Let's get emotional....

Last night as we tried to get Cara settled down so I could actually get some sleep we watched the ending of the Opening Ceremonies to the Olympics. If you are wondering no we never got her down to sleep, Big Daddy fell asleep since he had to work and I was up til 1am with her again! She then woke up at 5am again. I just don't know what gives lately! Back to the story...

I continued to watch the ceremonies, and they were at the last 45 mins of it all, so the countries were walking in and such. I believe it was just after The United States, because I didn't get to see them walk in until I woke up at 5 am and watched the rerunning of it as Cara ate again! There were two things that just struck me greatly as I watched this event. There was a small country I am not even sure which one but I think it is an Island of some sort. They only had about 20 total athletes but they marched in with such pride waving, carrying their country's flag so high! This team in particular has NEVER EVER won a single Olympic medal in all of the games' history. I began telling Big Daddy to look how proud they were. They probably wouldn't win again and didn't even have enough athletes to compete in the majority of the games. They were just happy their country chose them, sent them and was supporting them. Their country I'm sure has an economy even worse than that of the United States right now but they were darn proud to be from there. I began thinking about all the people who live in our country and (even myself) sometimes who complain about the way things are here. How sad it is to not appreciate what we do have here! The ability to travel coast to coast through all states without having to prove who we are, or furnish papers to show our citizenship. I believe we sent 600 and some athletes to the Olympics and I certainly think that is wonderful. WE ARE FREE ENOUGH AND PRIVILEGED ENOUGH, to be able to train in all sports and produce great athletes at such a young age to send to such an event. We Americans need to remember these great things we have here.

The second and REALLY BIG heart touching moment was when China walked in. As the host country they are the last to walk in waving their flag. Well the flag bearer was Yao Ming which many know is the over 7ft. tall basketball player for the Houston Rockets. Walking next to him however, was the inspiration of it all, a tiny 9 year old boy named, Lin Haou ( I may not be completely accurate on his name sorry). This little boy was one of the children to survive the terrible Earthquake in China in May where 20 of his 30 fellow classmates died. He managed to free himself from the debris and rubble and once realizing he was ok, proceeded to free and save two of his classmates. The little boy is 9!!! HE IS 9!!! We have 39 year olds who won't step out of their comfort zone and help another human being on this earth, and this 9 year old helped two!!!! When he was asked why he did this, he said to reporters, (I won't quote, not sure of specifics); I am one of the class leaders, I am a hall monitor! It WAS MY JOB! I began crying at this point as you could see on the boys head where his hair will never grow back from scars and such from being hurt. A boy risked his own life at 9 because someone entrusted him with a job such as hall monitor. HE took his job so seriously he had to save his classmates. I hope I raise my children to help somebody every chance they can! I hope my children never see another person stranger or not in harm's way and just stand by and let them get hurt. I wouldn't want to lose my children in the process but I want them to have the compassion for all of humanity to help! I also, hope my children learn from me that no matter what their job is to do it fully and to the greatest of their ability. They should always want to be the best at what they do! NO MATTER WHAT THE TASK IS!