Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Veterans' (Poppy) Day
Because the United States entered the war late, and did not contribute the massive numbers of ground troops generated by the 5 major powers (Central Powers = Germany & Austria-Hungary, Allies = England/Commonwealth & France plus the US & others later on), and the Russians (nominally Allies, but kinda separate) WW I casualties in the US were not felt as keenly as was the case in Europe. Military deaths totaled about 9.7M (Allies-3.9M, Central-4.0M, Russians 1.8M) with an additional 6.8M civilian casualties, mostly from starvation. Furthermore, note that the great majority of military casualties came from the male, 17-30 age group, so there was no baby boom following WW I. Despite the fact that WW II killed more than 6x the number of WW I, if you go up to the Tooele Cemetery you will see that the monument contains nearly as many name for WW I as for WW II.
Some examples of combat losses
Battle of the Somne, 1st of Jul to 13th of Nov 1916: 624,000 casualties Allied Powers and 595,0000 casualties Central Powers. The English alone lost 58,000 on the first day, with roughly 1/3 killed outright. The opening day of the battle on 1 July 1916 was the single, highest one-day combat loss in the history of the British Army. Because of the composition of the British Army, at this point a (regional) volunteer force with many battalions comprising men from specific local areas, these losses had a profound social impact and have given the battle a lasting cultural legacy in Britain. The casualties also had a tremendous social impact on the Dominion of Newfoundland, as a large percentage of the Newfoundland men that had volunteered to serve were lost that first day.
Gallipoli, 15 Dec 1915: ~250,000 casualties on each side (UK and Turks). That's a total of half a million men.
1st Ypres, 19th of Oct to the 22nd of Nov 1914: ~135000 casualties on each side, 15-20% outright dead. In German, "Kindermord bei Ypern" = "Massacre of the Innocents of Ypres" due to the large % of recruits and reservists in that battle.
2nd Ypres, 22nd of Apr to 25th of May 1915: ~70,000 Allies, ~35,000 Central
During the Second Battle of Ypres a Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2 May, 1915 by an exploding shell. His friend, a Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae, was asked to conduct the burial service owing to the chaplain being called away on duty elsewhere. It is believed that later that evening John began the draft for his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Hence the British observance of Remembrance or Poppy Day.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Remembering 04Jun2011

Thursday, June 23, 2011
Me and My Dad
Me and My Daddio, walking towards my future with James. It is truely amazing how most of the good qualities I have found in James, I already knew about because my dad showed them to me all my life. He is a great man and a wonderful father. He has taught me so much about the love of Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of the Atonement. Now I have a wonderful husband who continues to teach me and show me what real love means, what being an eternal companion is all about!Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Married


Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wedding Prep
I am so grateful to have found James! I know that Heavenly Fathers has much bigger and better plans for each of us then we have for ourselves. HE really KNOWS each of us BETTER then we know ourselves. He gives us what we need at exactly the time we need it. I spent so may hours on my knees in prayer with my Father in heaven, crying out to him for my eternal companion. In those times of sorrow, I was ALWAYS comforted but the ache for my love never left. I am so amazed and humbled by the love Heavenly Father has for each of His children!
This new phase in my life is going to be terrific! I am so thankful for all of my family and friends that are able to fly so far to come and join James and I in such a celebration! I also am so grateful to all who cannot come in person but send their prayers and love! I really feel all of the out pouring of prayer for my union with James.
Thank you All
Monday, January 10, 2011
So I did talk to him during our hours at the booth and WOW, i made a total fool of myself. (I'm sure you are all thinking"whats new about that". So I got his number and called him. I asked him if he would be my "desicnated Mormon" and escort me to a choir concert on temple square. Thankfully he agreed. If you ask him to tell the story, it will be a little different! He says that he constantly was inviting me to go to church with him. Which is totally true but I don't think he really understood the ramifications of being a single guy bringing a "new girl' to church!
I have also been working ALOT! I have traveled to Indiana and to Nebraska during the heat of summer!
All and all life is good, I can't complain! I sure hope everyone is enjoying the beginings of 2011!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Ma's House
Sunday, November 15, 2009
One special sweet soul, my Ma!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
In Loving Memory
Oh to my Pig:Well it is the end of a great era, Curly my beloved pig is no more, he has finally made it to stuff animal heaven, maybe he and my dog are now reunited, she sure did love trying to chew him up!!! He was the last in a long line of pigs, there was mamma and baby ham, there was snot nose, gosh so many pigs!!! Now Robious and River can fight over him!
He was a great pig!
I'll miss that not so curly tail!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Some of the Beauty in Utah
I had a wonderful time. I have missed being outdoors. I am glad I can have such adventures while I am in Utah. I'm not sure where I will end up next so I am enjoying my time while i am here.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Eight Years Ago, Today!
On Aug 5th 2001, I was confirmed a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has been one amazing Journey that I know will never end! I have travelled through dark and low valleys and have climbed high on the mountain tops. I am so grateful to my two missionaries who were obedient enough to follow a prompting from Heavenly Father to knock on my door. I hope I never forget the amazing wonder of that first meeting. I was reading a book and there was a knock at my door, I would not have normally answered it as it was dark outside, but I got up and looked out the door and saw this brilliant light around these two young men. I was so taken by the peace I felt before I even opened the door that I had decided "Whatever they were selling, I needed it!" Little did I know just how true that thought was, granted they were not selling anything but offering me the sweet peace and comfort that comes from knowing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.
It did not take me long to want to be baptized. I took the missionary discussions and was fortunate enough to have a missionary couple (the Gurrs) to help me with all of my questions as they lived in the apartment below me. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It contains the FULLNESS of God's teachings and HIS message of HOPE, of PEACE, of LOVE that HE offers to everyone living or dead! He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! HE is the Alpha and Omega. I love the Lord.
I am especially grateful for all those who have helped me along the way, who have been a strength too me, who have been there every step of the way. Heavenly Father really knows each of us individually. He knows exactly what we need and is always their for us! I thank Him for giving me such great family and friends. I know that He is not finished with me yet, I must endure it well to the end. I am glad that enduring it well involves so many wonderful people to meet and to love along the way. Thank you to everyone who has helped me. Thank You to our Father in Heaven for sending us his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who suffered for each of us in the garden of Gethsemane and through his Infinite Atonement we can all return to live with our Father in Heaven someday!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Can't Get Enough
Monday, July 13, 2009
Holiday with Friends!
I am not sure really how long the drive was, I stopped a couple times for gas, for the potty and for pictures.
There was this rest area that was really nice. The bathrooms were clean and there was this way cool purple cactus. out front.
Once I finally arrived in Phoenix, I met my favorite family at this kids museum. We had a fantastic time. There was this entire Legos land! There was this really big castle that had a thrown you could sit on and all these places to build your own lego creations. It was great fun watching Kenton and McKay and little Ellyeen play with the blocks. I did observe that all of the pink"girl" blocks were designed to make castles and princess stuff. Whats up with that?
Once we had all the fun we could, we headed back to Melissa's house. They have such a lovely home, so warm and inviting. I instantly felt at home, which is hard for me to do. We had so much fun. Kenton showed me how to play the Wii. Mckay and I played cars a lot and went swimming. Ellyeen let me hold her, eventually. I think the first time was pure desperation, she was on the floor bored of entertaining herself and I was better than the floor.
She eventually warmed up to me and everyone else. It was very nice to meet her, she is a beautiful little girl with a nice personality, she seems to really take everything in and just absorbs it all! See how interested in those sunglasses she is! Wow, just look at her, she is a cutie!
We had such a fabulous time, I LOVED, LOVED! every minute of my time. I sure am glad to have true friends.
Here are just some of my Fav Pics!
Hope everyone enjoys theses as much as me! Lynette Thanks for letting me share in some of your family vacation!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Midvale City Fire
So here is a short sideways video of me at the station. Thanks guys for all that you do. You truly are amazing! As we were leaving they got a call and had to go save more lives, one call at a time!
Fathers
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Saturday Adventures
The first Saturday adventure was rock climbing. It was fun, met some nice people, the views were so brilliant. After that I decided to do something for my
furry friends. I did a Strut your mutt walk to support humane societies throughout Utah. It was great fun. I have to say though all of the dogs were well behaved but well, with dogs comes dog poo and the walk didn't start until 9:30am so it got hot and all of the poo .... well you smell the picture....Ok so if you are looking at the dog picture ans thinking "Gosh Kathleen looks so amazing walking all of those dogs", that is not me, I only walked one dog and she was all I needed besides, I don't wear heals for a dog walk. I have also gone for long walks with my camera up the canyon. I will post some pictures soon. It amazes me that there really is still snow on the mountain tops not much but still... SNOW in JUNE? go figure. This weekend, I have signed up to go to girls camp to clean it and get it ready for the girls to have an enjoyable time. I gotta say, this get up and move Saturday thing isn't bad. I am meeting new people and may make a friend or two. So what are you all doing with your free time? How much fun are you having?
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Spring Cleaning

In taking inventory, I have come up with a list of actions I need to take or not take in order to be more on the straight and narrow path that leads back to my Heavenly Father. When I look at my list it seems long and a daunting task but I have come up with an idea, I am just doing one thing at a time. The scriptures tell us that we cannot walk faster than we can run and that there is order to all things. Same with my list, it will not be an overnight big WOW change like when I was baptised, well wait, it could be......... Anyway that must be something for me to ponder and pray about even more. Right now just know that I have made my list there by taking stock of me, the me I currently am, and the me Heavenly Father knows I can be. A word of caution at this point because we tend to be our worst judge and we need to look at ourselves exactly as Jesus would. That might be hard but here is how I did it, now I don't have all of the answers but I made my list and then I prayed about my list and asked Heavenly Father if it was true and if I did a fair job of self inventory. Now I can make little steps day by day to improve my walk with Christ. Like a rose bush, you don't get beautiful roses as soon as you plant the thing. No way, it takes time and diligent care to be given such beautiful works of art. We are the same, it takes a little watering and nourishing from the scriptures every day to help us grow, it takes time on our knees in humble prayer morning and night to prune the rough edges and the heal the broken pieces. Even if your rose's have been neglected, they can come back to bloom so wonderfully as can each and every one of us! Hang in everyone and try to enjoy the journey, I sure am trying!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friends
weather was nice and the company was even nicer.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Is This for Real?


