Ground Zero

It's hard to believe, but this a window from one of the planes that crashed into the Twin Towers. Was someone looking out of it in disbelief as tragedy unfolded infront of their eyes?

This is someone's bag, someone who carried it onto the plane, but never off.

A stuffed toy........the inscription under it reads, "This lamb was recovered from the top of the collapse pile. Tattered, torn and looking sadly up from the rubble, he was cradled in the arms of a firefighter. We all wondered, if he could survive, why couldn't the others?" Lynn Tierney, FDNY

Were truer words ever spoken?

The Stars and Stripes.......recovered.

The uniform of a first-responder......he gave his life.

A beam of steal.......steal is supposed to be indestructible.

A portion of a patchwork quilt.....one of many gifts made and donated by people and children around the world.

The cranes take the place of the Twin Towers. Hard to believe we walked right by where they used to be standing, right where thousands of people watched in terror, where even more ran for their lives.

As we walked through the WTC Memorial, I just could not stop thinking about all of the people that lost their lives and those they left behind. How incredibly horrible it must have been. Then, as I came around a corner of the memorial, there they were. The names of the people, human beings, that had lost their lives. Not only were their names listed, but their pictures and sentimental keepsakes were displayed as well. I was overcome with sadness. Sadness for children who would never see their mothers or fathers again, sadness for those who would never see their spouses........sadness for the loss. These were people who loved and lost. I have to have faith that one day, whenever that may be, they will recover what was taken from them.





After recovering from another day in NYC and the visit to Ground Zero, we spent the last day with Candace, Wes, Granny, Jaden and Claire just hanging out and having fun.

Playing outside in their jammies!!


They played and played and played......

We couldn't resist a visit to Terhune Orchards. They all loved it!!



We also decided to celebrate Granny's birthday a few days early since we were all together. It was great!!!!!

Every night the kids would gather outside and chase fireflies. I loved every minute of it, watching them, listening to them. What I would give to have them back again.

So, so, so silly.........and adorable...and wonderful. I miss Granny and the McNutts terribly. They just need to move up here! I hear Pennsylvania has some nice places to live at a reasonable price (hint, hint)!!!!!!

*** This is the last of the Granny and the McNutts posts. We just got back from our visit with the Georgia Bohannons, so those pics are coming soon!!!!***

Coolness

I get stuck in a rut out here in "suburbia USA". Sometimes I have to remind myself what my husband does for a living. And when I stop and think about it for a second, or better yet, go see him at work, I remember............he has the coolest job in the world!!!!! We are proud of you Chris/Daddy! You are awesome!!




Signing autographs.....seriously?? They WAIT for the actors to come out of the stage door. That has to be a boost to their self-esteem :)

Jordan's Cake Decorating Bday Party

Kindergarten Graduation

At Dutch Neck school there is a huge playground, and the kids actually get to use it alot during the day, which makes me happy. There is a designated place for the kindergarteners to play. This big yellow slide is off-limits for many reasons, one being because it is so tall for the little people. So every spring, the kindergarten teachers hold the most adorable graduation ceremony I have ever seen!! All of the kindergarten students line up and take a turn "sliding into first grade". At the end of the slide their teacher uses her magic wand to instantly turn them into a first grader. This is all Jaron talked about for 2 weeks, and I think he thought Mrs. McGuinness was actually using magic powers to transform him! So precious! Everyone we see now he has to tell them he is a first grader. Adorable!!!!

There he is anxiously waiting for the magic to happen.......

Almost there!!!!!!!!!!!




Here he goes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jaron, the FIRST grader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Jaron and Mrs. McGuinness....the best teacher in the whole world.

Jaron and Anant......fellow buddy, bus rider, trouble maker and neighbor :)

June was a a busy month!!! End of school activities, Jordan's birthday, and Granny and the McNutts. So back to Jordan's recital with Christopher. I decided to post just a few videos for the sake of time and sanity. The first one is both of them playing.....you guessed it....."Hot Cross Buns". Christopher plays pizzicato first, which might be a little hard to hear. The second video is one Jordan plays by herself...."The Rainbow Song". And last but not least, "Twinkle, Twinkle".

Enjoy!

Only Family......

What is it about family that brings out the silly in all of us? I love it that we can be as goofy as we want around our family members because they will love us in spite of our stupidity!!!! So in honor of this, here are a few funny things done and/or said this week with Granny and the McNutts:

#1 Granny sitting at Geno's Steaks in Philadelphia, using her dull sewing kit scissors to cut the tag out of her Tshirt. She got the tag out.....along with half of her shirt, too!

#2 "Pocket of a bottleneck".....this was spoken by none other than yours truly in reference to the horrendous traffic that can very regularly accumulate in and around New York City, most specifically, the tunnels and bridges.

#3 "Flyer-flies".....Claire's name for fireflies. The kids chased and caught many fireflies every night before bed.

#4 "Bushel of keys"....spoken by Wesley in reference to all the keys on my key chain. Wow. He's not from Texas or anything!

#5 "What time is it?".....the question Claire (she's 3 yrs. old) most frequently asked me. I still don't know why she needed to know what time it was.

#6 Granny balancing her checkbook as we walked through the turnstile in the subway.......oh granny!

#7 "Why is she holding a chicken?" Jaron's first question when we got off the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. In case you are wondering, he was talking about the torch.

These were all things that were funny, hilarious in the moment, and things we will always remember and talk about and laugh about. I mean, Mom had us in tears as she was cutting out that tag in her shirt!!!!

Granny and the McNutts, Part 2

I actually posted these pictures in the wrong order.....we did the Statue of Liberty on Monday and the World Trade Center on Wednesday. However, they are still fun to look at!!



Candace and Wes before we got on the ferry at Liberty State Park.

Me and my Cooney (that's her nickname...I have no idea where it came from ;)



Those sweet, precious, angel, booger babies!!!!!

Waiting to get our ferry tickets....we picked the hottest, muggiest day to be outside. We were glad to find any air-conditioned place.


Look at the Empire State Building and the American flag!

Granny is such a tourist.


I LOVE this picture.......

Our view from the ferry.......


Our view once we got on the island.

Jaron's first question was, "Why is she holding a chicken?" (He thought the flame on the torch was a chicken!)


It was sooooooo hard, virtually impossible to get the Statue AND the kids all in one picture. This is the best I could do.

Aren't they adorable!?



As we were leaving, we got another great view of Lady Liberty, the same one immigrants from hundreds of years ago had. It was really an amazing sight, one that cannot be put into words. And you know me, I can't help but connect it all with Jesus........people came to this country to find a better life, freedom. I am thankful we have found that in Jesus!


The Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground, the Manhattan Bridge behind.

This time last year...............but this year! Healing!!!!!!!!!!!

Two of my most favorite people on the planet :)

Look at Wes!!!!!!