Cristina's 101 in 1001 days: 3. Show the girls where my friend, Jamie, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

3. Show the girls where my friend, Jamie, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

I met Jamie at my childhood church-Chapel of the Good Shepherd. He was a twin and so were my brothers. Jamie and his two brothers along with mine were all altar boys at our church. His name was James Edge, but everyone called him Jamie. He was only 31 when he was killed on April 14, 2005. Jamie left behind a wife and two young daughters (Ages 5 and 3 at the time). He was a captain in the US Marine Corps on his second tour to Iraq.

Last year during the annual VSRA conference-I was able to go visit Jamie's grave site. When I left, I knew that I wanted to bring the girls and tell them about Jamie so that we could make sure he was never forgotten in our hearts.

Upon our arrival, Alyssa placed the letter that we wrote to him next to his grave site. Elena then proceeded to place a key with the word "strength" on a leaf that Alyssa had found and wanted to "give" to Jamie. I never knew how emotional this visit would be but I am FOREVER grateful for his sacrifice to this country. I feel blessed that I was able to share this with my girls. . .

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Cristina's 101 List

I know that if I write the following down that I will commit myself to completing them. . .

1. Take the girls to see the Smithsonian Museum.
2. Go to the Washington D.C. zoo with Cris and the girls.
3. Show the girls where my friend, Jamie, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
4. Watch the sunrise with Cris.
5. Watch the sunset with Cris.
6. Run on the beach in Spain.
7. Take the girls to the park for a picnic.
8. Teach Alyssa how to ride a bike without training wheels.
9. Let the girls ride their bikes around Mount Trashmore.
10. Invite my parents over for dinner.
11. Run for 5 miles every weekend for a month.
12. Do an art/craft project twice a month for three months with my girls.
13. Plan an evening without the kids as a surprise to Cris.
14. Have the girls help me bake a Father's Day cake for Cris.
15. Have a yard sale or donate items
16. Participate in two more races-one on behalf of each of my girls.
17. Take the girls to eat at The Melting Pot.
18. Teach both girls how to scrapbook a page with their photos.
19. Read the entire Harry Potter series.
20. Read Charlotte's Web to the girls.
21. Learn how to make Spanish tortilla.
22. Call my grandparents four times a month for three months. (12/12)
23. Invite my in-laws over for dinner.
24. Make birthday cards for Elena's birthday.
25. Make birthday cards for Alyssa's birthday.
26. Print photos and make an album for Elena.
27. Print photos and make an album for Alyssa.
28. Write a letter to my parents thanking them for everything they have ever done for me.
29. Plan a family night once a week for three months.
30. Plan a surprise birthday party for Cris.
31. Take professional family photos.
32. Take the girls to a concert.
33. Sleep in a tent in the backyard.
34. Make smores with the family.
35. Do something special for Cris twice a week for six months.
36. Do not watch television for an entire weekend.
37. Drive to Washington D.C. so that Cris doesn't have to drive both ways.
38. Have my EDs dilpoma framed.
39. Go on a mother-daughter date with Elena.
40. Go on a mother-daughter date with Alyssa.
41. Plan a date night with Cris once a month for six months.
42. Go out to eat and the movies with my dad.
43. Spend a day at the spa with my mom.
44. Send my mother-in-law flowers just because.
45. Go to the grocery store without wearing any make-up.
46. Fly kites with the girls.
47. Clean out my closet and attic.
48. Donate clothes
49. Make dinner every night for an entire week. (7/7)
50. Print Photos and make an album for Cris.
51. Take the girls for a walk around the neighborhood twice a week for a month. (8/8)
52. Do not complain for a day.
53. Play a board game with the girls every day for a week.
54. Keep a journal for a month.
55. Invite my girlfriends over for dinner.
56. Go on a field trip with Elena.
57. Go on a field trip with Alyssa.
58. Mow the front lawn.
59. Mow the front and back lawn.
60. Spend the day at the beach.
61. Stay up late and watch the stars.
62. Plan a weekend getaway with Cris-no kids!
63. Make Cris pancit.
64. Stay off the internet for a week!
65. Take the girls to see a play.
66. Take a pottery class with the girls.
67. See the Statue of Liberty.
68. Get a tattoo of the girls' birth flowers.
69. Get braces.
70. Plant a garden with the girls.
71. Don't eat fast food for an entire month.
72. Plan a father/daughters day out for Cris and the girls.
73. Send a random soldier overseas a care package-in memory of Jamie.
74. Work on a family tree.
75. Spend an hour laying in a hammock.
76. Write a poem for Elena.
77. Write a poem for Alyssa.
78. Create a photo slide show for Cris.
79. Take the girls to see a Tides game.
80. Spend the Day in Williamsburg with Cris.
81. Take the girls to Disneyworld.
82. Dance in the rain.
83. Go rollerskating with the girls.
84. Go ice skating with the girls.
85. Go bowling with the girls.
86. Take the girls to a Museum.
87. Learn how to play the guitar with Elena.
88. Visit the church I was married in with Cris and the girls.
89. Take a photo with Cris in the bench that he proposed to me 13 years ago.
90. Bake homemade cookies with the girls.
91. Plan a girls night out with friends.
92. Plan a play date for the girls and their friends.
93. Have lunch with old friends.
94. Get back into a size (to be revealed later!)
95. Mail someone a card for no reason at least four times.
96. Send someone flowers just to say hello.
97. Call someone and say I'm sorry for something that I've done.
98. Complete a 100 piece jigsaw puzzle with the girls.
99. Join a book club.
100. Exercise at least 4 times a week for six months.
101. Donate $5 to CHKD for every goal not completed.