It's Mommy Time

My dear mother came to visit me!!!!! I was so happy to have her come, not only to have our first house guest ever, but to spend time with her. I didn't realize how much I missed her and everyone; I think I have been pushing down those feelings just to get by out here...But seriously!!! It was so great to have her here! We totally did things that tourists ought to do in Oklahoma...Here are our adventures...

We went to the Oklahoma Federal Building Memorial and Museum. It was a really cool place, but sobering at the same time. It is hard to believe the devastation that one person can leave on a whole community, and even the whole nation.

This picture is at the memorial and the chairs represent each life that was lost during the devastation...Being in Utah and still in elementary school (or maybe I was in junior high by this time) I didn't really know exactly what when on here, all the details and the horrible amount of loss. There was a daycare in the building, and the small chairs in the front row represents each little life that was taken.
At the memorial they have two gateways that represent what life was like before the bombing occurred and what life is like after...that is what the above pictures represent. In between is where the chairs are located to represent what went on in that short minute of complete chaos.

This tree is on the memorial site and was actually the only plant life in the area that survived...It is called the Living Tree. This picture isn't the best, but you can actually see where parts of it have been burnt due to the bomb. Another reason this Memorial holds a special meaning is that the credit union I currently work for was the credit union that was located on the third floor of the building when the bomb went off. There are about seven people still working there today that were present during the bombing; they have shared their personal stories with me and it makes it all the more real how tragic this was. You pray that you can go your whole life without experiencing something this terrible, but you have to honor and admire those who have gone through it and have continued to live strong and heroic lives.

Mom was a little sick when she was out here so we really didn't do way too much! I felt bad but was still so happy to have her here! Another fun thing that we did was to go to our science museum!!! And seriously the museum out here totally trumps the Utah museum. There was an undersea expedition exhibit going on. It was cool...Therefore there was a pirate theme as well! Here are some pictures...

Arr Matey...it be Captain Cathy coming to slice yrr wee throat..Yo Ho Yo Ho....a Pirates life for me....(like my lame captions!!!)
.You can't tell but I am guiding my ship through treacherous waters....

We had a good time having mom out here!!! We did some shopping, ate some nummy food; but most importantly I had someone to hang out with when Holt was doing something else. I really miss my family and friends from home so much! It was really REALLY hard taking mom to the airport and letting her leave, but it was fun while she was here. Oklahoma has been fun and as each week passes I feel better about being here, but I still get homesick....so really if any of you want to come visit...PLEASE DO!!!! And thanks again Mom!!! Love you!