Memorial Day

We had another great weekend in Carroll this weekend.  My beautiful cousin Lindsey graduated from high school.  I honestly cannot believe she is ready to go off to college.  It seems like just yesterday when she was born and now she's ready to go to college?  What???  :)  I have to admit I got a kick out of the speeches at commencement.  I think both of the students googled motivational catch phrases and inserted all of them into their speeches.  And they had plenty of advice to give - advice that they obviously had also googled because it was stuff that people don't learn until years down the road.  It was cute though.  And they both mentioned about how they are now entering the real world.  I mean, c'mon.  Really.  The real world?  They are going to be living off of their parents and student loans for the next four years with their only job being making it to class a couple of times a week.  That is not the real world.  :)  I know they are all excited to be on their own though - I know I was!  They just seem so young to be going to college.  Did we look that young?  I'm sure we did!  I hope Lindsey (and probably Kayla) can come and visit me and Brady for a day this summer before she heads off to college.  Maybe we could take Brady swimming or something.  I would enjoy that!

Well, today is Memorial Day and is probably the most important day our country should be observing.  I want to thank every service member for serving and standing up and believing in this great country we live in.  And I want to thank their families who live day to day trying to survive while worrying about their loved ones overseas.  These men and women are brave, selfless, courageous and true heroes.  I admire them for fighting for me, for my family and for our country.  They sacrifice everything and deserve nothing but respect for it.  My dad's family has had numerous people in the service at one time or another.  My cousin Adam has served three tours as a Paratrooper for the 173rd Airborne Brigade.  I am so proud of him.  He is a true hero to our family and we have said many prayers for his safety and they were answered!  Here are some pictures - Adam and Holly were friends / roommates / served together with the Guintas, so they were able to go to the White House when Sgt Guinta was awarded the Medal of Honor.  What a proud and awesome moment this must have been for them!!  Here are some pictures from that day.  I want to give a special shout out to my cousin Adam today for being our hero!!!