Adventures @ Home -- Part 2

After the State Track meet was over in Cheney, we came home to Elma that same night and made it around 1am. 

Every day at home was pretty fun and usually relaxing. I say usually because I was always playing outside with Cohen or riding the dirt bikes or going down to the river. :)
Katelyn and I would play chess and watch TV while the boys were napping or playing with their toys in the living room with us. 

Sunday, June 1st: PIANO RECITAL

My mom has between 15-20 students who take piano lessons from her and we have 2 recitals per year. 1 at Christmas time and the other, when school is coming to an end before SUMMER. I was so excited when my mom told me when the recital would be because that meant that I would be HOME to see Tyson perform in his LAST PIANO RECITAL!!! He was the 1st to go on the program and he played "Hallelujah". It was beautiful and he did so great!

Tuesday, June 3rd: Award's Night @ the High School

Mom and I went to Tyson's Award's Night at the high school to support Tyson and see him get 1 of the 2 medals for being Salutatorian of the Senior class of 2014. He also was awarded the World Class scholar. He didn't apply for any scholarships because he will be gone for the next 2 years serving a mission for our church. 

Tyson was called to serve in the Utah Salt Lake City South Spanish speaking mission!!!!! (For those of you who may not know how mission calls work---there is a process of paperwork that you must fill out and there are interviews with leaders in the church, etc. All of these things are documented and then sent in to the Prophet and his counselors. From there it is between them and the Lord where each young man and woman will serve their mission). That is the basic explanation of how it works. Some may go to Elma, WA. Others may go to Canada, Wisconsin, Chile, Brazil, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Sweden, Florida, Ghana, South Africa, Madagascar, New York, etc. All of these places I mentioned are a handful of the places my very own friends have been CALLED TO SERVE. 

In my immediate family: My brother Jakiah served in the Arizona Tempe Spanish speaking mission. Kayla's husband served in Provo, UT English speaking then later he was called to serve Spanish speaking, Katelyn's husband served in Honduras, and my husband served in the Colorado Denver North Spanish speaking mission AND now my younger brother, Tyson, will be serving in the Salt Lake City South Spanish speaking mission!!  

Thursday, June 5th: First Pedicure!

My friend from High School invited me to go with her to get my nails done in McCleary. I said "Sure! Sounds fun!" I had had a manicure a couple of times but never a pedicure. Let me tell you.... IT WAS AWESOME!!! :D

Getting my awesome massage!

Saturday, June 7th: Class of 2014 High School Graduation

 Location: Fairgrounds Barn. haha

The ceremony began at 1pm with a song from the choir and Abby Williams giving her Valedictorian speech then there were some words spoken then TYSON got up to give his speech. For those of you reading this who were there, you know what happened. haha. Tyson gets to the podium and says, "Well the past 4 years at Elma High School have been great." Then he walks away and everyone starts to cheer and clap. He walks about 10 ft. from the podium before turning around and walking back. haha! Then he starts his speech and goes from there. That was honestly the greatest thing I had ever seen at a high school graduation! Epic.

 Waiting for Tyson to walk down the aisle with his class!

Tyson giving his Salutatorian speech

That evening, Mom, Dad, Tyson, Katelyn and her 2 boys, and I went to Red Robin for dinner to celebrate our newest high school graduate. Yum! :)

 My Royal Red Robin

Cohen is enjoying his mac n' cheese with carrots and ranch

Sunday, June 8th: Seminary Graduation 

at the Church @ 6:30pm

Tyson graduated from seminary after all 4 years of going at 7am every morning before school. He also gave a speech/talk on his 4 years of attending and favorite scripture he studied his senior year in seminary from studying the Book of Mormon.

Before seminary graduation that evening, Nanny and Gucky came over as well as my cousin Tessa and her 2 girls, and one of my Dad's high school friends. They all came to see us and we had dinner and hung out. It was a FUN day! :)

Nanny & Gucky outside on the front porch Sunday afternoon

1 week before Gucky's 90th birthday!!!! (He would say he is in his 91st year :)

Cohen thoroughly enjoying an afternoon ride on the mower with his Papa Tim!

Monday, June 9th: Sister's Night Out to the MOVIES

Missing our oldest sister, Kayla, in UT 

 Long story short, we went to the Regal 16 cinemas and originally went to go see Maleficent, which we did, but then when it was over we were walking out and saw that The Fault In Our Stars was just about to start so we decided to movie hop and watch it! Katelyn hadn't even finished the book yet BUT we decided it was worth it! :D

BOTH were so amazing!!!! 

It's true, we both cried our eyes out... it was that amazing!

Tuesday, June 10th: Tyson's Senior Track Banquet

Couple hours long.... Tyson was awarded the Coach's Award and Academic Recognition. Told some funny stories from state. The end.

Wednesday, June 11th: Longest Day Ever...

Stayed up until 2am and had to wake up at 5am to get ready for my flight from Portland --> Houston. Interesting and stressful morning to say the least. 

 Last time at home together for 2 years....

 

Having fun in the car :)

 I LOVE MY BROTHER and would DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. <3 The love of a sister for her little brother <3

Almost missed my flight. Literally got on the plane 5 minutes before we took off. Never been so scared and stressed in my life! 

When I checked my bag it was 9:10am, 40 minutes before my flight left. The lady said they had to put a LATE CHECK IN tag on because they are supposed to have our bags 45 minutes before takeoff. So, that means they couldn't guarantee my bag would be on MY FLIGHT!!!!!! Well, when I got to Houston, I waited about 5 minutes and TA-DA!! It had arrived and made it safely on my flight. I was relieved.

STORY of my FLIGHT to Houston: I get on the plane in Portland and my boarding number was A45. Well that was useless. I got there when they were just about done boarding the C section. I run through the jetway thing and onto the plane and go figure, every seat was taken except the middle seats .... after walking to the back of the plane I realize I would rather sit in the middle seat near the front rather than on a wing seat where the seats don't recline and rather than in the back because I get claustrophobic sitting in the back. 

So, I make my way as fast as I can to the front while trying to judge who I should sit by based on "who do I think will sleep and stay the most quiet for a 4 hour and 10 minute flight....??" I judged wrong. I chose to sit between a lady reading her book (which she did the entire time) and an older man with hearing aids. Nothing against him because I LOVE older people, I just thought he would be a quiet old man. 

Well, long story short, His name is Hoy Dean Embree and he is 93 yrs old. He was a Bomber during WWII and had the most amazing life stories that made both of us cry. He is one of the most sweetest old men I have ever had the privilege of talking to, besides my 2 SWEET grandfathers, Gucky and Opa. 

One thing that I won't forget him saying is that he considers himself a Survivor not a Hero. Well, when I got off of that plane I googled his name and here is what I found....

http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/02_DSC/citatons/03_wwii-dsc/aaf_d.html 

EMBREE, HOY DEAN
Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Hoy Dean Embree, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Ball Turret Gunner of a B-17 Heavy Bomber of the 511th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 21 May 1943, against enemy targets in the European Theater of Operations. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Embree on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 48 (1943)
Born: July 16, 1921 at Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Home Town: Pomona, Missouri

http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=30890 

Distinguished Service Cross

Awarded for actions during the World War II

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Staff Sergeant Hoy Dean Embree (ASN: 17075343), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Ball Turret Gunner of a B-17 Heavy Bomber of the 511th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission over enemy-occupied continental Europe on 19 May 1943. To enable an aircraft of the squadron of which he was a member to participate in the operation, he volunteered to serve as ball turret gunner, thus completing an otherwise incomplete crew. The aircraft in which Sergeant Embree was serving was attacked by a force of enemy fighter airplanes, and he was seriously wounded.

General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 48 (August 3, 1943)

Action Date: May 21, 1943
Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Battalion: 511th Bombardment Squadron
Regiment: 351st Bombardment Group (H)
Division: 8th Air Force 

What an amazing man. Words can't fully express the gratitude I have for this man and for those who serve our country to this day. 

Never judge people by the way the look, you never know what their story may be... glad I chose to sit by this man. :) He was on his way to a reunion with his flight crew members and friends from the war... He said that there are only 21 guys left that are still alive that make it to this reunion.

• Another cool thing he told me as we were about to land. We looked out the airplane window and he was telling me the elevation we were at JUST by looking at the sizes of the cars below us. How NEAT is that! 

• He also told me things about the flight patterns.

• One last thing, he told me that ...Between him and the Lord that he was ready to die whenever God planned that for him. He has lived a good life and has done all that he can. He is happy and believes in God. "What more do I need?" 

What an honest and true man. I hope that we can all say the same about ourselves, that we are ready to meet our maker.