Congratulations!

My youngest brother is getting married this weekend. It's hard for me to think it's time for him to start a family of his own! Aneta, his bride to be, is the most sweet, caring, and loving individual. Sometimes I wonder if she's ready for this crazy hunter, but I guess we'll find out!  

Congratulations Rane and Aneta!

Update

We're on day 5 of Operation Potty Training and all is well! A couple of accidents here and there, but that's to be expected. Each day she's getting better about letting me know when she has to go and getting annoyed when I say, "Let me know when you have to go" every 10 minutes.

I'm so proud of my little sweets!

Progress!

She's making progress! The 5 pony stickers are from today!

She had three accidents... 63%... I can handle that for the first day!

I Will Be Here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

and the sun does not appear

I will be here

If in the dark, we lose sight of love

Hold my hand, and have no fear

'Cause I will be here

I will be here

When you feel like being quiet

When you need to speak your mind

I will listen

And I will be here

When the laughter turns to cryin'

Through the winning, losing and trying

We'll be together

I will be here

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up

And the future is unclear

I will be here

Just as sure as seasons were made for change

Our lifetimes were made for these years

So I will be here

I will be here

And you can cry on my shoulder

When the mirror tells us we're older

I will hold you

And I will be here

To watch you grow in beauty

And tell you all the things you are to me

I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made

To you and to the One who gave you to me

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up

And the sun does not appear

I will be here

Oh, I will be here.

I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman

42 Down... 10 to Go!

Top 10 Things I'm Looking Forward To

10.) A day off of parenting without calling for someone to watch Braelyn.

9.) No more worrying.Were the missions successful? How's everyone feeling? Is everyone okay? How's Heath? Is he stressed? Is there anything I can send to make him feel the love of home? 

Yup, no more worrying.

8.) No more weekly trips to the post office.

7.) Not feeling guilty for taking time to myself.

6.) Hugs & kisses

5.) Sending someone else to the grocery store if I don't have what I need.

4.) Sending a man to the "man" stores. Sorry Campbells and ProBuild and True Value and Lake Area Vet. You will no longer see my face!

3.) Celebrating holidays as a family.

2.) Having a teammate again... taking turns cooking, cleaning, playing with Braelyn, bed time routine, etc.

1.) Family time! Church, riding bike, walks, runs, trips to SF, going to the lake or the park...

Bring on the last 10 weeks!

HaPpY 4tH of JuLY!

Home of the free...

Because of the brave...

Summer Tour

The cement is in! We have a sidewalk!
Woo hoo!

The building permit asked who the contractor was and I put self... That's right! I did it!

(With the help of my dad!)

Pouring concrete at 7 am on a Saturday.

A beautiful lily that bloomed. I think we planted these last summer.

A hanging basket of flowers I received from one of my students on the last day of school. They're still alive!

My mother's day gift from Heath and Braelyn.

It's a miniature weeping willow tree.

LOVE it!

Yellow flowers and a flag.

My soldier will be home soon.

Yeah for July!

July is finally here! By no means have I ever wished for my summer to move as quickly as I have this year. I'm not looking forward to another school year. Because, truthfully, I love summer. I feel I am called to live in warm weather year round with a pool in my backyard. LOVE summertime. LOVE it. But, I'm looking forward to the end of September. I'm looking forward to having my husband, my best friend, home with Braelyn and I. So excited, I can hardly stand it! What will I be like in September??? Yikes!

78 days until September 18!

Woo hoo!