Finally an update from Dad....

Although I have not posted here in a long time I can assure you that life in the Lier house has been nothing short of exciting and busy! I am a proud papa now that my first born is officially a pre-schooler! Not that I wasn't proud before - but I am just in awe of my girls and how fast they are growing up on me. I expect that Addy Jo will be walking very soon and if she keeps on trying I will be having detailed conversations with her just like I do already with Paige.

Remembering 9-11-01
Last night Nicole and I watched the film "United 93". With the recent 5-year anniversary of 9-11 I have been reflecting on the events of that day and just considering the impact of the tragedy on the lives of citizens throughout the world. Let me start by offering my condolences to anyone who was directly affected by losing a friend or loved on during the horrific terrorist events that took place on September the 11th. Every time I see the video of the World Trade Center on fire, the plane crashing into the south tower or the towers ultimately collapsing it sends a shiver down my spine and I am overcome with emotion. It just kills me to think about why anyone would do such a thing and with the delusion that they were acting in a way that their GOD would want them to. It is sickening.

The movie brought the events of that morning to an entirely new level for me. I have no idea if the movie portrayed an accurate depiction of what went on but it really reminded me that until those planes actually crashed into their targets, nobody had even considered that it was possible for such a thing to happen! It is just crazy to think about it - and I think that the next time I get on a plane I will be much more observant of what is happening around me as well as taking more notice of my fellow passengers. If you have not seen this movie I highly recommend you do.

Where were you when...
Every time there is an historic event people associate that event with where they were and what they were doing when it happened. The first big event that that I can remember is when the spaceshuttle Challenger exploded as it lifted off back in the early 80's. I was in 2nd grade and we were actually watching the launch on the television at the school that day. Another was the night that Princess Dianna was killed in the car crash in the mid 90's - I was serving tables at Applebee's up in Fargo that night and everyone was focussed on the television sets throughout the restaurant. I am not sure why I remember that night but for some reason it just stick in my mind.

The morning of September 11th, 2001 started off the same as any other for Nicole and I. I was in the shower listeing to the KQ Morning Show when Tom Barnard made a comment something to the effect of "Holy crap - the twin towers are on fire!" as he watched one of their T.V. monitors in the radio studio. I quickly finished my shower and turned on the television in our bedroom where I saw the video of the north tower on fire with a gaping hole on the side and smoke billowing out. While the reporters scrambled to come up with theories and stories we watched as a large airplane came across the screen and crashed right into the south tower. I remember saying something like "Holy Sh#$$#!" and having chills run down my spine thinking what the hell is going on? The rest of the day was spent watching a crappy television at the office in shock and pondering the idea of our country being at war with an unknown enemy. (This brings up thoughts of the movie "Red Dawn" and how I would protect my family by packing up and driving to some remote spot to survive off the land, but that is another story altogether.)

Why do I bring all this up again?
I love my wife and kids more than anything else in this world and I am thankful for every moment that I have with them. Enough said. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.