Somehow Memorial Day weekend always feels like the real ending of Spring and the beginning of Summer. Perhaps this is because it is so close to the end of the school year or perhaps because the weather seems to get a little nicer about this time. I don't know exactly why, but it feels that way every year. I love that I get a 3 day weekend and that my boys have one too. And, I love what Memorial Day really celebrates. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father created us with minds that hold memories and that we can thus recreate so much history.
One of my favorite memories of growing up in truly "small town" America is the Memorial Day parade that takes place every year in Ferndale. I still remember watching the parade each year of my childhood and placing flowers on the "grave of the unknown soldier" each year. And now my own children get to do the same. A very special part of my memories of the parade have everything to do with the fact that my grandpa was a part of the parade for as many years as I can remember. He proudly walked in the parade with the VFW for years, and then as he grew older, he rode on the VFW float. My grandpa was always proud to don his army hat and show his patriotism. He was truly Proud to be an American and I am grateful for his example. For years, my grandfather put his flag out every morning and then he would carefully bring it in at night. Aidan loved to be there to help Papa put the flag out or bring it in.
This year we will be going to watch the parade, having missed it last year since we lived in Utah. (Instead we went camping in Southern Utah, where it was much colder than expected.) My boys will all take flowers with them, probably from Mimi's yard. It will be hard not to see Papa sitting on the VFW float, and I will probably cry. But, I am so grateful to live in a place where I am free to watch a parade that truly honors and remembers those who have fought for me, and you, to have such freedoms.
So, in honor of all who have fought and all who continue to fight for our freedom....check out this cool video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0mm4u2VzDs
Enjoy your holiday and remember to enjoy your freedoms always!
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, December 26, 2008
An(other) Year in Review
Here it is, the end of the year, yet again!! For weeks I have been thinking that I should be sitting down to update our blog. I mean, really, I haven't been very diligent in updating since our move. And then of course, there is the fact that the end of another year has arrived. Now, if I could just fine more time in my life, I might actually get to everything that I want to do done. So, without further ado...
This year has certainly gone much faster than we wanted it too, and it has brought to our family, many blessings and new experiences. We are truly grateful and abundantly blessed.
We began this year living in Murray, Utah, surrounded by lots of white, powdery COLD snow. We end the year back in Humboldt County, CA surrounded by family, friends, and lots of cold, wet rain. This was not exactly how we thought the end of the year would find us, but we have been reminded yet again that we are not always in control of the whole of the plan!
We returned to Utah after spending last Christmas with Sarah's family, leaving Connor to spend another couple of weeks with his grandparents and great grandparents. He got to fly home alone....how is it that they grow so quickly? John went back to his job at Gold's Gym and Sarah continued staying home, watching the neighbor's kids and making scrapbooks. Life was carrying on.
In April, John was offered a job with a local college in Salt Lake, doing admissions recruiting for their Personal Fitness Trainer program. This gave us a higher income, better benefits, and a pretty normal schedule. Plus, he had the opportunity to take classes at a reduced rate as well. It was during his time with the college that John decided he really wants to complete his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science or a related field and perhaps go on to teach. He is a trainer at heart, and since losing a fair amount of weight, getting in shape and becoming a trainer, he has never looked back. Since moving back to Humboldt County, John has gone to work in the furniture department at Gottschalks and he will return to school in January.
In July, Sarah began working a part time job, only on the weekends, at a Hilton hotel in Midvale, Utah. It was a good way to pay for the student loan payment that was incurred while she finished school in the previous years. And, it provided a little extra for some fun acitivities for the family. Plus, Sarah got to use her Spanish speaking abilities with co-workers on a regular basis. Since coming back home, Sarah has returned to her job with the Humboldt County Social Services Branch as an eligibility worker for Medi-Cal and Food Stamps. It is hard to be at work all day and not at home with the boys, but we are thankful that grandma cares for them and that Sarah was able to go back to her job within just a couple of weeks of our return. Sarah just applied for, and was appointed to a position on the Scotia Unified School District School board. At least that education degree can be used for volunteer work!
Connor is growing like crazy! He is now 8 and in the 3rd grade. Connor had an exciting year in 2008! Turning 8 is pretty special for us being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka Mormon) because at 8 we are ready for baptism. Connor was so excited for his 8th birthday since he was able to be baptized, his grandma was coming, and of course the presents involved in a birthday. Since we lived in Utah where there are lots more church members, we explained to Connor that he may have to wait until the month after his birthday to be baptized with all of the others turning 8 at the end of February and throughout the month of March. For Connor, the black and white in all aspects of life child that he is, this was seen as a major problem. Thankfully, our neighbor's children asked if they could learn about the Church and be baptized. They were taught in our home by the missionaries, and they decided to be baptized on Connor's birthday and our Bishop said that Connor could be baptized then too. What an awesome experience! Connor is still our very black and white child. He never seems to question what is right or wrong, he really just does good and seldom does anything wrong. Connor is doing well in school, enjoys Math and Science, and is probably going to be taller than his mother by next Christmas.
Aidan had an exicitng year this year, too! Since he was not able to transfer to school in Utah last school year, Aidan got to spend each day at home with his mom and Korbin. Not being in school also meant that Aidan got to come home with grandma for about a month after Connor's birthday. It also meant that Sarah was doing lots of stuff with the two little boys during the day, or trying too. By summer time, Aidan was reading pretty well thanks to Aunt Karen lending us her Hooked on Phonics program. Connor and Aidan went to spend 6 weeks with granparents again this summer and returned to Utah just in time for the new school year to begin. Aidan happily started Kindergarten with a great first year Kindergarten teacher named Ms. Miller. She told us several times that she was afraid she was not challening him enough and we worried that this could be very true. When we came back to visit Humboldt County prior to moving, we enrolled the boys in school at Scotia Elementary. Before doing so, we had Aidan tested to see if we could possibly put him in 1st grade. He passed the test with flying colors and began 1st grade after only having about 8 total weeks of Kindergarten. He is doing very well, and we are so grateful to have him as part of our family. Of course, there will probably come a day when we can no longer help him with his homework, but for now we are doing okay.
Korbin turned 2 and officially became a toddler in February! He is a great joy for us, and we are so glad that he is a part of our family. One would never know by looking at him, that he had such a rough start in life. Korbin has really developed his verbal skills this year and has really started using his imagination more than ever. He recently started to say his own name and somehow learned that he is "2 half" and not just 2.
So, as we have mentioned, we are back in Humboldt County. This year has brought us full circle. We made the decision to come back in October, when we realized how hard, health wise, the previous few months had been on Sarah's grandpa. Perhaps the biggest lesson (or reminder) of the year for us is simply that family is important, family ties cannot easily be untied, and in the end, family must support one another. In the end, we want nothing less than happiness and success for our children. We have really come to believe that for that to happen, we need to be near our family. We are truly grateful for the never ending love and support that we receive from our family and hope and pray that we can give them the same in return.
May all of you be blessed throughout the new year and always!
This year has certainly gone much faster than we wanted it too, and it has brought to our family, many blessings and new experiences. We are truly grateful and abundantly blessed.
We began this year living in Murray, Utah, surrounded by lots of white, powdery COLD snow. We end the year back in Humboldt County, CA surrounded by family, friends, and lots of cold, wet rain. This was not exactly how we thought the end of the year would find us, but we have been reminded yet again that we are not always in control of the whole of the plan!
We returned to Utah after spending last Christmas with Sarah's family, leaving Connor to spend another couple of weeks with his grandparents and great grandparents. He got to fly home alone....how is it that they grow so quickly? John went back to his job at Gold's Gym and Sarah continued staying home, watching the neighbor's kids and making scrapbooks. Life was carrying on.
In April, John was offered a job with a local college in Salt Lake, doing admissions recruiting for their Personal Fitness Trainer program. This gave us a higher income, better benefits, and a pretty normal schedule. Plus, he had the opportunity to take classes at a reduced rate as well. It was during his time with the college that John decided he really wants to complete his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science or a related field and perhaps go on to teach. He is a trainer at heart, and since losing a fair amount of weight, getting in shape and becoming a trainer, he has never looked back. Since moving back to Humboldt County, John has gone to work in the furniture department at Gottschalks and he will return to school in January.
In July, Sarah began working a part time job, only on the weekends, at a Hilton hotel in Midvale, Utah. It was a good way to pay for the student loan payment that was incurred while she finished school in the previous years. And, it provided a little extra for some fun acitivities for the family. Plus, Sarah got to use her Spanish speaking abilities with co-workers on a regular basis. Since coming back home, Sarah has returned to her job with the Humboldt County Social Services Branch as an eligibility worker for Medi-Cal and Food Stamps. It is hard to be at work all day and not at home with the boys, but we are thankful that grandma cares for them and that Sarah was able to go back to her job within just a couple of weeks of our return. Sarah just applied for, and was appointed to a position on the Scotia Unified School District School board. At least that education degree can be used for volunteer work!
Connor is growing like crazy! He is now 8 and in the 3rd grade. Connor had an exciting year in 2008! Turning 8 is pretty special for us being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka Mormon) because at 8 we are ready for baptism. Connor was so excited for his 8th birthday since he was able to be baptized, his grandma was coming, and of course the presents involved in a birthday. Since we lived in Utah where there are lots more church members, we explained to Connor that he may have to wait until the month after his birthday to be baptized with all of the others turning 8 at the end of February and throughout the month of March. For Connor, the black and white in all aspects of life child that he is, this was seen as a major problem. Thankfully, our neighbor's children asked if they could learn about the Church and be baptized. They were taught in our home by the missionaries, and they decided to be baptized on Connor's birthday and our Bishop said that Connor could be baptized then too. What an awesome experience! Connor is still our very black and white child. He never seems to question what is right or wrong, he really just does good and seldom does anything wrong. Connor is doing well in school, enjoys Math and Science, and is probably going to be taller than his mother by next Christmas.
Aidan had an exicitng year this year, too! Since he was not able to transfer to school in Utah last school year, Aidan got to spend each day at home with his mom and Korbin. Not being in school also meant that Aidan got to come home with grandma for about a month after Connor's birthday. It also meant that Sarah was doing lots of stuff with the two little boys during the day, or trying too. By summer time, Aidan was reading pretty well thanks to Aunt Karen lending us her Hooked on Phonics program. Connor and Aidan went to spend 6 weeks with granparents again this summer and returned to Utah just in time for the new school year to begin. Aidan happily started Kindergarten with a great first year Kindergarten teacher named Ms. Miller. She told us several times that she was afraid she was not challening him enough and we worried that this could be very true. When we came back to visit Humboldt County prior to moving, we enrolled the boys in school at Scotia Elementary. Before doing so, we had Aidan tested to see if we could possibly put him in 1st grade. He passed the test with flying colors and began 1st grade after only having about 8 total weeks of Kindergarten. He is doing very well, and we are so grateful to have him as part of our family. Of course, there will probably come a day when we can no longer help him with his homework, but for now we are doing okay.
Korbin turned 2 and officially became a toddler in February! He is a great joy for us, and we are so glad that he is a part of our family. One would never know by looking at him, that he had such a rough start in life. Korbin has really developed his verbal skills this year and has really started using his imagination more than ever. He recently started to say his own name and somehow learned that he is "2 half" and not just 2.
So, as we have mentioned, we are back in Humboldt County. This year has brought us full circle. We made the decision to come back in October, when we realized how hard, health wise, the previous few months had been on Sarah's grandpa. Perhaps the biggest lesson (or reminder) of the year for us is simply that family is important, family ties cannot easily be untied, and in the end, family must support one another. In the end, we want nothing less than happiness and success for our children. We have really come to believe that for that to happen, we need to be near our family. We are truly grateful for the never ending love and support that we receive from our family and hope and pray that we can give them the same in return.
May all of you be blessed throughout the new year and always!
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