Hurricane Katrina

In August 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast. Did you know more than 1,800 people lost their lives? Did you know countless more lost everything they had? I guess when you're living through it you don't always realize how bad it is. Don't get me wrong, we saw how bad it was! There are images that will be etched in our minds forever. But when I heard how many actually died, I was a bit shocked. Was I too busy cleaning up to bother with statistics, or have I just forgotten...

Here is a little reminder, let's not forget those who were taken away that dreadful day! And, let's pray it never happens again! And most of all let's be thankful for those who survived and for all we have.

What are your memories of that time? Did you live through it or see it on the evening news? After watching the video, please leave me a comment letting me know what you remember. Oh, and don't forget to pause my playlist before you start the video.

Update: When I posted this entry, I had no idea there would be a storm headed our way! Apparently, Hurricane Gustav is following the same path as Katrina. However, those of us who have lived on the Gulf Coast for a while know hurricanes are incredibly unpredictable. So, I just want to say GO AWAY GUSTAV!!! Here's hoping you break apart somewhere over the ocean!

A Totally Awesome Tag, Mosaic of ME!

I saw this on another blog (while out stalking) and decided to give it a whirl. To take it a step further, I made it a tag. It is, however, a little more time consuming than most tags but well worth it! So, that being said I tag Andrea, Lisanka, Brooke and Kerry Jo.

Here's what you do:

• Go to Flickr search and pick out a photo for each one of your answers to the questions below. Click on the picture you want and copy the URL
• Open another browser, Mosaic Maker, and paste the URL for each picture into the desired space. (You'll see directions)
• Once you have selected, copied and pasted all of your pictures, click Create to make your Mosaic
• Click Share ( at this point you can copy the html and paste it into your post but when I tried, my mosaic turned out very small. So, I saved the mosaic to my computer by clicking the little disk under the mosaic. Then, I uploaded it to the post just like a regular photo. Does that make sense? You may find a better way...)

Now, for the questions:

1. Name? (Susan)
2. Favorite Color? (Purple)
3. High School? (Theodore Bobcats)
4. Favorite Food? (French Fries)
5. Celebrity Crush? (None - just Marc=)
6. Favorite Drink? (Diet Pepsi)
7. Dream Vacation? (Italy)
8. Favorite Dessert? (Cheesecake)
9. What you want to be when you grow up? (Mom)
10. Your favorite thing in this world? (My Family)
11. One word to describe you? (Nut)
12. Your Nickname? (Banana - but only my dad could get away with that)

Justin's 15!!!!

Wow, Justin! I can't believe you are 15 years old today! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital!

Speaking of the day you were born, have I ever told you that story? I am sure I have but bear with me as I tell it again!

We were living in Central Texas and your dad was stationed at Ft. Hood. We couldn't wait for you to become part of our family! As the due date approached, and then passed, I prayed every day that you would come soon.

Finally, On Friday, August 13, 1993 - two weeks past the predicted due date - I started having a feeling that you were on your way. (Dad wasn't so sure since I'd gone to the hospital twice with false labor - hey, it was my first baby!) We arrived at the Darnell Community Hospital (on the Army Base) at around 4:00 in the afternoon and you were born at 11:45 p.m. Yes, that's right, you almost made it to the 14th but Friday the 13th it was!

Luckily, you're dad and I aren't the superstitious types. In fact, we now consider Friday the 13th a lucky day for us. And, we consider August 13th one of the luckiest days of our lives!

(Yes, a lot occurred between the time we went to the hospital and the time you were born but I will spare you the details. Let me just say that when you were born, everyone was surprised at how big you were - 9 lbs 1 oz and 21 1/2 in. long - but I KNEW you were gonna be big! Also, when you were first born you cried for less than 5 seconds and then went back to sleep. This sort of alarmed the doctor but luckily you were fine, tired, but fine!!)


So what else do I want you to know about the day you were born? Well, I mostly want you to know how much we wanted you!



We were all so excited that you had finally come to earth and were part of our family!



Everyone celebrated! They thought you were the cutest thing they'd ever seen (even when your cried!)



Everyone wanted to hold you! So much so, that I often pretended you needed to be "fed" just so I could have you all to myself! (maybe that's why you weighed 20 pounds at four months?!)



You grew really quickly and made friends easily!



You and your dad were (are) like two peas in a pod!



You loved hanging out with your Papa.



And your Nana too!



Before we knew it a year had passed!


Over the years you've enjoyed many things including...

Pretty girls. (that's Birdie & Allie by the way=)




Your sister (yes your sister!!!)




The beach.



And the jeep (only you liked working on the engine more than driving!)



Chuck - E - Cheese



The creek in North Carolina.



Thomas the Tank Engine!


Star Wars (and you're still there!)



video games (still there too!)



Your dream of being a pilot!



And, the Gospel (baptism day)



I could post another 100+ pictures and never get tired of remembering your life thus far but, alas, it took me a half an hour just to post these! I could tell of your adventures in Fencing, Young Men's, on the Scholar's Bowl Team, as a People to People Ambassador, and your favorite, just hanging out with good friends. I don't think my blog is big enough to post all of the adventures you've had!

And, now that you're 15, and in high school, you'll soon be driving (EEK!) and dating is just around the corner (DOUBLE EEK!!) You will be faced with pretty big decisions and you'll have loads of fun!

Justin, your dad and I are so proud of the young man you have become. Please always know how much we love you and how much your Heavenly Father loves you! And, could you do me a favor and slow down a little? You're just growing up too fast!

*Note: turn up your speakers, I finally changed my music!

Happy Birthday Scoop (AKA My Brother Greg)!!!

Scoop feeding me?

Well big bro, you are another year older today, and let me be the first to wish you a Very Happy Birthday! I know you were expecting an expensive gift or maybe just cash but this will have to do!

It wasn't always easy being me, growing up with four big brothers and no sisters. But, thanks to you it was REALLY difficult. Seriously, did you have to tease me so much?

Luckily, I truly do love you - now that we don't live under the same roof! In fact, you are my favorite brother (shh! don't tell the others!)

Not only are you a great brother and uncle, you're a great friend. And, let's be honest, life's never boring when you're around!

So for your birthday, I just want to say - you're the best brother a girl good hope for. I am proud and lucky to have you in my life! I mean it...no one paid me to say that - it's true...honest, mom doesn't even read my blog...



Marc, Justin and Scoop

Scoop and Justin (check out those abs!)

Scoop and Kendal


Kendal and Scoop again (I think he likes that baby girl=)

Scoop, Mom, Justin, Kathy, Marc, Kendal, & Me

(last year after one of Kendal's plays)

Soakin' Wet!

This has been a water balloon summer! It all started a month or so ago. We were in Walmart, picking up a few groceries, when Kendal asked if she could buy some water balloons.

"What on earth for," I asked.

"To throw at people," she replied. (out of respect for me she didn't add a "duh" to that statement, although it was implied)

"Well, how much are they?" (This is my standard question any time the kids ask to make a purchase.)

"Only $2.49 for a pack of 5oo balloons." (somehow adding "only" to the price of an item makes it seem like less, did you know that?)

"That is pretty cheap, are you sure you want them?" (I asked, hoping she'd change her mind.)

"YES!" (she said with a somewhat mischievous look on her face)

Let me just say, that was the best $2.49 I've spent in a long time!

That night, Justin and Kendal took the balloons outside to test them. Soon the entire neighborhood of kids, ages 5 to 15, joined the fun. They had a blast! Unfortunately, the thought didn't occur to me to get my camera. In fact, I haven't taken a single picture of their water balloon adventures all summer.

So today, when Ariel and Cecily came over, Kendal asked if they could play with the remaining balloons. It was such a hot day, it seemed like a wonderful idea! And luckily, this time, I grabbed my camera!

At first it was just the girls. (Justin, the teenager, wasn't sure he wanted to get wet.)

That's Ariel trying to decide how to throw the balloon at Kendal (in the background) without getting squirted by the hose.

Oh no, looks like the tables are turned!

Cecily quickly learned to tie a water balloon.

And, quickly learned how easily they break!


Ariel really wanted Justin (her "big brother") to play too.


Yes! She convinced him to join in the fun!


I paused here to watch and to wipe the water droplets from my lens, when suddenly Justin was chasing Kendal with the garden hose. I'm not sure what set this off but it sure was fun to watch!


Cecily was not happy that Justin was chasing Kendal so she decided to step in and save the day...


I'm not sure how, but Little Cecily got Big Justin wrapped up in the garden hose.Thus ending the chase. Way to go Cecily! Although, I'm still not sure what Kendal did to start with...



There are a few things, after today, that I am sure of...

..$2.49 and a little water can get ya a smile like this...


...Kendal is going to kill me for posting this photo on my blog (but I don't think she reads it, shh!)...


...you shouldn't judge a person's strength by their size...


...And, even teenagers love water balloons!

Only One More Week...

Sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately! It's just that school is starting back in a week and the kids and I have been busy enjoying our last few weeks of freedom. Although I am looking forward to the routine the school year brings, I am not looking forward to my children being away from home for so many hours per day.

I am also not looking forward to Justin beginning high school. Okay, I do think he will enjoy high school. The IB and EPIC programs may actually present a challenge for him. And that's a good thing. He likes to be challenged. And, I'm really happy he'll start seminary! I'm sure his knowledge and testimony of the scriptures will grow. I'm just not looking forward to the next four years flying by like all of the years before them...

And then there's Kendal. My sweet baby girl! Seventh grade already? How did this happen? Now she is wanting to get her hair highlighted and her eye brows "shaped." And, she is constantly asking for a "pink razor" for her b'day. I'm pretty sure she's not referring to the leg shaving kind. Sigh. Why do they have to grow up so fast?

Well, since I'm feeling a little sappy and sorry for myself, I thought I'd cheer myself up by posting a few pictures of "what we did this summer." We had a good one. It just went by too quickly. Do you see a trend here? Time passing too quickly? Here I go again...

Okay, so on our summer break...

Kendal attended her very first Young Women's Camp and stayed the entire time despite bugs, heat and humidity!

Justin rode on the London Eye despite his fear of heights!

And he learned to defend himself? With a sword??

Or, two?

We hung out at the pool and...

(Again with the sword?!)

With good friends

We also hung out with each other

Kendal and I saw Carrie Underwood

Justin returned home, safe and sound

And Kendal swam with Kiwi, the dolphin

(this picture doesn't show much of Kiwi, just my girl, sigh)

We enjoyed a few sea lion and dolphin shows at the Gulfarium (I know you must be wondering why there are sea lions in a GULFarium on the GULF coast. Sure, dolphins - they live around here, but sea lions? California sea lions? Well, they were rescued and brought to our neck of the woods. I guess they don't mind our sub-tropical climate. They seemed pretty happy to me...)

We got a new pup...

I got a new camera...

And sometimes took random pictures of people to try it out...

At first they smiled...

But quickly got tired of it. (Are they shootin that squirt gun at me?)

Well, that about sums it up. Not bad - again - just too short! What will we do this final week of summer? I dunno, maybe more swimming at the pool or maybe even the beach. We'll for sure hang out with a few more friends. Perhaps shoot off those remaining fireworks with the neighborhood kids? Maybe see a movie? Or, take a day trip somewhere? That's the beauty of summer, no particular schedule necessary. The only rules are to be together and have fun! That's what I LOVE about summer!