Orange in Paris!

Pink and Orange in Paris!

I thought that I was the only one in the world to have a Pink and Orange Bathroom!

This was at the Paris airport and I'm sure that the people in line thought that I was crazy

taking this picture!  I love it!  I even framed it and now it hangs in my bathroom...

On sacred soil

On Sacred soil

This was a very emotional day for me.  We have been in the air for hours...waiting for this very moment...to step on the ground of Iraq.
This is sacred soil to me....as soon as I stepped of the plane onto Iraq ground I could feel Matthew with me...at that moment I knew that I was doing the right thing by going on this trip....

If you would like to read the news paper article about this....look at Salt Lake Tribune Matthew D. Laplante  October 3, 2010
look for Colleen Parkin or Gold Star Mothers in Iraq.

First time reader

If you are a first time reader of my Blog start from the begining and it will tell you more about Matthew's life.

The trip was great!  Watch for more to come!

Thank you for caring and all you love,

Colleen Parkin Proud Gold Star Mom of Cpl Matthew Reed Smith and Stepfather Stan, Matthew loved Stan so much.

Kurdish Military

ursday, September 30^th 2010

I couldn’t believe what I saw when we pulled into the Kurdish Military Base….Soldiers lined up on both side of the street as far as I could see standing at attention. 

Walking into the building for a meeting with the Kurdish Minister of Defense the Soldiers lined the side walk to greet us…

Jan talked for the Gold Star Mom’s and of course she did a fabulous job..

Kurdish Minister of Defense gave us a nice crystal award thanking us for our children and the sacrifice they made for their country…and making the long journey from home as Gold Star Moms..

We had lunch with the Military and what a great surprise some US Soldiers greeted us…It was so nice to see someone from home…and at the same time they seemed just as happy to see us….of course they receive HUGE HUGS from me ( colleen )…

The day at the lake

September 29, 2010

Trip to lake Dukan……….

This was a resort that we went to and I could spend some time their….We had lunch and it was American food….I had chicken and fries…. Jan and I sat at the edge of the pool and had a great talk and soaked our feet in the pool…then all of the group sat in a circle and shared our feelings…some did it with song and some with scriptures. And words from songs….it were so beautiful……

Birthday girl

September 28, 2010

Happy Birthday….Karen!   Today has been a very emotional day….My day started out in the morning with Jan handing me a Birthday card from my twin sister…what a beautiful card I cried It was very hard to be away from my twin this Birthday…Then Jan said to everyone that it was my Birthday and I was sung to in English and Arabic…

Then that night we were invited to the first ladies of Iraq (Mrs. Talabani) Huge mansion so pretty….she heard that it was my birthday……we ate dinner then went into a sitting room and my eyes couldn’t believe it I had four Birthday cakes for me even in one in pink…..then they sang to me in three different languages…I was so treated like a queen……..

This is the first lady Mrs. Talabani she had all our outfits made for us

THIS DAY WAS FULL OF ALL KINDS OF EMOTIONS

September 28, 2010

This was a very hard part of the day for me and all of us…with two large hands marking the spot where Sudan could show his power he had …he had his people kill 5,000 people in five  min with a chemical;;;;;; we saw pictures of this…….then walls of names  of the dead…….This shows me how important it was for all ourchildren to go to war to get rid of  this horrible monster…..I still wonder how all this could happen to so many innocent people …….they didn’t even have time to know that would  be their last breath……I cried so hard Jan had to tell me to breath…Thanks to Jan I could make it…even knowing that she was hurting has much as me…..

  SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

This is one day that just blew me away

We went to the cancer hospital….it just broke my heart!  Small children young adults to the very  old……I could hold the small children…talk to the women and hug them and share my love  with them……..be so grateful for what we have in the state…I saw one  little boy with his mom holding him….he had an IV in his hand with just a piece of cardboard  strapping it on…an old man lying in bed reached out to me…he  wanted to thank me…he sat up for a few seconds to hold my hand then he laid back down…all I could do is lay me head on his shoulder and hold his hand and hoping that he could feel my love…….

OPERATION GIVE!

September 27, 2010

OPERATION GIVE Service Project

This was one great service project. .This was something that I was so glad to do...We walked in the center and stacks of boxes waiting for all of us to package the stuff from home for the orphans and women.......We had a great time with the Iraq women…tying quilts as sister from other sides of the world.....Things we packed:

Hygiene kits for women

New born hygiene kits

Educational and children's activity kits

This was a very humbling experience......

The fast pace off FUTURE BEGINGS

September 26, 2010

We head to the conference center to meet with PUK Leader...He thanked the Gold Star Moms for coming and for what the FUTURE is doing for them...

I said a few words and thanked them for their invite to their country..How happy I was here to help with freedom...

Then we went to the conference center to meet with Mrs Talababi (the Iraq Presidents wife)

Then we meert with ANFAL widows...state Department officials.......Joan Betros gave a great speach about what we are doing as Gold Star Moms and FUTURE....lots of press...I was interviewed..

 (fast shopping) Then dinner If you know me you would be very proud that I even ate some of the food...we should have gone dancing but I laid my head down for a min. feel so fast a sleep...Jan stayed in the room with me while I slept....we missed the dancing and the gift giving..Jan is my Hero for staying with me...

1. 

We Are Here!

After two long days in the air and in air porta we are now in Iraq....When i got off the plane I sat doen on the groud qand kissed it and hugged Matthew Blanket,,,I couldnt believe that I was on the ground that Matthew spent his last day..

Pictures of the first hotel..in Jordon

I was pretty scared at first the hotel had holes in walls

then we went to our room and it was great

 and now doors the lobby I was scared to seat on any thing

Fund raisinging begins

Thanks to Julies Idea on makinging bracelets for the fund raiser....the race began..Karen worked her fingers to the bones....Julie...Taryna...and Karens family worked so hard on all this.....thanks to my wonderful husband...he would even seat in front of wal-mart for hours...

I love all off you!

Sisters and Friends Forever

Because of this great meeting with the women from Iraq....I am on my way to Iraq on September 23, 2010...
So now the story begins!

A day to remember

On Mother's day 2006 ...one more life changing experience....I meet some really great women from Iraq...I worked a Colonial Flag and Paul told the women from Iraq that I worked for him and they said that they wanted to meet the lady whose son shed his blood for them and a mother's sacrifice for them.  This day I will never forget and will always love Paul for bringing them into my life.....we cried..laughed and shared some special moments.  That day I found out that we are all sisters....even around the world!

Our Families life changed that day forever

Thank Heaven for Family

Thank Heaven for Family

This was a very hard day for the family.....The Brother's...It was so hard for me to look at them and know that
one of the Musketeers is now gone from this world......Spencer and Cory took very good care of me and I know that is what Matthew would have wanted........Matthew always asked Matthew to take good care of me and he was always right by my side....Gary (Matthew's Dad ) he also stayed very close to the boys....

A whole new meaning to the United States Flag

The Flag has always meant something to our family....Spencer-Matthew-Cory...gave this flag pole one year to Stan for Father's day little did we know that we would have to hang it at half staff....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew talked to his friend Dallas the night before he died he said if I die I would like my truck to have many of the United States flags and Marine flags on his truck....he loved the United States flag and the Marines flag...Matthew was so proud to be a Marine

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Matthew comes home

This is the Day that Matthew came home....It was also on his Dad's Birthday... I can't even try to tell you how I felt at that moment.......other than my Matthew was home.....Sad, confused, hopeless....is this really happening!

Once a Marine Always a Marine

 

Matthew I'm so Proud of you!

You will always be our Marine and the whole family is so proud of you!

Love Much
Mom

I love you Matthew...

 

What more can I say!

More Guns!

Matthew love his guns....It looks like even on the ocean for target practice....

Guns!

Matthew always had a love for guns....but it looks like this gun fought in a few wars before Matthew's time!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Matthew....

I think the reason I love this picture so much because he still has that great smile of his...even knowing the danger he was always in...it also looks like it is saying HI to all...I'm doing great!

What Great Smiles....

I'm not so sure that I would have a smile on my face if I was wearing all that stuff!  This is Matthew with Taylor...Taylor is my Gift from Matthew.......

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Mattew in Iraq

Matthew on Duty...Is that a BIG gun? 

One of my favorite pictures of the boys

I loved having Three Boys!  They will always be my Three Musketeers

Matthew in Dress Uniform for Cory's and Andrea's Wedding

What a Great Picture

W

They grew up to wonderful young men

The Three Musketeers stayed great friends.....everytime Matthew would come home he would want to spend time with his brother....this was the last time Matthew came home....he was home for his little brother Cory's and Andrea's wedding...it was great to have him home.