Quick update on the family. We had a wonderful Christmas. I somehow lucked out and got work off for Christmas Eve Day and got to travel up to my parents house for the day. We got to see all of my family! I love getting to share the Christmas holiday with loved ones. We then drove home and had Christmas with the kids. Cory only slept for about 2 hours tops so when Shaelynn woke up at 5 I decided to just get up and let them open their presents so Shane and I could go back to bed and actually get some sleep. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without kids. :)
I hope everyone had a joyous holiday and are having a happy new year!
Love to all!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Friday, December 26, 2008
Please take the Polio Poll!
Hi,
Cory has to do a report on Polio for science. He has to ask as many people as he can a few simple questions so he can collect information and make a chart. Please answer them without any studying up. This is supposed to be what most peoples view of this disease is off the top of their heads. Any age can take it.
Thanks!!!
Cory has to do a report on Polio for science. He has to ask as many people as he can a few simple questions so he can collect information and make a chart. Please answer them without any studying up. This is supposed to be what most peoples view of this disease is off the top of their heads. Any age can take it.
Thanks!!!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Those who serve our country.
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Is it really that close to Christmas?
With the strange WARM weather we have been having it doesn't quite feel like December to me. To try to help remedy this feeling I am going to start getting ready for Christmas by decorating *yeah*. I put the icicle lights on the house last night and managed to NOT fall off the roof. We now need to follow our yearly tradition of cutting a Christmas tree. Lets hope we can find a nice looking one up in our usual mountain pass we collect from.
Here is a picture from last years "Polar Express" train ride on the Heber Creeper. I sure hope we get snow like this Christmas Eve!
Here is a picture from last years "Polar Express" train ride on the Heber Creeper. I sure hope we get snow like this Christmas Eve!
Questionnaire
This looked fun to do so I am doing it! Thanks Lisa for the inspiration!
Where is your phone? Kitchen counter.
Where is your significant other? At home sleeping off a graveyard.
Your hair color? Ugly dark blondish brown?
Your mother? Is an awesome inspiration to me.
Your father? Same as Mom and never grumpy.
Your favorite thing? FAMILY, computer, gardening.
Your dream last night? NyQuil induced comma. (got a bad cold, no dream for me)
Your hobby? Depends on the month. I love to read, play on the computer, watch movies or flicks on TV, crochet. Playing in the dirt (gardening)is a favorite past time too.
Room you're in? I am in Beaver Utahs County building waiting for someone to come in to get a drivers license. (working)
Your fear? Loosing my family.
Where do you want to be in six years? Happily with my family where ever we might be.
Where were you last night? Watching TV with the kids.
One of your wish list items? Pay off debt. (dishwasher will have to wait)
What you're not? Awake.
Where you grew up? Utah all my life.
The last thing you did? Set up the travel equipment.
Your TV? Is still working.
Your pets? 4 hound dogs, 5 mini rabbits, fish.
Your computer? Awesome! My brother Nate built it for me.
Your mood? Sleepy (could be the dayquil)
Missing someone? Always miss family up north.
Your car? Has new tires.
Something you're not wearing? Hairspray. Haven't touched it for over 10 years.
Your summer? Was way to short!
Love someone? Sure! Without love where would we be!
Your favorite color? Blue.
When was the last time you laughed? On the ride to work. I work with some awesome people!
Last time you cried? Two nights ago watching Extreme Makeover Home edition. They helped a young family that just lost their Dad.
Where is your phone? Kitchen counter.
Where is your significant other? At home sleeping off a graveyard.
Your hair color? Ugly dark blondish brown?
Your mother? Is an awesome inspiration to me.
Your father? Same as Mom and never grumpy.
Your favorite thing? FAMILY, computer, gardening.
Your dream last night? NyQuil induced comma. (got a bad cold, no dream for me)
Your hobby? Depends on the month. I love to read, play on the computer, watch movies or flicks on TV, crochet. Playing in the dirt (gardening)is a favorite past time too.
Room you're in? I am in Beaver Utahs County building waiting for someone to come in to get a drivers license. (working)
Your fear? Loosing my family.
Where do you want to be in six years? Happily with my family where ever we might be.
Where were you last night? Watching TV with the kids.
One of your wish list items? Pay off debt. (dishwasher will have to wait)
What you're not? Awake.
Where you grew up? Utah all my life.
The last thing you did? Set up the travel equipment.
Your TV? Is still working.
Your pets? 4 hound dogs, 5 mini rabbits, fish.
Your computer? Awesome! My brother Nate built it for me.
Your mood? Sleepy (could be the dayquil)
Missing someone? Always miss family up north.
Your car? Has new tires.
Something you're not wearing? Hairspray. Haven't touched it for over 10 years.
Your summer? Was way to short!
Love someone? Sure! Without love where would we be!
Your favorite color? Blue.
When was the last time you laughed? On the ride to work. I work with some awesome people!
Last time you cried? Two nights ago watching Extreme Makeover Home edition. They helped a young family that just lost their Dad.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Cutting the Apron Strings
I am proud to say that Cory decided he wanted to walk home from school all by himself on Friday. (first school that is close enough to actually let him) Of course he decides this while I was there to pick him up from school. I told him he had to walk with a group of kids if possible so he excitedly dumps his backpack into the car and off he goes. Shaelynn wanted to walk with him as she was in the car but I didn't let her. It felt like it was something he wanted (and needed) to do on his own.
I drove home and waited nervously for him to arrive. When he arrived he walked proudly into the house and loudly exclaimed with a huge grin on his face and in a very teenage *I showed you* tone "See...I am big enough that I can cross the streets and not get run over. I walked home all by myself!". He was so proud and so was I.
He wanted to walk home again today and was just as excited about it. He arrived home to an empty house as I was still out picking Shaelynn up so I was not able to see his accomplishment on his face today, but I bet it was there just the same.
Now to get over the 'What if he gets run over?', 'What if he gets beat up?', 'What if he gets kidnapped?' crap that goes through my head while he is walking home. Uug....I hate being a worry wort.
I am proud of my little (or not so little) guy....he is growing up quite nicely if I do say so myself.
I drove home and waited nervously for him to arrive. When he arrived he walked proudly into the house and loudly exclaimed with a huge grin on his face and in a very teenage *I showed you* tone "See...I am big enough that I can cross the streets and not get run over. I walked home all by myself!". He was so proud and so was I.
He wanted to walk home again today and was just as excited about it. He arrived home to an empty house as I was still out picking Shaelynn up so I was not able to see his accomplishment on his face today, but I bet it was there just the same.
Now to get over the 'What if he gets run over?', 'What if he gets beat up?', 'What if he gets kidnapped?' crap that goes through my head while he is walking home. Uug....I hate being a worry wort.
I am proud of my little (or not so little) guy....he is growing up quite nicely if I do say so myself.
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