Ali's first stitches

Well family night did not go as planned tonight. Ali was playing with my paper cutter (which I have let her play with in the past as long as I am right next to her) and she cut her thumb on her right hand. We ended up taking her to the After Hours Medical Center in So. Jordan and they told us she needed stitches. By the way I am definitely going to this little clinic from now on instead of the ER. We were in and out in less then an hour. Anyway back to the story. Ali was very brave until they numbed her finger and then she was just plain mad. It took four stitches and three of us to hold her down while the doctor stitched her up. The whole time she was getting stitched up she kept screaming "I don't want to be here, I want to go home". Although she thought it was pretty cool that she got a pink cast (it's actually just pink medical tape but we will let her think it is a cast). Hopefully it isn't too sore when she wakes up in the morning. We have to return to the clinic in 48 hours for the doctor to make sure it isn't infected and in ten days the stitches can be removed. This has to be the most eventful family night we have ever had so far.

Grandpa and his Purple Heart

Yesterday we had the honor of attending a ceremony at the state capitol for my Grandfather. He as waited almost 65 years for the day he would receive his Purple Heart for being injured during WWII, and if finally happened. It was a very special moment for my Grandpa and we were so thankful to be part of it. As we were waiting for the ceremony to start we were greeted by Governor Jon Huntsman Jr and Senator Orrin Hatch. The Governer was great, he walked around and shook everyone's hand and also talked to every child asking them how old they were, if they were in school yet and how school was going for them. He is really a nice man. Grandpa was so excited to receive his Purple Heart, he kept saying "this is the best day I have had in a long time". The ceremony was great, US Senator Orrin Hatch, Governor Jon Huntsman, Terry Schow, and Rob Bishop all spoke, honoring my Grandfather. My sister Pam had written a letter about six years ago trying to get my Grandpa's Purple Heart so she also got to say a few words, along with my Aunt Jo. The only thing that could of made that day anymore special was if my Grandma was there, although she probably was in spirit. Congratulations Grandpa, we love you and are so glad we got to share in this day with you.

**I have copied the articles that were wrote by the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News, and KSL about my grandfather receiving his Purple Heart.

For 86-year-old WWII soldier, a long-overdue honor
By Matthew D. LaPlante The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 08/22/2008 08:57:31 AM MDT
Whether it was the emotion of the moment or simply the years in his step, Clinton Sagers shook as he stood before a crowd of dignitaries at the Utah Capitol on Thursday. There was the governor. And to his right, two members of Congress. And across the room an Army general. All around, cameras flashed and popped. The crowd stood and applauded. A few old men - grizzled war veterans, no less - couldn't hold back their tears. They had come to thank him. To honor him. And the 86-year-old Rush Valley man was overwhelmed. "I've never seen a crowd like this come to see an old farmer," Sagers gushed as he stood, chest puffed forward with a bright purple medal pinned to his dark suit. It was the Purple Heart - an award he had earned when he was wounded in the Battle of The Bulge, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, fought over two winter months in 1944 and 1945. Sagers says he first sought the medal after being freed from a prisoner of war camp in Mulberg after the Nazi surrender. But when it didn't come, he didn't complain. He was simply happy to be returning home alive. A demand for proof: Nearly 60 years had passed before Sagers gave the medal any more thought. Wanting one to pass down to his children, and to their children, the aging farmer wrote to the Army seeking a correction in his records. Playing strictly by the rules, Army officials asked to see documentation of his wounds. They said records from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which had long acknowledged the shrapnel in Sagers' leg, wouldn't do. They wanted to see the records from the doctor who first treated his wounds - a Russian medic who was being held at the same German prison camp. But in the unlikely event that any medical records had been kept in the camp, such documents had long since disappeared. Undeterred, Sagers suggested there would be a record in his own Army file of his original request for the award. But if that record ever existed, according to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, it likely was destroyed in a 1973 fire that claimed millions of pages of documents. Finally, Army officials suggested that Sagers produce a witness - someone from his unit who was there when he was wounded. Nearly 20,000 Americans were killed in the battle. Even more had been captured or were missing. Sagers had fallen behind the rest of his unit when he was injured - and, he says, he never saw a single one of his comrades again. A six-year quest: Terry Schow first heard Sagers' story in 2002. At the time, the director of the Utah Division of Veterans Affairs believed a little push from his office would be enough to break through the red tape preventing the award. He was wrong. It took six years - and more than 40 letters from state and federal officials - before word came that the old infantryman would be granted the medal. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said that Schow, in particular, had been "relentless" in his pursuit of Sagers' award. "Every time the president would come to town," Huntsman laughed, "Terry would say, 'Would you please bring up Clinton Sagers?' " Schow said his zealousness was rooted in a deep fear that Sagers might die before the bureaucracy could be peeled back. It was not an irrational worry: The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that more than 1,000 World War II veterans die every day. Choking back tears on Thursday, Schow said he was content that "at the end of the day, right certainly did triumph." For his part, Sagers was simply humbled by the devotion that Schow and so many others had given to his case. "I'm just as happy as can be," Sagers said, the long-sought medal gleaming on his chest. "I love you all." mlaplante@sltrib.com

WWII vet receives his Purple Heart
By Lynn Wilde IIDeseret News
Published: Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 12:13 a.m. MDT
Clinton Sagers was taken prisoner and wounded in World War II but never got recognition.
Normally, a Purple Heart medal is awarded to soldiers who are wounded in combat. However, a fire in the '70s destroyed military records documenting his injury and his chances for the medal.
Until now.
After 64 years, a group of Utah dignitaries joined Sagers and his family and awarded him the Purple Heart in the Gold Room at the Utah state Capitol. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah; as well as Veteran Affairs director Terry Schow, spoke to honor the WWII veteran and award him his overdue Purple Heart.
After an all-night firefight, suffering from frostbite and a shrapnel wound, having had nothing to eat for days, Sagers was shipped to a German prisoner of war camp, Hatch said.
"It reminds us once again of the inordinate heroic actions of the 'greatest generation,"' the senator said, thanking Sagers for his service.
Though the medal was late, Bishop said something positive will come from it. The younger generation, he said, can see the selfless deeds Sagers performed for his country.
Bishop was also enthralled with Sagers' story."In reading his story, I have to admit, this would make a heck of a movie," he said.
Huntsman said the Purple Heart is the oldest American symbol, one that is awarded for blood spilled in service of country.
"We're here to state we revere this good man," he said.
Through tears, Schow said Sagers had the worst job in the military as an infantryman and deserved the Purple Heart.
"I knew he'd earned it," Schow said.
Sagers said he had never seen such a commotion made for an "old farmer" like him but was happy for the honor.
"This Purple Heart means a lot to me," he said.
Sagers proclaimed the event "one of the most wonderful days" of his 86 years.
Sagers' wonderful day took a while to come. After six years and 40 letters, e-mails and calls, Sagers finally received his award.
Schow said he's happy because he was afraid Sagers would die before he got it. He said he wished Sagers' wife, who has since died, could have seen Sagers' Purple Heart but said he thinks she is "here in spirit."
In a interview before the ceremony, Sagers lifted his pant-leg to show the long scar on his left knee left from the wound he suffered at the Battle of the Bulge.

Soldier receives Purple Heart 64 years after battle
August 21st, 2008 @ 5:30pm
By Jed Boal
Sixty-four years after he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, a World War II veteran from Rush Valley today received his Purple Heart.
Clinton Sagers fought for and suffered wounds for his country in World War II. His family and friends fought to get him the Purple Heart he was due.

"If it hadn't been for these leaders in the service pushing this, why it may have never happened," Sagers said.
Sagers was born and raised in Rush Valley. We met him at his farm two years ago. Drafted at age 21, the Army sent Private Sagers to Belgium for the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. In a firefight, German shrapnel tore into Sagers' leg.
"I was just happy that I was still alive," he said.
The soldiers surrendered and the Germans marched them to a prison camp.

"One soldier says, ‘You'd better step it up. They're shooting the guys that drop out behind,'" Sagers said.
When the Allies won the war, Sagers was free. At first, the medal didn't matter to Sagers. Later he discovered fire destroyed his military records in St.Louis.
His granddaughter wrote the first letter for action six years ago. The Executive Director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs pushed the Army, through the Utah Congressional delegation and even the president.
Terry Schow, executive director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, said, "When I called Clinton and said to him, ‘Sir, the Secretary of the Army has authorized a Purple Heart for you.' He says, ‘Thank you," and then, ‘I'm glad I'm still here.'"
Clinton Sagers used to worry he'd die before he got the Purple Heart he deserved. Today he got the medal with his siblings, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren watching.
"This Purple Heart means a lot to me," he said.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com

Super Powers

Ali loves sticker and she loves to stick them on everything and anybody. She decided the other day that her stickers had magical powers. Kade was none to happy when she stuck some flower stickers on his head. The look on his face said it all...As for Ali she ran around pretending she was flying and that she was making things appear and disappear. She has such a big imagination. She went to put a sticker on my face and it kept falling off (mostly because she was trying to get it to stick to the very tip of my nose), to which she replied "Mom the sticker doesn't like you and doesn't want you to have any magical powers, too bad so sad"
Ali decided that she was going to keep these stickers on forever. When it was bath time she said "no can do, it will wash away my super power stickers". We finally were able to take her stickers off that night after she had fallen to sleep. Thankfully when she woke up the next morning she had forgotten all about them.

Three little rascals

Here is a picture of the three baby boys in the family.

First on the right is Jace, he is 11 months old.

Then comes Tyson who is 10 months old

On the left is Kade who is only two days younger than Tyson.

It is so much fun to watch these three. They have totally different personalities. Jace is very aggressive and is totally the bully. He has just started to walk. Tyson is the smallest in size but can hold his own when it comes to the other two picking on him. He has just figured out how to crawl but he won't unless he has some kind of motivation. Kade is very calm and doesn't really let a lot bother him. Jace will take a toy away from him and Kade will just move on to another one. He has just learned how to stand up with out any help. They are so much fun to watch interact with each other. When they are together they don't really play with one another but they have to be right by one another. I am so happy Kade has two cousins so close in age that he will grow up with.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!!!

Happy Birthday Alan. We decided to go out for Alan's birthday last night or should I say go in for Alan's birthday. We had my sister tend the kids (THANKS SANDY AND RANDY) and we decided that we wanted to go back home and rent a movie and order take out. It was so nice, although half way through the movie we looked at each other and said "our house is way to quiet without the kids". I have to admit it was the best idea for a date night ever. Today we went to church and Alan was set apart as the new High Priest group secretary. He is a tad nervous but he will do great. After church we came home and the whole family took a much needed nap. Later in the day my sister Pam had invited us over to dinner at her house and much to Alan's surprise it was actually a surprise birthday party. Happy birthday Alan, I love you so much. You are a great husband, best friend, and father. We hope you had a very enjoyable 28th birthday.

Bear Lake 2008

Last week was our annual Bear Lake trip. We had such a great time. We spent most of our time at the beach playing in the water. We also went into Montpilliar ID and let the kids play at the local play ground. One of my little cousins was playing in the lake when he caught a little fish and when I say little I mean little. Look for the picture of the fish in my hand and then you can see how little I really mean. Ali loves spending time with her cousins and totally could not get enough of playing in the sand at the beach. Kade on the other hand didn't really love the water until the last day, but he loved playing in the dirt up at camp. We would have to watch him really closely or he would put rocks, dirt, weeds, etc. in his mouth. Alan and I had a chance to go visit the place we met at up there 11 years ago. We got a few moments to ourself and had fun talking about the first couple years of our relationship. I cannot believe that 11 years has blow by so quickly. It has been a BLAST!!! Bear Lake is one of our favorite places to visit and we can't wait til next year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICH!!!

I just wanted to take a moment to tell my older brother Rich Happy Birthday!!! He lives in Texas with his wife and three darling kids. I don't get to see him nearly as much as I would like infact it has been a year since we last were together. So big brother happy 38th birthday, I love you and miss you sooooo much.

I also would like to take a moment to share some memories I have of him. When I was going out on my very first date my parents were out of town and he was left in charge. Needless to say I wished my parents were home because he grilled the kid I went out with and totally embarrassed me. Now looking back at that I appreciate how much he cared about me to do that. I also remember many of times sitting on his bed when I was little listening to him play the guitar and sing songs. He also makes the worlds best Manicotti and bbq chicken.

Here are a couple of things that I recall from our younger years that made him a typical older brother:
1- He forced me to drink Tabasco sauce
2- He held me down while pounding on my chest until I would say a swear word. I think I had a bruise on my chest because it took me so long to give in.
3- He forced me to watch poltergeist even though I was scared to death of that movie.
4- He teased me relentlessly about the man in the moon (although so did all my other older siblings).

Thanks for being the person you are. You always tell me to follow my heart and I really appreciate that. LOVE YA!!!

My little cowgirl!!!

Ali was looking through my closet when she found my cowboy boots. She told me she needed to get her horse so I could take a picture of her being a "real cowgirl". She wore my boots all day long and we had to bribe her to take them off to sleep that night. Ali loves horses she tells me all the time that we have plenty of room in our back yard to have two horses.