These were two of my greatest friends. (wow that's a mouthful of metal, my sister liked to mention that I had such a bright smile, mostly when the sun was hitting it at the right angle.)
We had just graduated from high school with some more of our good friends.
I was living with my parents working two jobs. I think I had the two best jobs a teenager could ever have. I worked as a dietary aid at the hospital. I loved bringing food to those who were healing and those who had just delivered babies. (this just so happens to be my sister-in-law's tray)
And then there was the best yogurt shop in town. It was a blast especially when I got to work with this georgous lady and this georgous lady. (wow check out that hair!)
I also got to babysitt this adorable nephew of mine a couple times of week. (Can you believe how little this guy was Monica?) 
Life was pretty simple and easy for me. I loved living, I loved my family, my nephews and nieces were the greatest little things ever, I had the best of friends, I didn't want to grow up. The world was a beautiful sunny place.
Then on Sept. 11, 2001 I was laying in bed when my mom came and told me the news. I was shocked. How could something like this happen, not in America? I remember watching the news ALL day long. Watching the second plane hit, hearing about the other two planes that hit the pentagon and then crashed in the field in Pennslyvania, watching the first tower fall, then the second, and then all those faces of shock and fear. I remember getting a call from my work telling me that I didn't have to come in that day because the hospital had too few of patients for me to come in. But not back east. There hospitals were jammed packed with people who had been through the worst attack ever. All those images are still so vivid in my memory.
But then on Sept. 12, 2001, there was a feeling in the air that I have not felt as much since. The feeling of love, unity, pride for this country. I remember the radio playing God Bless the USA over and over. I was so proud to live in this country. I am so grateful for those who were true heroes that day and the many days, weeks, and years after. And for those hereos who continue to defend the cause of liberty to this day.
I have been reflecting a lot this past couple of days as to how much this country has changed, and then how much my life has changed in short ten years...
I made the choice to move to Salt Lake City. I still was not sure what I was going to do with my life, and when this opportunity was presented to me, it felt so right, everything fell right into place, and a few years later I understood why I was to move there.
I had some pretty great roomates....and some pretty great memories...
But the reason for me to be there was to find this guy...I scored big time!
And on May 7, 2003 we began our lives together.
Then we welcomed Corbin into our family.
Then we welcomed Taylor.
And then our Levi.
Yes, in the past 10 years my life has changed dramatically. There have been 9 homes I have known during that time, many friends who have come and gone, good times and sad ones, but the things that has been constant is the pride I feel to be an American, the faith I have, and the incredible amount of love I have for my family.
One of my favorite songs that came about from 9/11/01 is this one by Alan Jackson. And the line that I can't help but sing over and over in my head is this...
"Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family, thank God you had somebody to love"
10 years later that is exactly what I am doing.
