Memorial Day - Honor and Remember

As we celebrate Memorial Day I want to give a huge THANK YOU to our men and women in uniform past and present. Thank You and may God Bless you all. I know the sacrifice you give to our country every day. I know this because I come from a long line of proud Army Soldiers. HOOAH!

I would like to introduce you to my Grandfather. This is SP5 (Spec 5) Charles M. Beaver. He was a soldier and a warrior. He served in 2 wars, WW II and Korea. After 22 years of service he retired in 1965. He was stationed at Valley Forge Army Hospital. (Where my Dad was born.)

He was a father to 4 rambunctious boys and a husband to the best lady I ever knew, my Grandmother Beverly J. Beaver.

Pictured below is my Grandma, and her 4 sons, the littlest boy, is my Dad. They are on their front porch, waiting for a ride to the airport. All 5 of them packed and ready to go to Puerto Rico. My Grandfather just had a heart attack while serving there. This picture is from July 1955. I am sure my Grandmother wanted to pull her hair out. Four young boys and knowing her husband had a heart attack must of weighed heavy on her skinny little heart. 

 I never got to meet my Grandpop Beaver, yet he is still one of my Heroes. He instilled values in his sons; which resulted in many acts of selfless service. I honor and respect this every day. I honor and cherish our military. It was my life. I am grateful for the tradition he passed on. I wish I could of heard his voice and some of his stories. I know his sons honored him by joining the service and serving most of their lives. I know 100% he would of been super proud. I have no doubt he watched over each and every one of them. 

He passed away shortly after my Mom and Dad started dating, in 1969.

He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. A great honor for a great man. 

Alongside him his brother also served and was stationed overseas in WWII. My Grandmother would tell me a story about his time in Europe.  She would say "once he was blown open by a Nazi blast. His insides were on the outside. A Nazi soldier came by and put his intestines back in and whatever else was hanging out and bandaged him up. Of course he robbed him but, he saved his life."  I always remember this story as the pure form of human nature. We join the military to protect and serve. Sometimes we are drafted or join because it is what you have to do to survive.  An enemy soldier with a good heart towards humanity showed he could be a good person and a soldier. Never wanting more than to protect and survive (and maybe a few cigarettes, money, a belt, or a knife. This Nazi soldier could of left my Great Uncle to die but he had a heart, conscience and I am sure a belief in God. 

I grew up with a Dad in the Army, well forever, because one thing I know: Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier. In 2009 I was doing some family Genealogy and I was sent the picture below in the left corner of my Grandfather. I was blown away to see a V Corp patch on his sleeve. This picture is taken somewhere in Europe during World War II. My Dad was stationed in Germany and was also in V Corps. I think it was awesome they were in the same unit. My Grandfather would of been super proud knowing his son was in that unit and also a Command Sergeant Major (CSM)! 

Wasn't he a cute little boy?

I was so blessed and lucky to have this soldier walk me down the aisle!!

My Dad was an Amazing soldier. He knew everyone. Even the cleaning lady. He treated everyone with respect and was very hands on. He was old school and had no problem approaching someone in P.T.'s at the grocery store or the PX parking lot. It showed the values of a soldier never stop. No matter if it was a vacation, he was always in "Army Mode". He still is and always will be. It is what we Love about him. He will always be our CSM. (Even if my Mom out ranked him with E-10 status.)

The famous wave. These hand shots only show up in these days in theme park ride photos.

My Dad's last duty station was PEC. I loved it there. I could drive there in one day and they had the best water park. 

All my Uncles (my Dad has 3 older brothers)  served our country as well. They are all retired Army, Army National Guard, or Army Reserves. Combined they have over 116 years in service and 4 combat tours.

Here are the Beaver Boys at Arlington National Cemetery for their mother's burial. 

May 1999

They were blessed to get together again for a Brother Reunion in August 2015.

•    
• August 2015

My Grandparents are both eternally resting in Arlington National Cemetery. 

If you ever get a chance to visit go sit under the beautiful tree near Area 51, his Marker is 1997.

My Grandmother was also laid to rest on top of him.



The front of the Tombstone has my Grandfathers information inscribed. 

Notice the Shady tree nearby. That is the tree I keep referring too. I find this one of the most beautiful serene places in America. I really want to return, lay out a blanket and just spend some time there. I find it a place of comfort not sadness. I would give my daughter a small flag and teach her about where we are and why we are there. 

 If you or your child ever have a chance to visit. Say hello for me. I do not know when I will ever make it there since I moved so far away. I used to go every few months when I lived in five hours away. 

If you get to visit this grave please take add a rock to the top for me and take a picture. If any rocks remain, please leave them and take a photo as is. I know Arlington is very strict and takes very good care of its cemetery. So I doubt our rocks remain long. If you live nearby and are headed there I would love if you could take a rock for me and place it on their headstone. 

My Dad did this for me on one of his past visits. I hope he stops by this summer and can drop a rock off for me. I always find the best Colorado rock and he will haul it across the country for me. I promise to keep them small. 

Here is my Dad at his Dads grave site.

The back of the tombstone is inscribed with my Grandmother's information.


I know that they are gone and here lies just bones. They continue to live in our memories and our stories. I know we will see them again in heaven. 

I came across two different scripture verses that I thought were good for Memorial Day. I share this with those who lost a loved one and all those buried around my Grandparents. 

John 15:13 - Jesus said to his Disciples "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, a time to die...... a time for war, and a time for peace.

Night Out With The Nuggets

NBA Date Night!

A few Thursdays​ ago I received a call stating I won tickets to a Denver Nuggets Game. I was pretty excited since I have not won much this year and never been to a professional basketball ball game. My husband grew up going to NBA games and seeing the greats like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. (A long time ago, my husband took an NBA towel that belonged to Michael Jordan, but without a picture, it is just a story and a towel :) 

(That's real NBA sweat, gross!)

Upon arrival it was chaos. There are many parking lots all named after Toyota cars. The closer lots are up $35. We circled around unable to find our way to any lots that were $15. My husband spotted a giant park garage right across the street and we parked there for $15. So go straight to the garage instead of circling around for hours. I think it's rigged for you to only find the expensive lots. 

Always take a picture of where you park.

We headed to Will Call to pick up our tickets. The line was massive. There are to windows. A-R and S-Z.

The split in this alphabet did not seem equal by any means. My last name begins with a B. My husband said to go in the short line with the letter of my first name and just be like "oh, I think I'm in the wrong line" while he waited in the correct line. 

I nervously​ tried. I kept looking back at him. He is 20 people away and I'm up next. Nervous, however my husband keeps slipping me the "you got this" smile. I told the guy immediately "I think I'm in the wrong line". He replies "Yes you are" with a laugh. He gets up and gets my tickets for me and tells me to "Enjoy the game". Score! 

My husband is still 15 behind in line. We headed straight to the entrance. 

On the way to Denver I joked that my seats better be row 13 or better. Like I'm some sporting event snob, more like a hard working wiener, I mean winner! I was kind of joking but guess what? 

We got row 13!! I was pretty stocked.

(Row 13 is also Rockies, Coors Silver Seats Row number.)

The Pepsi Center is very exciting. I've never attended an event there. Everything was full of energy! We headed upstairs to go find our seat. I tried getting my hubby in the picture but he's just to tall. A lady asked us if we came from a Rockies game because we had on our Rockies gear. That's how Rockies fans roll, I mean dress.  We do not own any Nuggets gear yet. I'm supposed to get 2 Jersey's​ any day now. 

Of course since I am a giant dork, I had to stop and get a picture​ with the Mascot. A mountain lion named Nugget. I figured I'd never see him so this is my one and only photo opportunity. 

Obviously Pepsi is the major sponsor here. Go figure, it is the Pepsi Center. Even the bathroom has Pepsi everywhere. I figured the faucet were Pepsi too but now I think it's just to mark hot and cold. They looked Pepsi to me. 

When wearing​ your Breckenridge Brewery shirt you must stop and grab a beer for the game. Then pose for your crazy wife. 

After getting snacks and drinks we headed to our section. And look who is waiting for us. He is actually standing at our row blocking us from getting to our seats. 

Of course I was super excited and he took a selfie with me.

Nugget then played with kids at the end of my row. He kept poking both of us with his tail. All we could do was stand there as it kept poking us. We finally had to walk away and go a few rows down to stand. I was shocked meeting Nugget but now I really just wanted to get to my seat. 

We were actually pushing it out of our face. I don't like being poked by strange mountain lions. Either does he, this is the face if a man who is tired if being poked. (Control that thing.) 

NBA games are full of excitement. Just like baseball, always keeping fans entertained and involved in the game. 

This had to be the game of the year. Even though we lost. The score was 103 to 105 with the Nuggets in the lead. Then​ Oklahoma Thunder called a timeout with 2.5 seconds on the clock. I thought "no way, this game is o-v-e-r"! Never think magic can't happen! In those last few seconds the Thunder threw a 3-point shot to win the game 106 - 105. Pretty amazing game. 

King Soopers had a flying blimp. Yet I have no clue if it was filming because the over view did not play anywhere. 

Getting a Selfie was extremely hard. The seats are so squeezed together you can barely turn around. The guy next to me was probably annoyed. Oh well. 

I should of asked the dudes behind me to take our picture. I had to take their picture because they were screaming VIP the whole time and had the signs to match. They should of painted their bellies instead  That would of been funny and kind of gross at the same time. 

One more selfie try. I really enjoyed my first NBA experience. I would definitely go again. I think my daughter would love all the excitement as well. 

I still have no desire to see an NFL game. 

I'd love season tickets again though.