Settling In...and Happy Anniversary!!!

We had a nice Christmas with the whole family and then Bryan headed to Slovania to go snowboading with some friends and we headed to Florida so Dad and Whit could watch Lauryn (and the Stratford Varsity Cheerleaders) perform at the half-time show at Champs Bowl in Orlando. She did a great job and Mom, Lindsay and the little girls tried to watch from the condo but the half-time report pre-empted the show so we were disappointed.

On Monday we took the girls to Seaworld since Whit had a free pass for being active military. We had a nice time, but forgot how much harder it is to be in a park with little ones. Kylee and Lily enjoyed the Shamu show and playing in Happy Harbor. The weather was amazingly beautiful- in the 80's. Whit and Dad managed some rollercoaster time while the girls played. Lindsay was a big help and took Kylee on some rides and switched and let me take her while she watched Lily. Lily is still not feeling the best- has a rash and was a little overwhelmed by the park. They had a sandplay area and I discovered that Lily hates sand. She will not walk on it at all! I hope she gets over that cause mom likes to go to the beach.

Then we drove home and got in late Monday night. We are finally settling in to our life at home...dreading having to adjust to going back to work and leaving Lily and Kylee. Dad goes back to work tomorrow (the 1st) and mom goes back on Monday. Fortunately Lily LOVES Grandma and will be very happy to spend time with her while mom works.

I am so thankful for our family. Today is our 28th weding anniversary and we could not have imagined how our life together would turn out...but it has exceeded all my hopes and dreams. Two young kids who fell in love and couldn't stand to be apart (he was in the military) took a leap of faith and pledged to love each other forever- 28 years ago. I had to finish high school and we both had college in front of us. Today we both have Master's degrees. We took the harder path to education but we managed to get it done together!
As young parents we had two beautiful boys who filled our home with love and non-stop action...they still do! We are so proud that both of our sons have followed in Dad's footsteps to pursue a miitary career andare finishing pilot training. Both are handsome, Christian young men who have excelled academically and in every other way. We are so proud to be their parents. Then once Bo had college behind him and was an officer/pilot in the USAF our girls came along. Lindsay who has had so much to deal with physically throughout her life with medical challenges and yet is pursuing nursing and wants so much to be a missionary nurse and help children around the world. She is an amazing young woman of faith and determination and continues to struggle to be all that God wants her to be. We are sdo proud of her and know that she will do well and please God. Then we had Lauryn- our baby- we thought- our baby for 13 years. She is our joy!!!! She brings fun wherever she goes and continues to excel academically and as a leader. She joined with Mom in a heart for abandoned babies as a 10 year old and all of our lives have changed as a result.
So now we are "older parents" with two beautiful asian daughters. What a blessing to have so much love and to be surrounded by such amazing children. We never could have guessed 28 years ago where this all would lead but I knew that the man I loved was amazing and that he loved God too and he would lead me on an adventure and I have not been disappointed!

Bo- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND THANK YOU FOR 28 AMAZING YEARS TOGETHER!!!