Saturday, May 23, 2009

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My little brother was asked to write an exerpt for the Southwest Airlines Employee web-site in honor of Memorial Day. It makes me proud to call him my brother.



What will you be doing on Memorial Day?Posted on 05/20/2009 - 01:41 PM by GO VR Moderator

Jimbo Larsen, Employee Resources Specialist

Furniture sales, deep mattress discounts, red tag events at car dealerships, barbeques…all Memorial Day festivities. When was the last time you went to a parade? A cemetery? A ceremony? Many have wandered from the true meaning of the day.
Memorial Day has one purpose and one purpose alone: to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in the service of their country, specifically those who perished at the hands of the enemy.
As a young child, my mother always taught me to stand up when the flag marched by at parades. At Gilbert Elementary, we said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang a patriotic song, and prayed every day when school started. I believe these values and practices are what engrained in me the desire to serve this great Nation. Shortly after 9/11, I answered the call that had been in my heart many years and enlisted in the US Marines. I had a great career going with SWA and didn’t want to give that up so I joined the reserves. The one weekend a month, two weeks a year requirement became a thing of the past with the onset of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have served two tours in Iraq—one in 2003 and one in 2006.
During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, I served in an infantry company that saw some of the fiercest fighting of the war. While our platoon was very blessed and lost no one, our company sustained several losses. I will never forget as long as I live what it felt like to carry that zipped up black vinyl bag. I remember thinking how strange it was that the bag was so heavy. That heavy weight tugs at my memories some nights when I can’t sleep. I will never forget the prayers that were offered on behalf of the fallen men, and more importantly, their families. My heart aches for them.
In 2004 in Tucson, I was on a burial detail for a Marine who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq. There was a HUGE outpouring of love from the community and the number of people that attended that solemn ceremony was in the thousands. I remember vividly his pregnant wife accepting the folded flag and the 21-gun salute that startled everyone. That sound echoes in my memory every time I see a flag-draped casket.
There are many who join, fewer that fight, and fewer yet who are taken from us in the line of duty. It is in their honor that we don’t work on Memorial Day. It is in their honor that we fly the flag at half mast until noon. It is in their honor that we observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 1500 local time wherever we are.
It is not a day to thank Veterans; we have that one in November. It is not a day to thank families or living servicemen. It is a day to honor those who fought and died in the service of our Country.
As General George S. Patton, Jr. stated, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”
What will you do on Monday? I know what I will do. I will remember.

Friday, May 22, 2009

At the park with Tia Loca and Rocco

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My BF Comes To Visit (without even telling me!!)

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Last weekend my bf who I haven't seen in forevra showed up at my store to surprise me, yet she's the one who got the surprise--I wasn't even working! But we eventually hooked up and spent a day or so together. It was so fun to see her again and the kids...

Fun at the Park with the McIntyre's

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Monday, May 4, 2009

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Birthday Girl!




Gloria, our babysitter
Sabrina, Ashley, Jess (and all the kids)
Just one picture ok?
I told you...only one!!!
Karla and Baylee Mingling and eating pizza

Baylee, Karla, Alicia, Mommy

She was gettin crazy with the Dora pinata...


Notice the plastic hangy thingy the rope goes thru to hold Dora up.... Well, it broke. We had to improvise.


Lui was very in to making Dora fly :)
Sorry Dora...
"I got one Mommy!"


Headless Dora...sorry Dora!!!

Lui's caption to this picture is "ET phone home..."

Happy Birthday Dear Baylee....Happy Birthday To You!!



Yummy frosting!

My good friend Karla that I work with made this...isn't it sweet?

She was pooped after the days festivities






























Saturday, May 2, 2009

We went and got pics today

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Love the naked bum!









I'm so big! I'm one!
























They turned out so cute. I just love these few with daddy!