Memorial Day...is it about BBQ's?

I was having a discussion with Tamirisc about Memorial Day. I contended that people really did not know the original meaning behind Memorial Day. 

I also thought/think that most people see it as the start of summer and bbq season and really do not attend any Memorial Day services. 

Also, the question was raised...Why have Veteran's Day then when we honor vets today too?

Well, I am here to give some answers.

FACT: 

• Originally was called Decoration Day
• Who officially started Memorial Day is unknown 
• The official proclamation of an actual day was May 5, 1868 with the official dedication on May 30, 1868
• On this day flowers were laid on top of the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers-thus intending for reconcilliation of Northern and Southern states
• New York was the first to recognize it as a holiday in 1890-all other northern states followed suit.
• Southern states refused to recognize the holiday until after WWI when the holiday was changed to recognize all fallen soldiers from all wars
• A few southern states still celebrate their dead on a different day although all state recognize the official holiday
• In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act which gave a three day weekend for Federal holidays
• The idea of poppies being worn (and then later "sold" by VFW's) was enacted by Moina Michael who did so in order to remember the fallen
• She wrote a poem too that inspired the wearing of the poppy
• 1200 soldiers on the Thursday before Memorial Day place small U.S. flags on the more than 260,000 grave stones at Arlington Cemetery, then they patrol the grounds for 24 hours to make sure none of the flags fall. (Here in MO, they Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts place flags at 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery
• Although most cities no longer have parades, in 2004 Washington, DC had its first in 60 years
• In 2000 Congress enacted the National Day of Remembrance Bill to help American's to return to the meaning of Memorial Day

Thank you to all of those who gave their lives. I am forever grateful.

Peace...Naila Moon

Utter disappointment

Have you ever been so completely disappointed in someone that you cannot believe they did what they did? So disappointed that to even trust anything that person has said to be the truth?

This is what happened to me this week.  I want to clarify it was not my hubby that did this but someone else in my family near and dear to me. (I will not say whom out of respect for other family members and will just call this person M. D.-for the record my family does not read this blog)


This week I discovered a letter written to another family member that is now deceased. In the letter it described the adoption of the person whom I refer to as M.D. It basically just said that M.D. had been adopted out of a certain orphanage. It also described the age and look of the biological mother and father. This in itself was shocking but also answered a few questions surounding this adoption.


The letter went on to say that the biological parents wanted no contact and the orphange felt it "good" that said adopting parents (aka my family memebers) tell this person they were dead. Another shocker and first lie.


Finally, the letter stated that M.D. was of a certain heritage. Thus the beginnings of another lifetime  of lies and where I have become TOTALLY disappointed.


You see, M.D. did not find out this information until adulthood. Then in to M.D.'s adulthood perpetuated another lie to say that he/she was a certain heritage (one different from birth) and that is the only thing he/she knew about their heritage.


Knowing M.D. and being my family member, I was proud of that fact. I was proud to know that at least this part of my lineage was that heritage. In fact, in some ways it shaped me! I have even done certain things in my life thinking I was part of this heritage.


However, the fact of the matter is...I am not.


The letter and the lie have hurt my very being. Lies perpetuated from the very beginning that the letter was received. Unanswered questions that have only created more. M.D. is someone I dearly love and yet now, I wonder if anything he/she has ever said to me or others REALLY has been truthful or has it been some fabrication in his/her own mind?


The sad thing about all of this is I really cannot confront M.D. at this time about it. All that would do is disillusion and hurt countless other family memebers and yet, I do not want to continue to perpetuate the damage that has already been done. I am really not sure what to do.


Except for not sleep and blog about it.


Peace...Naila Moon

Please if you can...

My friends:
By now I am sure most of you have heard of the devastating tornado that hit my fair state of Missouri.  First, I want you to know that my husband and I are VERY ok. We do not live near Joplin, MO where it wiped out nearly the whole town. (Below you can view some videos)

I do however, have a friend who's family does live there. I am happy to report that they survived but their house did not.  My friend is grateful for that and saddened at the same time the place he lived and loved is virtually gone.

I am asking you today if you can at all possible, to donate to the Red Cross to help not only the victims of this tornado, but also the one that hit St. Louis not too long ago, as well as the victims of the earth quake in Tokyo.

We have some crazy times going on folks and I feel we have to help each other if we can.  There are other ways to help if you do not have money. Just please I ask you to check out the website at the link above.

Most of all, tell the ones you love that you love them!

Thank you in advance for whatever you can do.

Peace...Naila Moon

Meet Me Monday-May 22nd and Music Moves Me

It's that fun time of the week where the questions get asked of me and I attempt to answer them. Join  the fun with our host Java from Never Growing Old.

Once you are done meeting me there, hop on over to Xmas Dolly's place where the music doesn't stop. I am dancing and rocking out below. 

Questions:

1.  What is your favorite bagel flavor? I think Bread Co.'s asiago cheese is the absolute best. I like them toasted with the walnut cream cheese. Yummy!

 
2.  If you had an extra $100 right now, what would you spend it on? A couch! Since we moved in we have hardly any furniture.
 

3.  What is the last thing that you felt guilt about doing?

Honestly,  I don't know.

 
4.  Soft serve ice cream or hand dipped?

Oh, soft serve hands down. I especially like Dairy Queen!

 
5.  Are you allergic to anything?
In recent months I have become allergic to eggs...although, I still eat them on occasion. I am also allergic to two specific drugs, one being sulfa drugs. 

 

This week is a "freebie" week for Monday's Music, so I am going to go with Alicia Keys. I "found" her a few years ago when she was coming on to the music scene. This is my favorite of her songs. Her voice is smooth and love the soul of it.

Peace...Naila Moon

It is 12AM...do you know where you are?

It is now past 12 AM here in my fair town. That can only mean one of two things: 

1. I was not taken in the scheduled rapture and am now stuck here with all of the rest of you that are reading my blog.
2.  It never happened.


Here is the truth as I see it: We can not live in fear!


That's right, you heard me, WE CAN NOT LIVE IN FEAR!


Doesn't it boil down to that? 

I mean some of us have feared, about being prepared and whether or not we would be among the chosen.(like the internet preacher that predicted this date)


Others have feared that they are not Christian and where does that leave them. (IF it really did happen today, I am sorry for you and me too)


And yet, others have feared they did not know about it in the first place and all of  as sudden the date is upon them.


If that is enough, some are in fear RIGHT NOW, because the feel that they have been left out in the cold because they were not taken and wondering why not.


Then there are some of us that are...well, we just could care less.


As I said before, we cannot live in fear. We have to take each day as if it was going to be the last. We never really truly know what is going to happen to us in the next minute and truly, why worry about it.


I for one am going to enjoy my life no matter what!  I wish you the best today, tomorrow and always. Enjoy!!

Peace...Naila Moon

Turning point

I suppose there comes a point in everyone's life where you just plain get old.  I am not sure when that is exactly because I have always thought being old was a state of mind. 

I do not want to be a downer or anything but getting too old sometimes worries me. I am 43. Is that TOO old? Truly, I do not think so but for some it just may be.

What really has me thinking about all this tonight is my father.  My father is 73 years old. To some he may be a young whipper snapper. To others, he is really ancient.  His outlook for himself is rather grim.
You see, he acts like someone who is really 100.  Maybe it is because he is dying.  He has liver and lung cancer along with COPD and heart failure.  He must be on oxygen 24/7.

This afternoon, my Mom (who is 71 and acts 40) decided along with the doctor that Dad had to be put in to a nursing home. It is not an easy decision to make.  (Dad does not know this yet.)

Simply put, he is becoming more and more difficult to handle with his problems and he is increacinly becoming forgetful. However, he is quite lucid. He sleeps all the time. It is getting to a point where he cannot be left alone at all! We have truly come to a turning point.  

The truth of the matter is he was supposed to have passed before now. He was diagnosed in October and they only gave him through January. Some how he is hanging on. We think it is the power of prayer because let me tell you, he is covered.

So the question is... is he now TOO old? 


Have you faced this? How do you feel about turning another day older? Have you had to put someone you love in a nursing home?

Peace...Naila Moon 

Wish I wasn't feeling it.

 "When we truly realize that we are alone is when we need others the most! " ~Ronald Anthony

Have you ever felt incredibly alone. The type where you wake up and there are people in the house with you and YET, you still feel alone?

Yeah, that is me this morning.  I have awakened at 5AM with that incredible, overwhelming feeling. It is also, one that I sadly, have felt before.

I suppose I can only describe it as something that was piled onto oneself unwillingly. As with mine, it came on in the form of a dream, as it usually does.  This feeling takes awhile to dissipate too and my hope is it goes away. 

Aloneness really stinks!

~Naila Moon

Blip...blip...blip

Everyone...well, maybe not EVERYONE...has been in a panic...ok, minorly upset over the Blogger shut down over the weekend.
To tell you the truth, I wasn't. 

See, I look at it this way, we here in Cyberville have many sites we can go to and blog or post photos or crunch numbers or--->you name it here all for FREE! Yes, that is right, we can pour our ever living hearts out to whom ever is listening...umm, reading...and all for again, FREE!

I realize of course many of us pay for our net service but sites like Blogger let us use their site and keep maintenance of it. Does it not make sense that sometimes they would have to take the site down for repairs? Other things we have to repair.

So, anyway, let's just give Blogger and other sites a little break and be patient with them because after all they keep us able to blog about them.


Now what did they do with my followers link?


Peace...Naila Moon

Meet Me Monday-May 16th and Music Moves Me

It's that time again when you get to "Meet Me" through Java's Never Growning Old. The site where the questions are asked and I answer them. If that isn't enough, then you can groove and move with me right after (aka the bottom of the page) as I dance with Xmas Dolly's Music the Moves Me.

Peace...Naila Moon 

1.  Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?

 Without a doubt I like this kind (not necessarily the brand) with grape jelly!

 
2.  What is your favorite color Rose?

Hands down my favorite is red. I did however receive pink on Mother's Day from my children because pink is my favorite color.

 
3.  Do you remove your shoes when you walk into your home?

Growing up, my Mother always insisted we take off our shoes at the door (including guest). So yes, I do take off my ruby reds (or ruby flip flops ta-hee) at the door.

 
4.  What is your favorite season?

 I like both of these quite equally.

Spring

Fall

 
5.  Approximately how many hours a day do you spend blogging?

I have to admit that reggae music is not my favorite genre but since this was the theme this week I looked for something I may like. I came across the singer, Matisyahu, who touts himself as the Jewish Reggae singer.
What I found was an awesome singer whose music does move me. This video I found is awesome and says so much. Enjoy!

 

Monday's Music-May 9, 2011

I generally post Meet Me Monday along with this new post of Monday's Music Moves Me but for some reason, there were no questions. sigh...
So, it is on to the music moving part.

This week is "freebie" week which means I could pick what I liked. I thought, we needed to start this week out rockin' it '80s style. So, no one better to rock with than Joan Jett! 
Put your quarter in the juke box and let's go!!!!! whoo!!!!
Peace...Naila Moon

Again, I say...

I am honored and humbled that people like coming by to my pages and see what I have to say.  I always enjoy my followers and all the beautiful comments that you leave. Again, as I said yesterday, thank you.

One of those lovely folks, Simonette at Nowhere Near Perfect, dropped by to award me the Versatile Blog Award.  I have to say I was in awe that she would do such a thing. Thank you.

So, of course the rules:

In order to accept the award, one has to do the following: 
1. Thank and link back to the person that has given you this award         
2. Share 7 things about yourself  
3. Award 15 blogs you feel deserve the award 
4. Contact those bloggers and let them know about the reward

Hmm?...7 things about me:

1.  As you may already know, I was in puppet ministry for a couple of years. I own a few. The last one I got free at a thrift store in Colorado. It is a duck I named Q.T. Duck. ;) (I am such a dork.)
2. I got married (for the second time) in 2008. We were married by my daughter, in our condo, on Christmas day.
3. I have a great love for Snoopy!
4. Although I love dogs, I have actually owned 3 cats. Or is it, they owned me?
5. I never drank a cup of coffee in my life until I was well in to my third-eez.
6. I have visited 48 state and 3 countries. Of those I have lived in 5 states.
7. In February of 2010, I dyed my hair pink in honor of my aunt who was going through breast cancer surgery and subsequently, chemo.  Side note: Relay for Life is happening tomorrow. Please support all cancer research if possible.
  

So, now to pass it on (in no particular order): This is a tough one because there are so many great bloggers out there. I really do not want to hurt anyones feelings. So, please take that of note.

I Sound Like My Mother

Creative Minds

Water Blogged Stories

SheilaScribbles

Deep In the Heart

Little Bishop Chronicles

The Old Geezer 

Amateure Stuff 

Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing 

Katherine's Corner 

Xmas Dolly 

Blackpurl's knitpickings...an expat journal 

I Am Nanny Anna

There Are Angels Walking Around Disguised As Moms

Read, Knit, Repeat....Photograph

Peace everyone...Naila Moon

 

A Word of THANKS!

I wanted to take a moment in blogging history and say thanks!
Thanks to all the people out there who come by, follow me and leave all your wonderful comments.

I wish I was able to go and thank you individually (and I certainly try to do that) but sometimes I miss a few. So, I hope this makes up for it a little bit.
If you do not visit some of my other blogs please do so too. I love it when you come by.


*To my 80 followers at Just the Stuff Ya Know....thank you!
*To my 52 followers at Out of the Blue A Story Or Two...thank you!
*To my 12 followers at I'm A Photographic Genius?...thank you!
*To my 6 followers at Welcome 2 Barbie Mafia...thank you!

AND FINALLY

*To our 22 followers at One Great Big Mashugana World...thank you!


You certainly have a friend with great appreciation in me. 
Peace...Naila Moon

Monday's Music & Meet Me Monday

This week for Monday's Music, hosted by the very nice lady at Xmas Dolly, is the theme of weather or colors. Well, since I was being crazy with the weather in my last post, ( you can go HERE to see that one) I picked colors.

I have always like the character in the video I picked. His voice is great and he always sings the best songs. Enjoy! :)



Now on to Meet Me Monday hosted by the lovely, Java:





Questions:

1.  What is your favorite kind of muffin?

I do like blueberry muffins but my favorite is...

  

 
2.  What was the first car you ever owned?  

Technically, the first car I owned was a Ford Fiesta like this one. I co-owned it with my Mom. It was also a stick shift.

 
However, the first car I truly owned on my own was this Chevy Cavalier that I called "Freedom". My son wrecked it not two months after I bought her. sigh....

 
3.  Which TV Show were you sad to see end? 

Side note: Did you know that the actor, John Dye, that played the Angel of Death, died in January of heart failure?

4.  What is your lucky number? 

 
5.  Pretzels or Potato Chips?

I not only like potato chips better but I like this particular kind.

 Peace....Naila Moon











PS>I came back to edit this blog because this is the story of our life in Po Dunk right now. We are getting flooded in parts of our fair state.