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She had a “good run” in life! He was a good cat!

This has been a hard post to do for me.  My main reason is that I am trying to use scanned pictures,

and this program is not one I am familiar with.  Bear with me as I learn the ins and outs of using

old scans.  The main thing I am trying to do is remember 2 old friends and family members:

Molly May Nelson and Smokey Nelson.  Molly came to us May 1st of 2005, having been born

the year before, and Smokey was saved by our children from the abuse of the neighbors dogs

around the same time frame.  Molly lasted until Saturday August 28th, 2010 and Smokey

was with us until February 2, 2008. 

One memory of Molly is that she always stole the couch when she could---

Perris had to give up his spot for Molly!

 

Hey, we were tired!

 

No doubt we had recently returned from one of our long runs

through the streets and hills of

Yucaipa, Ca. Our runs went anywhere from 4 to 6 miles long!

Perris is opening his birthday present:  Molly sleeps peacefully by!  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molly loved being with us, even when we washed the car!  She enjoyed

being sprayed as the California sun was usually quite warm!

 

Quintessential Molly May 2001---As Jolly as any Christmas Day!

This last picture was taken at the San Antonio Koa in June of 2004 and shows

the Lynn and Melody Nelson family having a last hurrah of sorts

(I know you all LOVE IT WHEN I SAY THAT).  We were never

to be the same again---or as small as a family unit again!  I remember Perris

helping me to make a mean barbecue at this time.

Mike graduated then as a medic from Ft. Sam Houston and we were so proud

of him---He’s such a smart boy!  Perris began Lacrosse in 2004 at Wakefield High

School in Arlington, Va. and was an honor student (such a smart boy as well)!

Anne married November 27th that

year to Silas Molino, and had

Alexander Perris November 16, 2005,Everett Spencer 2 years after

(November 9, 2007)  and

Clara Macie (our daisy) just last year (November 3, 2009).  Connie married

Tony Balluff on Columbus day (October 12, 2006), and had

Brody Michael March26, 2008.  Hyrum

is expected on black Friday of this year, but I think he will decide to come

a few days earlier.  

At any rate, I think that Molly (and Smokey) would have us remember them for the

good times we had for them. I read a scripture on the morning of Molly’s passing

that said be glad and don’t fear!. One of the things that helped me during this time

is that I had my Perris with me when Smokey died and the whole family around

loving me through this time of Molly’s death—even Grandma Nelson and my Mother.

My Mom said she would miss Molly because---“Molly was the best dog!”  Michael even

shared the video he made of her when she was much healthier jumping over the

laundry basket at the Avalon.  As we all know, she loved running, tennis balls, and

any people food that could give her diarrhea!  She had terrible allergies and arthritis!

She was a mess, but she was our dog, a real family dog, even though she had

bonded with me inseparably over running.  We stopped running when she was 13 1/2/

2 1/2 years ago.  Molly stayed at a pet hotel in Springfield during the last week before

she became so violently ill.  They wrote of her:  “Age has not taken away from Molly’s

poise and grace.  She is as majestic as a goddess and as beautiful as an early sunrise.

Her sweet, compassionate eyes relfect a love and ambition that will never die.

She relishes the fresh breeze on her fur and the scent of the grass in her nose".

Truly she had a “good run” even if she did hate old ladies, blondes, and little

children, and Smokey was, as usual, Smokey---a true scaredy cat!

 

Introducing Lieutenant Colonel Lynn Andrew Nelson! Friday August 6, 2010

Dad gets pinned by General Ierardi (pronounced earardi---I asked him for the proper pronunciation).  The rank goes on his chest and hat---I pin his hat.  It is a black colored oakleaf on his camoflauge uniforn, and on his hat, it is a silver oakleaf.  Perris handed the rank to the General and is watching here.

Here I am pinning  Dad’s hat!

Shaking hands with the General.  Actually, the General is very nice.  He took the time to meet with Perris, Dad and I separately in his office prior to the ceremony!  He even asked us the names of all of you guys who weren’t able to come and he wrote them down!  I asked about his family---it was a nice visit.

Dad taking his oath of office!

Dad takes his oath seriously!

Dad gets his chance to say a few words:

He’s a natural at oration and making people feel welcome, and does very well.  I’m so proud of him!

Then he does something totally unexpected on my part!  He thanks me and presents me with these beautiful roses!  Our home teacher remarked that I looked like a “beauty queen” carrying these roses!  I want World Peace….

He also thanks Perris!

It’s a gift certificate to “Best Buy!”

A Father/Son Hug---I try to capture these whenever Dad hugs Mike or Dad hugs Perris---It’s one of the most beautiful things to me!

We are called up to form a reception line for people to thank Dad.  I ask for a family picture and get this!

So we try again!  Much better, I think!

And again!  It’s a little dark, but it’s us together! Afterwards,  everyone had a bit of lunch---Perris and I had gone to get Subway sandwiches in Shirlington that morning, and Dad had already made arrangements for the drinks and chips.  Colonel DeGuzman talked to me about getting our families together, though at this point living in Virginia, that would be just Dad and I visiting his family and their two young sons in Gainsville, Va., since you all are on the West Coast!

Later, Dad showed Perris and I his cubicle.

Perris fits right in---he’s in charge now!

That’s our home teacher with Dad---Randall Epperson---He said the invocation at the pinning ceremony and was influential in helping Dad get promoted and is generally just a good guy!  His office, where they are is at the juncture where the plane hit the Pentagon that fateful day of September 11, 2001.  He also gave Dad a coin with the date he got officially made a LTC---July 16, 2010.  It is shaped like the Army Staff badge.  It is a really nice gift.

Randy explains the green windows, and explains the memorial out below his window.

I try to capture as much as I could.

This was the design concept facing his office.

0’ Randy Epperson is not a man without connections.  He works for the Assistant Secretary of the Army.  He also gave us a tour of the building, and took us to the office of the Chief of Staff—General George Casey Jr.

I’m looking at a picture of Korea in General Casey’s office.  Your Grandfather Conrad B. Nelson served during this war.

The flag by Perris shows all the battles the United States has been in---Revelutionary War and up.  You can make out ….Surge 2007-2008.  Each battle ribbon is distingushable by the color of the ribbon.  Vietnam was green and yellow.

The Chief of Staff of the Army has a lot of cool memorabilia in his office including this badge for being on the Army Staff,  It was designed by General Douglas McArthur  when he was Chief of Staff of the Army in the 1930’s.  He was over the Pacific Theater.

  Though not as big, your father received one of these for being a part of the Army Staff during Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle in 2003!

This table came from the Philipines and is just one big tree---they did not bring it in pieces.  The bottom looks like this:

This globe belonged to General Dwight D. Eisenhower  and the red pen shows where he thought Germany would extend after World War II, the war your Great Grandfather , Leo Ray Jensen, served in.

More memorabilia---A sword from Saudi Arabia! 

We learned  that after 9/11 the Pentagon received such an outpouring of quilts of concern, that they now have a warehouse devoted to housing them all and they rotate them for hanging in the hallways.

These are just a few of the many we saw.

Before we leave, I ask Randy to take one last picture in his office of us. Since it is the place the plane came down in 2001,  I think it is an appropriate place.  Afterall, Dad came here to the Pentagon on our 20th anniversary, August 25, 2002, specifically because he wanted to help with the war on terror.  It changed all of our lives that day.  I think it helped us all progress from spectators to participants.  You all do your part well, and I thank you for it!

Afterwards, we came home and Dad and Perris enjoyed some video games, some 24 and we went to dinner at the Lone Star.

These are the plates we have on our car now.  Dad earned this Bronze Star for his service in Iraq during 2007-2008!  I have one amazing husband and you have one amazing Dad!  Congratulations LTC Lynn Andrew Nelson!

If ye are prepared…Doctrine and Covenants 38:30/ Thursday August 5, 2010

Thursday night the 5th we had a wicked storm that caused massive power outages around here (that are still being rectified in some areas), including to us. Many, many trees were down or highly damaged.  Here is how we coped:

I went out storm and all in the rain and cooked all our perishable foods---I made hamburger helper, bacon, sausage, 3 cheeseburgers, and even made a pot of vegetables for health!

Honest, I did!  I also figured that the last time you saw me cook on this burner on the barbecue on the 4th of July, I showed FRENCH FRIES, so I had better show the HEALTHY STUFF.  Life is all about balance, you know!

Perris went to pick up Dad with his newfound (again) Virginia Drivers License!  They just awarded it to him this day after the 3rd try!

We ate dinner by candlelight!  I gave the hamburgers to Dad and Perris and had the hamburger helper and vegetables for myself. 

I got the flash to work (with Perris’ help)!

Molly was unscathed by the storm, but enjoyed the rest of the Hamburger Helper!  That made her night!  As for us, Dad and I went out later to  to replenish our supply of D and C batteries, and most of the rest of Arlington had power!  Ours remained out for about 6 hours, and in that time, Perris reminded me of his Temple Recommend Renewal that night at the Stake Center.  It was 9:00 when we left  for that with the power still out, but

by the time we returned home at 10:00 p.m., they were on and your father was waiting for us.  He said the lights had been on for about 1/2 hour by the time we got back. It was nice to get back to power, and I was grateful that I had an alternate cooking source that night, even though it was in the rain!