My journey

On May 31st, I left with my dog Keira from Arkansas headed for Arizona. I had my job transfered to Arizona and knew I had 1 options for a place to stay. As I drove, I felt a little nervous but also a little peace. 

I got into Texas to hit a storm that caused a tornado alert to go into affect. I pulled off the interstate and pulled into a truck stop.

The uhaul truck was mostly empty and it rocked back and forth. I was waiting for it to tip over. Keira was scared but I had the most incredible sense of peace that can only be explained by saying it was God's peace. 

When the winds died down I looked up and said God I know that peace was from you and I want more of it please. It felt amazing.

I then got some shut eye before continuing. I was awoke by Keira barking like crazy. I noticed that a bunch of truckers were parked all around me. I had a interesting time trying to back out from the middle of them and continue on our journey.

I reached AZ on the 1st of June and stayed in Flagstaff for the night.

I made it to my daughter's house on the 2nd. Was nice to give her a hug and see my granddaughter who has grown so much.

I then proceeded to find a place to park for the night. I stayed the night in the uhaul in a church parking lot. Temperatures were in the upper 90's.

The 3rd of June, I went to see one of the ladies that I was supposed to be able to saltay with. I thought I would be working watching this wonderful elderly lady who was an aunt to a friend of my mom. I thought I was getting free room and board, Foo and being paid which would have helped me save for my own place. Turns out it was either room and board or being paid. I was also to pay for half of the food. So it did not turn out well. They were afraid to have me there as when the end of the sitting job was over I had no place to go so they did not want to take the chance of having to figure out how to get me to leave like they did one other lady.

I also, checked on my other place to stay. The house was small and being renovated and already had 4 people and two dogs.(dogs did not get along and had to be kept separate) I did not see there being enough room for a 5th person on top of another dog added to the mix. Keira had already been attacked in the past by 2 pit bulls and I did not feel like putting her through that possibility again. So I chose to say my places to live were gone.

I also made some calls to see if there was somewhere we could stay. I found one possibility... a church was willing to let us stay at there facility in the room generally for visiting pastors for a week. They had to get back to me when that would be available.

So again, I was back to sleeping in the uhaul and in the heat at the church. 

June 5th, I was able to staying the church room and I made arrangements to switch from the 15 ft truck that was nearly empty into a van that when loaded was still only half full. I did not realize that the big truck was automatically on tow and needed to turn it off or I wasted gas. I spent 700 on gas when I probably would have only had to spend 350 at most. I was able to leave Keira there and go to work the few days I was given. I would be able to stay at the church until the 13th. While staying at the church I was making calls everywhere to find a place to go on the 13th. I was also applying for full time work as I would not be able to survive and get us a place to stay with a part time job.

I was contacted by CASS. (homeless services) They said that they may be able to get me into a shelter on the 13th but if not they would put me in a hotel for a night and then take me to the shelter.

I was taken to a motel as they were not ready for me on the 13th.

So I an staying at a shelter and on the 24th (hire date noted as 28th) I got myself hired for a full time job at the airport.(pending background check)

I was seen by a doctor. Got appts for well woman, got a referral for a work up on my kidneys, will be also getting mental evaluation done asap and I also got Keira classified as an emotional support dog. Just need to work on getting her registered for ESA.

My first day is tomorrow July 7th!!! (Background check won't be finalized until the 15th) I will continue to work my part time job while I work the airport just to make sure all goes well with the transition to full time. 

Meanwhile, I have to drop Keira off at my daughter's house in order to go to work. 

Well this is all for now.

Rest in peace my son

 I miss you so much.

I wish I could hear your voice, laugh and see you smile. Miss your BIG BEAR HUGS too!

Been a long time.. UPDATE!!

In 2019, Entered 4 cross stitch in the county fair. All pieces came in 1st place. One of them all was given special recognition and best of show. 

In 2020, lost job, ex-husband died and now working at Michael's. New granddaughter born.

On 3-20-21, I lost my baby boy due to suicide. I will be remembering him on his birthday he would be turning 22.

Finally decided to update

Sorry it has been so long since I checked in. 

I have had another grandson and twin grand daughters born. 

As of 2 years ago, I have gotten divorced, lost my mother, moved from Az leaving my sister and kids(who are adults). I had to start a new life and in a slower environment.  

Since this move I have lost my vehicle to repo, lost several jobs... Also been tested in many ways. My faith is strong and slowly getting back to my crafting.

I also have a new outlook on life.... don't take anything for granted. Your life could change in any moment.

To explain a little more... May 30th 2018.

My love woke up, sat at the edge of the bed, took a drink of water and stood up. As soon as that happened he hit the floor and was found in the middle of a full blow seizure. (Never had a seizure before) He injured himself in the fall breaking his back in two places. (One vertebra crushed) He is now a paraplegic working to get his legs back but will always be a paraplegic. 

So like I said, never take anything for granted.

It has been a while

It has been a while since I posted last.

On March 9th, I was made a grandma again to another baby boy and his name is Zayvenn.

This is Zayvenn my jellybean at one week old. He is such a sweetheart.

A great story

My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains.)

"Are they military?" I asked.

'Yes', she said.

'Is there an escort?' I asked.

'Yes, I've already assigned him a seat'.

'Would you please tell him to come to the Flight Deck. You can board him early," I said...

A short while later a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.

The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us. 'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military, and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the Flight Deck to find his seat.

We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight, I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.

'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is also on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left.

We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia . The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.

I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.

Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now, and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family.

The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal, where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.

Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.

I sent a message back, telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.

'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller, we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said: 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking: I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later, more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA.

Foot note:

I know everyone who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me. Prayer chain for our Military... PLEASE SHARE THIS! Please send this on after a short prayer for our service men and women.

They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.

Prayer Request:

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world... There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.

GOD BLESS YOU!!!

Thank you all who have served, or are serving. We Will not forget!!!!
By Ken Koenen

Look at this

I went to the State Fair to see how well Deepest Love did.
I am not sure how many people were in the division that Deepest Love was in but it looked like there was at least 10.

Here is Deepest Love.... So what do you think about the end result?