiral William D. Leahy, and his wife, Louise Harrington Leahy. Mark, as you may know, spent many years in the Navy and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 15 years ago...
Mark with another Admiral's grave...
Some interesting gravesites and markers...

Walking on, my husband spotted these three gravesites. Not to be disrespectful, but the bar is set pretty high when you are buried between "Good" and "Perfect." :) You have to smile....

My ancestors, like many, fought in the Civil War, so I wanted to look for the memorial and gravesite for the unknown dead from the Civil War....

The remains of 2,111 unidentified soldiers gathered after the War from the fields of Bull Run and the route to Rappahannock are buried at this site. Brave soldiers who never returned home but forever remembered and honored.

Unknown Civil War dead are located in Section 26 of the Cemetary and was dedicated in 1866.

This arbor has a vine growing over it. I would love to see this Cemetery in the springtime when the cherry blossoms are in bloom and all the vines are beautiful and thriving. The Cemetery is very beautiful in the winter but would be so pretty with all the blooms and greenery.

This marker had a beautiful leaf border around it...

Now to find, the Tomb of the Unknowns which is the first thing you usually think about when you mention Arlington National Cemetery....

The current Memorial Amphitheater and the adjacent Tomb of the Unknowns (Unknown Solder) have become memorial icons. Flags surround the marble benches and the podium where world leaders pay tribute to those who served. Presidential wreaths are presented each Memorial Day and Veterans Day. We found our way to the Amphitheater...

I love this photo I took of the sunlight shining through the trees...

My husband, Mark, inside the amphitheater...

The amphitheater is very beautiful and parts of it ornate...

My husband took this photo of me standing in the hallway....

The Tomb of the Unknowns (Unknown Soldier) is located behind the amphitheater....

Powerful words say it all....... "known but to God"....

The Tomb of the Unknowns was established in 1921. A sentinel of the Third United States Infantry maintains vigil around the clock.

The sentinel on guard paces 21 steps alongside the tomb, then pauses 21 seconds, then returns.

The changing of the guard takes place every hour (or half-hour from March 15 through September) and is very moving to watch.

There is a small shelter guard tent for the sentinel to retreat to for a very brisk break to relax for a moment or take a sip of water. We saw the sentinel go into the shelter guard tent for just a few seconds, and then he quickly returned to his post and began pacing again. It is not easy to stand so erect and at attention for long periods of time. This sentinel looked very regal as he paced and stood at attention. It is a real honor to guard this tomb.

I particularly like this photo of the sentinel as he passes the tomb....

I also love this next photograph...

The tomb says "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." The World War I soldier has been entombed here since 1921. Joining their comrade, unknown servicemen from World War II and Korea were interred on May 30, 1958. An unknown from Vietnam was interred on May 28, 1984. The Vietnam unknown was removed from the tomb and was identified in 1998 through a sophisticated DNA process. In the photo below, you see the sentinel during his 21 second pause at the end of the 21 step pace. You can see that the sentinels walk such a straight line that they have worn down the pavement a bit. You can actually see the outline in the concrete of the path they walk.

We stayed for a while and quietly watched the sentinel pace and guard the tomb. While we were silently watching, I couldn't help but think about all those men and women who have served and are currently serving our great country. I was thinking about all the sacrifices that these servicemen and women and their families have made to help keep our Nation safe....

Each serviceman or woman buried here is not only a soldier but also someone's loved one....someone's family...

Each grave belongs to a person....

and each person has a story to tell....

and each one of us have a lesson to learn....

A lesson of just how many people it has taken through the years....how many soldiers and how many lives given....to keep our beautiful United States of America free and safe from many who would seek to take away that freedom....

May we always pray for our servicemen and women and their families. May we always appreciate the freedom that we have and the lives that we live everyday because of those who serve. May we always be grateful and show our thanks.

A quilt displayed at the Arlington National Cemetery....

I hope you enjoyed visiting the Arlington National Cemetery with me today. I hope that everyone can visit this Cemetery someday. It is a very moving experience that you will never forget. There are many other monuments and memorials at the Cemetery besides the ones I featured in my blog. You could spend an entire day or two just walking the grounds and visiting each one. My husband and I hope to return to the Arlington National Cemetery soon to continue visiting these sites. Thank you for visiting my blog and have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim

My birthday reflections....

Each year, on New Year's Eve, we all take a look at our lives and come up with a whole new list of things we could've, should've and would've done in the previous year.....our list of new year's resolutions. We vow to exercise more, eat healthier, finally organize ourselves and our lives, and, in general, improve our performance on all those things we didn't do as well as we would have liked in the last year. I am sure all of you can relate to this. I always come up with my list of resolutions.....some of which I succeed on and....some of which do not get marked off the list. Oh well, these will be carried over to the next resolution list :)

Besides New Year's Day each year, there is also another day that I take stock of my life on. That day is February 9th, my birthday. Here I am enjoying a piece of my birthday cake when I was a little one. My Mother made this photo of me in a little plaid dress sitting in my "baby tender" (high chair) happily eating cake with my fingers. My siblings had not been born yet....

A birthday is not only special to the person who celebrates it, but it is also a day that is very important to the parents of the person celebrating getting another year older. Having had two children myself, who are now young adults, I know the feeling of reflection that a parent experiences when their child has a birthday. The day your children are born is a day you will never, never forget. It was the day that each of your children came into your life.....a day that forever changed your life....a day that you knew the depth of love that a parent has for their children. The love of a Mother for her child is probably the strongest bond on earth. The next photo is me at age 29 with my newborn son, Brandon Lee, born in 1983, as we prepare to leave the hospital in Houston....

The next photo is of my Mother, Lil Thompson, shortly after Brandon was born. The nurse wrapped Brandon in a sheet and brought him out so my Mother could hold him for a moment. My Mother was so happy to be a grandmother for the first time....

The next photo was taken when my son, Elliott Courtland, was born....July, 1989. I was 35 years old when Elliott was born. Here I am with my newborn, Elliott, my son, Brandon who was 6 years old at the time, and my dear Mom. Another happy day....

Each year, on my birthday, I always think of my own Mom. Thank you, Mom, for all went through during your 9 long months of pregnancy and for all you went through during my delivery to bring me into the world and give me life..... of course, my Dad had a big part in this, too! :) Here I am with my Mother when I lived in Houston and she came to see me on my birthday one year. I am not sure of the exact year, but I know I was in my early 30's. We were on our way to celebrate my birthday at Brennan's Restaurant in Houston, Texas, where I lived at the time. The photo was made at my sister's home....

My Mother and I when I was young at a lake in Winter Haven, Florida, where I was born....

Today, February 9th, is my birthday. On my blog today, I would like to share just a few of the photos I have from my photo albums.....a few memories of birthdays past through the years.
Here is a photo of me when I was young with my birthday cake. My father was working at Lockheed in Marietta, Georgia, at the time. My Dad, James Thompson, spent his entire career, after the military, working for Lockheed/Lockheed-Martin. He began his career in Marietta, Georiga, where we lived at the time of this photo. We would move to Florida when I was 4 years old where he would continue his career and help to put men and missiles into space. I am two years old in this photo. The little girl with me was a friend of mine named Leanne King. I have my little hands up to my mouth.....probably tasting the icing..

Here is another photo of my friend and I clapping.....probably after singing Happy Birthday. Sadly, I lost track of this friend after moving to Florida. In those days, of course, we didn't have the means of communication that we have today. In today's world, we could have kept in touch through the computer. You can see in this photo how much fun Leanne and I had together when we were young. Maybe I can find her someday on the computer and see what road life took this little girl down. I wonder what happened to her, what experiences she had, or what type of person she grew up to be. I hope her life was full and that she is happy and well today...

After relocating to Florida, I celebrated my birthdays with my cousins and family. Here I am, after moving to Florida, enjoying some birthday cake and icecream with my cousin, Lee, who was visiting from Jacksonville for the day, and my cousins, Karen and Suzanne. This photo was taken at Karen and Suzanne's home who lived in the house right across the street from my family. That is me with the light colored overalls on. You can see some tinker toys that I received as a gift on the table next to my cousin, Suzanne. These cousins are on my Dad's side of the family. Our families grew to include more cousins, and we are all still very close today. I love all my family...

Here is another photo of me with my cousins, Karen and Suzanne...

Jumping ahead many years, when I was 25 years old, I moved to Houston, Texas, from Orlando, Florida. My sister, Jeri, also relocated to Houston just a few short years later. After my sister moved to Houston, we began to celebrate our birthdays together again. My sister and I are very close, and it was wonderful to live in the same town again. Here is a photo of a birthday cake my sister gave me for one of my birthdays. Jeri lived in a home that had a very nice patio with a water feature. I have nice memories of us enjoying my birthday cake on her pretty china as we sat outside on the patio courtyard of her home. My sister and I don't just use our china for special occasions. We believe in using what you have and enjoying it. Thank you, Jeri, for all the times you have celebrated with me and for all the many renditions of "Happy Birthday" that you have sang through the years. And for the song this morning! xoxo Here is a photo of the cake we shared years ago....

My sister took this photo of my son, Brandon, and I on my birthday out on her patio. It was late in the day so the photo is a little dark....

Another year, another beautiful, delicious cake, and another birthday wish to make....

Sometimes, when my Sister and I were living in Houston, our Mother, who lived in Florida, would come for a visit to celebrate our birthdays with us. Here is a photo of my Mother, Lil Thompson, and I on one of these birthday visits. This next photo was taken of my Mother and I before leaving for dinner at Brennan's Restaurant in Houston.... (I have had to smile at some of my hairdos through the years. A little light on the bangs, there, Kim, but that was in style at the time)

My sister took this photo of me before leaving for the restaurant. My younger son, Elliott, was a baby at this time, and my sister, Jeri, was nice enough to offer to babysit both of my children as part of my birthday gift so that I could enjoy a nice birthday dinner out. Sisters are like that..... I am blessed.

When I was in my early 40's, we relocated back to Florida again. I am so happy that we did because my children were able to live in the town I grew up in and see their grandparents every day! Now that my Mom and Dad are both gone, I am so happy that I got to spend a few years there with them. I was so happy that I lived nearby, too, because when my Mother first discovered she had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, I was able to emotionally support her and be there for all of her cancer treatments. I will always be thankful for this. My Mother and her doctors at M.D. Anderson in Orlando were victorious in that first treatment, and she would live a few more years. Her cancer came back twice more after I lived in Washington State, but my sister and I took turns flying back to Florida to be with our Mother. I am happy to say that she never had to go through a single cancer treatment alone. Sadly, we lost our dear Mother on June 1, 2008, to cancer. My Mother was a very special person, and I miss her every day. My Father, James Thompson, sadly, also passed away right after my Mother. He died in August of 2008. It was a very hard period of time for me and my siblings. A few years ago, when I was living in Florida, I celebrated a birthday, and my Mother called to tell me happy birthday as she ALWAYS did. I was not home at the time she called, so she left a message. For some reason, I saved her message on my voicemail. Everytime, this message would come up on my message recorder, I hit "save." After my Mother died, and my husband and I sold our home in Silverdale, Washington, we had to disconnect our phone. Doing this meant that I would lose all the messages I had saved on my voicemail. Knowing how much having my Mother and Dad's voice on my voicemail meant to me, my dear husband sat with a tape recorder and taped all the messages I had saved to make sure that I never lost their voices. I am so happy that he did this gesture for me because on my birthday today, I will play the tape and once again hear my Mother's voice telling me "Happy Birthday." I love you, Mom! Here is a photo of me with my two children, Brandon and Elliott, at my Mother and Father's home in Florida, on my birthday with the cake my Mother bought me to celebrate my birthday. Each year, while I was living again in Florida, my Mother bought me a birthday cake. Thank you, Mom and Dad, and thank you for being such great parents to me....

A birthday kiss from my younger son, Elliott....

 

Flowers from my husband....

Just a couple of months after my husband, son and I moved from Florida to Washington State, I celebrated my 50th birthday. To celebrate my special day, my husband, Mark, and son, Elliott, took me on a dinner/wine tour train ride. We sat in the dome car and there were flowers waiting for me at our table when I arrived. We rode the train along Lake Washington and toured Columbia Winery and enjoyed a wine tasting. I had never been on a train before, and it was a very special way to celebrate my 50th birthday. Here is a photo of the three of us in front of the Spirit of Washington train before our adventure...

I love the smell of a stargazer lily. The flowers are so fragrant that they fill your home with the wonderful aroma. Here I am on my 51st birthday with flowers from my husband, Mark.

After my husband, son and I relocated to Washington State from Florida, my parents were not able to celebrate my birthday with me so they began sending me flowers to let me know they were thinking of me. Here I am at our former home in Silverdale, Washington, celebrating my 53rd birthday. My husband made this photo of me with the flowers my parents sent me....

For dinner, my husband, Mark, and son, Elliott, took me to dinner at a Mexican Restaurant located in Bainbridge Island, WA, that I love......San Carlos Mexican Restaurant....

 

Another year, another birthday... Here is a photo of my husband, Mark, and I at a unique restaurant called Molly Ward Gardens on the day of my birthday. Molly Ward Gardens is located in a rustic barn-like setting. Inside the restaurant, the style is eclectic with lots of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. There is a garden area behind the restaurant. My husband and I enjoy having brunch at Molly Ward Gardens....

Our friends, Sandy and Doug Gibson, were living in Poulsbo at the time I was celebrating this birthday and joined us at Molly Ward Gardens. Sandy and Doug have since relocated back to California. We miss having them just a few houses away from us in Poulsbo. Sandy and I met many years ago in Florida. Sandy worked for Lockheed-Martin with my husband at the time. Later, Sandy and I owned and operated a health and weightloss center together in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Sandy became a fitness instructor and now teaches where she lives in California. Like Sandy, I used to be a fitness instructor years ago and was an aerobic director at a raquetball club in Houston, Texas. Here are Sandy and Doug celebrating my birthday with us at Molly Ward Gardens....

The next photo shows me with my husband, Mark, and my son, Elliott, who was living at home and attending Olympic College at the time. Elliott transferred to University of Washington later on where he is now in his 4th year of college studying computer engineering. So proud of him....

My birthday, last year, had a big surprise in store for me. My dear husband, Mark, bought me this Mercedes convertible! I have really enjoyed driving this car over the past year. Here I am with the car which is parked in back of our little cottage. This photo was taken on February 9, 2011, before my husband and I left to go over to Seattle to celebrate my birthday....


My husband and I celebrated my birthday together by having dinner at a place I enjoy in Seattle called "The Pink Door," and then visiting the Seattle aquarium...

Me at the octopus tank....

 

We had such a nice day seeing all the beautiful fish at the Seattle Aquarium. There are so many different and unique types of fish in the world....

Of course, you have to get a photo of Nemo..... "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...."

My husband, Mark, and I also enjoyed our lunch at "The Pink Door." Here is a photo I made of my husband enjoying some of our appetizers. Thank you, Mark, for making all of my birthdays special and for spending your life with me. Just spending my life with you has been a wonderful gift, and I am blessed....

When we arrived back home from Seattle, I received these beautiful flowers from my son, Brandon, and his girlfriend (now his wife) Amy. It was so sweet of them and made my day even more special because of their gesture. I also received a beautiful limoges box from my son with butterflies on it. Here I am with the flowers from Amy and Brandon. Thank you to my loved ones for making my day so wonderful. I am blessed to have you in my life and love you!

I also received some very pretty flowers from my beautiful step-daughter, Ashley, and her family. Wow! Two beautiful bouquets of flowers in one day! How lucky can a girl get? Lucky enough to have a wonderful family who loves her and hopes she has a nice day on her birthday.....even though they live far away and cannot be there to celebrate with her. Yes, I am blessed to have my wonderful family. I cannot imagine my life without them....

I have had so many wonderful birthdays through the years....each one holds special memories for me of times spent with those I love....people who cared enough to want me to have a nice birthday. Even though I have loved each and every birthday card, cake and gift I have ever received, the biggest gifts for me have been the things that aren't actually objects.....the gifts that my family and loved ones have given to me through the years that you cannot buy......

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the gift of giving me life.....for the gift of showing me what being a family means. Thank you, Mom, for the gift of support, the gift of listening, the gift for always being there, the gift of your time and for showing me the gift of "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health." Thank you for giving everything you had to your family and for putting us first. You showed me what being a Mother is all about. Your are a tough act to follow, but I hope that I can be, to my children, the Mother that you have been to me. Thank you, Dad, for teaching me about things outside the home.....the gift of patience on a lake or river as you wait for a fish to bite, the gift of an appreciation for wildlife, the gift of creativity, for the gift of self-esteem as you tell me that I can do anything, am as good as anyone, or can accomplish anything I want to do. Thank you both for never giving me doubt that I was loved....something many people spend years in therapy for as they try to figure out if they were loved or learn to love themselves. This was something I never have or never will question. I miss you both....

Thank you, to my sister, Jeri, for the gift of your hand.....for always being there to hold mine at the times that were hard for me....We can go through anything together. Thank you for the gift of enduring love through the years. Except for the first 3 l/2 years, you have been with me for my entire life. No one knows me better than you. Thank you for the gift of learning what it means to share....sharing parents, sharing a bedroom when we were growing up, sharing toys, sharing clothes, sharing a history, sharing secrets and knowing the other one would keep them, sharing a cup of tea and shortbread when the other one was not feeling well or needed someone to talk to, for sharing so many things in life......but, especially, now that our parents are gone, for sharing the memories of them and helping me to remember some little detail of our lives growing up that I may have forgotton. It is so nice having a sister that you love, and who loves you, to walk through life with. I am so thankful for the gift of YOU. I love you dearly, Jeri xoxo Thank you for all the things we have in common as sisters. I can walk into a store miles away from you in another State, buy something new for my home, only to find out you just saw and bought the same thing! We share the same taste for beautiful things and experiences in our lives. I am so blessed that I have had a sister. We may not always agree on things, but one thing we will never dissagree on, we can't imagine our lives without each other. Sisters are for life....I love you!!!!

Thank you to my brother, Jeff, for the gift of your love through the years. When you were born, our family was complete. I am so happy to have been blessed with having a brother in my life. Thank you for showing me the gift of giving. You have so much talent and you share that gift with everyone. Thank you for showing me the gift of creativity. If you cannot do or make it, it cannot be done. Thank you for the gift of laughter. You have always been able to make me smile or laugh out loud with your antics. I love that about you..... if you can add joy to someone's life and make them smile, there is nothing better than that.... I am so blessed to have you in my life, Jeff. I love you dearly. Here are three photos of my brother, Jeff. In the first photos, since I am writing about birthdays, I would like to point out that I am wearing a sterling necklace shaped like a bouquet of flowers. This was also a whistle! I received this necklace on my 16th birthday from my Uncle Nolan and Aunt Bettie. My Uncle told me, if you ever need us, just whistle, when he gave it to me. Sadly, my Uncle Nolan, Dad's brother, passed away when I was pregnant with my son, Brandon. I miss you Uncle Nolan! I still have this necklace, and I am whistling.... :) Here are the photos of Jeff....

Thank you to my son, Brandon.... By being the first to be born of my two children, you introduced me to the gift of Motherhood. I never knew the depth of a Mother's love until the day you were born. I am so glad I was given this gift by you and also by Elliott who was born 6 years later. By making me a Mother, you also showed me the gift of what it is like to be selfless. A Mother will always puts her children first.....not because she has to, but it is because she wants to. There is no bond stronger than the love of a Mother for her children. Thank you for giving me the gift of respect.....not because I demanded it, but because you felt and wanted to show it. Parents aren't perfect, but they love their children and try to do the best job they can do to raise their children up to be good people. We have always had a great relationship, something I treasure. Thank you, Brandon, for showing me the gift of achievement. I will always be so thankful that my parents (your grandparents) got to see you graduate summa cum laude with an engineering degree at the University of Florida. You were the first grandchild to graduate and pave the way for your brother and cousins. Because of this, you also have given others the gift of inspiration. Like my brother, you also share your gift of creativity.....you show it in the music you make and the art you create. Now that you are married to your beautiful, Amy, you are able to share the many gifts you have with her.....together, you have so many gifts to share with each other and with your own children someday. I am so happy to have Amy as a part of our family. I love you....

Thank you, Amy, my beautiful daughter-in-love, for the gift of love. We fell in love with you from the moment we met you. I could have searched the world and not found a more perfect match for Brandon. You are so compatible because you both have good hearts. xoxo Thank you for the love and support you show to Brandon. Thank you for being, not only my daughter-in-law, but my friend, too! It is so nice to have another girl in the family :) I am so happy to have you in my life. You are as beautiful inside as you are outside. Thank you for also the gift of the future.... the future of many wonderful memories to come. I look forward to watching you and Brandon building your lives together. I love you! xoxo

To my younger son, Elliott... As I thanked Brandon, I also want to thank you, Elliott, for the gift of being a Mother. You and Brandon have taught me how much love there is in the heart of a Mother for her children. I am so blessed to have you and Brandon in my lives. Thank you, Elliott, for the gift of amazement. I will never forget the day you amazed Brandon, his friends, and I when you were just a small child, by writing your name on the sidewalk with chalk. This was before you were in pre-school. This would be the first of many times that you have amazed us. Thank you, Elliott, also for the gift of kindness. You are always so kind and positive about things in life. I have never heard you say a bad word about anyone. You always see the good in everyone. Happy are those who call you friend because you also give the gift of loyalty. You stand by your friends and family through good times and bad. You can be counted on, Elliott, which is also sharing another gift.....dependability. This is a trait that will be a real asset in the work place after you graduate from college. You, like Brandon, also have a good heart. You would never intentionally hurt anyone. I am so proud fo your good heart. This leads me to another gift. Both you and Brandon give me the gift of pride. I am sooooo proud of both of you! You both have become wonderful people with good hearts. I love you, Elliott! xoxo

Elliott and I at the University of Washington the year he began attending college there....

Christmas, 2010, at our home in Poulsbo, WA.....

To my beautiful step-daughter, Ashley..... I consider you a daughter, not a step-daughter, for it is the love in the heart that determines the connection and relationship.....not the title. Thank you, Ashley, for the gift of choice. Not being your birth mom, you chose to love me which makes that love very, very special to me. I am so blessed to have you in my life. You have so many gifts to give to others. Besides the gift of choice that you gave to me, you give the gift of listening. You always hear what others are saying and you listen with your heart as well as your ears. You also have shared the gift of wisdom. You have always loved reading and learning about new things. This, in combination with your gift of listening, is a winning combination because we all benefit from your gift of sharing. You enjoy sharing with others the many things you discover and learn. These gifts make you a natural teacher. Because of your gentle nature and loving heart, people love to learn for you. Thank you for all the many things you have shared with me. Thank you, also, for giving your Dad and I the gift of being a grandparent. Watching Brenna grow has been a joy to us. We are so proud of her and love her dearly. xoxo Here are some photos of Ashley and Brenna. This one was taken at a park in Seabeck, Washington, when they were visiting us a couple of years ago...

Brenna at a dahlia garden in Silverdale, Washington...
Ashley and Brenna at Playalinda Beach in Florida. This is the beach I went to when I was growing up.....

To my dearest husband, Mark..... Thank you for the gift of enduring love. We first met in Junior High School and dated in the 11th and 12th years of high school. After high school, we went our separate ways and came back together. You have known me for most of my life. You are truly the great love of my life. Thank you for the gift of family. You are my family. Thank you for the gift of memories. It is so nice to be married to someone who can share so many of life's memories with me. We grew in the same small beach town in Florida. I can talk to you about some little memory of a place or experience that I had growing up, and you can relate to and picture exactly what I am talking about. Because we have known each other so long, you also share many of my memories of my parents and siblings. I also share many of your memories of your own family. Thank you, Mark, for sharing the gift of service with others. You not only have served your country as a submariner for many years in your life but you have also served your friends and family. You love helping others and will be the first one to volunteer to do something to help someone else. This also leads me to the gift of dependability. When you tell someone that you will do something for them, you always deliver. You are always the one that I can count on. Thank you for the support you have given me.....the love and understanding that you never fail to show. Thank you for being there for me when my parents were ill and for being there during the darkest hours of my life after I lost them. As my Dad told you at the end of his life, "You are a good man." You also share with me, Mark, the gift of achievement. You are known for getting the job done no matter what task you are given. You make me proud everyday. After retiring from the Navy as a Chief Warrant Officer, you began another career. You began as an entry level employee with your company and today you are a manager sitting in as an acting Senior Manager. What an accomplishment! I am so proud of you. It is because of all the wonderful gifts that you give to others that you are where you are today. Obviously, others see what I do in you. Thank you, Mark, for the gift of companionship. I not only love and adore you, but you are my very best friend. I cannot imagine my life without you. You make everyday special for me.....just by having you in my life. Thank you, lastly, for the gift of a blessing. I am truly blessed because of you. Thank you so much for making not only my birthdays very special, but also for making each and every ordinary day a special one. I love you with all my heart. xoxo

Lastly, I would like to thank all my lifelong friends....those who knew me in school when I was young and have stuck with me through the years and are still my friends today, thank you for the gift of time. You have given me the gift of a friendship that has stood the test of time. You know who you are and I am soooooo blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for walking through life with me and for the gift of your friendship and love through the years. I love you! xoxo

Last but not least....To my girlfriend, Lori... Thank you for giving the gift of your heart. You, truly, are my sister of heart. We are so close that people even ask us if we are sisters from time to time. I guess what we share and feel in our hearts is obvious to others, too. Like true sisters, we are there for each other through all the good times and the bad. We rejoice in the good and cheer each other on, and we also console and lift each other up in the hard times. Thank you for always being there for me. Neither time nor distance can separate "the leopard ladies." I love you! xox
My post today is long but very meaningful to me. Thank you for stopping by to say hello to me on my birthday and for taking the time to read by blog. I wish you many happy birthdays in your own life, and I hope you have a wonderful day today. xoxo Kim