Magical Moment 635, "Goodbye, 2017!"

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I don't know how many of my fellow blogger friends still see or read or view my little blog, but I want you all to know that I still think of you and wish you the best!

Our family has had a busy year, full of highs and lows. The most impactful event has been the sudden and unexpected loss of my father-in-law, less than one month ago on November 27th. Eddie and I were devastated to hear this news and we got to Texas as soon as we could to be with family. We are still coping with this loss, but are so thankful for family and faith that has helped give us hope and strength.

Alan Keith Grimes
Feb 14, 1955-Nov 27, 2017

Eddie and his dad, circa 2001.

Our boys did well with the traveling and have been thriving this year! Ricky is 3 and will be 4 this February. Elan turned 2 in July. They're awesome, busy, curious, and healthy. Elan loves cats, the color blue, and climbing. He's sweet, bashful, and independent. Ricky is into super heroes, disassembling gadgets (a nice way of saying 'breaking anything!'), and jumping, stomping, or any other kind of physical activity! He is analytical, social, and energetic.

Elan, 2 1/2

Ricky, 3 1/2

Eddie is still a Law Enforcement Ranger for the National Park Service and is proud of his work. We are both very happy in our Atlanta suburb and with our home that we purchased last year. Since finished my MBA, I have started my company, More Than A Song. We bring live Arts & Entertainment to Aging Communities around Atlanta. This work fills me with pride and love and I cannot wait to see what is in the company's future! I continue to play piano for ballet, as well as different events around Atlanta. I'm very lucky. If you're curious about More Than A Song, check out our website: http://www.morethanasong.us or find us on Facebook. :)

Eddie and I also celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary this year! Reflecting on our life in the Army, our move to NYC, starting new careers, traveling, settling in Atlanta, and having 2 boys...seems like too much to fit all into just 10 years! It will be interesting to see where life takes us the next 10!

Eddie and I on our 10th Anniversary, July 2017

Some other highs of our year included a family vacation to the Outer Banks, NC with my parents, and all 3 of my siblings and their families. We also welcomed identical twin nephews by my older sister! All in all, we really have had a wonderful year and feel so fortunate in our lives. God has truly been generous to us and we're so grateful.

Merry Christmas my friends. Happy Holidays. I truly send warmest wishes for a happy and healthy New Year's. I will continue fulfilling the purpose and calling of my heart, and hope that it brings some good to the world. I pray that you also hear and follow your heart's calling and set out to complete it!

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le...

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-...

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