I grew up in the middle of Phoenix in a low income family with 6 kids. My mom made the majority of our Christmas presents and only bought a few. I don't think my parents ever hit Black Friday sales, and if they did then I don't remember them talking about it. Needless to say, I grew up not knowing what Black Friday was.
As an early adult I worked jobs where I didn't really encounter such sales (or maybe I just don't remember). Finally, in my early 20s, I got a job with Sears working in their parts and service department. My first store was not attached to a retail store, and we didn't offer anything special, so I again had no contact with Black Friday. Then I transferred to a store that was behind a retail store. The other employees got so excited over the big sales going on in the store. I stayed and manned the counter while they went and shopped. I couldn't care less what these big sales were because I could barely afford my food and rent. Big, expensive gifts were out of the question.
After I married we moved overseas and I became really good at shopping online. We came back stateside and a friend insisted that I go and do these sales with her. So we got out the ads, made our lists, prioritized our stops, and got up at the crack of dawn. I think I remember leaving at like 4am or some ridiculous hour. I don't remember getting home until about noon, we only got a portion of what we went after, and I was completely exhausted. I was quite content to pass on that Black Friday thing.
Fast forward a few years. We're overseas again and stores are putting Black Friday deals online! Now this is something I can go for. I can stay up late (which the night owl in me loved), I didn't have to fight the crowds (just slow servers), and I could shop in my pajamas without finding my picture on the people of Walmart website later. And to top it all off, they then ship my items to me, in a box that my kids can't see through, and I don't have to worry about them seeing through the bags as I hide them. I was in heaven. I happily soaked up the Black Friday sales from the comfort of my desk for many years.
Then a few years ago Black Friday moved to Thursday night (Thanksgiving) at midnight. I was a little bit unsure at first, but we figured we could have thanksgiving day with the family, take our afternoon/evening naps, visit some more, put the kids down for bed time, and then we could go shopping. Again, the night owl in me was jumping for joy. I could get my shopping done while my kids were asleep. I still don't like the crowds in the stores, but if there's something good enough, then it might be worth the trip. Then the sales started getting earlier. First 10:00pm, then 8:00pm.
This year I started seeing friends post on Facebook that they were pledging not to shop on Thanksgiving. I have to admit that part of me was like, "that just means more for the rest of us!" This week I did some research to start my shopping list. I discovered that stores are starting sales much earlier on Thanksgiving day. There are even stores that are starting at the crack of dawn on Thursday and staying open the entire day.
What the what? What happened to everybody is closed on Thanksgiving? I remember when we would get up to start the feast and discover that we forgot to buy corn, or cranberry sauce, or something like that. We would have to remember which two stores in town were going to open for a few hours that morning, and then pray that they were still open when you get there. If they weren't open? Well then you just did without. This is a holiday when we get together with our families, we get to remember everything that we have and all that we are thankful for. This is not supposed to be a day when everybody is either working or shopping. The stores are supposed to be a ghost town so that families can be together. What's next? Boxing Day sales on Christmas Day? The return lines lining up around the corner on Christmas night?
So this is where I stand. The late night sales are ok, but no earlier than 10pm or midnight. That gives everybody a chance to spend time with family, get a nice nap, put the kids to bed, and then employees can go to work as others line up outside. Single parents get to teach their kids traditions before they put them to bed and head to work. There's no reason to be open before the kids go to bed. I now understand why my friends want to boycott the Thanksgiving Black Thursday sales. Heck, maybe I'll just go back to my slow servers and my online shopping this year.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
2 years....
I knew it had been quite awhile since I wrote anything here, but I had no idea that 2 years had passed. Where has the time gone? Well, I'll tell you.
*My hubby went to start a new job in Arizona and was only home every couple of weekends for 9 months. I was busy to say the least. Then we had to pack and move ourselves and make a new home in our new house in Arizona (which I love).
* I started homeschooling my oldest. It has been a good experience for both of us. We're using the k-12 curriculum, which works well since the school district here also uses it. It'll make the transition back to public school a bit easier. The first year he made honor roll all four quarters (something he never did in the past), and at the end of this year he wants to be done and start 8th grade back in public school again. I'm trying to help him get to a place where that's feasible, and I think we're nearly there. I really think he will go back for just a short time and then be begging to come home again. I guess only time will tell. My third oldest wants to come home next year though. I was looking forward to the break, but I think it might be good for her. I haven't decided for sure yet, and the jury is still undecided as far as prayer goes. I feel like it would be ok either way.
* I'm really happy with our house and our neighborhood. We have some great neighbors and the kids are making some good friends. I'm hoping that we don't have to move ever again, and that the kids can get settled in finally and not feel like they have to move and start all over again.
I know this probably doesn't sound like much, but life really has been full for us. I have been thinking more about things I'd like to share here, and I'm hoping to make some time to do so. Until then, I felt the need to say that I'm still here, and that I'm ready to ramble again.
*My hubby went to start a new job in Arizona and was only home every couple of weekends for 9 months. I was busy to say the least. Then we had to pack and move ourselves and make a new home in our new house in Arizona (which I love).
* I started homeschooling my oldest. It has been a good experience for both of us. We're using the k-12 curriculum, which works well since the school district here also uses it. It'll make the transition back to public school a bit easier. The first year he made honor roll all four quarters (something he never did in the past), and at the end of this year he wants to be done and start 8th grade back in public school again. I'm trying to help him get to a place where that's feasible, and I think we're nearly there. I really think he will go back for just a short time and then be begging to come home again. I guess only time will tell. My third oldest wants to come home next year though. I was looking forward to the break, but I think it might be good for her. I haven't decided for sure yet, and the jury is still undecided as far as prayer goes. I feel like it would be ok either way.
* I'm really happy with our house and our neighborhood. We have some great neighbors and the kids are making some good friends. I'm hoping that we don't have to move ever again, and that the kids can get settled in finally and not feel like they have to move and start all over again.
I know this probably doesn't sound like much, but life really has been full for us. I have been thinking more about things I'd like to share here, and I'm hoping to make some time to do so. Until then, I felt the need to say that I'm still here, and that I'm ready to ramble again.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Some people
Yesterday morning I was driving the kids to school. Mondays are trash day so all the cans were up and down the street. A few houses further down from where I turn I spotted a bike next to the trash can and thought that if it was still there when I came back, then I'd check it out and maybe grab it if it was in ok condition. Sure enough, on the way home it was still there so I turned the other direction to check it out. It looked pretty good, not perfect by any means, but decent, usable and fixable, so I grabbed it and threw it in the van. I couldn't have timed it any better either. We have this guy that drives through the neighborhood in his truck every week picking up stuff people put out with the trash and he was just a few houses down grabbing some other things. He threw me a look of "hey! I was gonna grab that". As I pulled into the driveway a minute later, the garbage man pulled up to my house, which also means that if I hadn't grabbed it or the other guy hadn't, then the trash man would have hauled it off for sure.
Raven has been asking for a bike so this was a good temporary fix until Christmas. I gave it to her last night and she was thrilled. She played with it a little but it was dark so she put it away in the garage with all the other scooters, etc.
Today I took Kora to the Dr, picked her up some antibiotics for an ear infection and then did some much needed grocery shopping. I came home, opened up the garage to put away some stuff in the garage fridge and, since we needed to grab scooters to go get kids about 10 minutes later, I left the garage door open. When I came outside one of the neighbor boys, who I really don't care for, was hovering around my driveway and pointing into my garage while he talked to somebody else. Nothing appeared out of place so I grabbed our scooters, closed the garage and walked to the school to get kids.
As we walked home this same neighbor boy met us about half way up the street and started accosting Raven about the bike. He accused her of stealing it and was saying it belonged to his friend. I told him it was put out with the trash yesterday and perhaps his friend got a new bike. He followed us home and kept trying to get into the garage when we got there (and my kids wonder why I don't let them play with him-but he's a whole other story).
About 10 minutes later I was loading up kids to run a quick errand when a car pulled up to our house. The lady rolls down her window and starts yelling "we lost a bike and my kids say you have it." I told her I had, in fact, picked up a bike yesterday from next to the trash cans around the corner and she yells that "it wasn't even near the trash, it was in the yard!" I told her it was right next to the trash cans and asked her what color the one was she was missing. She confirmed the one I had and I again said "it was right next to the trash can." Her reply, "well, can we have it back?" I said yes (she looked shocked) and I opened the garage to get it out while she mumbled who knows what, probably profanities, while her son was retrieving this girl's bike from me (poor kid, it was really girly) . I walked over to her car and calmly and nicely made sure she knew that if I hadn't grabbed it, it most certainly would have been gone, told her of the other guy and that the trash man was only about 5 minutes from taking it anyway. I apologized and she said "in 7 years we've never had a problem!" and again "it was in the yard." I said "no, it really wasn't, but I'm glad to give it back." And then she drove away.
So now some lady up the street thinks I'm a horrible person who steals children's bicycles and I'm just waiting for her to call the cops or file charges or something. I'm not a thief. I only take that sort of thing if it's in decent condition, we have a use for it and it's been put out by the trash. Besides, who lets their kids leave a bike out on the street on the morning of (or night before) trash day? If it were my kids I would have said "well, you left it out and now it's gone. This is why we don't leave our things out." Also, in the condition it was in, I probably wouldn't even have gone looking for it. I just hope that she and her kids learned something about leaving your stuff next to the trash cans on trash day, I know I did. Next time I'll just leave it and let it be gone forever, then she can go yell at somebody else.
I don't mind giving it back but she could have at least been a bit nicer instead of yelling at me the whole time. Sheesh!
Raven has been asking for a bike so this was a good temporary fix until Christmas. I gave it to her last night and she was thrilled. She played with it a little but it was dark so she put it away in the garage with all the other scooters, etc.
Today I took Kora to the Dr, picked her up some antibiotics for an ear infection and then did some much needed grocery shopping. I came home, opened up the garage to put away some stuff in the garage fridge and, since we needed to grab scooters to go get kids about 10 minutes later, I left the garage door open. When I came outside one of the neighbor boys, who I really don't care for, was hovering around my driveway and pointing into my garage while he talked to somebody else. Nothing appeared out of place so I grabbed our scooters, closed the garage and walked to the school to get kids.
As we walked home this same neighbor boy met us about half way up the street and started accosting Raven about the bike. He accused her of stealing it and was saying it belonged to his friend. I told him it was put out with the trash yesterday and perhaps his friend got a new bike. He followed us home and kept trying to get into the garage when we got there (and my kids wonder why I don't let them play with him-but he's a whole other story).
About 10 minutes later I was loading up kids to run a quick errand when a car pulled up to our house. The lady rolls down her window and starts yelling "we lost a bike and my kids say you have it." I told her I had, in fact, picked up a bike yesterday from next to the trash cans around the corner and she yells that "it wasn't even near the trash, it was in the yard!" I told her it was right next to the trash cans and asked her what color the one was she was missing. She confirmed the one I had and I again said "it was right next to the trash can." Her reply, "well, can we have it back?" I said yes (she looked shocked) and I opened the garage to get it out while she mumbled who knows what, probably profanities, while her son was retrieving this girl's bike from me (poor kid, it was really girly) . I walked over to her car and calmly and nicely made sure she knew that if I hadn't grabbed it, it most certainly would have been gone, told her of the other guy and that the trash man was only about 5 minutes from taking it anyway. I apologized and she said "in 7 years we've never had a problem!" and again "it was in the yard." I said "no, it really wasn't, but I'm glad to give it back." And then she drove away.
So now some lady up the street thinks I'm a horrible person who steals children's bicycles and I'm just waiting for her to call the cops or file charges or something. I'm not a thief. I only take that sort of thing if it's in decent condition, we have a use for it and it's been put out by the trash. Besides, who lets their kids leave a bike out on the street on the morning of (or night before) trash day? If it were my kids I would have said "well, you left it out and now it's gone. This is why we don't leave our things out." Also, in the condition it was in, I probably wouldn't even have gone looking for it. I just hope that she and her kids learned something about leaving your stuff next to the trash cans on trash day, I know I did. Next time I'll just leave it and let it be gone forever, then she can go yell at somebody else.
I don't mind giving it back but she could have at least been a bit nicer instead of yelling at me the whole time. Sheesh!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Locked Out
We just returned from Arizona today after being there for a week. We drove and took two days to get there and another 2 days to get back as well as spending 6 nights there. It was really nice. As we were driving there, about half way through the first day, Josh asked if I had a spare key for his car, which I didn't. He's become pretty adept at locking his keys in the car so having a spare is pretty important. I told him he'd have to get one of the spares when he comes back home next week. So we went on with our trip.
Fast forward a week. We'd had such a good visit with family and friends and were packing up on Thursday night so we could check out of the hotel on Friday morning. I had packed most of the stuff in the hotel room and we were ready to carry it all down to the cars and grabbed our keys, only Josh couldn't find his keys. He thought one of the kids had taken them but after looking and all the kids denying taking them, we decided to go look on and around the cars to see if he had put them down when we were coming in earlier. Sure enough, we got down to the parking lot to discover that they were in his ignition with the doors locked. The front desk found us a couple of wire hangers and we proceeded to try and break into the car again. As we were working on it, Kora was playing with the room card and dropped it into the engine. Now our kids were fast asleep in the hotel room, oblivious to knocking and we were locked out of the car and couldn't get the room key or car keys. An hour and a half later, I had gone to the front desk for a new room key, Josh finally got the car open, we finished loading his things and went to bed. Talk about a pain in the butt. But, it was Josh's fault, not mine, right?
Fast forward to Friday. The kids and I were driving home and stopped at a truck stop for gas, toilet and stretch break. As we're walking through the store to the restroom I found a kit with a slim-jim and all the tools for breaking in when you lock yourself out and it was only $12.99. It's the perfect gift for my husband and one we can both laugh about as well as being useful, so I bought it and put it in the back of the van.
Fast forward to Saturday. We stopped at a gas station, filled up and then parked to go in for a restroom break. We all got some drinks, I got a 5 hour energy, because I was totally exhausted and needed help to stay awake and drive, and we went to load back up. As we're walking out to the car I start getting out my keys only to discover that I didn't have them. I retraced my steps to figure out when I had them last and looked in the window to see them in one of the booster seats in the back and all the doors locked. Dang it, I put them down to get Kora out of her seat and now it's my fault. We're at a gas station in a very small town and 6 kids and I are locked out of the car. At least I had my wallet and I had actually bought all the kids drinks. The van isn't as easy to break into as the mustang-we have power nothing. So I had the guy at the counter call somebody to come and bail me out. 20 minutes and $45 later we were finally on our way.
So this story has three morals. First, don't laugh at your husband when he locks his keys in the car and think that he's the only one that does it, or you might just have it thrown in your face two days later. Second, check to make sure you have your keys every time you get out of the car or it might take you an hour and a half or cost you all the cash in your wallet to get back into your car. And third, when you buy a slim-jim, don't store it in your car. It does absolutely no good when your keys are locked inside with it.
The end.
Fast forward a week. We'd had such a good visit with family and friends and were packing up on Thursday night so we could check out of the hotel on Friday morning. I had packed most of the stuff in the hotel room and we were ready to carry it all down to the cars and grabbed our keys, only Josh couldn't find his keys. He thought one of the kids had taken them but after looking and all the kids denying taking them, we decided to go look on and around the cars to see if he had put them down when we were coming in earlier. Sure enough, we got down to the parking lot to discover that they were in his ignition with the doors locked. The front desk found us a couple of wire hangers and we proceeded to try and break into the car again. As we were working on it, Kora was playing with the room card and dropped it into the engine. Now our kids were fast asleep in the hotel room, oblivious to knocking and we were locked out of the car and couldn't get the room key or car keys. An hour and a half later, I had gone to the front desk for a new room key, Josh finally got the car open, we finished loading his things and went to bed. Talk about a pain in the butt. But, it was Josh's fault, not mine, right?
Fast forward to Friday. The kids and I were driving home and stopped at a truck stop for gas, toilet and stretch break. As we're walking through the store to the restroom I found a kit with a slim-jim and all the tools for breaking in when you lock yourself out and it was only $12.99. It's the perfect gift for my husband and one we can both laugh about as well as being useful, so I bought it and put it in the back of the van.
Fast forward to Saturday. We stopped at a gas station, filled up and then parked to go in for a restroom break. We all got some drinks, I got a 5 hour energy, because I was totally exhausted and needed help to stay awake and drive, and we went to load back up. As we're walking out to the car I start getting out my keys only to discover that I didn't have them. I retraced my steps to figure out when I had them last and looked in the window to see them in one of the booster seats in the back and all the doors locked. Dang it, I put them down to get Kora out of her seat and now it's my fault. We're at a gas station in a very small town and 6 kids and I are locked out of the car. At least I had my wallet and I had actually bought all the kids drinks. The van isn't as easy to break into as the mustang-we have power nothing. So I had the guy at the counter call somebody to come and bail me out. 20 minutes and $45 later we were finally on our way.
So this story has three morals. First, don't laugh at your husband when he locks his keys in the car and think that he's the only one that does it, or you might just have it thrown in your face two days later. Second, check to make sure you have your keys every time you get out of the car or it might take you an hour and a half or cost you all the cash in your wallet to get back into your car. And third, when you buy a slim-jim, don't store it in your car. It does absolutely no good when your keys are locked inside with it.
The end.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
What's been happening lately
* Josh gave all the kids dried prunes tonight and told then they were giant raisins. They all loved them. As a bonus, we'll have some really "regular" children tomorrow.
*Kora finally cut her first tooth. She's been teething for awhile, but any mom who's been through teething can tell you that it lasts for months and you never really know when it'll come through. She was fussy last night, woke up about 8 times during the night and then was fussy all morning. I didn't even think about it being teeth until my husband said something. Sure enough, one broke through and I'm pretty sure the other bottom one is right behind the first. This is the part of babies that isn't much fun. Oh well, at least it usually passes relatively quickly-I can't wait to get my happy baby back without the use of infant Tylenol and ibuprofen.
* My 18 year old cat suddenly started using my house as her litter box instead of her litter box. She doesn't do it when we're around, only at night or while we're gone someplace. It's not like the litter box was dirty or too far away either. Yesterday it was a towel that was on the floor 3 ft from the litter box-we were only gone for 2 hours. Last week she started going out of her way, climbing through the box of shoes and back behind to use my front room carpet to poop and any paper that was on the floor there to pee on-3 days in a row. I don't like locking up my cats but she has made it so that we have to shut them both in the laundry room at night and any time we go anywhere in order for the litter box to be used. I'm sure she's trying to tell me something but I wish that she would just open her mouth and spit it out already.
*My house is so dirty all the time and it's frustrating. I just swept all the floors in my kitchen, dining room and living room 2 nights ago. I went in there this morning to find crumbs spread from one end to the other and covering the whole floor. I don't understand how my kids can make so much mess so quickly. If you come over to my house, I'm sorry for the mess but the front door has a sign to warn you. It says "My house was clean last week, sorry you missed it" and I stand behind the fact that you've now been double warned.
*Josh got a new job this week and we're moving. Rincon is the name of the company and we tried to get on with them a year and a half ago. At that time they wanted him but couldn't hire anybody so they lost out. His contract here is about to run out and they contacted him a few weeks ago asking for his resume. Within a week and a half they called him for an interview, flew him to Arizona, put him up in a hotel and gave him a rental car. They all loved him. The offer finally came through a couple days ago and it's nice. As well as a substantial raise, they're also giving us enough money to pay back the new home buyers tax credit, they pay for our medical and dental insurance each month and they have some other excellent incentives with 401k and the like. They'll pay for half our closing costs on this end, all the closing costs on the other end and will pay for movers to pack, move and unpack our things. I couldn't ask for much more.
Our plan is for Josh to go and start working while we start house hunting and the kids will finish this school year here. Josh will come home weekends as often as he can and then we aim to move mid-June of next year. We also plan to rent out this house rather than selling-just a feeling we have (if you know anybody who wants to rent a really nice house in SE Aurora starting next summer, let me know). I'm not looking forward to being a semi-single parent and I'm not looking forward to leaving our friends here, but I'm really excited to finally be back in the same state as the rest of my family again.
* My 18 year old cat suddenly started using my house as her litter box instead of her litter box. She doesn't do it when we're around, only at night or while we're gone someplace. It's not like the litter box was dirty or too far away either. Yesterday it was a towel that was on the floor 3 ft from the litter box-we were only gone for 2 hours. Last week she started going out of her way, climbing through the box of shoes and back behind to use my front room carpet to poop and any paper that was on the floor there to pee on-3 days in a row. I don't like locking up my cats but she has made it so that we have to shut them both in the laundry room at night and any time we go anywhere in order for the litter box to be used. I'm sure she's trying to tell me something but I wish that she would just open her mouth and spit it out already.
*My house is so dirty all the time and it's frustrating. I just swept all the floors in my kitchen, dining room and living room 2 nights ago. I went in there this morning to find crumbs spread from one end to the other and covering the whole floor. I don't understand how my kids can make so much mess so quickly. If you come over to my house, I'm sorry for the mess but the front door has a sign to warn you. It says "My house was clean last week, sorry you missed it" and I stand behind the fact that you've now been double warned.
*Josh got a new job this week and we're moving. Rincon is the name of the company and we tried to get on with them a year and a half ago. At that time they wanted him but couldn't hire anybody so they lost out. His contract here is about to run out and they contacted him a few weeks ago asking for his resume. Within a week and a half they called him for an interview, flew him to Arizona, put him up in a hotel and gave him a rental car. They all loved him. The offer finally came through a couple days ago and it's nice. As well as a substantial raise, they're also giving us enough money to pay back the new home buyers tax credit, they pay for our medical and dental insurance each month and they have some other excellent incentives with 401k and the like. They'll pay for half our closing costs on this end, all the closing costs on the other end and will pay for movers to pack, move and unpack our things. I couldn't ask for much more.
Our plan is for Josh to go and start working while we start house hunting and the kids will finish this school year here. Josh will come home weekends as often as he can and then we aim to move mid-June of next year. We also plan to rent out this house rather than selling-just a feeling we have (if you know anybody who wants to rent a really nice house in SE Aurora starting next summer, let me know). I'm not looking forward to being a semi-single parent and I'm not looking forward to leaving our friends here, but I'm really excited to finally be back in the same state as the rest of my family again.
The Ten Virgins
I've recently come to love and appreciate the story of the ten virgins. It's one of those stories that, if you go to church as you grow up, no matter which religion, you're taught it time and time again. It's a parable taught by the savior to the people of the bible, ,and to us. The basics are that there are ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom to come so that they could go into his wedding. They each have a lamp that is powered by oil. There were 5 who had extra oil and 5 who only had what was in their lamps. They all waited a very long time and the 5 without extra started running out of light and asked the others to share. The ones with extra could not share what they had without running out too early so the others ran to buy more oil and returned too late to enter the wedding.
As most of you know, the oil is supposed to be what is within each of us, the bridegroom is Jesus Christ and his wedding is the second coming. If we aren't prepared and ready with enough "oil" within, then we will be left behind when Christ comes and gathers those who are ready.
I can only hope to be one of those who has enough within me to be able to power my light until the day and time arrives that I will need it. I know so many who were once on the right path and then decided that it just didn't matter enough anymore, and it makes me sad. I can only imagine being one who has enough and not being able to share with family and friends who don't. I can imagine the sorrow that those 5 felt when they were unable to share and then had to go in and celebrate without the others. I'm sure some of those who weren't prepared were their sisters, best friends and maybe even their mothers, daughters or aunts. I wish that I could share my desire with everybody around me.
We've all been given our free agency to choose what we want to do and how we want to live our lives. I hope that in the day we need it, myself, my family and each and every one of those I care about, will have chosen the right path to have enough to all go in. Can you imagine the celebration we would all have in there together? I imagine it would be quite the shindig, especially with the family and friends that I have. May we each strive to be the best we can be and live our lives so that we can all get into that party and bring the house down.
As most of you know, the oil is supposed to be what is within each of us, the bridegroom is Jesus Christ and his wedding is the second coming. If we aren't prepared and ready with enough "oil" within, then we will be left behind when Christ comes and gathers those who are ready.
I can only hope to be one of those who has enough within me to be able to power my light until the day and time arrives that I will need it. I know so many who were once on the right path and then decided that it just didn't matter enough anymore, and it makes me sad. I can only imagine being one who has enough and not being able to share with family and friends who don't. I can imagine the sorrow that those 5 felt when they were unable to share and then had to go in and celebrate without the others. I'm sure some of those who weren't prepared were their sisters, best friends and maybe even their mothers, daughters or aunts. I wish that I could share my desire with everybody around me.
We've all been given our free agency to choose what we want to do and how we want to live our lives. I hope that in the day we need it, myself, my family and each and every one of those I care about, will have chosen the right path to have enough to all go in. Can you imagine the celebration we would all have in there together? I imagine it would be quite the shindig, especially with the family and friends that I have. May we each strive to be the best we can be and live our lives so that we can all get into that party and bring the house down.
Friday, August 19, 2011
So much for that idea
A couple days ago I was sitting out front and watching the kids while they played. We live on a relatively busy street and, while most people drive slowly and watch when kids are in the road, there are still many that don't. Some of these kids are out in the street all the time and the other day one of them turned and rode his bike right in front of a car driving up the street and nearly got hit (Good think Karen was watching).
Anyway, as we were sitting outside, I was nursing Kora and heard a great big "pop" sound and turned just as the rock bounced off Josh's mustang. I was pretty sure it hit the glass but it was on the side and very well could have hit the door or side panel. As I was reprimanding Caleb for it (yes, my 3 year old was the culprit and thought he was pretty cool until I started yelling at him) Noah informed me that he had thrown 2 rocks at the neighbor's car sitting in front of their house. I looked over and could see a rock sitting on top of their car. This isn't a car they drive, this is one they picked up cheap from auction, have fixed up and are now in the process of trying to sell it to make a profit. I meant to go over and see if it had done any damage to our car or theirs, but couldn't jump up while I was nursing and forgot by the time I finished. The neighbor's mom was pulling her car out and I was pretty sure she had seen Caleb do it (which is probably why she was moving her car now that I think of it) and I actually expected her to come say something, but she didn't.
Fast forward to today. We're sitting and eating dinner when the doorbell rings and the kids tell Josh the neighbor wants to talk to him. He took a few minutes and hadn't come back to the table yet so I went to see what was up. I opened the door and saw them standing next to the car examining the front window. Turns out Caleb put a big enough ding in the windshield that it isn't something they can fix without replacing the windshield now.
So, I now have the year, make and model of their car and I get to spend the money we had set aside to replace Josh's windshield to replace theirs instead. At least I have the money but dang it, now I have to start saving all over again to replace the one on our car. Thank you Caleb.
Anyway, as we were sitting outside, I was nursing Kora and heard a great big "pop" sound and turned just as the rock bounced off Josh's mustang. I was pretty sure it hit the glass but it was on the side and very well could have hit the door or side panel. As I was reprimanding Caleb for it (yes, my 3 year old was the culprit and thought he was pretty cool until I started yelling at him) Noah informed me that he had thrown 2 rocks at the neighbor's car sitting in front of their house. I looked over and could see a rock sitting on top of their car. This isn't a car they drive, this is one they picked up cheap from auction, have fixed up and are now in the process of trying to sell it to make a profit. I meant to go over and see if it had done any damage to our car or theirs, but couldn't jump up while I was nursing and forgot by the time I finished. The neighbor's mom was pulling her car out and I was pretty sure she had seen Caleb do it (which is probably why she was moving her car now that I think of it) and I actually expected her to come say something, but she didn't.
Fast forward to today. We're sitting and eating dinner when the doorbell rings and the kids tell Josh the neighbor wants to talk to him. He took a few minutes and hadn't come back to the table yet so I went to see what was up. I opened the door and saw them standing next to the car examining the front window. Turns out Caleb put a big enough ding in the windshield that it isn't something they can fix without replacing the windshield now.
So, I now have the year, make and model of their car and I get to spend the money we had set aside to replace Josh's windshield to replace theirs instead. At least I have the money but dang it, now I have to start saving all over again to replace the one on our car. Thank you Caleb.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
What to say today?
I feel like writing tonight but have no idea what to say. Therefore you get a bunch of randon stuff. Here goes.
*Kora is 5 1/2 months old now and decided this week that she's tired of sitting in one place. This morning she scooted herself all the way across our california king sized bed to get to me. It took her several minutes to do it but she did. She also rolls back and forth to get places or things and she can sit up pretty good if I help her get there. Who told her she was allowed to grow up so fast?
*Last month I got a Groupon for half off hair and waxing services and I went to redeem it today. They washed my hair, did a deep conditioning treatment, cut off about 6-8 inches off my hair and then waxed my eyebrows. I paid $35 for the groupon and it would have cost me $65+ tax if I paid full price. It was a nice 2 hour break from my obnoxious kids.
*Have I mentioned how much I enjoy year round school lately? My kids went back to school last week and it has been so nice. I now have 4 of them in school all day and 2 home that sleep in most days. I've actually been getting some sleep and it's been really nice. My days are so nice and relaxing until about 4pm. Then the kids get home and start arguing, fighting, hitting, kicking, pinching, tattling, screaming and, you get the idea. I don't understand how it can go from a really happy, good mood day to oh my heck I want to wring everybody's neck so quickly.
*my car broke about a week ago. It sounds like an old VW with a sound enhancer on the muffler. It could also sound like a cross between a really loud motorcycle and a diesel truck. It happened as we were driving down the road on the 4th of July when everything was closed. Turns out the muffler blew a hole right next to the catalytic converter and the only way to fix it is to get the whole assembly. This might not be so bad except that apparenly, everybody else who bought Dodge Caravans in 2004 got a V6 so parts for our 4 cylinder van are hard to come by. This one had to be ordered fom the dealership and cost $800 just for the part. Luckily labor is only $80 but that still puts us over $900 after tax. Good thing I built up that emergency fund. The part should be here tomorrow or the next day and they'll put it in for us as soon as it arrives.
Ok, I think that's about it for now. Maybe I'll think of someting else to write tomorrow.
*Kora is 5 1/2 months old now and decided this week that she's tired of sitting in one place. This morning she scooted herself all the way across our california king sized bed to get to me. It took her several minutes to do it but she did. She also rolls back and forth to get places or things and she can sit up pretty good if I help her get there. Who told her she was allowed to grow up so fast?
*Last month I got a Groupon for half off hair and waxing services and I went to redeem it today. They washed my hair, did a deep conditioning treatment, cut off about 6-8 inches off my hair and then waxed my eyebrows. I paid $35 for the groupon and it would have cost me $65+ tax if I paid full price. It was a nice 2 hour break from my obnoxious kids.
*Have I mentioned how much I enjoy year round school lately? My kids went back to school last week and it has been so nice. I now have 4 of them in school all day and 2 home that sleep in most days. I've actually been getting some sleep and it's been really nice. My days are so nice and relaxing until about 4pm. Then the kids get home and start arguing, fighting, hitting, kicking, pinching, tattling, screaming and, you get the idea. I don't understand how it can go from a really happy, good mood day to oh my heck I want to wring everybody's neck so quickly.
*my car broke about a week ago. It sounds like an old VW with a sound enhancer on the muffler. It could also sound like a cross between a really loud motorcycle and a diesel truck. It happened as we were driving down the road on the 4th of July when everything was closed. Turns out the muffler blew a hole right next to the catalytic converter and the only way to fix it is to get the whole assembly. This might not be so bad except that apparenly, everybody else who bought Dodge Caravans in 2004 got a V6 so parts for our 4 cylinder van are hard to come by. This one had to be ordered fom the dealership and cost $800 just for the part. Luckily labor is only $80 but that still puts us over $900 after tax. Good thing I built up that emergency fund. The part should be here tomorrow or the next day and they'll put it in for us as soon as it arrives.
Ok, I think that's about it for now. Maybe I'll think of someting else to write tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Do you ever wonder?
So, I have this friend. She knows who she is and some of you may also know who she is, but I'm not going to mention names otherwise. Anyway, her family and ours used to hang out quite a bit, and when I say that I do mean a lot. We'd get together once or twice a week, sometimes more, have dinner, chat, play games and have a really great time. Then one day they declined to come over, started avoiding us when we'd see each other, made excuses of why they couldn't get together with us and stuff like that. We tried asking questions as to why and what happened and, from what we could figure, I did or said something that offended this friend so she quit talking to me and didn't want to hang out anymore.
I tried talking to her and tried asking what I did or said that upset her. I even send an email or two in hopes of a reply. A year passed with nothing. Finally we started talking on a limited basis and then they came over to our house for a birthday party. Just as the party was starting, one of her children slipped on my clean tile and broke their arm. This ended what I thought was the beginning of making up. A few more months passed and we moved away, however, we are still facebook friends.
It's now been another year and a half and, for some reason, she has been weighing on my mind today. I wonder how she is, I wonder what kind of things she's doing and I wonder if she still hates me or holds a grudge for whatever it was that I said or did.
It might not bother me so much if I actually knew what it was also. I mean, if I knew then I could at least give her a sincere apology if nothing else. I miss my friend, the chats we had and the things that we did together and I wonder if there's ever going to be a possibility that we could make up. Are you out there friend?
I tried talking to her and tried asking what I did or said that upset her. I even send an email or two in hopes of a reply. A year passed with nothing. Finally we started talking on a limited basis and then they came over to our house for a birthday party. Just as the party was starting, one of her children slipped on my clean tile and broke their arm. This ended what I thought was the beginning of making up. A few more months passed and we moved away, however, we are still facebook friends.
It's now been another year and a half and, for some reason, she has been weighing on my mind today. I wonder how she is, I wonder what kind of things she's doing and I wonder if she still hates me or holds a grudge for whatever it was that I said or did.
It might not bother me so much if I actually knew what it was also. I mean, if I knew then I could at least give her a sincere apology if nothing else. I miss my friend, the chats we had and the things that we did together and I wonder if there's ever going to be a possibility that we could make up. Are you out there friend?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
wow, 3 months already?
Ok, so there has been A LOT that has happened in the last nearly 4 months since I posted something. To begin with, I had a baby. Kora Jade Clark was born on January 26th, 2011 at 4:49am and weighed 6lbs 14oz and was 19inches long. At her 5 day visit she was up to 7lbs even, at 1 month she was 7lbs 7 1/2 oz and at her 2 month visit she was 11lbs even. She's an eater and a sweetheart. I love her chubby little cheeks and her personality. She's my little snuggler and still likes to sleep on my chest at night. I know I probably should start making her sleep elsewhere but I know she'll do that on her own soon and I'll miss it so I'm letting her sleep there as long as she wants (unless of course she still wants to sleep there at 6 or 9 months, I might draw the line).
We blessed Kora at church on February 6th so that Abuelo (Josh's dad) could be there to stand in the circle before he had to head home the next day. It was a beautiful blessing-probably one of the best I've heard.
My kids LOVE Kora so much and they're actually all pretty helpful most of the time. Caleb is overjoyed to be a big brother now and doesn't like to answer to anything else. He'll tell you he's not Monkey britches, he's a big brother or that he's not Caleb, he's a big brother or even that he's not a baby, he's a big brother and so on-you get the idea. The rest have a hard time keeping their hands to themselves most of the time-they all just want to hold her or kiss her on a constant basis. I can't tell you how many times I've walked away to do something and come back a minute later to see Raven holding Kora and carrying her around the room. Yes, they love her.
I love Kora's smile and her little giggle and all the things she's learning to do every day. She's growing up too fast and I wish she would just slow down a little. Don't I deserve to enjoy my last baby being a baby a bit longer? I sure think so.
We blessed Kora at church on February 6th so that Abuelo (Josh's dad) could be there to stand in the circle before he had to head home the next day. It was a beautiful blessing-probably one of the best I've heard. 
My kids LOVE Kora so much and they're actually all pretty helpful most of the time. Caleb is overjoyed to be a big brother now and doesn't like to answer to anything else. He'll tell you he's not Monkey britches, he's a big brother or that he's not Caleb, he's a big brother or even that he's not a baby, he's a big brother and so on-you get the idea. The rest have a hard time keeping their hands to themselves most of the time-they all just want to hold her or kiss her on a constant basis. I can't tell you how many times I've walked away to do something and come back a minute later to see Raven holding Kora and carrying her around the room. Yes, they love her.
I love Kora's smile and her little giggle and all the things she's learning to do every day. She's growing up too fast and I wish she would just slow down a little. Don't I deserve to enjoy my last baby being a baby a bit longer? I sure think so. Thursday, January 6, 2011
Public Service Announcement
Just thought I'd be nice and give everybody a heads up. If you're coming to my house to visit, even if it's to help me out or do me a favor, LEAVE YOUR DOG AT HOME. Find a dog sitter, put them in a kennel for a bit, trust me when I say that you'll be much more likely to be adored and invited back later if you come without him/her. We love you and expect any REAL children that you may bring with you but, as far as I'm concerned, your dog isn't welcome here.
Let me list a few reasons for you:
1. I'm allergic to your dog. I know, I'm allergic to my cats too and I stay highly medicated because of it, so it's likely that your dog won't effect me that badly. Still, I'm more allergic to your dog than I am to my cats so it does effect me, even if it's just a little.
2. I have cats. My cats are almost 12 and 17 1/2 years old. They don't like dogs and putting their food up on the counter so your dog doesn't eat it isn't an option because the older one can't jump up there anymore. I'm sick and tired of having to put their food back down every time I go into the bathroom so that they don't starve to death. I love my cats more than your dog. Trust me on this one.
3. I detest cleaning up after your dog when you leave, and I'm not talking about the back yard cause that's Josh's job (and should be done by you as you follow your dog around doing it's business anyway-my kids play there, don't leave it sit). I'm talking about the dog hair and dog food and any other messes your dog makes in my house while you visit. Yes, my cats make messes too, but cleaning up after them is a responsibility I accepted 17 1/2 years ago when I got the first one. I never agreed to clean up after your dog.
4. I don't like dogs, especially in my house. Enough said
Can you tell I just finished cleaning up after somebody's dog? Not only that, but I was cleaning up after that one, knowing that somebody else is arriving with their unwelcome dog tomorrow. Yes, I'm pregnant and I'm probably a bit hormonal (ok, really hormonal) and I just spent the last 2 days in the hospital with gall bladder attacks (which is another blog post for another day) and trying to get out and come home, but I'm also tired of people showing up to my house with their dogs, assuming that we don't mind. While the rest of my family doesn't mind and will probably love your dog, I do care and would prefer if you left the mangy thing home.
Thank you.
Let me list a few reasons for you:
1. I'm allergic to your dog. I know, I'm allergic to my cats too and I stay highly medicated because of it, so it's likely that your dog won't effect me that badly. Still, I'm more allergic to your dog than I am to my cats so it does effect me, even if it's just a little.
2. I have cats. My cats are almost 12 and 17 1/2 years old. They don't like dogs and putting their food up on the counter so your dog doesn't eat it isn't an option because the older one can't jump up there anymore. I'm sick and tired of having to put their food back down every time I go into the bathroom so that they don't starve to death. I love my cats more than your dog. Trust me on this one.
3. I detest cleaning up after your dog when you leave, and I'm not talking about the back yard cause that's Josh's job (and should be done by you as you follow your dog around doing it's business anyway-my kids play there, don't leave it sit). I'm talking about the dog hair and dog food and any other messes your dog makes in my house while you visit. Yes, my cats make messes too, but cleaning up after them is a responsibility I accepted 17 1/2 years ago when I got the first one. I never agreed to clean up after your dog.
4. I don't like dogs, especially in my house. Enough said
Can you tell I just finished cleaning up after somebody's dog? Not only that, but I was cleaning up after that one, knowing that somebody else is arriving with their unwelcome dog tomorrow. Yes, I'm pregnant and I'm probably a bit hormonal (ok, really hormonal) and I just spent the last 2 days in the hospital with gall bladder attacks (which is another blog post for another day) and trying to get out and come home, but I'm also tired of people showing up to my house with their dogs, assuming that we don't mind. While the rest of my family doesn't mind and will probably love your dog, I do care and would prefer if you left the mangy thing home.
Thank you.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Recently I keep finding myself feeling a little bit lost in our new ward and wondering why it is that we've been led here rather than someplace else. It's not that the people in our ward aren't nice or that we don't like them, but more rather that we really haven't been able to get to know anybody well enough to feel like we belong here. It's hard to explain really. We've been in our house now for almost 7 months and we started coming to this ward almost a month before we moved in and still we don't have any close friends or people we feel comfortable enough to just call and talk to or seek out in the halls. It probably doesn't help much that we were in our house less than a month when Josh and I were called to teach the Sunbeam class in primary so pretty much the only people we see and talk to regularly are a bunch of 4 year olds and a few of their parents as they pick them up after church-that's about it.
Over the last week some of those feelings have changed for me. On Saturday night our doorbell rang and when we went to the door there were two giant trash bags full of wrapped presents. They are all for the kids but there are more than a few and a couple of them had tears in the paper I had to fix as I put them under the tree so I got to see what they were-not cheap gifts to say the least. And, to top that all off, there are at least 5 gifts for each of the kids. We have 5 kids so that means that somebody really spent some money on us and were actually thinking of us as they prepared this gift. I was in awe.
Then Sunday night as we sat in the other room our doorbell rang again. We all went to answer it and this time found only a gift box on the doorstep-like a t-shirt size box. I picked it up and shook it, it sounded like it was food so we opted to open it up. It had a bunch of boxed candy-the type you'd buy at the movies-and several gift cards. I passed Josh the cards and he looked at me as he examined them and asked "did you see these"? I hadn't looked at them, just handed them to him. There were gift cards for the movie theater, Chiles restaurant and Payless Shoes. The gift cards totalled $200-who has a random $200 to spend on another family at Christmas?
Then on Monday we were called by somebody from the church and offered 2 weeks worth of groceries if we needed/wanted it. Not that we really need it right now, but it makes me wonder if they know something that we don't?
Finally, on Tuesday morning Josh was leaving for work and discovered 2 more trash bags full of gifts-3 more gifts per child. These were definitely from somebody different than the first as names are actually spelled right on all gifts.
So, we know that the gifts came from somebody at the church-we don't know anybody else here really and the people that we do know from the school or whatever, don't know where we live. It's made me stop and think the last few days. The people in our ward really are paying attention and we aren't as invisible as we thought we were. The gifts we received were thought out and actually individualized (I think somebody saw Raven's church shoe with it's sole hanging off the last few weeks and that's why we got the gift card to Payless shoes. Not that we can't afford her new ones-those are new, just a few months old, and she just destroyed them so we were making her deal with it for a bit before we replaced them). I'm actually feeling really grateful for what we've been given and that somebody else (a few families at least) was actually thinking of us. Our Christmas has been expanded by leaps and bounds thanks to somebody else's generosity and sacrifices and I am in awe for that.
Thank you to whomever you are for those gifts and thank you so much for letting us know that somebody here really does care about our family. And especially, thank you for sacrificing so much of your time and money during this holiday season-we really do appreciate it all. Maybe I'll start looking at our ward a bit differently and with a lot more love in my heart now.
Over the last week some of those feelings have changed for me. On Saturday night our doorbell rang and when we went to the door there were two giant trash bags full of wrapped presents. They are all for the kids but there are more than a few and a couple of them had tears in the paper I had to fix as I put them under the tree so I got to see what they were-not cheap gifts to say the least. And, to top that all off, there are at least 5 gifts for each of the kids. We have 5 kids so that means that somebody really spent some money on us and were actually thinking of us as they prepared this gift. I was in awe.
Then Sunday night as we sat in the other room our doorbell rang again. We all went to answer it and this time found only a gift box on the doorstep-like a t-shirt size box. I picked it up and shook it, it sounded like it was food so we opted to open it up. It had a bunch of boxed candy-the type you'd buy at the movies-and several gift cards. I passed Josh the cards and he looked at me as he examined them and asked "did you see these"? I hadn't looked at them, just handed them to him. There were gift cards for the movie theater, Chiles restaurant and Payless Shoes. The gift cards totalled $200-who has a random $200 to spend on another family at Christmas?
Then on Monday we were called by somebody from the church and offered 2 weeks worth of groceries if we needed/wanted it. Not that we really need it right now, but it makes me wonder if they know something that we don't?
Finally, on Tuesday morning Josh was leaving for work and discovered 2 more trash bags full of gifts-3 more gifts per child. These were definitely from somebody different than the first as names are actually spelled right on all gifts.
So, we know that the gifts came from somebody at the church-we don't know anybody else here really and the people that we do know from the school or whatever, don't know where we live. It's made me stop and think the last few days. The people in our ward really are paying attention and we aren't as invisible as we thought we were. The gifts we received were thought out and actually individualized (I think somebody saw Raven's church shoe with it's sole hanging off the last few weeks and that's why we got the gift card to Payless shoes. Not that we can't afford her new ones-those are new, just a few months old, and she just destroyed them so we were making her deal with it for a bit before we replaced them). I'm actually feeling really grateful for what we've been given and that somebody else (a few families at least) was actually thinking of us. Our Christmas has been expanded by leaps and bounds thanks to somebody else's generosity and sacrifices and I am in awe for that.
Thank you to whomever you are for those gifts and thank you so much for letting us know that somebody here really does care about our family. And especially, thank you for sacrificing so much of your time and money during this holiday season-we really do appreciate it all. Maybe I'll start looking at our ward a bit differently and with a lot more love in my heart now.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Working from home dilema
Did you ever have a friend who you hung out with all the time? Who you enjoyed talking to and being with? Your kids liked playing together and got along really well? I had one of these friends and then one day she discovered a business where she could work from home (kind of) and then suddenly that's all that she talked about. Any time she called it was only to talk about her business. If I tried to talk about our kids or a play date the subject was quickly changed and we went back to her next meeting or a new product or something of the like. (if you're thinking this may be you then you're probably wrong as this person quit talking to me ages ago and doesn't want to have anything to do with me anymore).
I too, work from home and have for many years now. However, one of the first things they taught me when I got started was that you don't go chasing down your friends and family and, instead, talk to those people who are actually interested in hearing about what I have to offer. There is no friendship that is worth losing simply because they aren't interested in what I have to offer. This friend wasn't taught this concept in her business. Now, I did look into her business and even checked out some of the products and the company. They are a good company and have a lot to offer to some people, however, I don't need or use most of what they have so I didn't make a very good customer for her and, therefore, I didn't meet her qualifications to be her friend anymore.
It's sad to have to lose a good friendship over something like this. Ok, so I've probably been dwelling on this a little too much lately, but the fact is that I sometimes miss this friend and talking to and hanging out with her. I miss getting emails from her that are about her kids or her family and not about her business. I miss reading her Facebook updates about how her kids are growing or what they're doing and I'm kind of tired of reading only about her business or how to be a better business person.
A lot of home-based businesses are really pretty decent if you look into them but I think this is why they get such a bad reputation and people despise them so much. It isn't the home businesses that people dislike, it's what they do to the people who work them. It's the way that people change when they start "working from home". And it's the way that people start treating their friends when they say that they aren't interested.
I don't think that I've done this to any of my friends, but if I have then I'm really sorry (and please let me know cause I don't want something like this hanging in the air). I love Melaleuca and all that they offer to me and my family and the way that their products have changed our home, and I do talk to my friends and family about their products. However, I also understand that not everybody is ready for or interested in their products the way that I am (and if you are interested, feel free to bring it up cause I do like to talk about it-just not to the point where you don't want to talk to me anymore. I care about you and your family and what they're doing more than I care about having you purchase from my company). It is OK to say no.
So, has anybody else had this sort of experience before? How did you handle it? Did you talk to the person and have a positive outcome? Or did it bomb the way it did for me when I nicely told her I wasn't interested in hearing about her business but still wanted to be her friend?
I too, work from home and have for many years now. However, one of the first things they taught me when I got started was that you don't go chasing down your friends and family and, instead, talk to those people who are actually interested in hearing about what I have to offer. There is no friendship that is worth losing simply because they aren't interested in what I have to offer. This friend wasn't taught this concept in her business. Now, I did look into her business and even checked out some of the products and the company. They are a good company and have a lot to offer to some people, however, I don't need or use most of what they have so I didn't make a very good customer for her and, therefore, I didn't meet her qualifications to be her friend anymore.
It's sad to have to lose a good friendship over something like this. Ok, so I've probably been dwelling on this a little too much lately, but the fact is that I sometimes miss this friend and talking to and hanging out with her. I miss getting emails from her that are about her kids or her family and not about her business. I miss reading her Facebook updates about how her kids are growing or what they're doing and I'm kind of tired of reading only about her business or how to be a better business person.
A lot of home-based businesses are really pretty decent if you look into them but I think this is why they get such a bad reputation and people despise them so much. It isn't the home businesses that people dislike, it's what they do to the people who work them. It's the way that people change when they start "working from home". And it's the way that people start treating their friends when they say that they aren't interested.
I don't think that I've done this to any of my friends, but if I have then I'm really sorry (and please let me know cause I don't want something like this hanging in the air). I love Melaleuca and all that they offer to me and my family and the way that their products have changed our home, and I do talk to my friends and family about their products. However, I also understand that not everybody is ready for or interested in their products the way that I am (and if you are interested, feel free to bring it up cause I do like to talk about it-just not to the point where you don't want to talk to me anymore. I care about you and your family and what they're doing more than I care about having you purchase from my company). It is OK to say no.
So, has anybody else had this sort of experience before? How did you handle it? Did you talk to the person and have a positive outcome? Or did it bomb the way it did for me when I nicely told her I wasn't interested in hearing about her business but still wanted to be her friend?
Thankfull
As we approach the Thanksgiving season people everywhere are starting to think of what they're thankful for. I have been thinking of what I'm thankful for all this year, and there is so much, the list goes on. Let me see if I can start with a decent list.
-First, I am thankful that we were able to leave Australia this year. I totally loved living in Alice Springs and I loved all of the friends we made there and it was really hard for me to leave. However, I also know that it was the right move for us and that it has led us to where we are now.
-I am also thankful that we were able to stay with my parents at their house for a bit. It's been so long since I lived at home and it reinforced all the reasons why we don't go back once we move out. I love my parents but am so thankful for the distance between us and it makes me even more thankful for all the things I have, especially my own place.
-I'm very thankful to be out of and away from the Army. They were really good to us for 10 1/2 years but the time came for us to depart and I'm glad the transition was as smooth as it was and that it's done and over with. I'm so grateful to never have to deal with Army training, duty and politics ever again.
-I'm extremely grateful that the job in Ohio fell through and that they never called us back after we signed their contract. This may sound funny but it led to us being able to, instead, get this job with SNC and move to Colorado instead of Ohio. I know the job in Ohio would have been OK and that we would have survived, but I'm really glad to be so central to family and be able to see them all more often and not have it be impossible to make the trips.
-I'm thankful that we were able to find this house and be able to buy it and get into it so quickly. This house is home and everything about it is right for us. We had a really great realtor (which we randomly picked out of a realty magazine) and she became a good friend too.
-I am ever so grateful for my husband, my kids and, especially, for this baby who is growing within me. I'm thankful that this baby moves and wiggles all the time and that she's growing and developing the way she should. I can hardly wait to hold her. I love my other 5 kids and the smile they bring to me every day. I love watching them grow and mature and I really enjoy watching them learn new things and the light in their eyes. I especially love my husband. He is so good to me and our childrena and he works so hard to make sure that we don't have to struggle. I love him so much.
-I am thankful for friends and family all over the world and the support we can give each other, even from across the country or half-way around the world. Every one of you means so much to me and I don't know what I'd do without you.
-I'm really thankful for Facebook. It makes it possible for me to keep up with old friends and family and feel more like they still live nearby and not the miles apart that we actually are. Sometimes life can get lonely in a new state, city and neighborhood where you know nobody but this has made it so that those miles don't seem so far.
I know that there are so many more things that I'm thankful for but this is the beginning of my list. I hope you all get to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and that this season will help us look more to what we have rather than what we don't. I also hope that looking at what we're grateful for will help us to be more giving during the Christmas holidays that lay just around the corner.
-First, I am thankful that we were able to leave Australia this year. I totally loved living in Alice Springs and I loved all of the friends we made there and it was really hard for me to leave. However, I also know that it was the right move for us and that it has led us to where we are now.
-I am also thankful that we were able to stay with my parents at their house for a bit. It's been so long since I lived at home and it reinforced all the reasons why we don't go back once we move out. I love my parents but am so thankful for the distance between us and it makes me even more thankful for all the things I have, especially my own place.
-I'm very thankful to be out of and away from the Army. They were really good to us for 10 1/2 years but the time came for us to depart and I'm glad the transition was as smooth as it was and that it's done and over with. I'm so grateful to never have to deal with Army training, duty and politics ever again.
-I'm extremely grateful that the job in Ohio fell through and that they never called us back after we signed their contract. This may sound funny but it led to us being able to, instead, get this job with SNC and move to Colorado instead of Ohio. I know the job in Ohio would have been OK and that we would have survived, but I'm really glad to be so central to family and be able to see them all more often and not have it be impossible to make the trips.
-I'm thankful that we were able to find this house and be able to buy it and get into it so quickly. This house is home and everything about it is right for us. We had a really great realtor (which we randomly picked out of a realty magazine) and she became a good friend too.
-I am ever so grateful for my husband, my kids and, especially, for this baby who is growing within me. I'm thankful that this baby moves and wiggles all the time and that she's growing and developing the way she should. I can hardly wait to hold her. I love my other 5 kids and the smile they bring to me every day. I love watching them grow and mature and I really enjoy watching them learn new things and the light in their eyes. I especially love my husband. He is so good to me and our childrena and he works so hard to make sure that we don't have to struggle. I love him so much.
-I am thankful for friends and family all over the world and the support we can give each other, even from across the country or half-way around the world. Every one of you means so much to me and I don't know what I'd do without you.
-I'm really thankful for Facebook. It makes it possible for me to keep up with old friends and family and feel more like they still live nearby and not the miles apart that we actually are. Sometimes life can get lonely in a new state, city and neighborhood where you know nobody but this has made it so that those miles don't seem so far.
I know that there are so many more things that I'm thankful for but this is the beginning of my list. I hope you all get to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and that this season will help us look more to what we have rather than what we don't. I also hope that looking at what we're grateful for will help us to be more giving during the Christmas holidays that lay just around the corner.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Heartburn is going to be the death of me
For several weeks at the beginning of my 2nd trimester I was plagued with heartburn. We're not talking any sort of normal heartburn either. This heartburn starts in my sternum and then emanates to my back and then up into my shoulders and even down my arms. It hurts and that's putting it lightly. There's no finding relief from it once it starts. Tums didn't work, a glass of milk was a no-go, all of my normal remedies, which generally take care of it, failed. This is my 8th pregnancy and never have I had heartburn like this before, ever.
Then we went searching for info online and went to the store armed with information. We picked up a different flavor of Tums (our bottle was several years old and definitely expired) and we found some Gaviscon. Between the two they covered all 3 types of heartburn relief and seemed to do the job. Then I went to the Dr and they informed me that the one product which was actually helping me (the Gaviscon) was on the unknown list for pregnancy. This was explained to me to mean that it had been tested on animals with results that weren't favorable and either there is nothing known for human consumption during pregnancy or women who have used it during pregnancy have reported abnormal or unwanted results. The basics were that they didn't recommend that I take it and they said if I continued to have issues to let them know and they'd see what they could do to help. Well, the heartburn let up so there was no need for it or anything else.
Then this last weekend it started back up with a vengeance. Saturday morning I had a bowl of cottage cheese with fruit and we headed off to rehearsal for the primary program. At 11:30 it hit me and it hit hard. We had to leave early and head home. I took some Tums, had a glass of milk, layed down, stood up, sat down, and tried every position before I finally gave up and took some Gaviscon. When it still didn't let up I decided to try a bath and as the bathwater was pouring I finally had some relief. I sat in the tub anyway and then took a nap. I got up and felt fine for awhile, had something to eat and then started to make dinner for the family. The heartburn started up again and this time it was worse than the AM. I tried everything all over again with no relief at all. I suffered through it, I cried, I changed positions, I sat in the tub 3 different times-nothing. Finally about 3:30am (yes, it really did last that long) I felt the need to vomit and it came up. The food I had eaten before 5pm was all there leading me to think that maybe this is more of a digestion problem which is causing the heartburn? Just an idea. Anyway, within about 20 minutes the pain subsided and I was able to go to sleep.
Sunday I was fine pretty much all day but I was careful what I ate and how often I ate it. Then about 10PM it started up again-I was not looking forward to another night of pain. I tried to fight it-I moved around, got up and twisted things around and even tried going for a walk around the block. By the time I got back I could feel the need to vomit again and actually looked forward to it so I could get some relief. Now, I'm not one of those people who can willingly stick my finger down my throat in order to get that result so I was trying to figure out what to do. I was leaning on the kitchen counter feeling helpless and crying while trying to think of what I could do when I had this thought. I had posted about my heartburn on Facebook and many friends responded with ideas to help and one of them was to take a spoonful of vinegar. I did try it once and the result was that everything immediately came back up-this is what I wanted tonight. I needed the relief from the pressure and it was already nearly in my throat anyway so I cleaned out the sink (the one with the garbage disposal) and got out the vinegar. I took the spoonful and waited. Nothing. I walked around the kitchen, started to pack the kids' school lunches and started to think "maybe I should drink a glass of milk-then the vinegar will make it curdle and have my result". But as I thought this I realised that the pain was gone. I waited a few more minutes and started to feel good. No more nausea, no more pain, nothing. Not exactly the result I wanted but hey, it actually worked! It was midnight by then so I went upstairs and gladly went to bed.
Cue Monday. Monday was good, I was on my regular schedule-ate food, walked Rebekah to kindergarten, ran errands, had a late lunch and then picked up kids from school. Josh came home and let me take a much needed nap and I got up in time for dinner, which I had prepped right before I layed down. As I went to the table it started up again-I'm really starting to hate heartburn. Josh suggested a giant pickle (which is essentially bathed in vinegar, right?), which sounded much better than a spoonful of vinegar, so I got one out. I ate it and waited. This time it took about 20 or 30 minutes and just as I was about to give up, the pain subsided. It actually works, I don't know how or why or what the science is behind it, but it actually works. It doesn't taste good and I don't recommend it with milk, but it works and I'm so not complaining.
So, the moral of my really long story is that heartburn is going to plague me and I'm not sure that having a baby with a head full of hair is worth the pain, but I'm so glad to have found something to work (for now anyway) to make it go away. Thank you to Regina for suggesting it (even though I doubted you at first) and I'm so glad to have had the courage to try it twice to figure it out. So next time you're having killer heartburn and you think you're going to die, give it a try and let me know if it works for you too.
Then we went searching for info online and went to the store armed with information. We picked up a different flavor of Tums (our bottle was several years old and definitely expired) and we found some Gaviscon. Between the two they covered all 3 types of heartburn relief and seemed to do the job. Then I went to the Dr and they informed me that the one product which was actually helping me (the Gaviscon) was on the unknown list for pregnancy. This was explained to me to mean that it had been tested on animals with results that weren't favorable and either there is nothing known for human consumption during pregnancy or women who have used it during pregnancy have reported abnormal or unwanted results. The basics were that they didn't recommend that I take it and they said if I continued to have issues to let them know and they'd see what they could do to help. Well, the heartburn let up so there was no need for it or anything else.
Then this last weekend it started back up with a vengeance. Saturday morning I had a bowl of cottage cheese with fruit and we headed off to rehearsal for the primary program. At 11:30 it hit me and it hit hard. We had to leave early and head home. I took some Tums, had a glass of milk, layed down, stood up, sat down, and tried every position before I finally gave up and took some Gaviscon. When it still didn't let up I decided to try a bath and as the bathwater was pouring I finally had some relief. I sat in the tub anyway and then took a nap. I got up and felt fine for awhile, had something to eat and then started to make dinner for the family. The heartburn started up again and this time it was worse than the AM. I tried everything all over again with no relief at all. I suffered through it, I cried, I changed positions, I sat in the tub 3 different times-nothing. Finally about 3:30am (yes, it really did last that long) I felt the need to vomit and it came up. The food I had eaten before 5pm was all there leading me to think that maybe this is more of a digestion problem which is causing the heartburn? Just an idea. Anyway, within about 20 minutes the pain subsided and I was able to go to sleep.
Sunday I was fine pretty much all day but I was careful what I ate and how often I ate it. Then about 10PM it started up again-I was not looking forward to another night of pain. I tried to fight it-I moved around, got up and twisted things around and even tried going for a walk around the block. By the time I got back I could feel the need to vomit again and actually looked forward to it so I could get some relief. Now, I'm not one of those people who can willingly stick my finger down my throat in order to get that result so I was trying to figure out what to do. I was leaning on the kitchen counter feeling helpless and crying while trying to think of what I could do when I had this thought. I had posted about my heartburn on Facebook and many friends responded with ideas to help and one of them was to take a spoonful of vinegar. I did try it once and the result was that everything immediately came back up-this is what I wanted tonight. I needed the relief from the pressure and it was already nearly in my throat anyway so I cleaned out the sink (the one with the garbage disposal) and got out the vinegar. I took the spoonful and waited. Nothing. I walked around the kitchen, started to pack the kids' school lunches and started to think "maybe I should drink a glass of milk-then the vinegar will make it curdle and have my result". But as I thought this I realised that the pain was gone. I waited a few more minutes and started to feel good. No more nausea, no more pain, nothing. Not exactly the result I wanted but hey, it actually worked! It was midnight by then so I went upstairs and gladly went to bed.
Cue Monday. Monday was good, I was on my regular schedule-ate food, walked Rebekah to kindergarten, ran errands, had a late lunch and then picked up kids from school. Josh came home and let me take a much needed nap and I got up in time for dinner, which I had prepped right before I layed down. As I went to the table it started up again-I'm really starting to hate heartburn. Josh suggested a giant pickle (which is essentially bathed in vinegar, right?), which sounded much better than a spoonful of vinegar, so I got one out. I ate it and waited. This time it took about 20 or 30 minutes and just as I was about to give up, the pain subsided. It actually works, I don't know how or why or what the science is behind it, but it actually works. It doesn't taste good and I don't recommend it with milk, but it works and I'm so not complaining.
So, the moral of my really long story is that heartburn is going to plague me and I'm not sure that having a baby with a head full of hair is worth the pain, but I'm so glad to have found something to work (for now anyway) to make it go away. Thank you to Regina for suggesting it (even though I doubted you at first) and I'm so glad to have had the courage to try it twice to figure it out. So next time you're having killer heartburn and you think you're going to die, give it a try and let me know if it works for you too.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Winning is Fun
Especially when you didn't know you were entered to win.
I got a phone call this morning from the vice principal at the kids' school. The only times I've ever talked to her is when there are concerns or problems about one or more of my kids so with her calling I expected the worst. So she starts out thanking us for attending the school's literacy night a couple weeks ago. This was a night where they explained to us how they grade our kids on their reading and how their program works. We wanted to go because the school and teachers have expressed concerns about all of our kids and their reading, we thought they were doing pretty good. Their program is so much different (and a little messed up if you ask me) than any other school or program we've ever dealt with and we wanted to know how it works.
Then she says "the other reason that I'm calling today.." this is where I expected to hear all about problems with one of my kids. Instead she goes on to tell me that the PTO put together a gift basket of learning games, treats and gift cards and then chose from all the parents who attended that night and our family was chosen. And those were the only reasons she was calling today. Talk about a pleasant surprise. Not only was she not calling to reprimand me as a parent (again) but she was also calling to tell us we won something nice and see when we could pick it up. This is what we got when we gotpicked it up after school:
It has a brain Quest game, Boggle, a dictionary, a Thesaurus, pretzels, gold fish, popcorn and a gift card to Barnes and Noble (there are probably some other snacks but they're buried in the basket and I don't feel like getting up to go look right now).
So we won a gift basket of nice things in a raffle we didn't know we were entered in for attending a parent information night where we learned about how our kids are expected to read at this school. For once it pays to have an unfair advantage of 4 kids, meaning 4 entries, in a raffle. For all the crap the school has given us this year, it's nice to finally have something nice for once.
I got a phone call this morning from the vice principal at the kids' school. The only times I've ever talked to her is when there are concerns or problems about one or more of my kids so with her calling I expected the worst. So she starts out thanking us for attending the school's literacy night a couple weeks ago. This was a night where they explained to us how they grade our kids on their reading and how their program works. We wanted to go because the school and teachers have expressed concerns about all of our kids and their reading, we thought they were doing pretty good. Their program is so much different (and a little messed up if you ask me) than any other school or program we've ever dealt with and we wanted to know how it works.
Then she says "the other reason that I'm calling today.." this is where I expected to hear all about problems with one of my kids. Instead she goes on to tell me that the PTO put together a gift basket of learning games, treats and gift cards and then chose from all the parents who attended that night and our family was chosen. And those were the only reasons she was calling today. Talk about a pleasant surprise. Not only was she not calling to reprimand me as a parent (again) but she was also calling to tell us we won something nice and see when we could pick it up. This is what we got when we gotpicked it up after school:
It has a brain Quest game, Boggle, a dictionary, a Thesaurus, pretzels, gold fish, popcorn and a gift card to Barnes and Noble (there are probably some other snacks but they're buried in the basket and I don't feel like getting up to go look right now). So we won a gift basket of nice things in a raffle we didn't know we were entered in for attending a parent information night where we learned about how our kids are expected to read at this school. For once it pays to have an unfair advantage of 4 kids, meaning 4 entries, in a raffle. For all the crap the school has given us this year, it's nice to finally have something nice for once.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
23 weeks already
So we went to the Dr yesterday, twice. I had an ultrasound done in the morning and then went back to see the Dr in the afternoon. The last time I was in for an ultrasound the tech couldn't get one view of the heart that she needed and a view of the uterus so she had to reschedule to get them again. I'm not complaining because every time they need me to come back we get to see the baby once again and get more pictures to add to her album. She's always so cute with her little hands around and above her head (see above).
This time they were able to get the views they needed of everything and we got a few more shots of cuteness in the process. I love this shot of her little legs crossed. It makes me picture her just kicking back in there relaxing and floating around. We were also able to confirm that she is, in fact, still a girl, no question about it (see money shot below). As of yesterday, she weighs approximately 1 pound and 2 ounces-she's getting there. 
Is it considered porn to post a picture of your babies genitals as pictured in an ultrasound? I don't think so but wondered what everybody else thought. So, now that things are confirmed and we know exactly who is hanging out in there, I fully plan to start going through and sorting out baby clothes and getting rid of everything boy. If, for some reason, she happens to grow some extra extremities between her legs in the next few months and comes out a boy, I guess we'll have to go shopping.
So now I'm scheduled for a fetal echo (a high tech ultrasound of the babies heart), I'm having my glucose test done next appointment and then they want me to have more blood drawn in order to test, again, for genetic disorders. All of this because I'm now 35, I declined having an amnio and have lost the last couple babies. I honestly think it's a bit much but as long as the insurance is paying for it and it isn't invasive, they can run all the tests they want and I don't care.
I am trying my best to fully enjoy this, my last, pregnancy and so far I'm doing pretty good. I love every little kick and wiggle and hiccups are the best thing ever. I don't mind some of the rough stuff like heartburn and aches and pains now because I know that this is the little girl we've been waiting for and that this is the last time I will likely be going through any of these things. I love being pregnant, aches and all, and am quite willing to wait it out and deal with it in order to meet this precious little spirit when she's ready to come out and officially join our family.
Happy Birthday to Raven!
(Photo courtesy of Chuck E Cheeses, where we celebrated her birthday as a family)
In some ways it's hard to believe that it's been 7 years now since Raven was born. In other ways it seems like it's been forever ago. It seems so long ago that we lived in Germany and had some great friends and a wonderful doctor who was so patient and cared about those he saw and the babies he delivered. It's so hard to find a Dr who measures up as we travel around.
Raven is so nice and helpful to have around some times and then there are days when she's getting into everything and sneaking anything she can find and driving me crazy. She's such a smart girl and we're so proud of her and what she is accomplishing in school and elsewhere. Raven is a great reader and many who hear her read are amazed at how well she reads (except for her teacher at school but I won't go there now). She can be a challenge some days but when it comes down to it I don't know what I'd do without her in our family.
I remember having my 2 boys and finding out I was pregnant again. I was at a point where I had too many boys in the house and I was so afraid of adding another one to the clan. I prayed and prayed that the Lord would make her a girl and I vowed (quite seriously, and I think the Lord knew I was serious) that if that baby turned out to be a boy then I was done and we would quit having our own and adopt 2 girls and call it a family. I cried tears of joy when we had her ultrasound and found out she was a girl-I was so happy. She was happy and adorable and lit up our family. She hasn't changed much in that aspect. She is mischievious and inquisitive always and, though it might drive me nuts some days, I know she's smarter for it.
Happy 7th Birthday Raven! We love you so much!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
20 weeks and counting
So, after a year of trying, losing and failing, I'm finally pregnant (again). This time it appears as though the baby is healthy and without issues and may actually make it full term. This excites me to no end. It's been a long and agonizing 20 weeks. In the past, we were so anxious to tell family and then waited only through the first trimester to tell friends when we got pregnant. Then a little over a year ago I got pregnant and something just felt wrong. I told the Dr but he blew it off. They couldn't get a strong heartbeat but blamed it on the instruments, never saw things quite right and, again, blamed it on the machines. Then a couple days short of 20 weeks I started to spot and bleed and went to the ER to discover that our baby no longer had any heartbeat and my body was passing it out. After 3 ultrasounds by 3 different Dr's, we opted to speed things up with medication and I gave birth to a tiny, perfect but still born baby boy early in the morning on August 23, 2009. It was devistating-something I never thought I would ever have to go through. We grieved and cried but knew at the same time that it was the way things were supposed to be. We weren't meant to raise Kyle on this earth.
We moved on and decided to try again. By 6 weeks later when I went back for my follow up check (yes, they do those even when your baby wasn't born living) I was pregnant again. After a couple more ultrasounds where we saw our baby and a strong heartbeat, we decided to tell family-we were excited to be able to move on so quickly. Then, in mid-December, I started to bleed again. 11 weeks is pretty normal for miscarriage so this time nobody was concerned, except us. We wanted more answers and were concerned, knowing that we had one more little spirit that has been overly anxious to join our family for years and hoping it wouldn't take more of this loss to get her here.
We moved in January from Australia to the US and transitioned from military to civilian shortly after so we deceded to wait a little before trying again. April seemed like a good time for that but my cycle came and went with no luck. We moved again in mid-April from Arizona to Colorado and were in a hotel while we looked for a house. By early May we had a positive pregnancy test but didn't dare celebrate too soon. We moved into our new house the end of May and started getting settled. The first trimester came and went and our new insurance became effective. Insurance cards finally arrived in July and I decided maybe I should make an appointment. Josh took a couple more weeks to get me the info on Dr's we were allowed to use but I wasn't in a hurry.
See, in the military, they paid for everything without the need for a co-pay, as long as you used the military Dr's, and it was wonderful. Now we have insurance where co-pays are required and there are yearly deductables to be met and I wasn't anxious to start paying those things only to lose another baby. At 15 weeks I got the Dr info and at 16 weeks I finally made an appointment. At 18 weeks I met my new Dr and got to see my baby on ultrasound for the first time to date the pregnancy. I almost expected to see nothing in there when they started up the ultrasound but lo and behold, there was a baby. Beautifull and perfect. It had all it's fingers and toes and a strong beating heart and it was active and moving all the time. It's a little miracle!
We finally told my Mom and Dad we were expecting at a little over 17 weeks and then my in-laws at about 18-19 weeks (my mom would have had to wait too but she's a spoiler). Three days ago we had the anatomy ultrasound-the baby was still there, still wiggling (which I knew, cause I feel it all the time) and still with a strong heartbeat. And now we know that IT"S A GIRL!!!
She has all of her organs and they are where they should be, there's no sign of down's syndrom or any other defects, all blood tests have come back fine-including the genetic ones (cause I'm 35 now and they want to test everything), and, most importantly, she's growing and developing right on track. And now we're here and telling the world how excited we are to be having one more baby and our last (both a happy and sad thing all at once). My persistent little spirit, who wanted so badly not to be forgotten, can now have her physical body and join our family and I'm ever so greatful to be able to have her.
See, she's waving hello to all of you!Do You Remember??
There are some things that, as we look back or talk about, we never forget where we were or what we were doing when you heard or saw it. Being September 11 today, the first thing we're all thinking about is the terrorist attacks that took place 9 years ago. To me, it's all so fresh in my mind and my memory that to say it happened 9 years ago seems unreal.
We were atationed in Bad Aibling, Germany at that time and we had Josiah, who was 10 1/2 months old. I had been out walking around base with him in the stroller while Josh was at work, we had gone shopping for a few things at the commissary and then come back home. I turned on the TV and thought I was watching a movie. It looked interesting so I watched for a few minutes until I realised that it was the news, not a movie. Just then the 2nd plane hit the towers. We sat glued to the TV for awhile watching and wondering just what it meant for us, being overseas and all.
As we walked around base later that day, the hummers, armed guards and guns all started coming out. The base was locked down-nobody could drive on base for a week or two. If you drove off base then you had to park off base and walk back on. They finally opened up the gates with massive inspections once a week to let cars back on (which we needed to do our big shopping trips once a week). After a month or so they set up a big tent and did inspections of every car driving on base for many more months-it may have even been a year or more. It was crazy and even a bit scary for awhile. We had just been home to see family in May that year and had no plans of another trip for another year and a half.
So that's where I was. I was in shock and awe and the world changed as we knew it.
As I ponder these events though, I think of another time and event when I can never forget where I was and what I was doing. On January 28, 1986 I was in elementary school. It was a big day and they were launching a new space shuttle-the Challenger. This time everybody was watching becuse there was a teacher on board and it was a big deal. They had it playing on the big screen in the library of the school. I was the lucky one that got to take our attendance to the office and, as I walked past the TV, I watched a replay of the explosion. All 7 astronauts died that day. It was devistating and so sad
They all had families and I'm sure that those families also remember that day and all that it had in store every year as well. It may not have been a terrorist attack or something that somebody planned as sabotage, but it put the space program back 2 1/2 years while they figured it out and regrouped and then planned and built a new shuttle to be launched.
So today, while my thoughts are on 9/11/2001, I also remember many others who have lost their lives, whether fighting for our country or furthering our knowledge. They are all disasters either way. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have lost their lives and to their families who grieve for and miss them every day. And, especially, to all our troops who are deployed or will be deploying to go and fight for our freedoms and rights and the families who worry and miss them every day while they're gone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)