Rides in a firetruck!

Every year the local firefighters host a chili and firetruck rides evening. We have gone every year since we've moved here. Hmmm we might have missed the first year since we had just moved the end of summer and they do it in the fall. Anyway... it is one of the favorite things the kids enjoy here in good ol' Delta. Before we had gotten to the station ,the truck rode right in front of our house. J.D. a friend of ours, who is a fireman, was driving one of them and let the siren wail! The kids loved it and of course tried to hurry us out the door to get on over to the station. We always walk since it is only a couple of blocks away. The chili is delicious and riding on the firetruck, especially when it drives right in front of our house is always fun. This year, J.D. even dropped the kids off at our house at the end of the night. That was pretty cool to be taken h0me on a firetruck.

I had updated my facebook status saying something like "Loreen rode in a firetruck with her kids tonight" or something like that... but then got a comment about hoping it wasn't for an emergency! :) So I decided to change it to "Loreen rode in a firetruck with her kids for firefighter appreciation night." haha We sure do appreciate all they do for us and the community! This was the first year Brother Scoville wasn't there. He passed away a few months ago. His wife, Mary was there though even still! We missed him! (No, he didn't die in a fire.) This all reminds me of my 9/11 post and how brave and patriotic all these folks who serve others are. Thank you for sharing your talent of serving!

Here we are on the left in the picture above... Julaine, Jaren, Logan, and Loreen. Kylie and her friend, Tracie are sitting up in the front! (I don't know who those other people are.)

Reflections on September 11th

I feel I need to write something on this seventh anniversary of September 11, 2001. I remember vividly that tragic day of just a few years ago. It seems like only yesterday, and yet seven years have gone by. My twins were exactly two months old that day and I felt so tired, no, so exhausted, that I felt like there was no end in sight for me. And then I remember turning on the news, it was already afternoon and seeing the replays that would be shown the entire day. It didn't seem real. The twin towers... gone. I hadn't ever been to New York, so those majestic buildings weren't a reality to me in the first place. All pictures, interent images. But watching them fall made them real in just those few seconds. The reality slowly seeping in. And the reality of how easy I had it. Sleepless nights from two crying babies seemed insignificant to the future sleepless nights of those who had lost their babies, no matter the age. How good we had it here in this small town. How safe I felt even though the threat could be anywhere. I felt very blessed. I also felt anguish for those who were lost. Sorrow for families they left behind. Tragic loss for those who risked their lives to save others. And pride for American's everywhere who pulled together in prayer and who, regardless of what others tried to do, still had hope.





We are Americans! I am an American. I am a proud American who, like so many others, won't be discouraged. I was so proud how we rose above, and how we will always remember. I felt pride for our city of Delta and the flags all along Main Street. I felt humble appreciation seeing the firetruck with the tallest flag of all blowing in the breeze. I felt pride when I hung our flag off our porch this morning. We will never forget!