You will be missed Mr. Vernon Cooper

Sunday I found out some sad news. My good friend from high school, her dad had passed away on Oct 20th. Last I heard he was doing better, opening his eyes and recognizing people and the next thing I know he had passed away.

Today was his funeral and I tried super hard to hold my feelings in. I had felt so bad that I didn't visit him while he was still around, I kept putting off the visit because I got busy. Now I feel horrible because I didn't get to visit him while he was alive and well. I think maybe that is why I broke down and couldn't control the tears for at least 15 minutes.

Vernon Carl Cooper
Jan. 16, 1947 - Oct. 20, 2010
Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetary

Vernon Cooper a 22 year resident of Irving, TX, passed away October 20, 2010. He is survived by his loving wife and soul mate Gladys, 4 daughters, Angela Staggs of Wichita Falls, TX, Sabrena Bussey of Hooks Texas, Jennifer Cooper of Ft. Worth Texas, and Lawanna Cooper of Irving Texas, 9 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Mr. Cooper served his country for 10 years during his early life, serving in the Pacific Theaters, Korea and Okinawa. He was a service connected DAV and was a life member of the DAV, The American Legion, the VFW and the Paralyzed Veterans organizations.

Mr. Cooper was in the Lions Club and held many offices including Vice President, secretary and he was Deputy of Governor of his district. He received many awards including Lions Club International Humanitarian Award for his many projects. He was president of the softball league, where he brought about many improvements to the program.

Mrs. Cooper will be having gravesite services only at the Veterans Cemetery in Dallas, choosing to rest with his comrades. Contributions should be made to the Lions club or to the Diabetes Foundation to aid in the defeat of Diabetes.

The Family acknowledges with sincere appreciation and gratitude your expressions of love, kindness and gratitude your expressions of love, kindness and sympathy during our time of bereavement.

You are no longer in pain and suffering but you will be missed by your wife, daughters, family and friends.

This morning while I was thinking about getting up, I was randomly thinking about my life and my friends. I hope that it all comes out to your understanding.

While I was thinking about moving back to Logan, Utah, I was reminded of my friends and the ones I have met the whole 8 years I lived there. I have met some wonderful people who have now graduated and moved on with their lives. I was thinking I will miss them when I get back. I knew where to find them if I needed to talk to someone about my life's drama.

Then my mind shifted gears and I was remembering the friends I had here in Texas 10 years ago. I guess I just expected the friends that I had then would be here when I came back last year. After realizing that everyone has lives, they all moved on with theirs. I miss my friend Chris "Topher" H. and Chris M. They made my life fun back in the day. I am not complaining about things and how I think my life sucks. I do miss my friends.

Talking about friends, I love facebook but I wonder really who is my friend. I mean, I know everyone I am friends with. I have 866 friends on facebook. The sad thing is that the list of most friends goes like: Utah State, High School, Family, and church. Shouldn't family be first? The friends I had from high school, I believe I am friends with maybe a handful of them on facebook. Most of the kids I had in high school don't want anything to do with me now and the kids that didn't want anything to do with me are my friends. I don't understand.. I was remembering at a class reunion in '05 someone who was mean to me all the years I knew her came up to me and told me she was sorry for hating me. She grew up and had kids to realize that what she was saying and doing to me was hurting me. I did accept her apology and told her it was alright. I wonder if that is what my facebook high school friends feel. I mean, I do know of them and I recognize their face but we never hung out growing up.

I work in a store in a mall and I see people I grew up with, either high school or church. It is so weird when I see them and they look the same some what. I mean, I recognize them but it takes awhile for me to connect a name to a face. They all see happy and content with their lives that it doesn't matter what happened 15 years ago, they are living now!

I do sometimes miss my life then, had good friends that I really do love and miss. One friend just stepped off the face of the Earth and his sister even doesn't know where he is. It is really sad but I know that he is doing well. The last I heard from him was a couple of years ago. He had told me that he lives in Europe half the year and North Carolina the other half. I don't know why but it's not my life. I do miss my friend Christopher Sean Cooley.

I do love my life today. I have met some wonderful people. There is a reason people come into your life. There is a purpose for everything.

Here is the news link for the previous blog.. It is a good read. God Bless those who fight for our Freedom..

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/08/20/2416435/northwest-high-school-grad-died.html

Thank you for serving our country!

I have been reading on facebook comments left for a kid I wish I knew. His name, Ben Chisholm. While I was reading, I was thinking about things and how short life really is.

Ben is in the Army Infantry. On Saturday he wrote on his facebook page "i miss my family sooo much i hate that im not there to see my little bro drive for the first time and i probably wont get to see my lil sis graduate not to mention hanging with alyssa she is freaking funny i miss and love yall". The sad thing is... He died two days later.

It really makes you think about things. I wouldn't want my family and friends not to know how much I love them. I do, even though I don't show it, I am happy to have them around.

It is sad that I didn't get to know Ben, but I do have friends in all forms of the military. I want to thank them for what they do for us. It takes someone with a good heart to do what they do.

I am blessed to be part of this country and I am blessed that there are good people out there to fight for our freedom. Thank you for those who are serving.

Comments for Ben from my friends..

Josh Wahlen: "I have never been opposed to the war over seas until now when it actually affected me. To all those I have argued with I am sorry you were right. A Hero to our country lost his life today and he will be missed. To Ben Chisholm and all his family I love you guys!"

Erin Christina Elliott: "I am still trying to push the thought of you being gone out of my head. We all love you so much and will forever be greatful for all that you gave. Don't worry, you and all your crazyness will forever live on.
I agree with everyone, Heaven is pretty lucky to have you back up there!"

Caroline May: "Thank you for your great service. You will always hold a special place of honor in our home. Our deepest love goes to your family. We love you, and we're going to miss your crazy smile."

Stacy Humphreys: "The above written Saturday & his sweet life swept away 2 days later. I love you my sweet Brother, may God hold you tight in his arms and never let you go...Our love will never fade." ♥

Carlos A. Dominguez: "If ben was still here he would slap us all for being so down. You know he never wasted a second being sad. Always upbeat and ready to party."

May God bless all those who are fighting for our freedom. With this, it reminds me of the music in a video that is going around facebook right now. The song is called Praan, by Garry Schyman.

Prayers for Wild Bill

My thoughts and prayers are with the Sproat Family at this time. If you have ever been to a USU Men's Basketball game, you have probably seen Wild Bill. He made the games more fun and most entertaining.

there is a facebook fan page - Prayers for Wild Bill if you are interested on knowing what is happening with his status. No visitors but cards are more than welcomed. His family updates on his current situation on a daily basis.


This is taken from the Deseret News June 20, 2010..

Everybody's favorite Aggie superfan has a message for all his friends.

"Tell them thanks for the prayers," Sproat said Sunday from his hospital bed at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

Sproat, the large, lovable character with a front-row seat at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, has been hospitalized for more than a week after making a visit to the emergency room at Logan Regional Hospital last Friday.

There, what he thought might be pneumonia at the worst, quickly was diagnosed as something much more serious and Sproat was life-flighted to IMC where he spent nearly a week under sedation.

"I go in Friday and didn't wake up until Thursday," Sproat told the Deseret News. I was under for a while and when I woke up I was scared and nervous."

Sproat wasn't just a little sick. He had a viral infection that attacked his heart and could have easily led to his death.

Instead, the lovable guy who enjoys distracting free-throw shooters during USU basketball games, is still with us but has a long road to recovery -- a road he's not sure the direction of.

A message on his blog posted by a family member described what happened.

"After pneumonia like symptoms Friday June 11 Bill Sproat went to Logan Regional Hospital where in the Emergency Room it was determined that he was in need of critical care for his heart. Life flight flew Bill to a Salt Lake City hospital where he is currently being cared for," the blog entry said.

"It has since been determined that bill has a diagnosis of idiopathic cardiomyopathy which essentially means that his heart is enlarged. The cause of his enlarged heart is unknown at this time and further testing will be performed. The current theory is that it was caused by a virus."

The viral infection was something anyone could have experienced. But Sproat admits there were other considerations that made his condition worse. A family history of heart illness, his stubbornness about not going to a hospital and his physical size all contributed to the situation he's found himself in.

"It was me being a stupid guy and putting it off and not going to the hospital," Sproat said.

Sproat -- a self-described redshirt junior -- said he will have a long road to recovery ahead of him and he'll try to rest as much as possible and will not be enrolling for classes at USU in the fall as he reduces the stress he's put himself under.

"I'll still go to the games and be there to support the team," he said. "But I've got to take it easy for a semester."

Sproat said doctors removed a breathing tube on Thursday as he came out of sedation and he's now enjoying a diet of soft foods like mashed potatoes and popsicles while he eases back to health.

After Sproat was hospitalized, friends and fans have expressed wishes through text messages and on the Internet. A Facebook page "Prayers for Wild Bill" has nearly 500 members and is updated with news from family members on a frequent basis.

"I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate them," Sproat said. "It really means a lot to me that they're giving me so much support."

Where should I move to?

Since my dad is doing better and that is the reason that I moved back home, I have been planning my escape out of Texas.

The thing is, I was planning on moving back to Utah and finishing my schooling there. But when I was talking to my sister, Emma, she had planted a seed in my head to move to Virgina. I have always wanted to move to the East but never really had a reason.

So I have a year before my final move out of here, so I have a few things I need to decide for the move. I have come to conclusion that I need to visit Virgina before deciding if I want to move there.

I will keep you updated about everything.

Please help.

In October, I will be walking with one of my older brothers and his son at the American Diabetes Association Step Out Walk. I would like to reach my goal of $150.00 and I would need your help to reach that.

Together we can Stop Diabetes. One step at a time. We are walking and raising funds for the American Diabetes Associations signature fundraising walk, Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes. Every step we take and every dollar we raise will make a difference in the lives of 23.6 million Americans living with diabetes.


What can you do to help?

* Join our team and help us Stop Diabetes by raising funds to reach our goal!
* Make a donation to support one our team members! No matter how small or large, your generous donation will help us stop diabetes.

Either way, you will be helping the Association provide community-based education programs, protect the rights of people with diabetes and fund critical research for a cure.

Did you know that 1 in 3 children in the United States face a future with diabetes?
The Association works everyday to change the frightening future that diabetes has in store, but we need your help. Please make a donation to my fundraising efforts. Together we can Stop Diabetes.

Why Help Me Stop Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors appear to play roles. There are 23.6 million Americans living with diabetes, a disease that is outpacing heart disease, cancer and AIDS. Diabetes is a disease that has deadly serious consequences, and there is no cure.

When you walk, you help Stop Diabetes.

Walking is one of the easiest, most relaxing forms of exercise for many people, but especially for those living with diabetes. Walking helps control blood glucose levels in people with diabetes and improves overall quality of life. It is also an activity that can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in people at risk.

You can walk almost anywhere at any time. And walking can give you more energy and help relieve stress. It?s a simple, positive way to improve your health. You don?t need expensive equipment ? just a good pair of walking shoes!

And walking for the cause helps raise funds for the mission of the American Diabetes Association: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.