Wow been a long time

Life has been interesting to say the least and I have not posted in almost a year... but it has certainly been an unbelievable year...

Yes Lew came to visit and it was one of the best days ever for our family. We were able to share stories about Jer with Lew and he was able to share some of the antics that he and Jer shared together in there time as Brothers... It will be a day we will never forget... I took a few pictures... and did do a scrap page but it was more important that day to just listen and share... I thank God each and every day for Lew and what he meant to Jer and what he means to us... he will forever be our family...

Now as a mom at least for me i never can seem to catch my breath which is probably why one of my favorite quotes is... life is not measured by the number of breathes we take but by the number of moments that take our breath away... one of these days i will do a layout with that quote

The end of April Jon called me and asked if it he could come to the house if we were home... now my kids have never had to call... so i knew something was up...
just didn't know what to expect...

Jonathan wanted to know how I felt about him joining the Marine Corp... talk about taking my breath away... many emotions went through me but the one thing that was certain was that this was something he knew with out a doubt he wanted to do...

So being the mom I am I take a deep breath and hold on tight cuz here we go again...

I had not realized that Jon was a shell of a Man that he had no joy no happiness and for the first time he was the Jonathan that I knew so well... before he lost his brother...

He was sworn in on April 25th did a delayed entry program... and on Aug 25th we went with him and watched him being sworn in to active duty and watched him leave to begin his journey as a USMC recruit...
During the time up to this we spent a lot of time together as a family... a weeks vacation in Florida on the Beach oh yea that was great... a day at Disney... a day at the water park... a day at St John's Pass... spent the weekend of the 4th of July in Gatlinburg ... tradition... Midnight Parade... went to the dixie stampede...

Brandi moved in with us when Jon left for boot... I absolutely loved it ... we would work out together, go shopping out to eat to the movies... just the 3 of us Brandi Chels and i
She wrote Jon every single night and sent packages and cards... Nov we went to Parris ISland SOuth Carolina and spent Family day with Jon and then his graduation... 40 degrees and windy omg we froze it was so cold... and have the pictures to prove it...
Jon was able to come home with us for 10 days before going to his next training school... this time in North Carolina... we were also blessed to have him home not only for Thanksgiving but also Christmas and New Years. OohRah!

Today I am sitting in my office at work caught up with work and looking forward to seening him on Friday yes we are going to North Carolina to see him...
It is snowing here today... Friday is Jon's brithday

Chels is a Sophomore in college and has decided on her major... Political Science with concentration in Pre Law...