2 down and 1 to go!

Patrick has officially been gone for 8 weeks. It has been a very long two months. I am so ready to see him and give him a great big hug. I can't believe we have 33 days left to go. Charles and Meredith start a count down tomorrow until we go get daddy. I can't wait to post a picture of them tearing up the count down footprints. Please continue to pray for Patrick and all the men and women recruits. This week is team week for Patrick.

Happy 1st Birthday

Today is our sweet little girl's first birthday. It is so hard to believe it has been a year since she came into our family. Her smile just melts your heart. She has learned so many things recently. She pulls up on her own, can say hey, hi, mama, daddy, thanks, and uh oh. No one can make her laugh like her big brother. We just love her so much and are so happy that God picked us to be her mommy and daddy. This past Saturday we had a very tiny birthday party for our little princess.

My Hearts

I hope you all have a very happy day! My heart day I spent loving on my babies. My son was so proud of the gifts he picked out for me: A card, Dove chocolates, and flowers. It will be about 6 more weeks until I see my sweetie. He appreciates all your letters and prayers. 

Phase One

Yahoo! Phase 1 down and roughly 8 weeks to go! I am very proud to report that Patrick has passed his swim qualification portion of Marine boot camp. He has some very busy weeks ahead and I personally would not want to be in his shoes or boots right now. All I can say is that I am so very proud of all he has accomplished to get where he is and all that he is doing right now. I am truly having to take the verse "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind and lean not on your own understanding." Every time I start worrying or miss him I lift him or whatever is bothering me to Jesus.
Charles is just growing and learning new things. It took about 6 months but I am happy to say Charles is potty trained. He is riding his tricycle very well now. He is a little sweetie and makes us all laugh. This past Wednesday night at the end of Awana right before we left he told me wait mommy. I said okay. He ran to this cute little girl in his class and hugged her and whispered in her ear I love you. We have a little Romeo on our hands.
Meredith is just crawling everywhere and trying to pull up. She is growing up way too fast. She is my very serious little baby. Right now she enjoys playing with all her toys and her brother's toys. Her top teeth have finally cut the gum. She does not like to hear no. She will primp up and start crying every single time.
I guess that is all for now. Thanks for all your prayers and support of our family. If you have spent time writing Patrick we really appreciate it!

Husband Update

Praise Jesus Patrick is almost finished with phase one at boot camp. That means he has been away for 4 weeks at this point if you include receiving week. I am going to be honest here. I am not going to say oh all is just a bed of roses because it has been very challenging at times. I will say though that it is great to have family and friends to help the time pass by. Also, having support groups on Facebook with other people that are going through the same thing has helped more than anyone could imagine. For instance I have gotten to see 4 pictures of Patrick through these groups, and since he does not have time to write home very much those  pictures are a treasure. I look at them daily and throughout the day. Patrick says keep the letters coming they really lift his spirits and it is the only contact he has to the outside world. So, I would like to thank each and every person that has taken time out of their busy lives to write him. He just really started getting a lot of the letters around January 25. He said it made him feel good, but he hasn't had a chance to read all of them yet. Please know that if you write him he would love to write you back but it may take awhile. If you all would say extra prayers for him and all the recruits at Parris Island it would be greatly appreciated. Many are sick with coughs and pink eye including Patrick.

Greenville Zoo with Auntie M

We went to the zoo while visiting Auntie M. The kids enjoyed looking at all the animals even though it was a little chilly outside. We forgot the stroller so we took turns holding Meredith.

Auntie M, Charles, and Meredith

Checking out the Eastern Spotted Turtle

A real life Geoffrey. Charles will not go down for naps or bedtime without his stuffed giraffe that we call Geoffrey.

Enjoying the zoo with Mommy

Sweet Girl

Pot Bellied Pig's Lunchtime.

The zookeeper allowed Charles to feed the pig his lunch. He had so much fun!
 

Week One

Our little family is doing well. I am awaiting our first letter from Patrick. I can't wait to hear from him. Plus I just plain can't wait to send him a letter. I already feel like my first letter is too long to hand write at this point. I am keeping a journal so that I don't forgot anything that I want to tell him. Last night I purchased a NIV Trimline Bible to send him. I know he wanted to purchase one before leaving but just ran out of time. So his first letter he will get a present too. The only thing I can send him is a Bible, but I plan on double checking before I send it just to make sure.
While we wait and look forward to seeing Patrick we are enjoying spending time with family and friends. If any of you would like to spend time or hang out with us to help make this time go by a little faster just let me know. One week down and twelve to go.

Busy Bee

    The past two days I have been taking care of odds and ends. I have been on the phone with companies, banks, and insurance until I am ready to scream. All are just fine with no problems thank goodness. I have deactivated Patrick's cell while he is gone, so if you need something message or call me.
    Charles is enjoying reading books and playing with his Track Master Thomas the Tank Engine trains and track. He especially likes it when they crash into each other. Meredith is crawling and getting into whatever she can. We have had to move magazines, toys that she is to little for, and various other things. They both are enjoying bathing in Nina's and G-Pop's big tub. Today we went to the library. I now have a Pines library card again and can get books I want pretty much all over the state! Yahoo!!!! Charles really liked the library up here, but he has always loved going to the library. He loves books which makes this mommy very happy. We also got to chat with Mel, Jeff, and Will for a little while today. It was so nice to get to chat with them.  The kids are doing really well.
  I am doing much better. I had a hard time the morning and day we dropped Patrick off, but getting to chat that night online with him helped me out a lot. I know I will have my moments still, but today no tears. I know Patrick will do well and that he has arrived safely at Parris Island. Continue to pray for his health and safety. We would also appreciate prayers for our whole family while we are apart.

Drop Off

This morning at 10:15 we dropped Patrick off for boot camp. He will be traveling from Dalton, GA to Knoxville, TN today, and tomorrow will go from Knoxville to Parris Island to begin this new journey. Goodbyes were very difficult all around. I know the kids don't really understand yet, but that will come I'm sure especially with Charles. The first thing he asked when we came back without Patrick was "were is daddy"?We would really appreciate your prayers for Patrick and our family. Life sure is going to be different for the next 13 weeks. The count down to April 3 will begin as soon as I get my short phone call saying he is at boot.

Ringing in the New Year

Charles rang in the New Year camping out with G-Pop. He was so excited about camping in the tent inside. He camped so well that he got to make mini muffins with Nina this morning.He ate 11 of them! Camping must have made him very hungry. Patrick and I went out for a very nice supper at Brasstown Valley Resort. It was delicious and it was so much fun having a nice date night before he heads to boot on January 5th.