Seeing as it is Flag Day, I thought that some history of it would be appropriate. Even tho most of you already know it. ;)
Flag Day is June 14.
History of Flag Day
Flag Day is a celebration of the adoption of the American flag by Continental Congress in the First Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777. Although the 200-year anniversary of this date was celebrated by flying flags on public buildings and holding remembrances in several cities, Flag Day wasn’t officially recognized until President Harry Truman signed it into law in 1949.
Bernard J. Cigrand, known to the general public as the "Father of Flag Day," worked as a school teacher at Stony Hill School in Waubeka, Wisconsin. He held the first unofficial observance for Flag Day at that school in 1885, and today a bust of Cigrand stands in Waubeka at the National Flag Day Americanism Center.
Cigrand delivered speeches around the country about patriotism and holding an observance for the flag on June 14. He later became the president of the American Flag Day Association and the National Flag Day Society. He continued to promote his cause with backing from those organizations. According to amateur historian James L. Brown who wrote the booklet, "The Real Bernard J. Cigrand: Father of Flag Day," Cigrand once claimed he had given 2,188 speeches on the flag and patriotism. The Chicago Tribune noted that Cigrand "almost single-handedly" established Flag Day.
Although Cigrand is perhaps the most recognized candidate, several others have also claimed to be founders of Flag Day. In 1889 the principal of a free kindergarten, George Bolch, celebrated the anniversary of the Flag resolution at his New York City school. Soon the State Board of Education of New York, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia and the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution celebrated Flag Day too.
In 1893 Elizabeth Duane Gillespie, a descendant of Benjamin Franklin and the president of the Colonial Dames of Pennsylvania, attempted to have a resolution passed deeming June 14 as Flag Day. That same year the Colonial Dames of Pennsylvania were responsible for a resolution passed requiring the American flag to be displayed on all Philadelphia’s public buildings. In 1937 Pennsylvania was the first state to make Flag Day a legal holiday.
After much persistence and the support of many individuals, organizations, mayors, governors and five presidents, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation requesting that June 14 become National Flag Day. In 1927 President Coolidge issued a second proclamation, and finally in 1949 Congress approved it and it became a law.
Soon after Flag Day became official, another law passed requiring the state superintendent of public schools to make sure patriotic holidays like Memorial Day, Flag Day, Lincoln’s birthday and Washington’s Birthday are observed in schools.
How to Observe Flag Day
The week of June 14 is designated as "National Flag Week." During National Flag Week, the president will issue a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of that week. The flag should also be displayed on all Government buildings. Some organizations hold parades and events in celebration of our national flag and everything it represents. It’s also a time to remember and honor military men and women who defend our flag and our country.
The National Flag Day Foundation holds an annual observance for Flag Day on the second Sunday in June. The program includes a ceremonial raising of the flag, recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, singing of the National Anthem, a parade and more. The ceremony will take place on June 10, 2007, in Waubeka, WI, the birthplace of Flag Day (according to Cigrand).
http://www.united-states-flag.com/flag-day-history.html
Oh, and Happy birthday, Mom!!! :D
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Flag Day
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
*dies laughing*
I found this a while ago and had to post! It's hilarious!!! Enjoy!
Twilight in less than 500 pages
Scene 1
BELLA: I'm sad to leave the horrible, uninhabitable wasteland of Phoenix to live in a rain-soaked town full of country people that do not understand my city ways. I wish everything about my comfortable and privileged life were completely different!
DAD: Hi, Bella! Welcome to Forks, Washington. I'm glad you've stopped playing mother to your own flighty, irresponsible mom and come here to be my mother instead.
BELLA: It will be my pleasure to cook and clean for you.
DAD: I bought you an old truck from an Indian in a wheelchair!
BELLA: I .... have no response for that.
*******
Scene 2
BELLA: It's tough being the new kid in school! Especially when everyone is so friendly and helpful and interested in me. Why can't they just leave me alone so I can sit in the corner and be left alone to pout?
CLASSMATE: You're awesome Bella!
BELLA: See what I have to put up with? Hey-- who are those hot people over there?
CLASSMATE: Those are the Cullens. They avoid direct sunlight, they don't eat food, they sleep in coffins in a graveyard, and holy water burns them. I think they're Canadians.
BELLA: They sure are spectacularly gorgeous.
CLASSMATE: Yes, they are.
BELLA: I mean seriously, those people are BEAUTIFUL. Especially the one who keeps looking at me. Man alive, that guy is stunning. I mean, wow. He is hot buttered seduction on a stick. I mean, LOOK AT HIM! If you don't mind, I'd like to spend the next 75 pages talking exclusively about how attractive he is and then bring it up again every paragraph or so for the remaining 400 pages.
CLASSMATE: Knock yourself out.
******
Scene 3
EDWARD: Hi, I'm Edward. I'm every girl's fantasy boyfriend: moody, humorless, violent, capable of snapping your spine with my bare hands, liable to do creepy things like watch you while you're sleeping, but also really cute.
BELLA: There is something strange about you.
EDWARD: (recoils at her garlic breath) I don't know what you mean.
BELLA: I just can't put my finger in what it is.
EDWARD: (lifts automobile with one hand) You're imagining things.
BELLA: I feel like you're hiding something from me.
EDWARD: (grabs passing rabbit with lightning speed; drinks rabbit's blood) Don't be silly!
BELLA: It's like you're different somehow.
EDWARD: (turns into a bat, flies away)
BELLA: Hmmm. I bet he's foreign.
******
Scene 4
JACOB: You should be careful with those Cullens. Many moons ago, our tribe's elders, who were werewolves, made a pact with the Cullens, who are vampires. They're not allowed on our land, not even at our casinos.
BELLA: What, still? Even after all this time has passed?
JACOB: Nope
BELLA: Since when do white people honor treaties with Indians?
JACOB: I know, right?
BELLA: Let me guess-- you're a character whose only job is to provide exposition, and you won't be useful until the next book.
JACOB: Yes. At the earliest.
******
Scene 5
BELLA: Thanks for saving me from that mob of guys who attacked me in the street! It's a good thing you obsessively stalk me while simultaneously insisting you want nothing to do with me.
EDWARD: No problem. If anyone's going to tear you limb from limb and gorge themselves on your sweet, delicious, life-giving blood, it's going to be me.
BELLA: Aw, you say the nicest things! I'm pretty sure you're a vampire, that I'm in love with you and that part of you wants to kill me.
EDWARD: Don't be silly. It's not just part of me.
BELLA: HA HA HA!! You're so funny!
******
Scene 6
EDWARD: You know what vampires love? Baseball!
BELLA: Really?
EDWARD: Sure! Haven't you ever heard of vampire bats?
>crickets<
EDWARD: Anyhoo, these are the vampire friends I live with, the Cullens. They've been very eager to eat you.
BELLA: You mean meet me?
EDWARD: Meet you. What did I say?
ALICE: I'm Alice! I can see the future, but only when it's useful to the plot. For example, right now: Look out for those mean vampires barging in from the forest!
MEAN VAMPIRE JAMES: Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum! I smell the blood of a human!
EDWARD: Stay away from her! Bella, you'd better go. I don't want you to have to see me fight this guy for your honor, our muscles straining as we grapple, the air thick with testosterone and the sounds of our throaty snarling.
BELLA: Right! I wouldn't want to see that! Especially not if your shirts got torn off!
******
Scene 7
MEAN VAMPIRE JAMES: You puny humans are so predictable and weak. Now I've got you alone, free to toy with you and torture you and deliver lengthy explanatory monologues to you! I just hope I don't waste so much time that when I finally do decide to kill you it's too late because Edward and the Cullens have arrived to save you!
BELLA: That would certainly be an unusual twist!
MEAN VAMPIRE JAMES: Never mind! At last it is time for me to--
EDWARD: Not so fast, Count Jerkula!
MEAN VAMPIRE JAMES: Edward! And the Cullens! Who could have forseen your perfectly timed arrival?!
ALICE: I could have! Didn't, but could have!
(Fighting ensues. MEAN VAMPIRE JAMES is vanquished.)
EDWARD: Bella! Are you OK? He bit you! I've got to suck out the vampire poison!
BELLA: Edward, you don't have to make up excuses to suck my blood. I mean honestly, who ever heard of "vampire poison"?
EDWARD: I'm serious! It's coursing through your veins as we speak!
BELLA: Uh-huh, whatever you say.
******
Scene 8
BELLA: Why did you bring me to the prom, Edward? You know I can't dance, and that I hate it when people tell me I'm beautiful, which happens all the time.
EDWARD: I don't want your dangerous psychological infatuation with a vampire to interfere with your regular life.
BELLA: But I want to BE a vampire! I want you to do it to me.
EDWARD: You're sure you want to be a vampire?
BELLA: Yes.
EDWARD: Well, how about if I press my lips against your throat in an ambiguous way, just enough to ensure that readers come back for the sequel?
BELLA: It's a deal
(Fade to black; roll credits; send in ushers to mop up the audience's tears and drool.)
What is it about his voice that just makes you feel so much better?
SMILE
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by
If you smile
And maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
You are Loved (Don't Give Up)
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy I
I will lift it for you
Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you I
I will break it for you
Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved
Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside I
I'll be there to find you
Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you I
I will shine to guide you
Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody needs to be loved
Don't give up
Because...you are loved
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
Don't give up
Everyone needs to be loved
You are loved
Monday, June 1, 2009
July 15, come now!!!!! *begs*
You know when you past the point of exhaustion and nothing seems to matter anymore? That's been me the past couple months. Not just with the baby, oh no, the baby is a piece of cake. It's with the child that I like to call "The Demon." aka-Porter. He's going thru some sort of stage. I don't know how long it will last, but I want it to end like 2 months ago! It's not a matter of sibling rivalry, he doesn't even notice Luke half the time. He's always acting out. And not that of a normal child or what he used to do. like 100 times worse! Right now he's in the living with the oscelating fan, and he's turning it on and off and twisting the fan around and it's clicking really bad, I keep hearing things in there, like he's putting a blanket or something thru one of the holes and letting the blades hit it and make a noise. I haven't gone to stop him, because well, quite frankly, I know that it won't help. As long as the fan is in there, it's going to get abused. But it's too hot to take it out. We decided not to put our a/c unit in the window this year, for that reason alone.
I don't mind that he's becoming more independant, like wanting to make his own sandwiches or making his own toast, but that's where I draw the line at the moment. I don't care if he opens the fridge and grabs the package of hot dogs, just as long as he actually eats them and doesn't spread them all out over the floor or hide them so then the room begins to stink.
This morning he told me that he was going to brush his teeth. Okay, great! He doesn't brush enough. 10 minutes later, I checked up on him to get his toothbrush and he was sucking on his toothpaste tube. I just bought it this weekend and the toddler training toothpaste is not cheap! Luckily, it won't hurt him.
It's just the things that he knows he's not supposed to do that he does anyways. Now he's swinging in the baby swing. Again. Or dumping his toys out the second I get the floor vacuumed. Or shoving things into the DVD player. Yeah, I went to put things in the dryer and came up to copy a cd from my laptop and the drive won't open. After taking the cover flappy thing off, I discover there's a dvd in there. And of course, it's not one of mine. It was one that I borrowed from my sister. I can't get it out for the life of me, without taking the whole entire computer apart.
Discipline? He doesn't seem to understand that concept. Spankings, time out, loss of priviledges... none of that phases him at all. 5 minutes later, he's back to doing whatever it was that he was doing before he got in trouble.
And he's become rude! He's like a snobby kid!! He told Seth to shut up like 5 times this morning, even after timeout and daddy spankings. He likes to yell "no" or "go away mom," or "don't tell me stop."
Everyone that I've talked to and the stuff that I've researched online have all said the same things: make sure he's getting enough sleep, a good diet, and enough activity. He gets all of that! Even going outside is a nightmare. He's always eating and when he doesn't take a nap, he sleeps for like 12 hours. I'm trying to get him back on his schedule now that Luke is on one, but that's harder than pulling teeth.
Seth told me that maybe the reason why he doesn't listen to me is because I look like a kid and most kids don't listen to other kids. *shrug* I don't know. It'll just be really nice to go on that vacation in July for 5 days. No worries and no kids. A much needed break.
I realize that I have responiblities at home. Like, keeping the house clean, making dinner, doing laundry on top of watching the kids, but it's almost impossible to do anything. I'm constantly chasing Porter around. I'm lucky if I get a load of clothes in the washer/dryer and a load of dishes in the dishwasher. That's a good day.
I'm just so frazzled and everyone says it'll pass. Well, they obviously don't have my temperment.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
11.20.09
Sunday, May 10, 2009
People are always wondering why I am the way that I am. Why not? I guess you could say that I have had an 'interesting' life, if trials and dissappointment are 'interesting.' I always get really sentimental this time of year. One of the reasons why I really hate May. Yes, it's a beautiful month and the weather is starting to warm up, but there's just too many thoughts, memories, that are still very... what's the word? um... well, personal I guess, tho that doesn't really cover it. It was around this time that I have had many heartbreaks.
The first was my senior year of high school- May 2003. I had been dating a dear, sweet guy for 2 years. His name- Adam Jones. Captain Adam Jones in the United States Marine Corps. I was completely smitten. Head over heels for this guy. We were waiting for me to graduate from high school before making any immediate plans for the future. He wasn't much older than I was- about 4 years, and I knew, deep down, that he was the one that I was supposed to be with. He had been with me through thick and thin. All of the trials and turmoils that life would bring he was there. My rock.
Shortly after we had first met, maybe 3 or 4 months, he got deployed to Iraq. This was just before Christmas of 2001- just after the September 11 attacks. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. Leaving him at the airport, not knowing if I was ever going to see him again. He was a Doctor, a Medic, for the Corps, so I didn't know and I prayed that he wouldn't be right at the front lines of fire. I prayed everyday for his safety and for his health. For him to return home soon. We were still able to communicate by e-mail, but it wasn't nearly as much as I had wanted to. Just sporattic times when he would have a minute to sit down. Which I understood. As long as he was safe, that was all I cared about.
His best friend, Luke, was like a brother to me and also was in the military, the Army, got deployed soon after the new year. Now I had 2 people to worry about. To pray that nothing happened to either one.
I got an e-mail around June 2002, that Luke was in Germany. He had been shot and flown to the best German military hospital. They weren't sure if he was going to make it.
I had been so worried about Luke and Adam and now this had happened. I turned to my two best friends in the world- Johanna and Cody to help me through all of this. Johanna had known Luke a lot longer than I had so she was in a tougher situation than I was.
Then, that next month, Luke was sent home. Alive. Healthy. Jo and I were overjoyed. August 2002, right before school started, Adam came home. There are no words to express my emotions at that time. He told me stories of what was going on and what he was dealing with on a daily basis. How close bombs would come to the Medic stations, how much gunfire he had to avoid in order to find the wounded and get them to safety. But then, the unthinkable happened. He was only on leave. He had to return 6 weeks later. My heart sank once again, but I knew that everything would be fine. He would be fine. He would come home, I would graduate and we would live happily ever after in some small Iowa town.
That's where I was wrong. He was scheduled to come home in May of 2003, just in time to see me graduate. I had been counting down the days, down to the exact hour, of his return. May 20. That was the day. The day came and went and no word from Adam. I had talked to him the night before and he had told me that he was leaving and on his way home. Nothing. May 21. Nothing. May 24, the day before my high school days were officially over, I get a call. It was Adam's mom. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. I could feel it. I didn't have the courage to say anything. I just listened. She broke into tears, but not tears of joy. "Adam's gone." She had said. "His plane, shot down over Iraq shortly after take off. No survivors." I was numb. I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. It couldn't be true. This was a horrible dream. He would be there tomorrow, I just knew it. I put on my happy face and graduated with my best friend Cody right behind me. It was supposed to be a happy time. My family had flown out to see me. My mom was anxious to meet Adam. Meet the one that swept me off my feet. He wasn't there. His funeral- held a mere week later. I had asked him once jokingly, what song he wanted to be played when he died. And he said, "Something with meaning." When I asked him to specify, I laughed at his decision. He had been a Groban fan from the very beginning, a bit longer than I had known who Josh even was. I had heard his debut cd and listened to it a bit more since I knew that Adam loved it. He said, "To where you are by Josh Groban." Walking into the church, I heard that music playing. I couldn't even make it into the room. Johanna and Luke were both there, but I just couldn't. I left, went home, packed my bags and moved back out to Utah to begin a new life. Which I did. And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
So Adam, this is for you. It's been almost 6 years, but he was my best friend and I still miss him dearly.
Okay, yes I know that was a bit morbid, seeing as how I'm married and all, but there is yet another reason for me to really despise May. It was around this time 3 years ago. Porter was 5 weeks old. I remember this very vividly. I had put him in his swing and had been picking up toys and listening to music on iTunes, when my cell phone rang. It was about 8:30 in the evening. I had been getting a lot of telemarketer calls and this was an unrecognized number, but I answered it anyway thinking that if I told them off, they would stop calling me. The person on the other line just happened to be my old social worker. Karen Sherrill. I hadn't heard from her in about 13 or so years and then just out of the blue she called. That right there got me worried. That's when I knew that something was wrong. She started with some small talk saying that she called Salt Lake City and got my my number from my adoptive mom, Kathleen. Then she said it. "Your mother has pneumonia and isn't expected to live through the night."
My parents- Robert and Patricia Lawrence. They weren't your typical ordinary parents. My mom was born with many diseases- epilepsy and lupus to name a couple. She was even mildly retarded, but she was still able to function in public. She could tend for herself for the most part, but she went through a lot of crap growing up. Step parents, abuse, step siblings, incest. You name it, most likely she lived it. Her siblings teased her and made fun of her, took advantage of her because she was different. She met my dad and they fell in love. Love at first sight. Yes, I know that sounds corny, but it's true. They got married and shortly after, had my older sister Marlene. She died at the age of 4 weeks old due to prematurity. My mom smoked a lot and because of her health problems, the doc told her that she needed to be more careful if she were to ever have any more kids. Then I came along. I almost didn't make it, but they were able to save me. 6 months later, I was able to come home. Sometime during the time that I was born and the 4 years later that my sister was born, my dad found out that he was dying. Leukemia and emphazema, and it was growing fast. He didn't have much time. He could have gone through the treatments and been fine, but instead, he stayed home to nurse my mom, who was very ill. So, I was the mom basically. We had no money. We lived on wellfare and in a hotel. We were lucky if we got a full 3 meals a day. With both of my parents basically dying in the same room as I was in, I had to take care of myself, Vanessa and my parents at the ripe old age of 5. But I loved it. Vanessa called me mommy. I loved being able to take care of her and keep the house clean. I was actually excited when I was able to make mac and cheese and then do the dishes afterwards.
My dad passed in Feb of 1991- age 49. Because of my mom's illnesses, we got taken away from her and we moved in with the only other normal sibling that she had. My aunt Nicole.
Long story short, when I was 8, I was adopted and I moved from Washington to Utah. I kept in touch with Patty, as I was instructed to call her. She was 'no longer my mother.' I grew up thinking that my parents hated my sister and me and that we were abused severly. We weren't allowed to have any kind of visitation, even though Kathleen could afford to fly Patty out to see us. Summer of 1995 we flew to Spokane to sign papers and finalize the adoption and that was the last time I ever saw Patty again. I wrote to her occasionally, usually at holidays, but I was basically terrified of her. Vanessa had no memory of her, so she didn't want anything to do with her. Completely understandable. The years went on and the writing became less and less. Non existant during my 2 year period in Iowa. It wasn't until I got married and we sent her a wedding invitation, that I fully realized how important it was to me that I stay in touch with her. So, it became a more diligent activity that I did. I remember that I had sent her a baby announcement after Porter was born in April and I hadn't receieved anything back. She usually wrote the second she got my letter and I got it usually the next week.
I figured it got lost in the mail. Didn't really think much of it. Until that call. Seth immediately got off of work, we went and picked up Vanessa, dropped Porter off at a relative's house and made the 1800 mile road trip to Spokane Washington, not knowing what we would expect.
My grandmother called my cell phone in Cour d'laine, Idaho about 10 or so miles outside of Spokane. We told her where we were and she said that she expected us in about 15 minutes. She told me that Patty was looking a lot better, but that she still wasn't able to talk much, but that she wanted to hear my voice. As awkward as it was, she was put on the phone and I started talking. "Mom, it's me. Janie. Ruthie is with me too. So is your son in law Seth. We're coming Mom. We're almost there. I've missed you so much and I'm sorry for not being there. I love you Mom. I'll see you soon." I hung up the phone and something felt different, but I couldn't figure out what. We soon arrived at the place where she lived- an adult group home. All of the family members came outside and then I saw my grandma. With tears in her eyes, she gave the three of us a hug and said over and over. "She's gone. She's gone. She was waiting for you. To hear you. The second you said that you loved her, she went." Just the thought that she was holding out for us. We were so close. She just wanted to hear me. She didn't have a chance to even see her youngest daughter all grown up. 16 years old. And her recent son in law. I will never forget what I saw when I walked into her room to pay my last regards. The vision will haunt my memories forever.
This wasn't my mom. This was some sick lady. Someone who had been tormented and tortured her whole life. Someone who looked deathly ill. Almost like a skeleton. This wasn't the beautiful lady that I remember. The one who would tell me jokes and let me put on her clothes and perfume. No, there had to be a mistake.
But then, I knew. I felt it. She was in a better place. She was in heaven with her husband and her daughter. She was home and she was happy. And for once in her 45 years of life, she wasn't in pain. Nobody was judging her. I felt truly at peace.
So now, every year on Christmas Eve, not only do I think about the meaning of Christmas, I take time to remember my dear sweet mother's birthday and I listen to her favorite singing artist- Mariah Carey.
Mom, I miss you and love you and I know that you are happy. I know that you truly are watching over us and can watch us grow. Watch your grandchildren grow. I really wish that I had more time to get to know you better. Mom, this is for you.
Poetry by Vanessa pt.2
These next ones she wrote just to vent.
