HEREEEEE they are!

Making signs means that Daddy will be home SOOOOON!

*Kissies*

We had SO much fun, laughing and playing :-)

Working together is GREAT!

Heyyyy Mommy!

Here are the pics from Christmas Eve at my parents house. Because it was like 80 degrees outside, we decided to take the opportunity to make Bryan's welcome home sign for our house. Now, I must preface these pictures by saying that I fought every inner urge to take over this project and create a 'perfect' sign that followed the lines of the letters perfectly and looked visually appealing.... I finally just decided that this sign was for the kids, and they should enjoy the process just as much as the sign. I wanted them to remember the fun that we had on Christmas making a sign for Daddy together--and I think that they will.

So what, exactly, is going on with Bryan's homecoming--you ask?? Well, at this point we don't have a final date. We won't have that until he is about 48-72 hours out. The brigade redeployment ceremony is still set for January 15th, and they SHOULD be home for that. As of right now his block leave is set for January 24th and I am praying that is true. We really need to have time to get our townhouse ready to rent, before the 1st of February. Moving has been difficult enough, and I definitely want help with that :-)

Until I get that call, we are waiting. The first big group comes in tonight at 11 PM. Even though I was well aware that he would be one of the last home, it still hurts to realize it when other guys are coming home... I just want to cry on a daily basis, because I don't get to talk to him but for like 15 min--every other day. I just can't wait to have a face to face conversation with him, and to have him give me a hug when I'm sad. All of these things that we sometime take for granted are so precious.

I will update more when I get a chance! I'm thinking of you all, and moving is coming well. I will post pics as soon as I have them :-)

Can't WAIT to put this up!!

More to follow!

Here is a sneak peak at pics that I will be posting SOON. I am packing up the house tonight for some guys from a local ministry to come move tomorrow. I am UBER busy--but some of you actually check this... so know that I am thinking of all of you, and will upload more soon!!

Not ready, set, GO!!!

Merry Almost Christmas!!

My Parents Christmas Party was a HIT!


Elyse said, "Mommy, it's so WEIRD seeing you dressed up with makeup on!" LOL!
I even got to wear my backless shirt from VS! I've never been thin enough to! YEA!

I am DEFINITELY ready for 2008 to be over with so that I can see Bryan, and have him involved with our lives FULL TIME again... however, with all of the things that I have going on with moving, etc. it is difficult to say that I am 'ready' for the next few weeks. When I think about him really coming home and REALLY being here it's scary to say the absolute least. I love him dearly, but it is frightening when you haven't seen someone in so long.... Most of the time though, if you haven't been through a deployment you can't quite wrap your head around anything but joy when it comes to homecomings.

The new house is coming along OK. We are closing on the 29th, but have a request in to be able to start moving stuff on the 26th so that we can have that weekend as well. We are on standby when it comes to Bry's homecoming. He is in Kuwait--and it is about a 24 hour flight from there to Ft. Polk. So, that means when he calls me and tells me that he is going to be leaving, then me and the kids get in the car and head to the POLK!! We are praying that we find favor, and get a cheap place to stay while we are there for the reintegration classes. We know that God has provided for us thus far, and he won't stop now! We definitely give Him all the glory for the many blessings in our life, and for those that are to come. We pray that all of you do the same :-)

WooooooHooooooooo!!!

ONTO KUWAIT! In about 8 hours, my hubby is boarding a plane to Kuwait... and then after that.... WHO KNOWS?!!?!
LOL! :-)

OK, OK... It will still be a little while until he actually gets to Fort Polk, but it's exciting to know that he is OUT OF THAT COUNTRY that has taken so much of our life from us... This also means that he is only a 24 hour flight away, so it kind of puts me on edge with everything else going on with our house, etc.

~THAT SAID~
I have (AGAIN) lost my camera and am veryyyy bummed. I know that I will find it, but it just adds to stress when I am not able to take pictures of the kids everyday. :-( I have been using my cell phone to takes pics, though. They aren't the best quality, but I am going to upload them to show you guys the past few days.

Saturday

Yeah so, we are TOTALLY broke this year because of our purchasing the new house. Because of that, I am making picture frames for our family pictures--necessity is definitely the mother of invention. YEA! I love them!

Friday

It was a coooold day here in Florida! Bundle Up! We also went to visit Grandma Great after her knee surgery :-)

Let the festivities begin!

YEA! OK, so the last 2 Christmases have kind of stunk~2006 Afghanistan, 2007 Iraq--this year... on his way home? Because we have been moving this time of year for 2 years in a row, we haven't been able to decorate our home for the season. :-(

However, this year I have been able to take the kids to a few events to help with their Christmas spirit this year--and that has helped LOTS! It doesn't hurt that Bryan will be home shortly after Christmas, either!! We even put one strand of lights up outside so that we aren't the ONLY ones in the neighborhood with no lights.

Friday Night-Parade

Look, Sissy! Those floats have lights on them!

Saturday Night-Symphony in Lights

Butterflies!!

((EXCITEMENT!!!!))

So now that there is a semi-official word that everyone SHOULD be home no later than January 15, my stomach won't STOP fluttering!! I could hardly eat today just thinking about Bryan holding me, playing with the kids and simply being around our house. I went to Wal-Mart today to get the kids t-shirts for the 'Welcome Home' ceremony~I will get those done and pack some emergency bags in the next few weeks, just in case I get "the call" :-)

I have been trying to keep busy around the house, and there is NO lack of things to do. I am sorting stuff, throwing away, and beginning to pack the things that I have boxes for. I have been selling quite a bit of stuff on e-bay as well, which is helping with the bills and expenses. I am praying and believing that God is going to provide a place for me and the kids to stay in LA before Bry gets there, and the money for a hotel room after he does arrive. I have also been working on things for Kayne's bedroom! He has not had a bedroom to this point, and I'm excited about decorating a little boy's room. The theme will be monkeys and his comforter set is from Bobby Jack and the colors are turquoise, brown and lime green. :-)

Here are a few pics of little wood 'sayings' for his wall that I bought from Michael's and painted to match his room. They came already painted, but I painted over to match exactly.

Here they are painted--I will probably continue to decorate the other words too!

Here are the backs of the words, showing the colors that they actually came in...

I am thankful...

- For my Savior who loves me, and my faith that keeps me believing.



- For the past that has made me who I am, and the future that I am helping to shape.



- For my family that has stood behind me and beside me... depending on where I needed them at the time.



- For my AMAZING husband who is fighting for our freedom, and watching his children grow up in pictures and videos.



- For my brother Marcus and friend Mark Stone who went to Iraq with every intention of coming back home in a very different manner. We love you both, and miss you everyday!

- For my best friend, Lori, who has been there since before it all... knows all the secrets and loves me still :-) and my sister, Jules, who is an inspiration to get out of bed everyday~even though we NEVER know what that day will hold.

-For all of YOU, who support our family, pray for my strength and celebrate the freedoms that our troops are fighting for. I love you all! Happy Thanksgiving!

Uncle Brett Graduates!!

As most of you know, my brother Brett has been in a men's ministry down in Sarasota for the past year while working on some addiction issues. He is doing SOOOO well and graduated last Friday!! We were so proud of him! Lysee couldn't make it to the dinner, because she was with her Dad but me, Kayne and Jules rode down to the Sarasota Marina Hotel to have dinner and celebrate the occasion. We got all dressed up! I even wore pantyhose. Now that is crazy!! Brett will be going to India with the leader of the ministry, and be completing some missionary work. We all can't wait to see what God has in store for Brett's life... There is a video on the youtube bar to the right of him speaking at the dinner~enjoy!

Veteran's Day Pics...

Here are a few pictures from the Veteran's Day Celebration at FL NATIONAL CEMETERY. We had a great time hanging out with Marcus and the other heroes that are buried there. The Governor of FL was there, as well! Thank you to ALL of our Veteran's for their service!

Bring them home, Santa

First, let me apologize for missing an ENTIRE WEEK on the blog... I know that some of you check it on a daily basis~and I SO appreciate that. However, life has been crazy lately! We put a bid in on a house and GOT IT! So, we are officially planning a move at the end of this year.... again. :-)
There are videos on the youtube sidebar here on the blog if you want to take a look! Also, there have been a lot of rumors that Bry may get to come home a little bit earlier than expected... and in the spirit of that, I made ANOTHER slideshow! LOL!

KAYNE IS ONE!!!!!!!

Kayne turned ONE YEAR OLD yesterday! It was a bittersweet day, considering it meant that Bryan has been gone for just over 11 months. I was so busy with planning his special day, that it really wasn't on my mind what all of the planning MEANT. So, when everyone was singing him Happy Birthday I almost started crying. In less than a minute I thought about every thing that Bryan has missed, and all that we have been through in the past year.

Stuff like... Moving to FL ( after having the movers cancel on us the DAY OF MOVING, and having to find NEW movers ), Kayne going into the hospital for a week, Aunt Janie getting sick and passing away, Marcus and our good friend Mark being killed, and sending Bryan BACK to Iraq.... Kayne rolling over, crawling, saying 'Dada' and now working on walking.

It seems as though we have had a lifetime of stuff happen since Bryan left last November. I think that we are all just ready for this deployment to be over with... ANYWAYS... We had a great time at the party, and here are some pics!

Me and the Birthday Boy

My Grandma and Bryan's Grandma hanging out with Kayne.

Look Kayne, it's Daddy!! (Bryan was present via webcam for most of the party!! Grandma Tina in NY also watched!!)

I hired a soldier to guard Kayne's gifts... that soldier SURE DOES look FAMILIAR!!

Just kidding!! It's just Aunt JULES!!

Opening his new DC shoes and shirt from Daddy... now they really WILL be twins!

Sister was such a BIG helper!

After ALL this time of encouraging him to eat natural foods, and little-to-NO sugar... he would NOT eat his birthday cake.

NO, Mommy!!! NO CAKE!!!

Look at my tongue!!

We asked everyone to bring a few items for the troops. We are going to make bags for the returning single soldiers in Marcus's memory... Look at ALL that stuff!!

Heyyyyyyy Daddy! Come home and watch me on my four wheeler!

The shoes that Daddy got Kayne!

I had everyone make fabric squares with quotes, Bible scriptures or wishes for Kayne. This is mine to him...

These are some of the squares from the people at the party! Can't wait to see the quilt!