I can't believe I have not posted for over a year. I am going to be more dilligent.
Today is 9/11/11. Ten years ago today were the terrorist attacks on our country, hundreds lost their lives, millions were changed forever. We have one of those stories. The tragedy of that day started a chain of events in motion for us that, looking back, guided us to the places and people we are with now. The day of the attack I woke up feeling uneasy. We usually don't watch TV trying to get the kids off to school, but we turned on the news to see smoke coming from the first tower. The news was unclear what had happened. I took the kids and got back in time to see the second plane hit and then the first tower crumble, followed by the second, then the pentagon, then the plane in PA. We were in shock all day. Our home was on the west side of the Salt Lake valley, so we were right under the flight plan for all the planes that circled for landing. I didn't sleep well for months.
So if not for 9/11 there probably wouldn't be an Austin Kade Academy and we definately would not be in Idaho right now. Here is a short version of our story:
Tyler had been working for Gateway Computers, it was a great job and we were doing well. He was a top salesman in Salt Lake. Then Gateway closed it's facility in Salt Lake. Tyler went to selling cars. He really liked selling cars even though the money wasn't as good as Gateway. When 9/11 happened, no one bought cars. People were more introspective and a new car seemed frivolous and unneccesary. This led to us needing to sell our home before we lost it. We moved in with Tyler's parents. About 6 months later his dad suffered kidney failure and because we were in their home we were able to not only care for his dad but also saved his life several times while he was the most ill. I went back to work for hair schools to supplement us while helping with Tyler's dad. Also in this time we had our last child, Liberty. A few months after Libby was born I was asked to return to work for my old boss Larry Curtis, who was splitting up with his partner at Dallas Roberts Academy in Provo. Larry wanted to start a new school in Salt Lake named Taylor Andrews and wanted my help. I of course jumped at the offer. I worked at Taylor Andrews for 5 years as the creative director and learned so much and met the best people! It was the best experience for me and I knew that I could make a difference in my home town of Idaho Falls, ID, just like Larry had in Utah. I left amicably from Taylor Andrews, and Larry was so gracious and kind to see I needed to grow on my own. Tyler's dad was doing well from a kidney transplant from Tyler's youngest brother and it was time to move on. We moved up to Idaho 4 years ago next month. How time flies! We know we are where we are supposed to be and that our family is too. We are hoping to inspire new beauty professionals with the staff we are so proud to have and their examples and the awesome school they are able to go to.
We are so grateful to so many people! But today I wanted to thank all those who lost their lives that day, all those who have lost their lives in the ensuing war and all those who have to live with those holes in their lives. I hold this day dear to me as a catalyst of change in my life that was hard and neccesary for us to grow and learn and expand. It was a day that I remember with horror and with reverence.
As I am going to visit NYC in 20 days and get to see the waterfall and light memorials I wanted to share with you a picture I took at the world trade center site a few years after the attacks:
And one of the new memorial:
WE WILL NEVER FORGET
