Two for Tuesday

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Jake reconnecting with the world, after just getting home from Afghanistan~Here he is with his dad in North Carolina showing off his fancy new phone and pineapple shorts. He said just stepping into a pair of sandals was "amazing".

Up and over....that's our couch going into our new living room, Yikes! but they did it...with two couches!

Our Son Came Home From Afghanistan Today!

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It's been a busy week! I was off from last Wednesday until today...moving. Can I just say, I hate moving! :) I love unpacking, but, packing and the move itself is never fun! Our moving days fell on the same days that our son, Jake, was supposed to come home from Afghanistan, so I wasn't able to fly to North Carolina with my husband and welcome him home. It broke my heart to not be there, but for him to be safely on US soil is an answer to many a prayer. Knowing he was coming home and out of Afghanistan also ended the many sleepless nights and free-flow of tears at the thought of him being in danger. This morning my husband kept me up to minute with text messages and pictures via text, so as best I could, I was able to see and keep up with what was happening, from his plane landing on US soil, to the busses arriving at USMC base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. As Jake got off the bus he hugged his dad, I was called, the phone handed to him and I heard his voice and got to welcome our boy home... I will get to finally put my arms around him next month. I can hardly wait. A warrior, a hero, our son. We are so very proud of him.

Help for Nashville

Such devastation...sadness and loss. The pictures and video from Nashville break my heart. Nashville is a beautiful city, rich with history and it has been devastated. The thousands of flood victims who are struggling and have lost everything need our help... The worst flood on record for the middle Tennessee/Nashville area, it will take a long time to restore and rebuild after the deadly storms and floods that hit last week. Please donate today...here's how:

Please Help Now

Click on the Picture to Donate Online

OR

TEXT REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross Now!

Watch Video Now:

Kenny Chesney's home before and after:

Grand Ole Opry 'Circle of Wood' Survives!

Mother's Day

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What a great day! I love Mother's Day!

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The weather was beautiful, which was a nice change with all of the rain we have had here on the coast! Sleeping in on Mother's Day, it was a nice surprise to here the front door swing open and hear, "Happy Mother's Day!" Our oldest daughter decided to come home for the day from college to spend Mother's Day with me! Our youngest daughter, Jodi brought flowers and visited too. I went to church with my mom and then we all got together for lunch at my mom and dad's, where my sister showed up also! A phone call from my son Matthew was a perfect addition to the day. A relaxing beautiful day, wrapped up with BBQ'd dinner by hubby....it was nice. I hope all of you also had a lovely Mother's Day.... I have always thought that being a mother has been the most important and enjoyable gift I have been given in life.

Lilies from my sister, Ann. One of my favorite flowers ever.

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Yummy soap from Jessi bought for me at the Sunday Market in downtown Astoria. It was the first Sunday Market of the year. I am looking forward to many a Sunday this summer strolling through the many vender booths and browsing.

Crazy women on a relaxing Mother's Day

L to R: my daughter~Jessi, my mom~Berit, me, my sister~Ann and daughter~Jodi.

Lilacs... another favorite flower of mine! They always remind me of when Jodi was born. They were in season and my hospital room was full of them!

Flowers Jodi brought me on Mother's Day!

Beautiful and bright, just like the day!

Time Capsule Thursday

Three more pictures from the last year..

Welcome Home Coming Again...

Marine Corp and Troops coming home is about all that has been on my mind. Our son Jake is due to return from Afghanistan in the next 7-10 days. He is a sniper with the USMC 2/2 and it has been entirely too long since we have seen his smile, put our arms around him or heard his laugh~when he steps foot on American soil, we will all sigh a huge sigh of relief and give thanks to the good Lord above..... Below is a photo of our son, Matthew, hugging his sister, Jodi, after returning from his deployment (in December 2009) to Afghanistan with the USMC 1/5....with both of the boys deployed at the same time, I think we all squeezed Matthew extra tight when he walked out on that deck.

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Rest in Peace

....and with every homecoming, there are those who don't come home, but to be laid to rest. Who gave the ultimate price for our great Country. A friend of our son, memorialized a 'brother' who lost his life in Afghanistan while they were deployed...this was one of the first things he did after he got home.... Rest in Peace David.

Pure Love

This is a sight I will never forget. Our son meeting his daughter again after 9 months. He was deployed when she was a month old. Here, she is 10 months old and a whole lot different than when her daddy left!...unexplainable love.