4 weeks ago
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Letter From Nathanael August 18
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Seth and Connor had a birthday party today
Seth Douglass turned 5 yesterday and Connor David turned 1 yesterday and we had a family party out at Spencer's house today to celebrate. I will post pictures I took. Anyone reading that isn't sure who belongs to who, Seth is Spencer's oldest child and Connor is Lori's youngest child. Both born on the same day.
This isn't the first picture of him eating his cake. Notice the frosting on his cheek, he took a handful and then Trevor took his shirt off and frosting smeared on his face. He really had a great time eating that cake. The cupcakes were the ones Angie made for Seths birthday.
I thought this was the picture of Spencer lighting the candles with a torch, but I guess it isn't. I think this was taken right after they blew out the candles. I think that was where I took a video. So, here are both the birthday boys.
A general picture of those at the party. Spencer, Lori and Kelsie are the ones in the front, Briana, Aaron, Brandon, Ashly Trevor and Connor are at the table in the back.
This is Connor opening his gift. Some bath tub toys.
Seth opening his gifts, he is opening the one that Brandon gave him here, so Brandon is showing him how it works.
Look what Seth got for his birthday! He got on it as fast as he could. And woo hoo, no everyone gets to ride their bike inside the house, but he did a good job of it. It is a spiderman bike too!
Grandpa Dees and Connor
I had to put in this picture of Brandon because he seems to always escape the camera and since we got at least one of him, I am posting it.
Lori and Connor
Seth opening a gift that some lame grandma wrapped in a WalMart bag. Who the heck would do that? Addison is looking on.
Ok, I am done posting pictures. I realize when I go through my pictures how bad I am at making sure I get a picture of everyone that is present. So please no one take offense if you are not featured on my blog! :0) Thank you Angie for the yummy cake and the yummy chicken salad sandwiches. We had a great time and loved being with our family. Sorry there were those who could not be there, names Preston and Melanie (working) Sally and Deryk, and Tiffani and Micah (living in another world). And of course, Nathanael, who I am sure would have picked to be there instead of boot camp.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Paper written by Nathanael as to why he joined the military
I was cleaning out Nathanael's bedroom, getting rid of clothes and shoes that don't fit anyone anymore. He had a notebook on his desk that looked like an english notebook and I was getting ready to toss it out since he doesn't need school stuff anymore when I noticed this paper. I read it and obviously knew that I had to keep it. It brought tears to my eyes and I wanted to share it with you. Hopefully he doesn't mind. But since he is not here, and he is in boot camp on the start of this journey, he has no vote, so here it is:
A moment that has changed my life was not a big or terrible accident, injury or event; neither was it having a friend that was there for me when I needed on most, though that would have been nice. Instead it is only a few hours spent by myself in silence. Awhile back I was able to travel to Hawaii and while there, visited a national cemetery known as the Punch Bowl, and I also visited Pearl Harbor. On this trip, the things I saw and the things I thought would make a much greater impact on my life than any had ever before. While at the Punch Bowl I was struck by the sheer numbers of the graves of the men who fought and died for our freedom we enjoy today. Thousands and thousands of graves and memorials, not just there, but in cemeteries across the nation. Some say that those graves and those statues erected in their honor is all that is left of all those men, but I say that is not all; the very freedom we all enjoy is a testament of their lives and their sacrifices. There on top of a hill stood a memorial building for our fallen soldiers and inside, a simple message to honor those warriors. The exact wording I can't recall, but there it stated that every one of the men lying in those graves at that place gave all of their tomorrows for our today. Then at Pearl Harbor I stood where bombs had been dropped all those years ago. I stood on the memorial built over the sunken Arizona, and read the names of those men slain that December day. I stood in silence taking it all in and could almost hear those soldiers and sailors speaking to me. Not in a dark or ominous voice, but a happy one. Still they said, "this is where we fought, where we died, and now it is where our bodies still lie. We died fighting to protect freedom against oppression and that freedom you enjoy. What will you do with it now?" Those few hours became many more sleepless nights with that last question hanging in my ears. Many days I spent thinking of the answer to that question and many things I have chosen to do. Without that experience I doubt I could have made the decision to fall in with their ranks as a fellow defender of freedom and join the United States Marine Corps, devoting possibly the rest of my life to service to God and my country. I remember that trip still and though a whole week was spent in that paradise known as Hawaii, that day at Pearl Harbor and the Punch Bowl stand out in my mind the most. That experience has shaped many of my actions since and changed the entire direction of my life. It changed me from dreams of owning my own small business, as many still think is the wiser, to being a warrior on the front lines. Many people question my decision, no knowing my experience, asking how I can so simply just sign away my life, but to them I cannot explain the powerful experience of that day, nor do I wish to. The choice was mine, the message to me, and though it will be a difficult path, I know why I must do these things I have chosen to do. So if this choice has led me to an early death; don't mourn my decision, I did what needed to be done and lived without regret, rejoice knowing that I knew the joy of selfless service to others and died a good and happy man.
A moment that has changed my life was not a big or terrible accident, injury or event; neither was it having a friend that was there for me when I needed on most, though that would have been nice. Instead it is only a few hours spent by myself in silence. Awhile back I was able to travel to Hawaii and while there, visited a national cemetery known as the Punch Bowl, and I also visited Pearl Harbor. On this trip, the things I saw and the things I thought would make a much greater impact on my life than any had ever before. While at the Punch Bowl I was struck by the sheer numbers of the graves of the men who fought and died for our freedom we enjoy today. Thousands and thousands of graves and memorials, not just there, but in cemeteries across the nation. Some say that those graves and those statues erected in their honor is all that is left of all those men, but I say that is not all; the very freedom we all enjoy is a testament of their lives and their sacrifices. There on top of a hill stood a memorial building for our fallen soldiers and inside, a simple message to honor those warriors. The exact wording I can't recall, but there it stated that every one of the men lying in those graves at that place gave all of their tomorrows for our today. Then at Pearl Harbor I stood where bombs had been dropped all those years ago. I stood on the memorial built over the sunken Arizona, and read the names of those men slain that December day. I stood in silence taking it all in and could almost hear those soldiers and sailors speaking to me. Not in a dark or ominous voice, but a happy one. Still they said, "this is where we fought, where we died, and now it is where our bodies still lie. We died fighting to protect freedom against oppression and that freedom you enjoy. What will you do with it now?" Those few hours became many more sleepless nights with that last question hanging in my ears. Many days I spent thinking of the answer to that question and many things I have chosen to do. Without that experience I doubt I could have made the decision to fall in with their ranks as a fellow defender of freedom and join the United States Marine Corps, devoting possibly the rest of my life to service to God and my country. I remember that trip still and though a whole week was spent in that paradise known as Hawaii, that day at Pearl Harbor and the Punch Bowl stand out in my mind the most. That experience has shaped many of my actions since and changed the entire direction of my life. It changed me from dreams of owning my own small business, as many still think is the wiser, to being a warrior on the front lines. Many people question my decision, no knowing my experience, asking how I can so simply just sign away my life, but to them I cannot explain the powerful experience of that day, nor do I wish to. The choice was mine, the message to me, and though it will be a difficult path, I know why I must do these things I have chosen to do. So if this choice has led me to an early death; don't mourn my decision, I did what needed to be done and lived without regret, rejoice knowing that I knew the joy of selfless service to others and died a good and happy man.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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