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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

American Heart Association - Please join my team and/or Donate

Personal Page Link:  http://heartwalk.kintera.org/hamptonroadsva/myangelabove

Team Page Link:  http://heartwalk.kintera.org/hamptonroadsva/angelabove


Join me in my efforts to support American Heart Association - Hampton Roads, VA!
How many of us have been touched by cardiovascular disease or stroke?

As most of you know I have been touched personally by this. In November 2010 I lost my dad to cardiovascular disease at the young age of 55. It was a very difficult time for myself and my family and it is a sadness and loss we continue to feel each day. My dad was a wonderful man with such a giving, caring heart.

Unfortunately I am not the only one who is affected by the damage heart disease can cause. There are thousands of people touched in some way by heart disease, it could be yourself, a friend or a family member. In fact, someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 38 seconds. The American Heart Association is taking a stand against heart disease and saving lives. By educating, researching and getting life-saving information to those who need it most they are dedicated to improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% by 2020.

Can we change the past? No. Can we help to change the future? Yes. You can make a difference today. I’m joining the American Heart Association's Heart Walk to promote physical activity to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Please support me in helping to reach this lifesaving goal by giving a donation today to the American Heart Association. I will be walking on October 8th in memory of my dad, my hero, my Angel Above.

Thank you for your time and donation. God Bless!

Jennifer
Team Captain
Angel Above

The walk is on Saturday, October 8th at Newport News City Park.  You must be there at 9:00 am.  The walk will begin at 10:00 am.







Blackbaud, Kintera division - Donate With Confidence



Special Thanks to:
AHA - Hampton Roads



Sunday, August 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Daddy

August 21, 2011 - what would have been my dad's 56th birthday.  Cort attended Church with me this morning and it was nice having him there by my side.  It was a welcome distraction from the sadness in my heart.  I spent the Mass not only speaking with God and my dad but also teaching Cort different things about the Mass proceedings, why and how we do things certain ways.  At the end of the Mass we signed Cort up for the upcoming Youth Formation classes which begin in September.  This is Cort's first year doing Catholic Formation Classes.  I have many memories myself going to Sunday school each week.  I hope Cort can have those same memories, the good, the bad and the "do I really have to go again?"   They are fond memories and more importantly beliefs that I want to instill in my children.  It is ironic that today, my dad's birthday was the day that I signed Cort up for Sunday school as my dad is Cort's Godfather.   My dad loved telling stories of his days as an altar boy at St. Joseph's and I loved hearing those stories. I pray that I remember enough of those stories to repeat them to Cort someday.  I held my dad's rosary today all through Mass and it made me feel closer to him, having it in my hands.  I believe next time I am going to ask Father to bless it for me.  My mom gave it to me while I was home this past month. 

I didn't have a cake for my dad today but at midnight we did sing him happy birthday.  Cort (who was the only one still awake with me) and I lit a candle and took it out into the backyard.  We sang happy birthday to him and then let my dad blow out the candle.  I kept watching my wind chimes, waiting for them to start swaying in the wind, waiting for my dad to blow the candle out.  He finally did but not before I got three mosquito bites.  That's okay.  It was worth the wait to feel and see him blow the candle out. 
 
I guess I just want to say Happy Birthday.  I love you.  You are missed and loved more than words can say.  Every single day I feel that piece of my heart that is missing, the one that will be replaced to make my heart whole again when we are reunited in heaven.  I hope you enjoyed your birthday celebration in heaven.  I am sure George barked all through the singing of Happy Birthday and I hope you got the corner of the cake.  I love you Daddy Monz.



 Cort's baptism - Henry, Cort and I with our Priest and Cort's Godparents, my sister Danielle and my Dad. (November 23, 2003)


Of course we had to go visit Pap-Pap while we were in Florida...
(August 13, 2011)

Thursday, August 4, 2011

History in the Making.

Monday, August 1st marked my 12th anniversary to Henry.  It is truly hard to believe.  Who would have thought that when we left Cape Cod for Florida all those years ago that I would move next door to the man who would become my best friend and later my husband.  Henry and I were as different as night and day when we moved in next door to each other back then.  At 15 and 17 years old respectively we both had different ideas and priorities.  But as time went on we became friends, good friends.  Most days he was the one I counted on for advice, comfort and friendship no matter what the topic was.  Eight months after we met when we started to date. I was quite hesitant because I didn't want to lose that wonderful friendship that we had built. However the longer we dated, the more we grew to know each other and the more we fell in love.  When he proposed on Christmas Eve, 1998 I didn't hesitate for a second.  Well technically that isn't true.  I was crying quite a bit and never really said anything.  He took that as a yes.  Henry left for basic training a few months later leaving me to plan our wedding.  We had our wedding date set for June 6, 1999.  In February I received a call from Henry in basic that his tech school dates had changed and he would not be home for our June wedding.  I was completely devastated.  My parents were not happy, mostly because the invitations had just gone to the printers.  Several weeks later we were able to figure out dates for everything and our wedding was rescheduled to August 1, 1999.  It was a beautiful day.  Surrounded by family and friends I was led to the Church in a beautiful white limo with my maid of honor and bridesmaids as well as my dad.  My dad had never been in a limo before.  When we arrived at the Church the bridesmaids and maid of honor got out of the limo and went into the Church.  My dress had been kept a secret so I stayed in the limo.  My mom climbed in as well and sat with my dad and I.  My parents and I spoke of many things during those moments and that waterproof make-up sure came in handy.  When it was time to enter the Church, I was escorted out of the limo by my dad and brought into the back room of St. Mary's.  The Bridesmaids' all went down the aisle one by one followed by my sister, Danielle who was my Maid of Honor.  Then they rolled out a white carpet which was my que that it was my turn.  My dad led me down the aisle.  He held me quite tightly, thankfully.  My heels kept getting caught in the white carpet.  It was a miracle I didn't fall flat on my face.  At the end of the aisle was my Henry, waiting and smiling.  He was still the boy from next door, the kid who tried to impress me, the young man who protected me and the guy I had grown to love.  Our wedding was beautiful.  We had a traditional Catholic Mass followed by a lovely reception in Cocoa Beach.  I will never forgot those days or the many happy memories that have followed in the last 12 years.  I am truly blessed to have Henry as my husband, and my best friend.  Happy Anniversary Baby. 

Additionally, since we are currently visiting family and friends in Florida we were able to spend our Anniversary out.  We went to our favorite place to eat in Cocoa Beach, The Italian Courtyard followed by a walk along the beach and a walk onto the dock that Henry proposed on all those years ago.  It truly does just keep getting better....