Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veterans Day to all of America's veterans who have placed our country's security before their own lives, creating a debt that we can never fully repay. Our veterans represent the best of our country and sometimes I don't feel like that on a daily basis they get the respect or praise they deserve.  America would not be the country that it is today without those who have served and continue to serve proud, freely, and valantly.

To those of you wear the uniform of your country with pride today, and for those of you who wore the uniform in days past, these few words go out to you, and hope they bring life in its fullness unto you and yours...You gave of yourself, to protect and keep the life that Americans cherish, a life that comes with the freedom to love and dream and are filled with many treasures. You gave of your family, you gave of your life. Some came home, some never did, some live in our memories, some in our tears, taken in life both young and old, no score card to determine who went and who returned. So accept these simple words of thanks. THANK YOU...

Veteran's Day Tribute

Thanks to my good friend Julie Price and the FBLA students at Lynden High School, we were able to take part in a local project to support our troops and do some charity work overseas where they are serving. LHS students participated in OPERATION SHOEBOX and collected 140 pairs of shoes which were mailed to the 170th MP Company troops and handed out to the kids in need in Afghanistan. 

My fiance Sgt. Ortiz captured some great photos of the kids with their shoes and made a video for the students at LHS to express the appreciation of the soldiers in his platoon. This was the video that was played at the LHS Veterans Day Assembly this week...very touching and a great way to recognize our Veterans this week. Thank you Julie & LHS!

Barb Won't Be Sidelined...

Last weekend our Auntie Barb had a scary and unfortunate accident that resulted in a broken back. Her T3 & T7 vertebrates were fractured after she landed on her head/neck on the hardwood floor at a Halloween party with friends and her husband. The news was terrifying but we were immediately relieved to hear that she was responsive at the hospital and could move her arms and legs. It was very scary to see her laying in the hospital in so much pain and not knowing how serious the damage was. But by day 2 at the hospital she was fitted for a special back brace and had taken her first couple steps. 

She is going to have a very long and painful recovery ahead of her but was extremely lucky that the break in her spine was a "stable" break, meaning it was somewhat protected and supported by her ribcage. A break any higher up in your spine can easily result in permanent paralysis. With the support of our family and some very wonderful close friends, she has had around the clock care and homemade meals delivered to her and her boys. 

Most of us know that Barbie's boys play football for Lynden High School and are pretty tough athletes! From the minute Barb left the hospital last Monday her goal was to make it her boys' playoff football game this Saturday. So last night we bundled her up in her wheelchair and wheeled up the ram to the Lynden bleachers to cheer on her boys to a 48-0 victory over Bellingham. Just proves that Barb won't be sidelined by any injury, even a broken back! God be with her on her road to recovery and with the Lynden Football boys on their fight to the state tournament.