Celebrating Family

As we remembered my Mom's birthday, I thought about how I could help my kids understand the continuum of life. While they struggle to prepare for their futures, they also need to understand how they are connected to people who came before them.  Recently, we had a tremendous opportunity to celebrate those who came before us. 

Our Uncle Al was part of an Honor Flight that brought World War II veterans from Florida to Washington D.C. to see the war memorials.  This trip had been planned for a long time and was almost cancelled because of the government shutdown.  As the trip approached, we stressed with Uncle Al over whether the veterans would be allowed to see the monuments and whether we would be able to see him.  The day before the trip, the organizers advised him to tell us that the veterans would be given access to the World War II Memorial but we would not.  We decided we had to at least try.

The honor flight was leaving Florida at 5:30 a.m.  They would land at BWI and then head for Washington D.C.  The Iwo Jima Memorial was the tour's first scheduled stop.  Because Arlington National Cemetery was open to foot traffic, we figured this would be our best chance to see Uncle Al.  We had to park about a mile away on Fort Meyer.  Toting a sign that the girls had made, we hiked to the Memorial and waited.

The girls posing with their sign

We saw the tour buses approaching and the kids began jumping up and down with excitement.  But, as the buses passed the memorial, we realized they weren't going to be allowed to enter.   The kids held up their sign and waved.  As the buses paused, the door opened and someone snapped a photo of us. 

The convoy of buses passing the Iwo Jima Memorial

 We waited for about 10 minutes, hoping that the buses would turn around.  I looked at Les.  Even though we had been told that we couldn't get into the World War II Memorial, we had to try.

Greeting the buses

 We drove to Pentagon City and caught a taxi downtown.  Here's what we saw when we arrived.

Because the memorial was open for the honor flights, there were several park rangers there.  I approached them and explained our situation.  "Listen," one said, "If you happen to slip past the barriers and visit the memorial with your uncle, we'll just look the other way."  I could have hugged them and would like to give them a big public thanks for their kindness to both the veterans and us.

Waiting for Uncle Al -the poster had flashing lights on it!

Finally, the buses arrived.  The veterans toured the memorial amid applause and shouts from a large crowd of friends, family and volunteers.

Finally touring the memorial with Uncle Al

The veterans posing - Uncle Al is in the burgundy cap.
The veterans were required to sit in wheelchairs.

Uncle Al with Don, his friend and escort for the trip

Cassie's Perspective

Uncle Al and Les

As the veterans got ready to board the bus, one of them approached Cassie.  Taking her hand, he thanked her for coming to welcome the veterans and said, "You look like a fine young lady.  I hope that my comrades and I helped to make the world a better place for you." 

Happy Birthday, Mom

We are remembering and missing my Mom on her birthday.

Here We Go . . . Back to School

The excitement in our house was building as we joined the throngs of families gearing up for school.  It was time for our annual school supply shopping!  And, this year we were actually in Virginia to take advantage of the tax free holiday.  We downloaded and perused the girls' supply lists.  Three two-inch binders, two three-subject spirals, and five composition books?  What was the middle school thinking?  How was Cassie going to be able to carry all this plus a lunchbox in her backpack?  We Googled the required calculator only to realize that this model is no longer made.  Great.  Glancing at Lacey's list, I saw that the school still expects third graders to eat glue sticks and pencils.  And, that illusive box of 36 crayons is still required. 

According to a recent report from the National Retail Federation, American families will spend an average of $635 on school supplies this year. The report didn't explain if the average $635 was per child; per family of five; or per family of ten.  Other recent news reports claimed that there will be a total nationwide spending of $26.7 billion for back to school needs.   Finally, other sources reported that U.S. teachers will spend an average of $485 out of their own pockets to supply their classrooms.  Wow.  Even without Cassie's new calculator I could figure out that at $635 per kid, plus $485 for my own classroom, I'd be out a whopping $1755!! 

Maybe the report actually said that "the average family" would spend $635.  That would make this even more interesting because we would need a definition for average.  But then I might need to spend a lot of time wondering whether my family would fall within the definition of average. Not wanting to become a statistic of any sort, I assembled the kids and explained that money we saved on actual supplies could be money for clothing and accessories.  We went through our drawer of leftover school supplies and pulled out everything that matched items on the lists.  The girls were great about bringing home unused supplies at the end of the last school-year.  Cassie again told us about the piles of unused stuff that had gone from lockers to dumpsters at the middle school.   This seems so sadly wasteful given the number of stores, churches and other organizations that are currently asking for donated supplies.

We next made an advance reconnaissance of Target to check items and prices.  We decided to get there as the doors opened, when the tax free holiday began.  From there, we shopped online for backpacks.  We discovered that our favorite company would have free shipping on the tax free holidays.  Great!  That would allow us to purchase matching lunchboxes. 

The final part of our plan was fashion.  Lacey declared that she wanted to wear the three physical education t-shirts that Cassie had outgrown.  Ummm...had to ponder that one for awhile.  I looked through Lacey's closet and dresser at the lovely clothes that had gone untouched.  I guess "lovely" was my opinion because she definitely has her own tastes.  Cassie volunteered that she has also outgrown several Taekwondo t-shirts.  Lacey couldn't have been happier.  I suggested that maybe we could embellish the t-shirts with appliques or beads.  Lacey said she'd think about it.  

Cassie and I went online and researched "fashion essentials" for Fall 2013.  We learned that dark jeans; a white t-shirt; and dark cardigan were the "must haves" for the fall.    Cassie agreed that if we could find the essential pieces in the thrift store, we could apply the savings toward some awesome shoes.

Here are some pictures of our shopping trip and our fantastic finds.  We began at Target.  The girls were up early and we were on our way back home by 8:30 a.m., bags of supplies in the back of the car.   Our only hitch had been that box of 36 crayons.  Prior to shopping, I had reminded Lacey that no matter how hard we looked, we wouldn't find a box of 36 crayons.  Crayons come in boxes of 12, 24, 48, 64 and 96.  I explained to Lacey that she would have to settle for a box of 24.  We still had to search for 36 crayons.  It worked out well because I let Lacey look while Cassie and I filled the cart with everything else on the list.  The kids were good comparison shoppers.  When they realized that all the decorated spirals and composition books were three times the cost of the plain ones, they declared that they could decorate their own. 

Opening Bell at Target

We then journeyed to the thrift store where we purchased 12 items for $90.  At the thrift store the girls found jeans and jackets from Justice and American Eagle Outfitters with the price tags still in tact.   Cassie found the white t-shirt; a Coke limited edition shirt; and two gorgeous velvet jackets. Lacey kept reminding us that she had the P.E. shirts. She had saved a 40% off coupon for Justice so she got the t-shirt she wanted.  We ended our whirlwind shopping day taking advantage of the annual shoe sale at Nordstroms.  Average or not, what fun we had.

Here is Lacey wearing jeans from the thrift store, her new t-shirt and her Topsiders.  We actually got her into something besides sneakers!

Lacey in new jeans and jacket and a t-shirt from Colorado.

Cassie in new jeans, jacket and t-shirt.

Cassie sporting new jeans, t-shirt and vest, all second hand.

Cassie's new boots.

Bloom Where You are Planted

On Aug. 14, 2013, my dear Mom died and the world lost an incredible lady.  I've struggled to come up with a tribute to my Mom because nothing I could ever say would be great enough to really describe her.  I'll start by sharing one of my Mom's favorite expressions:  Bloom where you are planted.  My Mom said that so often that we sometimes got tired of hearing it.  But, this expression truly captured my Mom. She faced challenges in life by scattering seeds of gentleness and love, and looking forward to the promises of the seeds she had sowed.  She taught us that sometimes you just need to dig in your feet, face the sun and bloom right where God has planted you. The model my Mom set has served me well and will continue to do so.

My Mom also had a habit of referring to my girls as "Earth Angels."  Sometimes this term of endearment can be hard for me to buy into.  But, during some of my most challenging moments, the idea that my Mom believed my kids were Earth Angels has brought me great comfort.

As we try to accept my Mom's passing, we are also experiencing the joy of life.  On Aug. 13th, after undergoing a year of treatment for kidney cancer, Gabriela celebrated her second birthday.  My Mom was able to share the joyous news that Gaby is cancer free.  

Here are a few photos of my Mom and the Earth Angels.

The girls helping Gaby with her new bike.