Merry late Christmas

Christmas is now a few days behind us and the new year is only a few days away. The vacation to Florida was very relaxing, and it was good to see 1/2 the family there. Britnie is enjoying her time in Colorado and won't be home for another week. This vacation could not have come at a better time. We are now entering the second half of this deployment so it's downhill from here. I had every intention on getting a Christmas letter out this year, but I ran out of time (story of my life). Here is a quick run down and update on how everyone is doing:

Patrick: He is doing well this deployment. He seems to be enjoying himself out there minus the fact that he misses home. He was finally promoted in October after months and months of loop holes that he kept getting stuck in. He appreciates all of the packages that everyone sends and the letters as well. He believe in what we are doing and knows that we are making a difference in the lives of our future friends.

Donna: This first year away from Colorado has been the best and most stressful experience I have been through. As many of you know, our house in Colorado was not able to sell and eventually after a lot of stress and heart ache it fell into forclosure. Along with the rest of the country we are feeling the pressures of the economy. We have officially been in NC for a year now, and Patrick has only been home for around 2 months of that. I never want to deal with the stress of losing a home again, especially with out my husband around. Other than that, I absolutely love this new lifestyle. I have finally gone back to school for my BS in Behavioral Science. With the online classes I am taking I will have my degree in about 14 more months. This decision was long over due and I am glad that I finally quit talking about it and did it. (After a stern "you keep talking about it so just do it" from my husband.)

Britnie: Britnie is now in 3rd grade and quite the social person. She makes friends very easily and is doing well in school. This year has been an adjustment for her after leaving her other Dad in Colorado. She has done so well with the change, and I am so proud of her. She is in her first year of Brownies and loves it. As mentioned in an earlier post, she is also doing Highland Dancing. She is spending Christmas with her Dad in Colorado and is happy she could go. Even knowing that Bianca and I were meeting the family in Florida for Disney World, she never complained and wanted to go see her Dad. It was such a relief to me that she sees what is truely important.

Bianca: Where to begin with Bianca. She is a little fire cracker. Her personality is so big and she is so funny. She is doing extremely well in school and is reading way beyond her grade level. She is also in her first year of Girl Scouts and taking Highland Dance classes. This deployment has been so much easier on her compared to the last time. It helps that she has friends who are going through the same thing and she doesn't feel alone. I am not having near the problems with her I did the first time around. She is growing up so fast and loves to tease her daddy about how many boyfriends she has.

So for now, that is the current status of everyone. Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year. I hope this New Year is better than the last and that those resolutions can be kept. Thank you to everyone for your support and Prayers this last year. Keep them coming because they are still needed for us and this World. As I reflect back on this past year of an economic downfall, personal struggle, finding strength when I don't think I can do it anymore, history made with our first African American President (for better or worse), and another year apart from my husband, it may seem that the bad outweighs the good, but it doesn't. My husband and I will have our 7th aniversary this April and we are still as happy and in love as the first day we met. We have 3 wonderful kids, and even though we don't have money or material things, we know we are blessed. I could'nt ask for more.

I will end with a few final thoughts: Don't sweat the small things, forgive but do not forget, life is too short for grudges, anger, and the "what if's". Look to the future and not in the past because the past will only hold you back. Celebrate life and appreciate those around you and those who aren't around.....Oh, and thank a service member and their family. Good night.