Single Digits

The countdown has now reached the single digits. Nine days and counting from today. Michael called yesterday and he sounded really good. He's just hanging out at the base, but catching up on movies, email, and sleep. He's hoping to be to Kuwait by next weekend.

My mom is doing great. Thanks for the prayers. Will write more soon.

Update on my mom...

Thank you so much for your prayers. Mom got home from the hospital this afternoon and is trying to take it a bit easy. They're not sure what prompted her passing out or her blood pressure to go up, but she will be going back to her doctor in a few weeks for a 24-hour blood pressure monitor. She sounded much better over the phone this evening and was making the first batch of zucchini relish. For those of you who know my mom, know that she can't sit still. But she will be cooking for the SAROL luncheon at the corps on Saturday.

Again, thank you for the prayers. She'll be back to her crazy self by tomorrow. Someday she'll learn to sit still for a few moments. Gotta love her!!!!

PS I'm nothing like her!!! :)

Prayer Request

I've got a prayer request. My mom was taken to the emergency room yesterday afternoon after passing out at home. Her blood pressure went throught the roof. She's spending 2 days in the hospital to undergo some tests. For those of you who know my mom, know that she can't sit still for longer than 2 seconds. She's going crazy because she's the caregiver. She's going home tomorrow, but if you could just remember her in your prayers that would be great.

I was able to speak with Michael this evening. He couldn't sleep so he gave me a call. We hadn't spoken in 3 weeks, so it was nice to hear his voice. He's getting closer to being home. He is spending a week at a base and then hoping to get to Kuwait. He has updated his blog, so click on his name to get to see an update. Pics will be posted when he comes home. Keep him in your prayers for safe flights.

Until next time.

Emma's Story

I'm not sure if anyone's reading my blog anymore since I'm not technically in Italy for the time being, but my last post said a little something about Emma Bate. Let me expand on that for you.

While I was at the Bate's house this week, Carole was trying to get to NickJr for Emma to play some Dora games on the internet. When she got to her home page she read an article about how people can sell their daughters for marriage on the internet and if you see it, it's a scam. I jokingly said to her, well you've got 4 girls you should try it. Carole said that she already had a husband for Emma, she would marry Noah Kelly. Emma, with all seriousness, turned to us and said "We're already married". We kinda looked at each other with a look on our faces, and Carole proceeded to ask her, "What?". Emma replies, "We're already married and I have the pictures to prove it.". Off she walks to the fridge where a pictre of Noah, myself, and Emma and sitting at my wedding all dressed up. Emma turns to me and says "See, we're already married.". Carole and I just smiled, looked at each other to stop from laughing, and said ok. I then obnoxiously said to Carole, "Well you certainly got off easy. You didn't have to pay for a thing!".

So that's my funny Emma story to go along with my last blog about Noah.

A quick prayer request. Please pray for Michael as he will be starting to travel stateside for R&R in the next couple of days. He's hoping to be here either October 8th or 9th. I'm so excited!!! You should've seen me walking around DHQ yesterday in a daze. I told the DYs that I would do absolutely anything they wanted in the next 19 days. As of today, according to my countdown on my office door thanks to Major Scott Kelly, there are 18 days to go!!!!

Until next time! Have a great day!

Out of the mouth of babes....

I love the Kelly boys. For those of you who know Chip and Jo Kelly's two little ones, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Noah was my ringbearer in my wedding and he was just priceless. Yesterday I was having dinner with Carole Bate and she called Jo about a funny Emma-ism that had happened while I was at their house - that's a whole other story for another day. When Zach was at Star Lake for Territorial Music Camp with Chip, we had sent an email to Michael. Everytime I saw Zach after that, he kept asking me if Michael had emailed us back. On Sunday I sent Michael an email asking him to email Zach telling him about Afghanistan, what his job is, what he does daily, what he sees, etc. Michael emailed him back yesterday, and Zach was so excited. Zach promptly emailed him back. But this is where the cuteness factor comes in. Noah, now just know he's 5 and doesn't understand what war is or what's going on, says to Zach "Tell him thank you for fighting for my country!". A 5 year old said that!!! Some adults can't even say that. I had goosebumps all over my body and tears in my eyes. The innocence of a 5 year old and saying that to my husband is just amazing.

I thank God for Noah. I thank God for his parents and grandparents, whom I know very well and are very supportive to myself and Michael. I thank God for Zach in wanting to be a pen pal with Michael. I thank God for my husband fighting for my country. I hope that little story brings a smile to your face. As I'm recalling it now, I've got a tear in my eye and a smile on my face. It just shows you that when a child is raised by a Godly family what can happen. So thank you Chip & Jo for such wonderful and caring children that they would take the time to write to Michael. And thank you for all the love and support that you give the two of us. I hope you know how much it means!!!

Update on Michael

I just want to give you a brief update on Michael. He is at his new post somewhere in Afghanistan where he is in charge of the Aid Station and a few local nationals. He will not be able to update his Blog until he comes home for R&R in a few short weeks since they have blocked Blogger. Also if you have Facebook, he is unable to update that as well.

As of last week, they have not received any mail for 3 weeks. If you have sent him anything, I promise he will receive it. I'm just not sure when. I will hopefully be able to let you know when he will be home for R&R but it will be sometime in October.

Thank you for all your prayers and support for both Michael and myself. Four months down today and 11 more to do. Not that anyone's counting!!! ;)

Jessica Kate

We went for a walk on Saturday morning while Alison went to take her Maine Teacher's Certification test. So Jessi and I got to spend some time together. We went to the pier and I almost got us lost on the way back. We talked about the motorcycles we saw, the dogs, and the beach. Well maybe I did the talking but she pointed!

Alison yelled to me to get my camera ready. This was right before bed. She was hilarious with her cowboy boots and hat. Gotta love her though!!

She got into Alison's cleaning gloves and wanted to walk around the house with them one.

So my weekend in Maine was great. Alison and I did a some shopping, spent time together, and just hung out. It was great to be able just to rest but also spend time with my best friend for 20 years. We don't get to spend alot of time together anymore since we've both moved. But when we can, it's the best. I still can't believe we've known each other since we were 10 years old.

So if you read this Alison, I love ya and am so blessed to have you in my life!!!

Mini-Vacation

Well friends....I am off on a mini-vacation tomorrow morning to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, to visit Alison and Jessi until Sunday. I start work at DHQ next Monday, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to go away and spend some time with my best friend. I'll remember my camera this time and post some pics when I get back.

I've added a new blog to the right hand side. My friend Lindsay and her husband Ian are in London for the next 3 months. He was offered an exchange experience, so up they went to London. She's posting pics and tidbits of what they're up to. I know none of you know them, but Lindsay and I have known each other since we were probably 3 or 4.

Have a great few days. I'll post when I get back.