She Always Pees on Mainstreet at Magic Kingdom! Update 2/9

[lovealldisney]

Dawn,
After looking at your Banana Bread recipe it inspiried me to make some only the Weight Watchers version. It was ok I'm sure not as good as yours there's something missing in it. I added cinnamon I think if I make it a again I would add a small amount of chocolate chips. But it was filling for sure it had oatmeal in it.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Morning All,

Warning: The below is for adult eyes only. I do not want to get in trouble for straying from a TR topic but I feel so strongly about this being shared that I am making the choice to post this.

I wish I had a happy post update today but my heart is heavy and I cannot sleep. The last day and a half has been one of reflection and today will be a day that I face with sadness.

Two things have confronted me since my last post and I wanted to share them here in hopes that you all can understand a bit of my life and maybe help someone else.

First, I found out a dear friend passed away at the age of 40. Not cancer. Not a car accident. Just went to bed and did not see the other side of the morning. She was not overweight. She was not in poor health although she had some minor medical issues from time to time. In the scheme of things, i am a bigger red flag to death than she should have been.

She was a mother to two boys. One is Treyner's age and in the reserves and the youngest is between Baylor and Carsyn at 16. Our kids have known each other since early elementary school and this was a Mom who was a lot like me. She fought for them to always be treated fair and with them to be the best they could always be. She had a mouth like a sailor at times and a heart like an angel. Baylor and her youngest played football and hockey together and we cheered our sons on and talked about the blessings of being a young parent.

You see we would enjoy our grandchildren while we could still walk. We could relate to our kids and remember what it was like to struggle through the hard times of friends and choices and school. We were vehement in respect from our kids and for them from ourselves and others. We went through separation of our first marriages at the same time. Cried over the sadness of divorce and rallied each other with hope of being a better parent, a better woman, on the other side.

The irony is that she too found someone to love again. Someone who really showed her appreciation and kindness and who she finally could trust. Their wedding was to be at the end of March. She was starting a whole new life at 40 and her sons were happy she had so much life left to be loved.

She was the type of friend you could run into after not seeing for a few months and know that there was a bond there that could not be questioned. We were good friends and that strength was not dictated by the distance our lives ran us in the opposite direction. She had invited me to a candle party a few weeks ago and I could not make it. Not a big deal because there would be other times to see one another.

Her children are just decimated. Her youngest fought the ambulance attendants from removing her body because he could not face the fact he had kissed his Mom good night and in the morning when pancakes and bacon were supposed to wake him up, he had to hear the sounds of his future stepfather crying and pleading with God. There was no connection for him to grasp for her death. No horrific illness. No accident you can comprehend and at least understand had catastrophic results. You do not assume or prepare your children for the fact at 40 you may go to bed and not wake up. Of all the things you try and protect your children from, you can never shelter them from something like this.

Our lives paralleled each other so much and as I work daily with my struggle to lose weight and look forward to my marriage to Dan, I will keep my friend in the forefront of my sights. I have a life still to live that she does not anymore. I thought last night about that a lot. I want to make sure I am living a life daily that shows those I love how much I want to be here for them and how much I love the time I am given with them. It is so easy to put things off. Not a one of us has not procrastinated something. I am really going to work at stepping up my game in many arenas of my life to make sure I am living it to the fullest I can. I owe myself that and my family. I owe that to the memory of my friend.

The second thing is that I am going to attend a "peaceful gathering" at my kids High School today. The theater department is doing a play called "The Laramie Project." It is about the young man beaten to death in Wyoming 12 years ago for being gay. Not even about the murder as much as what caused such hatred in a community and how to try and prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

A nationally known church, whom is blatantly famous for picketing military funerals, murdered children funerals etc., will be there as well, picketing and holding signs saying, "God Hates G@**," and other placards of hate.

My sister, friends, Carsyn and Baylor and many others are going to be there with our own signs. It is supposed to be a non verbal stand. A non violent stand.

To be honest, I am going to have to work on keeping my mouth and fists to myself.

I respect anybodies right to Freedom of Speech. I would not even be so upset if the picketed things like a play that is a matter of personal opinion. I just don't believe anybody has a right to interfere with the grieving of a loved one and you don't have a right to make a day in memorial about a soldier, an innocent child, etc. a platform for your cause unless those who are burying the dead, want it.

I know they tried to picket the service for the child killed in the AZ shooting of the congresswoman last month. They will be picketing the memorial for two children murdered by their mother in January in Florida, this month. They believe God wanted their deaths as punishment. Are saying that the teens from the school those children attended who will participate in this service, deserve the same plight.

That is not the God I believe in and I really am struggling this morning to pray and keep my head on me for this protest. I know I can have verbal outbursts when riled up and especially when you may harm others. (You all remember last spring break and the lady who was riding our hind end in the van or the guy who was verbally abusing his toddler at the consignment store?) I need to reign that person in.

At least I know what I am facing with this day going in so I am practicing breathing techniques and cleansing thoughts. I am trying to suppress the image of me running across the street and jumping on someones back and ripping their signs out of their hand and putting them in a choke hold. I may be fat but do not underestimate the feisty.

So that is my update. Not a happy happy joy joy update but one all the same. I hope as much as you laugh at our family antics, you can appreciate the sentiments of my posting today. I wish all my friends through here will take a moment to think about what counts and take care of themselves by sharing about the loss of my friend. I wish all my friends through here will take a moment to think about how they can make an impact on someone elses life by standing up for what you believe, in a respectful way.

To leave you with a laugh...

Baylor posted on FB he was looking to gather a posse of paint ball fans to take aim at the protesters. He is raving mad about this group. He is a defender of many things and do not cross his military respect threshold or those of peoples right to love.

I am not sure where his tendency for "walking the line," outbursts come from, but I have managed to reign him in a bit. Even talked him out of his second choice of water balloons. Poor kid looked like I took his presents away the day after Christmas.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Dawn.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. My heart goes out to your friend's family and all who loved her. We lost my dad to cancer (at the age of 41) when my sisters and I were 16, 13, and 11 and although cancer isn't something as sudden, when it's happening to you, you never really believe that death will ever truly be a part of the journey, so when it happens, it still feels like it came out of nowhere. I feel so much for her children who, like us, were home when it happened and had to see the ambulance and witness the situation. Even now, 17 years later, those images will never leave my brain. Your reflection is one that I wish people could have every day, without having to go through such a situation. It's what has made my family feel different from the rest of the world. We take every minute, cherish every memory, live for today, and make sure that those we love, know it! Not everyone lives that way, and I'm so glad that you can take this situation as a means to remind yourself how precious life is. Her children are going to really need a lot of love and support, and they are blessed to have you in their lives. Please let us know if you need anything!

 

[Disneymom77]

I too lost my mom to cancer. She was only 48, I was 19. She died 6 months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. I agree, even when you know it's coming, there is no way to prepare yourself for death. The biggest lesson I took away from her death was to live for today. My mom and dad didn't take trips or vacations without my sister and I. They were very rarely without us. They planned to retire and live near the beach. There's no "we'll do that in about 5 years" in my vocabulary. You just never know, in one second your life can change. My heart goes out to you Dawn and to your friends family. Sending hugs your way

 

[tlenzendorf]

Wow your post gave me goose bumps. I am so sorry to you and everyone involved, especially those children Please know that my thoughts are with you.

 

[jedijill]

How terrible. Condolences to everyone touched by your friend's life.

There is a special rung in H E double hockey sticks for those people from Topeka.

Jill in CO

 

[wdwdasiy]

Dawn, I am so very sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your friend’s family.
I worry about my health all the time but continue to put-off getting serious about losing the weight. You are so right about how important it is to live our best life for ourselves, children and everyone we love. As women and mothers we work hard to take care of our families and friends but if we don’t take care of ourselves then we can’t give them our best.
Take care of yourself and go get’em at the play!! Hate is not a political statement!

 

[NancyLuvsMickey]

Sending hugs to you Dawn... And sending prayers to your friends family...

My SIL's cousin passed away Wednesday from Melanoma... She was 36 and had 3 little girls ages 7 to 10 months... Very sad situation, but as least she had time to tell them goodbye...

Life is short and you gotta enjoy it while you're still here... Because you never know what tomorrow will bring...

Nancy...

 

[sue and co]

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend and it's so sad that she had no time to say goodbye. My cousin died at 45 from cancer but she at least had about six months to say goodbye to her children and her parents and to try and prepare them for life without her.

 

[Iheartdis]

Dawn,
Your post brought tears to my eyes I am so sorry for the loss of your friend and also very sorry for her children It just goes to show you that life is way too short and you never know when it's going to be your day, so you should always live it to the fullest. Just know that God must have needed her for a reason

 

[ddstratton]

I am not sure if I should love you more or be worried we were on the same page!!!

Just my natural, twisted sense of humor. Gets me in trouble a LOT! For instance, last night I introduced my mother to George Carlin's Incomplete List of Impolite Words. My sister and I were dying laughing at our mother's reactions to this little performance.

Because you are on the normal spectrum of thinking!!!

Not something I've ever been accused of...


I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Her family will be in my prayers.

 

[wdwdasiy]

Dawn, do you like using My Fitness Pal? I like WW but am trying not to spend much these days so I checked it out. Just wondered if you liked it.

 

[MEK]

How did I miss this update? You and your antics at the Halloween party had me laughing!

BTW - I never did figure out what you costumes were? Did I tell you that already? I am so retarded that I should be able to figure it out, but can't.

Great pictures outside the HM.

I see you have a PTR going. Guess I better check that out!

So funny that you guys rode the speedway. I "almost" rode this last trip and then chickened out by deciding I was too elderly for that ride.

 

[MollyMcDaniel]

Wow, that post required a couple of kleenex. So very sad....will they be doing an autopsy to show the cause of death? I think it is required in our state when you don't have an official cause of death. That MAY help her kids...just to have an answer.

My husband is in law enforcement. His best friend was working a city council meeting....just sitting in the auditorium like he had done once a month for years. What a safe job for a police officer...not on the street putting himself at risk. A man decided he had received unfair treatment from the city regarding parking tickets and came in and shot and killed 5 people, including my husbands friend, Tom. My husband arrived on the scene about 15 minutes after it had happened. There was Tom, still sitting in his chair with his legs crossed at the ankle and his head slightly forward, like he had fallen asleep. He died on 2/7/08. I think about him everyday....without a chance to say goodbye. I'm sorry for the loss of your dear friend.

 

[Normangirls]

God's plan for us surpasses our understanding. My heart breaks for your friend's boys and fiance, and the only comfort we ever have is that He does have a plan. I'll pray for them tonight.

As for that other groups of worthless, malicious thugs, well, God has a plan for them, too. It's just not what they think it is. I hope everything went O.K. today. And by O.K., I mean that if you went all medieval on their butts, woo hoo! Please tell me it's on YouTube.

Prayers for you today, too.

 

[DONTMINDME]

I know how hard the lose is we lost my bil last May while we were in Disney we got the call and were totally shocked he has 2 children dd 15 ds 11 and my sister is devistated. Life is just too short to not live it to the fullest my bil tried and was one of the most generous souls I've ever known. They always take the good ones young.
As for the protesters, I really like Baylor's idea, Paint balls sounds like a plan don't tell Baylor but I wish I could join his posse. Those People (and I use the term loosely) make me see spit fire!!!!!
Sending angels your way.

 

[lovegrumpy]

So sorry about that happened to your friend. I never want a child to have to go thru a death of a parent at a young age. I was only 9 when my dad died. We new it was coming but happened allot sooner then it should have. I well give my mom kiddos for giving us a awesome stepdad.

 

[Disney_Jill]

My condolences for you friend's family. You post really put things in perspective for me. Life is too short and you never know when your last day will be. I try to live life in the now and to the fullest but sometimes things get so hectic we lose our perspective. Thank you for sharing your friend's life and your feelings.
I hope things went ok today and you didn't get yourself arrested. I know how anger-inspiring those people can be. I saw a special on tv about them and they are out there. The daughter of the leader is certifiable. I just can't believe in 2011 there are still so many ignorant people out there. It makes me sad.

 

[Dizneydawn]

I will respond a bit later! Just wanted to let you know it went really well yesterday and I have some amazing pics to post!

I also want to tel you all Happy Valentines Day!!!!

 

[Avery&Todd]

Im sorry about your friend who passed..I have come to realize that life is too short and you should cherish every moment..and those that are dear to us are not with us nearly long enough...

my mom passed away at the age of 64, just 2 weeks ago...