WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE!!! :)

WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THIS MORNING FROM JARED ABOUT 10:20 TELLING US THAT THEY WERE AT;

HOLLIE HAD BEEN FEELING EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE ALL DAY SATURDAY, AND SHE WOKE UP FEELING THE SAME SUNDAY MORNING. SO JARED SAID HE WANTED TO TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL AND JUST HAVE THEM CHECK HER. GOOD THING THEY DID! THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO AN EMERGENCY C-SECTION, BECAUSE THE BABY WAS NOT GOING TO WAIT. HIS DUE DATE WAS NOT UNTIL OCTOBER 27, HOLLIE WAS SCHEDULED FOR A C-SECTION ON OCTOBER 17. SO WE WERE A BIT SHOCKED AND CAUGHT OFF GUARD, HOWEVER, TODAY WAS THE DAY! SO WE THREW A FEW CLOTHES IN THE TRUCK AND HEADED FOR THE HOSPITAL. (A FOUR HOUR DRIVE FROM US) MAN IT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER. JARED CALLED US ABOUT 12:00 O'CLOCK TO LET US KNOW EVERYTHING WENT GOOD, AND THEY WERE GOING TO BE TAKING THEM TO THEIR ROOM SOON. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL, WE WERE GREETED BY AN EXCITED BIG SISTER ADDISON, WHO WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE US, WE HEARD A LOUD AND CLEAR "HI BAPA" FROM DOWN THE HALL, THEN WE GOT A BIG HUG AND KISS, SHE IS SUCH A SWEETHEART. WE THEN WENT STRAIGHT TO HOLLIE'S ROOM TO CHECK ON HER AND SEE OUR NEW GRANDSON!!!

INTRODUCING *********** URBAN CLAUDE ESTES

HE IS NAMED AFTER TWO OF HIS GREAT-GRANDPA'S.

BORN ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AT AROUND 11:24 A.M.
WEIGHING IN AT 6 LBS. 6 OZS. - 21" LONG

HE IS BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY AND DOING FINE. (MOMMY) IS BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY AND DOING FINE TOO. WE WANT TO WELCOME OUR SWEET PRECIOUS MIRACLE!!!

YOU CAN BE SURE THAT I WILL POST MORE PICTURES LATER. FOR NOW MOTHER AND SON NEED TO GET SOME REST. SO CHECK BACK LATER FOR ANOTHER UPDATE AND SOME MORE PICTURES.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

HOLLIE AND JARED HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! FIVE FABULOUS YEARS CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES FROM YOUR WEDDING DAY. HOLLIE, IT'S YOU WITH THREE OF THE VERY SPECIAL MEN IN YOUR LIFE, I WISH WE WOULD HAVE HAD ONE OF GRANDPA GIVING YOU A KISS ON THE CHEEK TOO! THAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT COMPLETE.

NOW, I'M SURE PEOPLE THINK IT GETS EASIER TO GIVE YOUR LITTLE GIRL AWAY ON HER WEDDING DAY, AFTER YOU HAVE DONE IT WITH YOUR FIRST DAUGHTER. WRONG, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE EMOTIONS WITH HEATHER, WE STILL FELT ALL THE SAME ONES WITH YOU. AS PARENTS YOU GO THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT STAGES OF "LETTING GO" OF YOUR CHILDREN, FROM THE TIME THEY ARE BORN UNTIL THE TIME WE LEAVE THIS WORLD. EACH NEW STAGE OF LETTING GO IS EXCITING YET AT THE SAME TIME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I GUESS THIS IS ALL A PART OF THE CYCLE OF LIFE. NOW THAT YOU ARE A MOTHER, I KNOW YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I MEAN. WE LOVE YOU!!

MOM & DAD

P.S. SORRY THIS IS A DAY LATE, I HAD THIS PLANNED SINCE TUESDAY, IT'S JUST MY FRIDAY GOT IN THE WAY! (CRAZY DAY)

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY!

THIS WAY BACK WEDNESDAY IS A TRIBUTE TO MY PARENTS! "ALL THAT I AM, OR HOPE TO BE, I OWE TO MY WONDERFUL PARENTS."

FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE. I HAVE TWO WONDERFUL PARENTS THAT I CAN THANK FOR SETTING SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR ME. THEY TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY.

THEY SET SUCH A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF MARRAIGE FOR ME. THEY WERE MARRIED FOR 59 YEARS BEFORE MY FATHER RETURNED TO LIVE WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IN FEBRUARY OF 2003. THEY HAD A GREAT MARRIAGE, THEY LOVED EACH OTHER AND TOOK GOOD CARE OF EACH OTHER. NOW, THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A SPAT NOW AND THEN OR FUSS AT EACH OTHER, BECAUSE LIKE ALL MARRIAGES THEY DID, FOR THEM, FUSSING AT EACH OTHER WAS THEIR "TERMS OF ENDEARMENT". HOWEVER, THEY ALSO KNEW HOW TO FORGIVE AND FORGET. THEY TAUGHT ME THE BALANCE OF NOT JUST MARRIAGE, BUT ALSO OF LIFE. THINGS WON'T ALWAYS GO PERFECTLY SMOOTH SO LEARN HOW TO RIDE OUT THE ROUGH WATERS. FOR THIS I WILL BE ETERNALY GREATFUL.

"LOVE IS NOT A MATTER OF COUNTING THE YEARS, IT'S A MATTER OF MAKING THE YEARS COUNT."

WHEN I LOOK BACK AT MY LIFE, MY GREATEST HAPPINESSES ARE FAMILY HAPPINESSES.

I HAD A WONDERFUL CHILDHOOD. I WAS RAISED IN AN ENVIROMENT OF LOVE, SECURITY, TRUE JOY AND FAMILY. MY PARENTS WERE GREAT PARENTS, I THINK THEY RAISED US IN AN ALMOST PERFECT WAY. WE WERE LOVED, WE KNEW WE WERE LOVED, THEY TAUGHT US COMPASSION, CHARITY, RESPECT, FORGIVENESS, SELF WORTH, PATIENCE, FUN, AND OF COURSE HUMOR. WE WERE TAUGHT TO APPRECIATE OTHERS DIFFERENCES, TO WORK HARD AND TO PLAY HARD, WE WERE TAUGHT VALUES AND MORALES, THEN GIVEN THE FREEDOM TO MAKE OUR OWN WAY IN LIFE MISTAKES AND ALL, ALWAYS KNOWING THEY WERE THERE TO HELP, WE ALWAYS HAD THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. THEY SUPPORTED US IN EVERYTHING WE DID, I KNEW THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME. I ALWAYS FELT SAFE, SPECIAL, VALUED AND LOVED.

"FEELINGS OF WORTH CAN FLOURISH ONLY IN AN ATMOSPHERE WERE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES ARE APPRECIATED, MISTAKES ARE TOLERATED, COMMUNICATION IS OPEN, AND RULES ARE FLEXIBLE - THE KIND OF ATMOSPHERE THAT IS FOUND IN A NURTURING FAMILY."

OUR FAMILY WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ALWAYS LIVED AROUND OUR GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS. WHO ALSO PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN MY LIFE. THEY TOO WERE WONDERFUL EXAMPLES. I HAVE SUCH FOND MEMORIES OF GET TOGETHERS WITH GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES AND COUSINS, IT GAVE ME SUCH A SENSE OF FAMILY AND WHO I WAS AND WERE I CAME FROM. THERE WAS SUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT AND CRAZY FUN TIMES.

I AM SO TRULY THANKFUL FOR PARENTS WHO WERE SUCH GREAT ROLE MODELS. WHO TAUGHT BY EXAMPLE, THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY, OF LOVE FOR LIFE, WHO TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW TO MAKE MY OWN HAPPINESS IN LIFE, TO BE CONTENT, TO KNOW THE THINGS IN LIFE THAT TRULY MATTER. FAMILY.

THEY ARE EXEMPLARY PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS. MY, OH, MY, HOW THEY LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THEIR FAMILIES. THEY HAVE THIS INNATE ABILITY TO MAKE EACH CHILD FEEL SO LOVED, UNIQUE AND SPECIAL. THEY MADE ME LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PARENT AND A GRANDPARENT. (BOY, WERE THEY RIGHT, IT IS THE GREATEST)

I BELIEVE WITH MY WHOLE HEART AND SOUL, THAT THEIR EXAMPLE OF MARRIAGE, FAMILY, AND LIFE, IS WHAT SET SUCH A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR MYSELF AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER IN OUR OWN LIVES. THEY TAUGHT ME THE PASSION AND COMMITMENT I HAVE FOR LIFE AND FOR MY HUSBAND, CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AND EXTENDED FAMILY. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE ATTRIBUTES I WILL BE ABLE TO PASS DOWN TO MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN.

MY PARENTS LEFT ME SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL, I'M NOT SURE I WILL EVER MEASURE UP, BUT MAN AM I LOVING TRYING. I WILL SPEND MY LIFE TRYING TO LIVE UP TO THEIR EXAMPLES AND HONOR THEM AND ALL THAT THEY GAVE TO ME.

THANK YOU MOM AND DAD, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO EXPRESS, HOW MUCH YOU TAUGHT ME AND HOW GREATFUL I AM TO BOTH OF YOU.

I LOVE YOU BOTH! THANK-YOU!

MOM THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT AND LOVE,

(DAD, I REALLY MISS YOU)

THIS MADE ME "GIDDY"

MY HUSBAND HAD GONE TO THE GROCERY STORE, THEN A FEW MINUTES AFTER HE GOT BACK HOME HE CAME INTO THE OFFICE WHERE I WAS WORKING AND SAID HE HAD BOUGHT SOME THINGS AND HAD MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO MY FALL DECORATING. I WAS SO SURPRISED, BECAUSE THE WHOLE TIME I WAS MAKING MY DECORATIONS HE KEPT TEASING ME THAT IT WAS TO EARLY TO DECORATE FOR HALLOWEEN, I TOLD HIM I WAS DECORATING FOR FALL, NOT HALLOWEEN. HE LOVES TEASING ME. WHEN I WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN AND SAW THIS BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED FRUIT BOWL, "IT MADE ME GIDDY". HE IS SO DARN CUTE AND FUNNY, HE MAKES ME "GIDDY". HOW MUCH I LOVE MY HUSBAND, MAKES ME "GIDDY". THANKS BABE!

HAPPY FALLIDAYS!

I LOVE FALL, NOW THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS MY FAVORITE SEASON THOUGH. PLAIN AND SIMPLE I LOVE ALL THE SEASONS, EACH ONE UNIQUE, EACH ONE WITH ELEMENTS, SIGHTS, SOUNDS & SMELLS DIFFERENT FROM THE NEXT. I LOVE THE CHANGES THAT THEY BRING, I THINK THAT MAY BE THE KEY, CHANGE. I LOVE CHANGE, I LOVE DECORATING FOR EACH SEASON AND HOLIDAY, I LOVE THE DIFFERENT COLORS AND TEXTURES I CAN BRING INTO MY HOME TO REFLECT EACH OCCASION. ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME, KNOWS I LOVE TO GO ALL OUT FOR SEASONS AND HOLIDAYS, I JUST LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, IT.

MOST ALL OF MY LIFE I HAVE LIVED ON THE WEST COAST, THEN I MOVED TO THE DESERTS OF THE WEST. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, AS FAR AS LOCATION GOES, I NEVER REALLY GET THE NATURAL EFFECT OF THE FOUR SEASONS, SO I CREATE MY OWN.

SO HERE ARE MY FIRST TWO DECORATIONS FOR FALL. THEY WERE FUN TO DO, EASY, AND BEST OF ALL INEXPENSIVE! SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THEM WITH YOU, AND MAYBE SPARK YOUR CREATIVE GENIUS, THAT YOU COULD THEN IN TURN CREATE AND SHARE BACK.

HAPPY DECORATING!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAISE!

WE DECIDED INSTEAD OF DOING OUR WAY BACK WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK, WE WOULD WAIT AND DO A FLASH BACK FRIDAY, IN HONOR OF OUR GRANDSON BLAISE WHO IS EIGHT YEARS OLD TODAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAISE!!!!

WE WERE SO EXCITED TO MEET YOU. WE LOVED YOU BEFORE WE KNEW YOU. YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE TO CALL US GRANDPA AND GRANDMA. YOU WOULD ALWAYS HOLD THAT VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS. THEN THE DAY YOU ARRIVED AND WE FINALLY GOT TO MEET YOU, WE FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU ALL OVER AGAIN, YOU HAD OUR HEARTS. YOU WERE SO TINY AND PERFECT.

HOLLIE, NICK AND I ALL WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE NIGHT BEFORE YOU WERE BORN WITH MOMMY AND DADDY. IT WAS A LONG NIGHT, MOMMY HAD A ROUGH TIME AND YOU GAVE US A SCARE OR TWO. AUNT HOLLIE AND UNCLE NICK, TRIED TO GET SOME SLEEP OUT IN THE HALL WAY WAITING AREA, BUT THOSE CHAIRS WEREN'T TOO COMFORTABLE, PLUS WE WERE ALL TO EXCITED TO GO TO SLEEP. DADDY AND I GOT TO BE IN THE ROOM WITH MOMMY. IT WAS SO AMAZING WATCHING YOU BE BORN, I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW I FELT WAITING FOR YOU, I JUST COULDN'T WAIT TO HOLD YOU AND LOVE YOU. THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOU, YOU HELD UP YOUR HEAD AND GAVE A BIG ROAR! IT WAS SO AWESOME. RIGHT AFTER YOU WERE BORN GRANDMA GOT TO HOLD YOU, YOU WERE SO BEAUTIFUL, RIGHT THEN I KNEW, YOU WOULD HOLD A PIECE OF MY HEART FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THEN AUNT HOLLIE AND UNCLE NICK GOT TO COME IN AND SEE YOU, THEY WERE SO EXCITED. AFTER WE KNEW YOU AND MOMMY WERE BOTH OK, I HAD TO DRIVE UNCLE NICK STRAIGHT TO SCHOOL AND THEN I HAD TO GO TO WORK, BOY WERE WE TIRED, WE WERE UP ALL NIGHT WAITING TO MEET YOU AND HOLD YOU. YOU WERE WORTH EVERY SLEEPLESS MINUTE, YOU WERE SO SMALL, SWEET, AND PERFECT IN EVERY WAY. GRANDMA CAME BACK TO THE HOSPITAL AND SPENT MY LUCH TIME WITH YOU, THEN I CAME STRAIGHT BACK TO THE HOSPITAL AS SOON AS I GOT OFF WORK. GRANDPA CAME DOWN AND SAW YOU AFTER WE CALLED TO TELL HIM YOU WERE HERE AND YOU AND MOMMY WERE DOING FINE, (HE STAYED AT HOME AND GOT A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP) HERE ARE SOME OF THE FIRST PICTURES I HAVE OF YOU.

BLAISE IT HAS BEEN EIGHT GREAT YEARS. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH, YOU ARE SO SPECIAL TO US, YOU ARE AN AMAZING AND AWESOME BOY. WE JUST CAN'T BELIEVE HOW BIG YOU ARE GETTING. WE CAN STILL REMEMBER THE DAY WE ALL MET YOU AND FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU, JUST LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. IT'S BEEN EIGHT GREAT YEARS.

WE LOVE YOU BLAISE - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY! (NOT SO WAY BACK)

HEATHER & JASON HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! WE LOVE YOU BOTH!

WOW NINE YRS. ALREADY!

A QUITE AND SPECIAL MOMENT BETWEEN A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

OK I KNOW THIS IS NOT A TRADITIONAL ANNIVERSARY POST, WITH PICTURES OF THE BEAUTIFUL COUPLE, (AND YOU GUYS ARE A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE). IT'S NOT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE PLENTY OF PICTURE CHOICES OF YOU TWO FROM YOUR WEDDING DAY EITHER, BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT, AND EACH AND EVERY ONE BRINGS BACK SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, JOYOUS AND WONDERFUL MEMORY OF THAT DAY. IT'S JUST I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT WEDDING ANNIVERSARYS ARE A SPECIAL DAY BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND WIFE, IT'S THEIR DAY, SOMETHING JUST FOR THE TWO OF THEM. NOW THAT BEING SAID, IS WHERE THE STANDARD HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU GUYS COMES IN, I WISH I LIVED BY YOU SO YOU COULD GO OUT AND CELEBRATE AND DO SOMETHING SPECIAL, WHILE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WATCHING THE KIDDO'S. I'M PROUD OF YOU BOTH AND THE LIFE YOU HAVE MADE FOR EACH OTHER AND YOUR CHILDREN.

NOW HERE IS WHERE THE NOT SO TRADITIONAL PART OF THE POST COMES IN. FOR ME THIS DAY IS ALSO A ANNIVERSARY, IT IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP CHANGED OR SHOULD I SAY EVOLVED. NOW WE WEREN'T ONLY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, BUT WE WERE NOW BOTH WIVES TOO, IT WAS A WHOLE NEW DEMENSION TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS DAY, AND PLANNED FOR THIS DAY, AND HAD A VISION FOR THIS DAY, FOR YEARS. MOST ALL GIRLS AND THEIR MOMS DREAM ABOUT THIS DAY FROM THE TIME THEY ARE LITTLE. KEY WORD HERE WOULD BE "DAY". YES YOU THINK ABOUT THE "DAY", YOU DREAM ABOUT THE "DAY", YOU PLAN FOR THIS "DAY". YOU EVEN FEEL ALL OF THE EMOTIONS OF THE "DAY". EXCITEMENT, JOY, ANTICIPATION, EXUBERANCE, AND EVEN A BIT OF ANXIETY. IT'S ALL SO THRILLING, EVERYTHING LEADING UP TO THIS "DAY", LIKE THE PLANNING, SHOPPING, COOKING, CLEANING, MAKING, BAKING, DECORATING, LOOKING THROUGH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF MAGAZINES FOR IDEAS, FLOWERS, FLOWER GIRL, BIDES MAIDS, SEWING, INVITAITONS, BUBBLES, MUSIC, NAPKINS, PLATES, FOOD, FOOD AND MORE FOOD, PUNCH, PUNCH BOWL, CAKE, NOT JUST ANY CAKE BUT A UNIQUE CAKE, COLORS, REVISIONS, MORE REVISIONS, HAIR, MAKE-UP, NAILS, SHOES, JEWELRY, CLOTHES FOR THE HONEYMOON, AND OF COURSE WHO COULD FORGET, THE PERFECT DRESS. THERE IS LITERALLY A 101 PLUS THINGS TO DO, IN PREPERATION FOR THE "DAY".

THEN ON THE "DAY" SEPTEMBER 12, 1998 BOTH OF OUR LIVES DRASTICALLY CHANGED. YOU KNOW THE EMOTIONS THIS MEANT FOR YOU; JOY, EXCITEMENT, ANTICIPATION, AND MAYBE EVEN A BIT OF TREPIDATION. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THE EMOTIONS THIS DAY BROUGHT FOR ME, FROM A MOTHER'S POINT OF VIEW. OR SHOULD I SAY THE DAY AFTER THIS "DAY". BECAUSE PRIOR AND UP THROUGH THIS "DAY" I WAS WAY TOO BUSY, TO EVEN THINK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE, LET ALONE FEEL ANYTHING THAT WAS NOT WEDDING DRIVEN.

OK, I TRIED PUTTING THIS INTO WORDS, AND IT JUST ENDED UP BEING A SMALL NOVEL. EVEN AFTER EDITING, EDITING AND MORE EDITING. SO I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER IF I SAVED THE LONG VERSION FOR SOME SCRAP BOOK PAGES.
I'LL HAVE TO DO THOSE FOR YOU. SO FOR NOW, AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS BLOG, I WILL JUST LIST WORDS WHICH WERE THE EMOTIONS I HAD.

DELIGHT, EXCITEMENT, AMOROUS, APPREHENSIVE, SADDNESS, BENEVOLENCE, ANXIETY, LAUGHTER, EXHILERATION, TREPIDATION, SATISFACTION, REPOSE, NERVOUSNESS, EMPTYNESS, ENTHUSIASUM, ANTICIPATION, ACCOMPLISHNENT, DISSOLUTE, AFFECTION, AMBIGUOUS, CONTENT, CALM, DISCORD, SATISFACTION, RELIEF, INQUISITIVENESS, BEWILDERED, MELANCHOLY, SOLEMN, JOYOUS, UNCERTAINTY, SOLITARY, EXUBERANCE, PRIVILEGED, FORTUNATE, ADMIRATION, GRATEFUL, PRIDE.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I LOVE YOU.

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE AND WHAT YOU WERE DOING THE FIRST TIME YOU TURNED ON THE RADIO OR TV OR EVEN REALIZED HOW STRANGE IT WAS TO NOT SEE OR HEAR ANY AIRPLAINS IN THE SKY? I DO.
I REMEMBER A LOT ABOUT THAT DAY I WAS ON RAMPART AND TURED ON THE RADIO IN MY VAN WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS. IT WAS STLL EARLY IN THE MORNING ON THE WEST COAST AND AT THAT TIME ALL THE NEWS WAS SAYING IS A SMALL AIRPLANE HAD CRASHED INTO ONE OF THE TRADE CENTER BUILDINGS, AS THE MORNING WENT ON AND I DROVE TO MY JOB SITE, BITS AND PIECES OF THE STORY STARTED TO HIT THE NEWS CHANEL I WAS LISTENING TO. NOBODY THOUGHT OR AT LEAST MENTIONED ANY THING ABOUT TERRORISM. WHEN I GOT TO THE JOB SITE AND WALKED INTO THE HOUSE I WAS THERE TO CHECK ON, THERE WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WATCHING A NEWS STATION ON A SMALL TV, ON THE SCREEN WE SAW SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE TRADE CENTER BUILDING. A FEW MINUTES LATER WE ALL WATCHED AS ANOTHER JET LINNER HIT TOWER TWO AND IT ENGULFED IN FLAMES, WE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WE WERE SEEING. THERE WAS PROBABLY 10 TO 15 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN THIS ONE HOUSE AND AT THAT POINT YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE ROOM WAS VERY NOISY AS WE ALL REALIZED THAT WHAT WE WERE WITNESSING WAS NOT JUST ONE AIRPLANE ACCIDENTLY HITING A BUILDING BUT OUR COUNTRY WAS UNDER ATTACK . AT THAT POINT I THINK ABOUT 95% OF THE MEN IN THE ROOM GOT ON THER CELL PHONES AND CALLED SOMEONE TO TELL THEM TO TURN ON A TV. I CALLED MY WIFE. AS THE DAY WENT ON I HEARD ABOUT THE PENTAGON AND FLIGHT 93. AS I LOOK BACK ON THAT DAY IT SADDENS ME TO THINK OF ALL THE INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT LOST THER LIVES. IT ALSO SADDENS ME TO THINK OF THE FAMILIES WHO LOST A LOVED ONE AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT PAIN. AS THE DAYS AND WEEKS WENT ON AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 I WATCHED THE NEWS AND TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE WOULD HATE A COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE SO MUCH TO DO THIS TERRORIST ACT. IT IS NOW SIX YEARS LATER AND I STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

THAT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME OUR COUNTRY WAS ATTACKED AND IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME.

MY WISH IS THAT MAYBE TODAY WE COULD ALL GIVE A FEW MINUETS TO THINK OF ALL OF OUR MILITARY PEOPLE HERE AND ABROAD AND REALIZE THAT EVERTHIG THEY ARE DOING THEY ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE ON EARTH.
WE MAY NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME POLITICAL VIEWS BUT WE ALL WANT TO LIVE IN A FREE AND SAFE COUNTRY.

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER AND NEVER FORGET, THAT SEPTEMBER MORNING AS A NATION WE WEPT.

REMEMBER THE TWIN TOWERS THAT ONCE STOOD SO TALL, BEFORE A TERRORIST ATTACKED AND WE WATCHED THEM FALL.

REMEMBER THE HEROS ON FLIGHT 93 WHO WERE SO BRAVE, WITH GRATITUDE WE HONOR THE LIFE THAT YOU GAVE.

REMEMBER LIVES LOST AT THE PENTAGON THAT DAY, FOREVER IN OUR MEMORY HORRIFYING IMAGES SHALL STAY.

REMEMBER THAT EERIE FEELING OF DISCOMFORT AND DISPAIR, AS WE LOOKED TOWARDS THE SKY AND SAW NO PLANES IN THE AIR.

REMEMBER HOW WE SILENTLY WATCHED AND HELD OUR BREATH, UNABLE TO FATHOM SUCH DEVASTATION, DESTRUCTION AND DEATH.

REMEMBER WE MOURNED IN COMPLETE DISBELIEF, OUR HEARTS TORN AND HEAVY WITH SORROW AND GRIEF.

REMEMBER THE VULNERABILITY THAT CAUSED US TO SHED THAT FIRST TEAR, THROUGH OUR FAITH AND PRAYERS WE SHALL NOT LIVE IN FEAR.

REMEMBER A DAY CONCEIVED OUT OF RANCOR AND INSANITY, WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO A DAY OF EXTRAORDINARY HUMANITY.

REMEMBER OUR COURAGEOUS MILITARY WHO FIGHT WITH HONOR AND PRIDE, DEFENDING OUR LIBERTY AND FREEDOM WHO DEMAND JUSTICE AND WON'T RUN AND HIDE.

REMEMBER THE HEROIC ACTS OF THOSE KILLED WHILE BEING BRAVE, WITHOUT HESITATION ONLY HAD THOUGHTS OF A LIFE THEY MIGHT SAVE.

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER AND NEVER FORGET, LIVE EACH DAY WITH HOPE AND COMPASSION AND NEVER WITH REGRET.

WRITTEN 9-11-07

CHANGING THE WORLD "ONE GOOD DEED AT A TIME".

SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 PRESIDENT BUSH DECLARES HIS "PATRIOT DAY 2007 PROCLAMATION". CALLING UPON ALL AMERICANS TO OBSERVE THIS DAY, NOT ONLY AS A DAY OF PERSONAL REFLECTION AND REMEMBRANCE, BUT ALSO AS A DAY FOR AMERICANS TO HONOR THOSE LOST ON 9/11/01 BY ENGAGING IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND GOOD DEEDS.

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY!

THE YEAR IS 1994 NICHOLAS WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD

HE WROTE THIS POEM, FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT!

GOOD LUCK, BAD LUCK

WHAT GOOD LUCK I FOUND A THOUSAND DOLLARS,

WHAT BAD LUCK I LOST IT ON THE WAY HOME,

WHAT GOOD LUCK I GOT A FOUR WHEELER,

WHAT BAD LUCK IT BROKE AGAIN,

WHAT GOOD LUCK I GOT AN ICE CREAM CONE,

WHAT BAD LUCK IT MELTED BEFORE I GOT TO EAT IT,

WHAT GOOD LUCK TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY,

WHAT BAD LUCK I DIDN'T GET TO HAVE A PARTY,

WHAT GOOD LUCK IT IS SNOWING,

WHAT BAD LUCK I'M SICK AND CAN'T GO OUT TO PLAY,

WHAT GOOD LUCK I GOT A NEW KITE,

WHAT BAD LUCK THE STRING BROKE AND IT FLEW AWAY,

WHAT GOOD LUCK I HAVE THE BEST GRANDPARENTS,

WHAT BAD LUCK THEY LIVE FAR AWAY,

WHAT GOOD LUCK I FOUND A LITTLE KITTEN,

WHAT BAD LUCK IT SCRATCHED ME,

WHAT GOOD LUCK THERE IS NO SCHOOL TODAY,

WHAT BAD LUCK IT'S MY DAY TO SHARE,

WHAT GOOD LUCK I SCORED THE WINNING GOAL,

WHAT BAD LUCK I FELL AND BROKE MY ARM.

I LOVE THIS POEM, FIRST, BECAUSE I LOVE POETRY AND I WAS SO GLAD I PASSED THAT LOVE ON TO ALL OF MY CHILDREN.
SECOND, IT MADE ME A LITTLE SAD THAT AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE, NICK ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE UP'S AND DOWN'S OF LIFE, YET I WAS ALSO GLAD THAT HE WAS PREPARED FOR THE GOOD AND THE NOT SO GOOD THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER, AND THAT HE KNEW SOMETIMES BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE, AND WE JUST HAVE TO FIND THE GOOD AND THE POSITIVE IN ANY SITUATION, NOT FOCUS ON THE BAD OR THE NEGATIVE. I WAS IMPRESSED THAT HE HAD LEARNED SUCH A VALUABLE LIFE LESSON AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

I KNOW SOMETIMES, THIS POEM HELPS ME REMEMBER TO FIND MY GOOD LUCK, WHEN ALL I SEE IS MY BAD LUCK.

SO WE SHOULD ALL STOP, AND TAKE THE TIME, TO FIND OUR GOOD LUCK, NEXT TIME WE HAVE A BAD LUCK DAY!

GOOD LUCK!

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN OF 2007!

OK, NOW THAT SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION, THAT MEANS THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS JUST RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. NOW, I AM NOT RUSHING THE HOLIDAY'S, OH NO, NO, NO. I AM A HOLIDAYAHOLIC, I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS, AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM, I LOVE TO PLAN FOR THEM, DECORATE FOR THEM, GATHER FOR THEM, AND CELEBRATE THEM. SO THIS IS JUST A REMINDER AND A TIME PLANNER TO START GETTING READY FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. SO LET'S GET STARTED AND SHARE ANY TIPS, IDEAS, CRAFTS, RECIPES, TRADITIONS ETC... WITH EACH OTHER AND REALLY ENJOY THE EXCITEMENT, LOVE AND SHARING OF THE FALL AND WINTER HOLIDAY SEASONS.

57 DAYS BEFORE HALLOWEEN

79 DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

112 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A WAYS OFF, BUT WITH THE FULL AND EVENTFUL LIVES THAT EVERY ONE LEADS THESE DAYS, THESE HOLIDAYS WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT. SO LE'TS MARK OUR CALENDARS, AND START PLANNING, CRAFTING, MAKING, SHARING, SHIPPING, MAILING, ETC.......!!!!!!!

ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE;

8 DAYS UNTIL HEATHER & JASONS ANNIVERSARY

17 DAYS UNTIL BLAISE'S BIRTHDAY

24 DAYS UNTIL HOLLIE & JAREDS ANNIVERSARY

WE ALSO HAVE COMING UP OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS;

BIRTHDAYS
UNCLE GREG, KATARINA'S, AUNT MARCIA'S, JEFF'S, STEVE'S, FRITZ'S, GRANDMA MARTIN'S, AUNT DEBBIE'S, KRISTOFFER'S, AUNT LAURIE, UNCLE RANDY,

ANNIVERSARYS
GREG & MARCIA, LAURIE & STEVES,

SPECIAL EVENTS
BLAISE BEING BAPTIZED, BABY BOY ESTES' BIRTH

IF I FORGOT ANYONE OR ANYTHING, I APOLOGIZE, MY MEMORY JUST ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE!

P.S. O.K. FAMILY LETS START PUTTING OUR SUGGESTIONS, PLANS, WISHES, WANTS, COMMENTS, IDEAS, WHAT EVER ON THE FAMILY BLOG .