A Year of Blessing.



As we hunker down for the next couple of weeks before we leave for AZ where I will have my surgery, how grateful I am for this time to spend with you. It's been awhile but we've been a bit busy with Laurie's graduation (with honors), and helping Laurie, Stephen and Kasey move into their new home here in Colorado. It's been so long since they've been able to live together as a family but now are able to do so. Laurie and Stephen have about 8 or 9 months before they will be separated again by deployment, at which point our RV will go into storage and we will move into their home to help Laurie with Kasey since her hours are going to be quite difficult and Stephen said our help would be greatly appreciated. Then, when she is done with this second part of her program, she will do her officer training and be deployed also. Sigh.
But the year behind us has been perhaps one of the most unusual in our lives, if not one of the most blessed. Stephen's deployment - and once more, his safe return. Laurie's school, and her successful conclusion of a murderous schedule. Selling our home without even needing a realtor.
My retirement - and the blessing of knowing that I was happy in my job every single day of the years I worked there and loved every one of my co workers. The RV - and our travels. Seeing some of this beautiful country and taking in it's splendor without having words to describe it. And after leaving Scott in Hamburg, watching him make some of the best decisions of his life.
But the greatest blessing perhaps, have been our days with Kasey. Having him for 10 months, being his guardians, was a time when God reached down and blessed us more than you can possibly imagine.
This year now passing into a new decade was one which had it's struggles as well. But as we look to the year ahead, Ron and I can't imagine having a year more blessed than 2009. It keeps us faithful in prayer and sure in the knowledge that a loving God is watching over us all and keeping us in His care.
I hope, and pray, that as you look at the year ahead, you have much to be grateful for in the year just past. Know also that each of you are a blessing to me.
May you be blessed my friends with happiness and good health.
And may God bless our troops and those who love them.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Never Forget.

No matter how many years pass...may we keep in our hearts:

December 7th, 1941.

A BIG week.

We have arrived at our destination city - and we'll be hugging Laurie tonight.
In just a week, Laurie will graduate and Stephen and Kasey, and Ron and I will be there with bells on. And of course, I will be wearing my Two Star pin as well as my American Flag pin. Are we excited? More excited than you could ever guess. We'll take the kids out for lunch afterward and then come back to the RV and let them have some time alone to celebrate this awesome time in their lives...seeing a year behind them which seemed so long when the journey began.
Funny thing, the man who pulled in next to us in the RV park yesterday is an Army vet who served time in Vietnam as a medic. He received his training at the same school Laurie is going to right now. Small world, isn't it? I thank God for all the stories out there waiting for us to hear about our country's military and our veterans.
When we were watching Fox news this morning, there were a group of former Miss Americas and a Miss Utah (herself a SGT in the Army) who went to Afghanistan to visit the troops for Thanksgiving. They briefly interviewed a young woman who said that she was going home soon and said into the microphone, "I love you Buddy, mommy will be home soon." I cried...couldn't help it because it was a reminder, hopefully for those who do not have anyone serving, that it's not just about war, but about sacrifice. Prayerfully, those who don't agree with the war understand the seriousness with which our military takes their commitment - that they don't just take orders, but look for them to do what they are there to do - complete their mission.
I've always realized that it's not just my children who face separations, it's countless thousands of men and women who are away from their families. No matter where they serve, however long it takes, they get the job done.
Awesome, aren't they?
God bless them all and those who wait.