Finally Friday. . . .
I can't belive how quickly this week went, and here we are to Friday already. First full week of the new year has come to an end. Thank you all for your precious words of encouragment. We were touched by all who commented. The boys made it to Colorado just fine without any problems, just road wearyness. Aunt Hilda and Uncle Gary have the gift of hospitality and have welcomed the boys with open arms into their home. We are so thankful for extended family who love our kids and care for them. What a blessing and gift. We are so excited for them, thrilled for them and all that God is going to do for them and through them. What an adventure. Branden has a job interview today with a local school system. He is pumped and it was such an encouragment to him as well (no jobs in our county) and Bry begins the academy on Sunday. We are hoping to travel west for spring break and for sure in July when Bryan graduates. We had planned a family vacation in Colorado for August, so now it will be July.

The rest of the kids are adjusting to life without two siblings, it is VERY quiet around here for sure, yet they find ways to make up for it. Its been a long week for them, mostly with getting acclimated to the school schedule again. Jacqueline and Colson have their belated Christmas parties this afternoon (school was cancelled the last day before break due to inclement weather) so they are excited. Colson is especially excited today because its "pajama" day and he can wear his pj's to school. He took special care a few days ago and laid them out himself. TOO CUTE! He is already showered and ready to go! don't ya' just love the excitment of a child? when you feel like life is tough, these little ones bring smiles and sunshine!

Ben will be heading back to college next week. . . .another goodbye! thankfully he won't be but an hour or so away, easy for this mom's heart to handle.

I have been so blessed the past month to hear from my oldest son, Brad, who is deployed to Africa. We aren't able to phone him but he can us. What a gift it is to his dad and I to hear from him, sometimes its hard to imagine him all the way around the world when the connection is so clear and good. He is now on the downside of his deployment with 5 months until he is home. I am so excited for him and his family and can only imagine the reunion that will take place when he steps off the plane after 15 long months.

We are blessed to have such amazing technology to keep in touch with each other, aren't we? Macbooks, email, blogs, facebook, etc. What a gift to allow us to stay connected.