Pearl Harbor 2011

This man is one of my greatest hero's and while he was not part of Pearl Harbor 70 years ago today, he was certainly impacted by it. He like so many became a part of the forces to join and battle for our freedom. This isn't his Marine uniform of which he looked so handsome in but a time period photo. He spoke very little of his experiences in the war but I do know that he fought two times in the Pacific the last being on Okinawa.

My experiences here on Oahu have taught me a great deal about WWII and I am so grateful for that. I have learned to love to go to Pearl Harbor and show my respect, the movie never fails to teach me something or leave me in awe of that day. Today's 70th Memorial Anniversary is attended by 13 surviving Arizona members and they will dis ban the Society to keep them a survivors group because they are so old and feeble. Now they ask "Never forget", I will never forget them or any other troops who fight for our nation.
USS Arizona under attack

USS Arizona's fall into the harbor.

The newspapers headlines from that time.

Today's Star Advertiser. " Never Forget!"

The USS Arizona Memorial

My hero, my friend, my dad, Milton Ralph Smith.

(I had hoped to go to the ceremony this morning but because tickets were so limited and I would have to be there by 4:00 am to have a "chance" for public seating. I have been able to watch it live, I am glad that there are so many in attendance and can at least see the ceremony.)

Disbelief

While at dinner last night with Kerry these two young girls were talking very loudly and one of them said "it isn't 1945 anymore, the war is over why don't people just get over it." I never wanted to get up and shake someone so badly. Since it is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor there have been many articles in the paper about the few veterans of WWII that survive and how they worry that they will be a forgotten generation...I give thanks for them and all veterans since who sacrifice for us. Hopefully we won't just get over it! (This was a post on Facebook earlier today. Following are some of the responses. They touched me.)


Gayle Rogers Lewis Thank you Lauri, I feel that our very young adults don't get it. They have had it pretty easy. No WWII, No Korea, No Vietnam and their understanding of Iraq doesn't exist because it doesn't affect them directly. I worry about their reaction to many things.
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike


Janine Hiatt Mashburn Wow...I have no words...
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike


Kerry Stevenson The two great wars were globally tragic, but they created several generations of men and women for whom sacrifice was/is sacred. That is what is missing. A sense of purpose and shared sacrifice that makes service a sacred duty!
7 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1


Sharon Rogers Rankin This makes me so sad. Just another example of how some of the young people in this country think it's all about them. I know I won't forget all of those that sacrificed for us and I have done as much as I can to make sure my girls won't forget. My husband always says, "Not that I want another war, but it is the best thing that could happen to this country to make us come together and care about our country and our flag again." There is so little patriotism anymore.
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike


Anne Tyson Gessel That makes me so angry! They need to talk to someone who lived through it! I know I didn't but my grandpa was a POW during that war and I will forever be grateful and never forget the past, present and future military servicemen and women! Let us please remember what happened on that horrible day and hope that history doesn't repeat itself.
3 hours ago · UnlikeLike · 1


Ken Jensen Its pretty sad. I can't say that I understand war any better than they do, but I do value life and value all the freedoms that I enjoy. Moreover I understand that the freedoms I enjoy were purchased with blood. I hope that I never under value that sacrifice. God Bless America and every soldier who has fought for it!
2 hours ago · UnlikeLike · 1


Brian Boyd Maybe they can go Occupy something.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike


Kerry Stevenson I can think of several things they could go Occupy.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike


Rachel Lunt That is horrible. Around 6% of the world population lost their lives in WWII. My kids had to write about what they value to graduate from nova (dare). One read his paper today and said he values and is thankful for those that serve their countr.
37 minutes ago · LikeUnlike


Rachel Lunt Country and have given their lives. He got very emotional and is so proud of his country. This from an 11 year old. I only hope it lasts. We should have that pride for our country and reverence for those that serve or served it!
36 minutes ago · UnlikeLike · 1

Compassion

We have officially been on the Island of Oahu again for a week. It has been a very different trip for obvious reasons. We finally made it over to the beach to see the sunset on Sunday afternoon and I took this picture of him. He told me to quit taking pictures of him that he would hate but I told him I was just documenting things. After my last trip here in July I knew things would be and feel different and it truly has.

One thing, however, that has been really sweet this time is the compassion that people have shown for Kerry. Everywhere he goes complete strangers ask if he is ok, and the voices are so tender. It is pretty amazing. Compared to home where people just look at him and look away. Not that he wants or needs the attention it is just sweet to see.

Loyal, Strong and True, wear the white and blue!

Anyone who really knows me knows that I am an avid BYU fan. ALWAYS, I am NOT a fair weather fan. BYU is more than athletics for me, it represents who I am, my values, my standards, my religion. BYU has taken some pretty nasty hits over the years and yet it still hangs in there.

During our travels to Honolulu over the last four years we have heard a lot of trash talk about BYU despite the LDS population on the island. When BYU was in the WAC years ago they played UH on a regular basis and in most cases BYU won easily. When you hear past players or coaches talk about BYU it is usually pretty nasty. We have heard a lot of it lately. We arrived here a week ago and the trash talk has been really bad. One particular show talked about the past rivalry and how big this game was for Hawaii.This game also determined if UH would go to a bowl game and possibly the current coach being let go. Naturally they talked about how they would beat BYU and relived the last victory etc. They talked about the big games were always against BYU...kind of reminds me of the U of U and all of their trash talk.


As soon it was announced that BYU here this year I told Kerry I really wanted to attend the game. It was great fun. We were sitting up really high, the sound system was horrid but the fans around us were a lot of fun. I worried about how we would be greeted after the way Rebecca and I were treated in Las Vegas last spring for the MWC tournament but that was in vain the UH fans were warm and gracious just like the Oregon State fans were. Maybe the Independence isn't so bad afterall.


The view from our seats, pregame.






The native Hawaiians did the Haka (sp) inside the circle of players, I was sad the entire team didn't do it but as the BYU players went inside just before the start the entire UH team faced them and did it to them.
The first half was ok but BYU came out in the second half after making some changes and quickly wrapped up the game. It was a lot of fun to be there. Attendance to the UH games have been down and there were a few more there because of the hype but there were almost as many there for the Cougars. We had a lot up in the area we were in and we all made a lot of noise and had fun.







Kerry and I were anxious to see the newspaper the following day after all of the negative stuff the previous week. It was great I couldn't resist putting it on here.

What a catch Hoffman made, especially when it looked like Riley Nelson was going to be sacked on this play!!!

The Stake that we attend here in Honolulu is led by President Uale so we have watched his son play with great interest. Sad he is a senior though.

The front of the sports section in the Advertiser.

Last best of all the headline.

GO COUGARS!!!

Kerry is here on the Island working again after his recent surgeries. I haven't been here since July and so I am here with him for two reasons

1. Because I can be with him and make sure he is being good and not lifting things he shouldn't.
2. Because I can and want to be with him.

One benefit to being here this time is because of the BYU/Hawaii football game. To say that the Hawaii team and fans are taking it seriously is a major understatement!!! The above picture seen in the paper at least twice this week might be an indicator. All I can say is BYU better be reacy and play a good game. I am not one of those fans who are fair weather, I am a cougar fan through and through, even if it has been an up and down season all I can say is GO COUGARS.

Another benefit is to be on the Island for the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. I don't know the plans yet but to be here for a part of history is kind of special to me. My time on Oahu has been a major educational experience for me as I have learned more and more about World War II.

Muppet Movie

As soon as I saw advertisements for this movie I knew that I wanted to see this Thanksgiving weekend with the family. I have fond memories of watching the Muppet's with the older girls as they were little. One of the first times Jessica giggled as a baby was at "Animal" on the Muppet show. I was looking forward to hearing her giggle. Because we weren't seated very close together I didn't get to hear it but it was fun to imagine.

Afterwards the family came to the house to help decorate our Christmas tree with us. We decided to simplify and go with one this year since we will be spending the first week of December in Honolulu. I didn't take pictures while we were putting the ornaments on because I became so involved in it. When I opened the box with Cydney's little hand in it I fell apart, mourning the loss of my own little ones but enjoying the little ones that were there.

Before I brought out all of the decorations the kids were entertaining Grandpa and playing with a keyboard that I brought out of storage. All ages wanted to play with it, so it made things interesting.
Spencer tried to practice his Christmas piano piece on the small keyboard during the time that he had it.

Emma as cute as always taking a break from play. she loved pulling the ornaments off as fast as we put them on, memories.... with so many hands we had the tree decorated very quickly. The rest of the house is decorated a little since we will be gone I wanted to have it done when we came home. I have also done 98% of the shopping and it is wrapped and the ones needing shipping are on the way. A great feeling.



Manamana.....

Day of Thanks

This year we did two turkeys, one regular roast and the other with herb butter basted. Kerry and I loved the herbed one we did two years ago and so we decided to do two smaller birds to make everyone happy. It worked.

Natalie's creativity keeps shinning, like all of my amazing girls! She made these cute little sandwiches for the younger kids while dinner was cooking.

She also made these edible cornucopias as place markers for dinner, so cute!

The dinner table.

We wish the Jensen's were here with us to complete the table, we miss them.

Caleb after enjoying the cornucopia.

Dave and Tanner checking out the candle centerpiece.

These guys were pretty proud of the beautiful pies they helped make.

Emma was so tired that she didn't make it all of the way through dinner, she had her own little dinner after we finished.

Such a delightful boy.

We haven't played games together forever, sad but true. Rebecca had played this game with friends and was so excited to play it with family members. We actually played various games from the WI to Clue. It was fun to relax and enjoy one anothers company.

Caleb amazed me as he played and solved this game. He was very methodical and solved it quickly, pretty bright guy. He will actually give his mom a run for the money when it comes to games, maybe he can eventually beat her a Boggle since no one else can!



I so love my family and am grateful for the time that we are able to spend together. This is such a wonderful time of year as it gives us time to reflect on the many blessings that we have. I am grateful that I live in this nation and enjoy the freedoms that I enjoy. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the Plan of Salvation which offers me the promise of being with my family forever. I am so grateful for my wonderful husband and the great man that he is and the Priesthood he holds. I am also grateful that the surgeries are over for him and that they went well. I am grateful for five amazing daughters and the women that they have become. I am thankful for four sons-in-law that love those daughters and care for them and for the good men they are. Then there are these amazing eight Grandchildren that have come into our lives what wonderful sweet blessings they are. I am thankful for my little dog, Quate, he is truly my little buddy. It makes me sad that he is aging so quickly, enough said about that...

I miss my mom and dad more than I can express, I am grateful for the great people they were, for their example in my life and I look forward to seeing them one day and telling them personally how much I love them. I also love my brother and sister so much and don't tell them often enough either. So many blessing in my life I could never adequately express my gratitude. Thanks to so many who do so much in my life. Most of all I am grateful for the Savior and his sacrifice on our behalf and the hope of returning to Our Father In Heaven one day


Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Tradition---memories of Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving I got up and jumped in the shower before the troops started to come for the day. I was going through the check list in my mind to make sure everything was on track. As I started to think of the different foods we were making I began to remember where we were first introduced to specific foods and how they came to be a part of our "tradition."


Turkey- on every families table we know.. (This year we did two-- a regular turkey and a second with herbs from our garden. Yum)


Dressing- Kerry's dad made the dressing for our family (of course the time he added egg nog by mistake was quite memorable and something we still laugh about today.)


Mashed potatoes and gravy- a general basic and thankfully I learned about gravy from my mom.


Yams or yums- as my family calls them. I think these were a product of Kerry's dad again but I do know that we have embraced them as ours over the years.


Cinnamon apples- this doesn't grace our table often but it is something that my sister-in-law, Elaine, would bring to the table when we gathered as a Smith family. No one in the family likes it but me so I don't make them often. I love the taste and the smell of them as they cook.


Pumpkin roll- most of our family really don't care for pumpkin pie but put pumpkin roll on the table and it goes quickly.


Cranberry sauce-The canned kind was what I grew up with but Kerry's dad always made his with cranberries, orange juice, and orange rind, with sugar.


While thinking about all of these delightful goodies and family traditions I began singing in my mind the song from Fiddler on the Roof-Tradition. It led me to think of a scene where he is singing about his girls and it shows them close up and then far away and suddenly I was overwhelmed with emotion. As I have listened to different videos trying to find this particular video the words to "Sunrise Sunset" have been stuck in my mind.

Is this the little girl I carried?

Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older.

When did they?


When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he grow to be this tall?

Wasn't it yesterday when

They were small?


Sunrise, sunset.

Sunrise, sunset.

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,

Blossoming even as we gaze.


Sunrise, sunset.

Sunrise, sunset.

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another,

Laden with happiness and tears.


What words of wisdom can I give them?

How can I help to ease their way?

Now, they must learn from one another,

Day by day.


They look so natural together,

Just like two newlyweds should be.

Is there a canopy in store for me?


Sunrise, sunset.

Sunrise, sunset.

Swiftly flow the days.

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,

Blossoming even as we gaze.


Sunrise, sunset.

Sunrise, sunset.

Swiftly fly the years.

One season following another,

Laden with happiness and tears.

I know some of my girls will laugh at the mention of Fiddler on the Roof because I was goofing around doing the "If I were a Rich Man" dance with the movie, not realizing they were watching me years ago. But now that they are older and more mature (most of the time!) I hope they will read the words and know what they mean to me.

"Unkie Marv"

Just after Jessica was born Kerry's Uncle Marv introduced himself to her, he said "Hi, I am your Unkie Marv." That title never left it was a term of endearment for him with our family. Unkie Marv passed away after a long illness and much suffering. I am glad he has been released from the pain. He was a sweet man with a very soft spoken voice and had a gentle laugh. His funeral was small and graveside on a beautiful day in November.

Tanner found as many temples on the headstones as he could find.
Marv had served in the Army, a thought I hadn't realized until we saw the flag and the men in uniform. i
I don't do well with Taps and the 21 gun salute but it is a wonderful tribute to a fallen soldier.

Kerry's mom, the Matriarch of the family, received the flag that covered his casket. In her terms she's the oldest!

I was grateful that I was holding Olivia and protecting her ears from the gun shots because I didn't pull the ugly crying face as Taps was played. I am also grateful for Marv's service in the Military.

Marv's nephews were pall bearers for Marv.

The surviving sisters. Linda, Pat, and Donna

Sleepy Boy

Rachel often stops by after school or picks Jack up when I have been watching him. Since he started doing the army crawl and crawling he is never still. On this day he was a little fussy so Rachel gave him his "binky" and he fell asleep right in the middle of a crawl on the floor.

So cute.

She got down by him to make sure he stayed alseep
What a sweet boy.

Jessica B-day

We celebrated Jessica a day late. We went to dinner at a new Mexican place in Eagle Mountain and then went to her house for birthday pie.

Notice how the boys are drawn to "Aunt Rebecca?"
The little ones all wanted to be in the Elmo seat but Emma won out!
Love those bright eyes!
In the middle of the story! Jack really wants to play with the big boys, but isn't sure how yet.
Speaking of big boys....
Time for presents.
And birthday pie? Tanner having just celebrated his birthday was all about blowing out the candles!
Notice the age, Dave improvised! Fun evening with the family again.