Never Forget! Never Surrender!

Today my thoughts turn towards that eventful day we all experienced in some way, just 8 years ago. I cannot forget what I was doing, as I'm sure you cannot either. I cannot forget watching that television screen and the images that just did not seem real. I wept, and then I wept some more. How could this have happened to us, I wondered. Some questions, I think, will never be answered in this life. That was such an eventful day. I think it exposed the weak parts of our great nation. Now, I find myself wondering what parts aren't weak? I fear that we are now crumbling from within after an attack from the outside; just as these great building did! Our government is corrupt! The pieces are being set and sides have been chosen. Tomorrow we will see who will still stand for truth and freedom. I will never forget! I will never surrender! I will defend and protect this nation and its constitution until the day I die! My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of September, 11 victims. I also pray, however, that those who have not woken up regarding the destruction of our constitution will yet see and rise up to the challenge! I pray for those who have seen and are fighting to protect what is left; to bring back what was lost! I pray that tomorrow will be the dawn of a new day, but that we will not find ourselves more divided when the day is done. God bless the United States of America!

Can't Bring Me Down!

This little beauty has had the sickies...along with most of us these days! Yet, this little beauty will not let the sickies bring her down!

Instead, she'll just show her brother how much she loves him! In affection, Lydia began leaning into Aiden today, touching her forehead and nose to his, and pausing for several seconds. She did this over and over again--and when Connor came home, he received the same sweet affection! It's good to have a girl in the home!

"A Quick Road Trip & The First Day of School"

So, this past Sunday morning we all took off on what we knew from the beginning was going to be a marathon road trip. Crystal and I both were fortunate enough to get job interviews at the same hospital out in Indiana. It was over 13 hours of driving to get to our destination and by the look on Connor's face you can tell that he was worn out by that car ride, as we all were. We pulled into the hotel parking lot around 8 o'clock at night after leaving the house around 6:30 that same morning. We decided that night to not drive the whole way back home in one day. We got some poor quality rest, as is always the case in a strange bed, but the kids loved being in a hotel room. It is so exciting for them.

We awoke early to get ready for our interviews on Monday morning. The anxiety began to set in and we hoped the kids would do alright with our friend wathing them while we went to the hospital. We mostly worried about our little Lydia. She did not like being left in a "stranger's" house for those few hours. I'm not sure what Aiden is doing here, but I'm sure it was his way of saying good luck (not really--he's just a boy).
My little princesa calmed my fears and brightened my world as usual that morning. She is such a sweetheart! She was an angel in the car ride as well.
I think my other Princesa was also put at ease holding her little babe that morning. Aren't they both beautiful? So, off we went. The interviews went well, we think, and we will just have to wait a few more days for now. Hoosiers, here we come (I hope)!
This is how the boys looked on Monday night after we stopped at a hotel on the way home. I think we were all exhausted from the hustle and bustle of our quick trip out and back.
We made it home around dinner time on Tuesday night and had to get the kids ready for bed right away because Connor started school today! He woke up this morning and seemed excited about the whole idea, but his smile quickly disappeared when we got to the bus stop.
He is a lucky boy though to be able to ride to school with his cousin Hannah in the morning on the way to school. Which one seems more excited here? She said that he talked to her a little bit once the bus pulled away. It did not look like he would by the picture I have at the bottom of this post.
Momma was proud though and Connor clung to her like Saran Wrap! That's what mom's are for I guess. He is a momma's boy. Lydia was happy to say goodbye and even happier to see him return from school.
Here is Connor looking even more thrilled about the idea of sitting at a desk for most of the day. First grade is a big adjustment when you have half day kindergarten. He will be fine someday, I hope. Apparently, a boy cousin of his was just as thrilled about school as he is. Maybe it's a boy thing.
So, we have had a busy few days. We are hanging in limbo for now, waiting and wanting to find out about our job interviews. We are anxious to move if that is that plan and make Connor's adjustment to first grade as painless as possible. But for now we are here, and we will try and do it all with a few more smiles on our faces.

Graduate Nurses--YAHOO!!!

Years ago, I knew I wanted to be a nurse, following my Grandmother's (Nonna) and Great Grandmother's (Maymie) footsteps, but never before did I consider that my husband would venture into that path with me! It has been a long, hard, and almost unbearable road to travel, but we did it! Yet, it wasn't only "we" who did it. First and foremost, we had the strength of our Heavenly Father to pull us through the late night, early mornings, dirty laundry, and piles of dishes. Never mind the care plans, diagnostics, medication actions, priority assessments, procedures, etc, etc, etc! We had children who patiently endured each exam as they spent their days becoming the best of friends all for the sake of Mommy and Daddy passing another test. (Until Lydia came along,then we just prayed that we would pass! She made it almost impossible to study!)

I had a husband who saw me pass my first semester of nursing school, and then he jumped in with two feet, ready to take a journey that would allow him to grow far beyond who he was before! (It takes a pretty strong man to be a nurse...seriously!)

Finally, look at all those beautiful faces! We would have never finished this journey without those beautiful people there. Grandma and Grandpa walked high and low to get us through nursing school. They gladly did all this and more: drives out to Lititz just so Connor could get to school on time while we headed to.....school, Monday meals (being a very busy day for us), dishes hand washed--and I mean DISHES galore, children fed...clothed....hugged....and loved, and many prayers (I am certain of it!).

SO MANY MORE people helped us along the way, with unceasing encouragement...thank you!

Now...on to finding a job! Let's pray the Lord will open doors!

Bella Sinclair Award

The Bella Sinclair award was created by CES in honor of her sister Bella Sinclair, an exceptional woman and brilliant artist who epitomizes the concept of the artist as inspiration, of sisterhood, caring and sharing. It is symbolized by the Valley Oak Tree a handsome and graceful tree with a sturdy trunk.It was designed for those whose friendships and influence inspire us to be our best. So today I want to pass this lovely award onto a few people in my life who I feel deserve this award

I received this award from my dear friend Krystal--whom I admire and love. I will pass the award onto a few of the people in my life who I feel deserve the award, and I only ask that they pass it along to a few people who inspire them as well! That's sisterhood right?!

To Sara Fultz (twin sis)--You have been tossed into the deep and stood your ground with faith and hope trusting on the Lord. I admire your sturdy trunk and only hope that I can one day be just as sturdy as you have been. Amidst your heartache, you have tended to my sorrow first and foremost, above your own. Who does that? Sara--who loves and cares for others more than herself.

To Cindy Rae (me...twenty years from now!)--I don't know how you have done it, but you spent many nights in my company into the wee hours of the morning discussing the the events of life--the things we did understand and all those things that left us speechless. The catch is that you do this for so many, and then you rise--bright and early--the next morning with a smile and a determination to guide someone else for the better. To me, you are the handsome grace of the oak tree, yet sturdy all the while!

To Michelle Otero (Mom)--Your weathered hands have reached into the ground time and time again nurturing other trees along the way. My Gardener--I admire your strength. As a mother I am learning of the sacrifice and sorrow that I once saw you go through. It is a hard road to walk, as you give of yourself day after day. Thank you for showing me that a strong tree can be grown one day at a time.

Let's Go Fly A Kite!

So we went outside to play last week and I thought to myself, "Let's go fly a kite". I asked the boys if they wanted to and they were excited, so we got out the kite. We tried flying it earlier in the summer with no success. This time started out pretty good while flying the kite low, but as you can see by Aiden's ring, we were doomed from the beginning. That is only a three leaf clover so luck was not on our side.

By the look on Connor's face, it appears that he had something up his sleeve. Most likely, he is just being a boy. When it comes down to it, it was obviously my fault that the kite landed where it did. The wind got stronger and I was able to let it fly high after the kids had played with it for an hour or so. It was flying perfectly and then, all of the sudden the tension went out of the string. So, where did that kite end up....
Way up high in the oak tree. I tried forever to get that thing to come down and then all of the sudden as I had predicted, the string broke. Luckily the boys took it well, especially Aiden, whose kite it was. It makes a good tree ornament. Aiden later tried to get it down by flying his cousin's Dora the Explorer kite up to save Optimus Prime. Unfortunately we had to put an end to that one to prevent having two stuck kites. It was a fun day in the end and we will have to get another kite which we will likely fly somewhere else, like Valley Forge Park. Best of luck to all of you kite fliers out there. I hope you get to take yours back home with you.

Brainwashing!

Get the point? I love brainwashing my Lydia to say Mama! Well, the constant Mama that she hears from me sometimes comes out like "Baba"...see, now I'm brainwashing you!