Thus, the annual Halloween gatherings begin!

We started a little late with our annual gatherings because with my new job and Amber's new job, it hasn't been easy making time to set these up. However, we were able to finally get started on them Friday September 25th with just a simple one with Amber, Millie and me. It was so fun! Here are the photo's below!

Haunted Attic Opening Night!

A creepy monster at the beginning.

Amber attacking Millie! Haha!

Mille poking my phone.

Strange selfie time.

Yep we're nerds. I hope the Denny's workers found us entertaining! Hahaha!

Milo's first hiking adventure!

Yesterday, Wednesday September 23rd, my cousin Veronica and I decided to take our dogs on a hike to the Kiwanis waterfall for a nice refreshing swim in the waterfall. It was so much fun! Milo was so excited!

Here is the beautiful waterfall!

Milo is hiding from the falls haha! He wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

Looking up at me for reassurance.

Trying to get a little closer because big brother Ace and cousin Jenna were having fun in the water!

I think it's safe to say that Ace might be part fish, he loves the water! I wish I took more photo's of him and Jenna playing in the water!

My beautiful cousin Veronica and her adorable lab, Jenna! I can't get over how beautiful Jenna is. She's the prettiest lab I have ever seen!

Selfie at the falls! I'm so not good at selfies, I was talking. We had to try again... Haha!

Second attempt, not so bad. Haha! Stunning cousin Veronica, and me. :)

We had so much fun! What's next? THE G!!!! 

-M

Remembering 9/11...

As all of you know, Friday was the 14th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. As years have passed, a lot of us have even moved on and treated that day like it was any other day, not really remembering the day as we should. I myself have been found guilty of that. Only because, I hate sadness and the attack breaks my heart, so I tend to avoid sad things. However, this year I really wanted to get to know the people that were lost in that tragic event. I didn't know anyone that was lost and I don't know if I know anyone that did lose someone on that day or in the war that followed. This year I really wanted to connect with those people lost in the aftermath of the attacks. So, when my mother in-law invited us to go to the Healing Fields located in Sandy, Utah, I couldn't pass up this great opportunity to stop learning about how and what happened, but to get to know and learn about WHO it happened to, the real reason we should be remembering that horrible day.

Placed in the ground is a flag for every soul lost in the buildings and flags for fellow Utahn's lost in the war. Each flag had a little to say about each person on a small piece of paper hooked to the flag. It's amazing how much you learn about a person from just a single paragraph, and how much you can feel from that single paragraph.

So take a moment if you would, if you didn't get a chance to see it for yourself, and read about those people. Here are some photo's and pictures I took of some of the bio's:

A picture of the in-laws, silently walking through the fields.

There were flags everywhere. The more there were, the more my heart ached. It was truly a humbling moment. I couldn't help but feel like every one of those people were there with us. There was so much going on around us yet, it was absolutely silent. It was truly amazing.

The flags were especially beautiful to me that day. I couldn't help but feel thankful for the country I was blessed to be born in. How truly great this country is, if we can look passed all the bad and remember what who and what got us to where we are today. We truly are blessed to be here. It is something I will never take for granted.

Someone leaving flowers for a soldier, a soldier who lost their life defending us. I get the chills just thinking about it. That, my friends, is a true patriot. I cannot express how thankful I am for those that have served and are serving so that we have a place to call home.

And last but not least, the most important part of the post. I hope that you are able to feel what I felt as I walked the rows and rows of flags. Take a moment, if you will and learn about these people.

(I couldn't figure out how to rotate some of them, I apologies for that.)

(This is the bio from the flag with the flowers.)

All these people were just like you and me. All had families, all had dreams. Their lives changed in the blink of an eye. These people are my HEROES.

(Veteran, look closely at the image.)

Take a moment of silence, if you can, and say a silent prayer for these people and their families.

...

All I have left to say is, remember how you treat those around you. You never know what will happen next. Kiss and hug your loved ones often. Say hello, compliment strangers, help those in need. I know that when I go, I want to be happy with how I left. You never know when your life will change, in the blink of an eye. 

Thanks for reading,

-M