What a weekend

This weekend was an unusual one. Saturday Jacob and I went to a funeral-of someone neither of us knew. Jacob was asked to do the Bell Ceremony for this fallen firefighter (in a nearby town). I have never been to a fireman's funeral before. I've been to a military funeral, but it's a bit different knowing what the family's life must be like. This was a volunteer firefighter, so I am well aware of their life and their family's. Jacob and I took a fire truck to the services (weird to ride in, by the way) as we drove I thought about a lot of things-one being how LOUD the truck was, the other was more spiritual...no one really knows what it is like to be a fire family. No matter how much people try to understand, but it is just not something you can explain. Knowing that the pager can go off anytime, and he can be gone for an unknown amount of time, and when he returns he may be drained. My kiddos know the tones of the fire department and the ambulance department. They know that daddy may say he'll be back soon, but he may not be back before bed (even if he leaves at 9 AM). They know that if mommy is working any number of people may be picking them up and taking them. They do not know that daddy could get hurt on any call at any time-I am very aware of that. I know exactly what to say when I put them to bed and daddy is on a call. We know that when daddy is at work that he may not be available to answer the phone. We know that part of our family must be those connected to the three emergency services that we are connected--no one else really knows what days are like when "duty calls". I just kept thinking, the family of fire fighters' family members understand always being on call. It's a bit like opera (as Richard Gere says in Pretty Woman) those who love opera will always love opera, others may appreciate opera, but they will never love it-- the same is true of fire fighter families-people may know what happens, but they really do not understand the go with the flow attitude and commitment to the service fire fighter's families have. After 20 minutes we finally arrived. We sat with the fire department all dressed in their funeral stuff-white gloves, black ties...the fire engine that the casket would ride on was complete with the black and purple flags, as with the other engines from that department. He had no wife, no kids, just a lot of friends, sisters, nieces, and nephews...so much for my insight for the wife...
Levi played hockey! He stopped 15 out of 25 the first game--his team lost 0-10--his team took 2 shots on the opposing team and they played a total of 2 minutes in front of the opposing goalie. Second game Levi stopped 25 of 36 (one of which his own teammate shot on him) again they lost 0-10 and they did not shoot at all on the opposing goalie, and played only 5 minutes on the other side of the center line. He was ok with the losses, but still they need to score.
Baseball meeting was Sunday teams are set! yeah!!!!

comfy

Well, I am working a bit late tonight and have just a few minutes left....Much has been happening and I will post some movies of Levi playing hockey one of these days, I also have a little clip of Jas playing Just Dance on her Wii (on second thought...). I have several updates:
We spent a wonderful weekend with Jas and her family-although not all were healthy, we still managed to have a great time. Our kids are just perfectly aged, Benjamin and Albi had a great time. It's really the first time that Benjamin has someone exactly his age to play with (except at daycare) so it was really fun to hear them talk, laugh, and play.
Levi has had a hockey game and is really doing well. He REALLY hates to be scored on, so he doesn't goalie every game, but man does he get a workout. His team is not really good at scoring. The last game Levi blocked 38 of 48 shots. The other goalie blocked 10 of 14. A little lopsided, huh? He just keeps plugging away. We are careful not to push too hard. Soon t-ball will start...
Gosh it just seems that we are much busier than that. Honestly, my mind has finally turned to mush, I must go home and to bed-I've been here all day...

VOTE

I voted today. It took me 30 minutes-in a town of 3000, seriously?! Even now I am undecided if I voted the way I "should" have...Really what role does experience play? Does anyone have enough "experience" to be pres or vice pres. What prepares you for that? And if you have "experience" being president than you only have one term left-right? I will be glad when the polls close. I am grateful that I have PTO tonight as much as I HATE PTO (it used to be PTA), but at least I won't be home hearing about the election every 2 minutes. Either way this election will result in the first...and either way I fear for the president-what you don't think that someone would want to kill the first minority president or kill to make the first minority president. Either way I believe the secret service has their work cut out for them...
On the non-political front...this weekend we get pictures done with my whole family. Sunday we will then do what I have grown to look forward to, and never thought I would ever do...we sight in rifles for deer season-no I don't hunt- not because I think it's wrong, but because I think it would be BORING and COLD! However I do love to shoot a gun-mainly the 9 mm. LOVE IT. Levi shot the 22 last year and will again this year. We go with John, Keri, J, R, K, G and we always take my little girl Sadie (dog) who loves to try and retrieve what ever we shot-mainly she runs around and never manages to find anything that does not stink nor does she ever get shot-amazing...Every year (well the last 3) I have gotten a picture of Jacob and Levi walking to the targets-they hang in my office, each time I manage to catch them in the same part of their step. This year we will add Benjamin. Both boys have their own ear muffs for the noise and both know to stay out of the way. It is important to us that they understand gun safety...
Levi plays hockey and I think that my parents are coming for that game (actually I think they will be here all Sunday-but we really "have" to get the guns sighted in deer season starts 11-15). I never ask and honestly I don't know why we have to do this every year, but it is a day outside in the wilderness...
and still not pictures, some day...