9-11

 I will never forget 9-11-01

Olypics Day!

 Last week our big kids had Olympics Day at school.

Tracey and Caroline were figure skaters, Howard and Lee Lee wore red, right, and blue, and Hunter and Brady were just their adorable American-loving selves.

 Today is September 11th - a day that changed America.

For the first time leading up to September 11th, I tried to explain to my big kids what happened on September 11, 2001.  These have been the hardest conversations I have had with them.

My innocent, kind, sheltered, perfect (well, no... but still) children.  I had to look in their eyes and explain about the four planes that were taken over by bad men -- by terrorists.  I had to explain what the terrorists did to the first three planes, and how many people were killed and then trapped and then killed.  And then, through tears, I explained to them what happened to the fourth plane.

I told them how the passengers had learned what was happening, and how they rallied together and they said these men were not going to use this plane to kill more people.  I told how the passengers fought the terrorists...

...

 and the hope in my children's eyes as they wanted a happy ending...

"And they got away?" they asked...

"No," I had to say.  "The plane crashed in a field."

"And the people were okay?"

"No.  All the people died.  But, the plane didn't crash in to any other people.  No MORE people died besides the ones on the plane."

I don't know what I've ever told them a story before that didn't have a happy ending.  The story of these planes did not have a happy ending.

Last night, I reminded them about what happened on 9-11... my three big kids retold me the story perfectly.  All three of them remembered nearly every detail that I had told them a few weeks ago.

Then, we turned on youtube and watched some of the news footage from 20 years ago.  We watched the timeline of how the events transpired, and then we watched some patriotic tributes to September 11th and the people who died.

It was a heavy night.

They took it all in.

Tracey had a lot of questions.  She skillfully related everything I was telling her to her previous knowledge.

"It's a good thing they didn't drive the planes into the White House.  The White House is so old.  The construction was started by George Washington (the first president) and he is the only president who never got to live there.  Isn't that funny?"

She got emotional when she heard one of the last calls from a woman who told her husband to tell her children that she loved them.

Howard kept asking where the Marines were.  How many Marines were killed?  I told him that some Marines were killed at the Pentagon because that is where the Marines work who are really in charge -- like Marine Captains.  He watched and listened with solemn intensity and then he hugged me and his sisters when we started to cry.

Caroline cried.  She knew it was going to be sad but she said she wanted to learn about it.  She fetched her blanket from upstairs and some kleenex, and she stayed and learned everything that Tracey and Howard did, even though she knew it would be hard to hear.  She wanted to know if there were Mamas and babies in the buildings or on the planes.

They understood the gravity and the tragedy of September 11, 2001 as well as their childhood hearts and minds could possibly understand something so unfathomable.

Then, we turned off the TV and I set to making dinner.  And my three oldest children (who are still so very young) all sat down with crayons and paper and began making cards to give to policemen and fire fighters.

1000 Words

 1000 Words

Happy Independence Day

 Happy Independence Day!

Thank you, God for the amazing blessings of living in a free country.

Infamy

December 7th is a date which will live in infamy.

Our country has a very poor memory.  I do not.

Election Day 2020

 Vote!

Remembering

 

Independence Day and The Patriot

Last night, Hubby and I watched The Patriot together.

I have seen it twice before -- it is a great movie, but not one I can watch over and over again because of the very dramatic content, historical accuracy, and heartbreaking story.

It was my first time watching The Patriot as a parent.

Everything changes when you are a parent.

Our oldest is six years old.  It is so hard to want my children to have an appreciation for our country but still shield them from how hard and horrible the world is.

Part of our conversation from last night went this like,

Me:  A long time ago a king in Europe ruled America.  What continent do we live in?

Howard:  North America.

Me:  Right.  And Europe is a long way away.  A king from Europe was in charge of America.  Do we have a king?

Tracey:  No.

Me:  That's right?  Who do we have?  What is the person we elect to be in charge?

Tracey:  God!

Me:  No.  Not God, but that's a really good answer.

Me:  Who is the person who is in charge of our government?

Caroline:  Daddy!

Me to Chris:  Oh my.

----------------

We clearly have a lot to learn as we work on our appreciate for our country... but our respect for God and Daddy is very strong.

9-11-01

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day 2019!

 

September 11th

Mrs. Kyle's Message to Nike

I don't think I have written about the NFL disrespectful protests because they are not worth my energy to discuss.  I really enjoy football, but turns out, my life without the NFL is just fine.  I don't really miss it.

But apparently NIKE has decided to feature Kapernick in their newest add... "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything" featuring Kapernick.  Well, that I do feel is worth addressing,by re-posting what Taya Kyle, Chris Kyle's widow wrote to Nike.

  

*** *** *** *** ***

Nike, I love your gear, but you exhaust my spirit on this one. Your new ad with Colin Kapernick, I get the message, but that sacrificing everything thing…. It just doesn’t play out here. Sacrificing what exactly? A career? I’ve done that both times I chose to stay home and be with my kids instead of continuing my business climb… and it wasn’t sacrificing everything. It was sacrificing one career and some money and it was because of what I believe in and more importantly, who I believe in.

At best, that is all Colin sacrificed… some money and it’s debatable if he really lost his career over it. Maybe he sacrificed the respect of some people while he gained the respect of others. Or maybe he used one career to springboard himself into a different career when the first was waning. I don’t know. What I do know is, he gained popularity and magazine covers he likely wouldn’t have gotten without getting on his knees or as you say, “believing in something.” I’m also thinking the irony is that while I am not privy to the numbers, it’s likely he gained a lucrative Nike contract. So yeah… that whole “sacrificing everything” is insulting to those who really have sacrificed everything.

You want to talk about someone in the NFL sacrificing everything? Pat Tillman. NFL STARTING, not benched, player who left to join the Army and died for it. THAT is sacrificing everything for something you believe in.

How about other warriors? Warriors who will not be on magazine covers, who will not get lucrative contracts and millions of followers from their actions and who have truly sacrificed everything. They did it because they believed in something. Take it from me, when I say they sacrificed everything, they also sacrificed the lives of their loved ones who will never be the same. THAT is sacrificing everything for something they believe in.

Did you get us talking? Yeah, you did. But, your brand recognition was strong enough. Did you teach the next generation of consumers about true grit? Not that I can see.

Taking a stand, or rather a knee, against the flag which has covered the caskets of so many who actually did sacrifice everything for something they believe in, that we all believe in? Well, the irony of your ad..it almost leaves me speechless. Were you trying to be insulting?

Maybe you are banking on the fact we won’t take the time to see your lack of judgement in using words that just don’t fit. Maybe you are also banking on us not seeing Nike as kneeling before the flag. Or maybe you want us to see you exactly that way. I don’t know. All I know is, I was actually in the market for some new kicks and at least for now, I’ve never been more grateful for Under Armour.

Thank you, Mrs. Kyle.  For everything.

Looking and Smiling

IT is not getting any easier to get a good picture of all four of our children looking at the camera and smiling...

 

Someday

Someday we will take a perfect picture of every single cousin looking adorable, and smiling while in matching outfits in a beautiful setting.

For this summer, we will settle for these pictures we got on the last day of our trip.

 

Our Flag

I saw this the other day and I thought it was perfect to post on our Nation's Independence Day.

God, please continue to bless and protect America.

 

So Thankful

We remain so very thankful for those who have served and protected our country throughout the generations.

Happy Memorial Day!

Every Year

Every year I remember September 11th. 

Every year, I make myself remember the horror, the devastation, the terror, the anger because it needs to be remembered.

 Each year, there are days that I make a point to remember certain things and certain people -- anniversaries of the days that special people have died or events happened.  Truthfully, when I remember those people, often the memories become less painful with time.  Often, the joyful memories remain and the days of remembrance or days honoring their life and less focused on their deaths.  This is not the case with September 11th.

Every year I remember September 11th, I become more angry.  I was 18 years old when 9-11-01 occurred, and the day was horrible.  These years later, I reflect on the day but I am now an adult, a voter, a wife, a mother... a homemaker who dreams of someday taking my children to see sights in New York City.  A mother with small children who would rather do anything than watch my children be harmed and scared... as so many children and families were harmed and scared on that day.

Every year I remember, the tragedy of that day becomes more real to me.  Every year I burn with more anger.  Every year I shed tears and wish it wasn't real.  Every year I wish it wasn't a memory.  Every year I fear the next attack.  Every year I dread the day when I will actually explain this day to my children complete with videos, news footage, my personal memories, and the true events of the day.

Every year I remember September 11th.

Every year I burn with anger about September 11th.

 

God Shed His Grace On Thee

God Bless America...