Monday, September 12, 2011
Amy
September 11th for so many is the anniversary of something HORRIBLE, but it is also my sister's birthday. For the past 21 years, I have had to wish her a Happy Birthday at her grave. Something that no sister, mother father, aunt, uncle, brother or friend should ever have to do. I miss my sister. I miss the relationship that we had, and the relationship that we have been cheated out of. I miss being the "middle" child, instead when people assume that I am the "oldest" I have to tell them that I am the "oldest living" child. I just miss her.
September 11, 2011
Yesterday was the ten year anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. Where were you? I was at home, I had just woken up and was watching the TODAY show. I could not figure out what was going on, Scott happened to call right then and I remember asking him if something had happened. I told him to hold on for a minute because they were talking about it on T.V. He said, "Ya something has happened, they just flew a plane into the World Trade Center!" As with many others, I thought it MUST have been an accident, as the day went on, sadly I found out of course that this was no accident.
I went to work, and we watched this horrible day unfold on t.v. until our boss told us to go home, and be with our families. I remember Scott could not come home right away because they put the hospital on lockdown until they knew that we (in Utah) were "safe". I remember being worried about my dad, because at the time, he was still working on base, and there was so much fear and uncertainty. After this happened they heightened security on base so much that it took HOURS for him to get to and from work everyday.
Ten years later, I still watch airplanes in the sky with a sense of fear. I still tear up when I think about how awful it was to see those images on t.v. I can't imagine living close to New York, and having those "images" become more real. I know that I should not judge people (and I really do try hard not to) but I must admit that to see people who look like they are from the middle east, I wonder what they are doing. I used to get so MAD at my grandpa for being so racist toward the Japenese people. Now, though I am still mad, perhaps I understand it a little more. It's hard to remind yourself, that it's not the race that did that, it's the PERSON and that not everyone who is a member of that race, chooses to do HORRIBLE things. September 11, forever changed the way our world is.
I went to work, and we watched this horrible day unfold on t.v. until our boss told us to go home, and be with our families. I remember Scott could not come home right away because they put the hospital on lockdown until they knew that we (in Utah) were "safe". I remember being worried about my dad, because at the time, he was still working on base, and there was so much fear and uncertainty. After this happened they heightened security on base so much that it took HOURS for him to get to and from work everyday.
Ten years later, I still watch airplanes in the sky with a sense of fear. I still tear up when I think about how awful it was to see those images on t.v. I can't imagine living close to New York, and having those "images" become more real. I know that I should not judge people (and I really do try hard not to) but I must admit that to see people who look like they are from the middle east, I wonder what they are doing. I used to get so MAD at my grandpa for being so racist toward the Japenese people. Now, though I am still mad, perhaps I understand it a little more. It's hard to remind yourself, that it's not the race that did that, it's the PERSON and that not everyone who is a member of that race, chooses to do HORRIBLE things. September 11, forever changed the way our world is.
It's great to be 8!
Sept. 10 came and went, and Jacob turned 8. For months now, all I have heard him say is how much he wants to ride a horse. Scott and I BOTH being "city" people...I just did not know how to pull this off. I don't know anyone who owns a horse, so it wasn't like I could just call in a favor. I was sitting getting my hair cut and there was a lady sitting close to me waiting for me to be done began talking about her horses. I asked her if she knew where I could take him to do some kind of riding lesson, her response was to send him to her house. She has horses, and her daughter competes with them, I asked her how much she would charge, she looked at me like I was CRAZY! She told me that it would be free and they would love to do it. This woman's name was Kristi, she wrote down her phone number and told me to call her to set it up.
When I called her, she was beyond nice, and told me to bring him on his birthday. I asked her if Zack could come just to watch and of course she said YES! We of course TORTURED Jacob with the fact that we had a surprise that he would find out about on his birthday. He tried to guess what it was, his guesses included everything from a cruise (ya right!) to going to chuck e cheese. The morning of his birthday, we all got dressed and headed out to the "secret location". When we arrived, the boys were confused, we were at the Hooper Arena, we told them that we were just there to watch the competion that was taking place.
Jacob looked at me and for the millionth time, told me he wanted to ride a horse. I told him that I was sorry, and explained to him that unless you owned a horse, you could not ride one, but watching them was the next best thing I could think of. Anyway...long story short, we watche the competiton, and played at the park that was right there and when they were all done with the competion, we went looking for Kristi. Since we had played at the park a little too long, a lot of the horse trailers were gone and we were panicking thinking that Kristi had given up on us and left. At this point Jacob still did not know that he was actually going to get to ride the horse. We were looking for Kristi, and asked a man if he had seen her, he looked down at the boys and said, "Oh you must be the lucky little feller that is gonna learn how to ride a horse today." At that point BOTH boys figured it out and got SOOOOOO EXCITED!
The man directed us to the other field where Kristi had gone and to my complete surprise she had brought not only one, but two of her horses for BOTH boys to ride! THE KINDESS OF STRANGERS NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME. Kristi and her 15 year old daughter Corrin, taught the boys about horses, and then each kid got to ride their horses for about 45 minutes. I seriously was expecting for them to just get on the horse and go in a circle once or twice and be done. Kristi and Corrin were amazingly generous and this is one birthday that Jacob will NEVER forget. Jake LOVED being on the horse, the horses names were Maggie and Lacie, and they were so gentle that Jacob even got to have Emma ride with him. Amazing. Simply amazing that a complete stranger would do something like that.
We had everyone over and did cake and ice cream later that night. Of course, as usual, Jacob was spoiled rotten and got everything he wanted, part of his birthday was given to him in July. Scott and I with the help of our parents gave all three of the kids a swingset for their birthday this year. They LOVE it~! My mom and dad also bought the kids a ticket to The Little Mermaid that was playing at Tuachon in St. George. Grandma and Grandpa McCleary took the boys down to St. George for 4 days and gave Scott and I a break! I missed my boys, but must admit the break was nice.
Since this blog is my journal, it's time to write things about Jacob at eight years old.
Jacob is in 2nd grade and has Ms. McBride (who we adore) Jacobs favorite foods are pizza, lasagna, hamburger and rice and EVERYTHING sweet. Jake loves to ride his bike, play at the park and yes...still LOVES lightning mcqueen. His best friend is his brother. Jacob loves the summers because he LOVES to be outside. Jacob does not get into too much trouble except when it comes to cleaning his room. Jacob is a WONDERFUL brother to his siblings, he admires Zack so much and wants to be just like him (even though their personalities are so very different). Jake simply adores his sister and just can't get enough of her. Jacob is a big help and a hard worker (except the whole room thing) He likes to do anything that his dad does, like mowing the lawn or getting on the roof (even though it scares me to death) to fix the cooler or put up/take down Christmas lights. Jacob LOVES to be anywhere with his dad. Jacob has a tender heart and we are so blessed to have him. Happy Birthday JACOB!!!!
When I called her, she was beyond nice, and told me to bring him on his birthday. I asked her if Zack could come just to watch and of course she said YES! We of course TORTURED Jacob with the fact that we had a surprise that he would find out about on his birthday. He tried to guess what it was, his guesses included everything from a cruise (ya right!) to going to chuck e cheese. The morning of his birthday, we all got dressed and headed out to the "secret location". When we arrived, the boys were confused, we were at the Hooper Arena, we told them that we were just there to watch the competion that was taking place.
Jacob looked at me and for the millionth time, told me he wanted to ride a horse. I told him that I was sorry, and explained to him that unless you owned a horse, you could not ride one, but watching them was the next best thing I could think of. Anyway...long story short, we watche the competiton, and played at the park that was right there and when they were all done with the competion, we went looking for Kristi. Since we had played at the park a little too long, a lot of the horse trailers were gone and we were panicking thinking that Kristi had given up on us and left. At this point Jacob still did not know that he was actually going to get to ride the horse. We were looking for Kristi, and asked a man if he had seen her, he looked down at the boys and said, "Oh you must be the lucky little feller that is gonna learn how to ride a horse today." At that point BOTH boys figured it out and got SOOOOOO EXCITED!
The man directed us to the other field where Kristi had gone and to my complete surprise she had brought not only one, but two of her horses for BOTH boys to ride! THE KINDESS OF STRANGERS NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME. Kristi and her 15 year old daughter Corrin, taught the boys about horses, and then each kid got to ride their horses for about 45 minutes. I seriously was expecting for them to just get on the horse and go in a circle once or twice and be done. Kristi and Corrin were amazingly generous and this is one birthday that Jacob will NEVER forget. Jake LOVED being on the horse, the horses names were Maggie and Lacie, and they were so gentle that Jacob even got to have Emma ride with him. Amazing. Simply amazing that a complete stranger would do something like that.
We had everyone over and did cake and ice cream later that night. Of course, as usual, Jacob was spoiled rotten and got everything he wanted, part of his birthday was given to him in July. Scott and I with the help of our parents gave all three of the kids a swingset for their birthday this year. They LOVE it~! My mom and dad also bought the kids a ticket to The Little Mermaid that was playing at Tuachon in St. George. Grandma and Grandpa McCleary took the boys down to St. George for 4 days and gave Scott and I a break! I missed my boys, but must admit the break was nice.
Since this blog is my journal, it's time to write things about Jacob at eight years old.
Jacob is in 2nd grade and has Ms. McBride (who we adore) Jacobs favorite foods are pizza, lasagna, hamburger and rice and EVERYTHING sweet. Jake loves to ride his bike, play at the park and yes...still LOVES lightning mcqueen. His best friend is his brother. Jacob loves the summers because he LOVES to be outside. Jacob does not get into too much trouble except when it comes to cleaning his room. Jacob is a WONDERFUL brother to his siblings, he admires Zack so much and wants to be just like him (even though their personalities are so very different). Jake simply adores his sister and just can't get enough of her. Jacob is a big help and a hard worker (except the whole room thing) He likes to do anything that his dad does, like mowing the lawn or getting on the roof (even though it scares me to death) to fix the cooler or put up/take down Christmas lights. Jacob LOVES to be anywhere with his dad. Jacob has a tender heart and we are so blessed to have him. Happy Birthday JACOB!!!!
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