Gratitude Weekly

I haven't posted my weekly gratitude entry the past two weeks because it has been so obvious what I am grateful for. Jay came home safe and mostly sound. It is amazing the difference having him home makes. It is so dramatically better. We love him so much.
When Jay came home he was also able to confer the Aaronic Priesthood on Alex and ordained him to the office of a Deacon in our church. I am so very grateful that Alex has chosen to live his life in a way that will allow him to enjoy working on Earth on behalf of our Heavenly Father. He is such a great child and we are so blessed to be given him to raise.

Homecoming Pictures

Homecoming Day

No pictures. No one is more sorry about that than I am. It was a great day. First off it didn't pour down rain. It misted off and on, but we weren't wet. It has rained at all three of Jay's ship homecomings, but this was the lightest rain we have had. Jay had duty today so we weren't able to bring him home with us, but we did get to spend 5 hours on board with him.
We arrived at 9:15 and the ship was coming into the dock. It took until about 10:45 for the sailors to begin coming off the ship. We got a quick look at Jay waving to us before he had to get back to work. At about 12:00 someone came down to the pier where we were and escorted Alex, Spencer, Sarah, Nathan, my nephew Sam and I onto the ship where Jay was waiting at the top of the stairs for us. My parents, who had joined us at the Pier and were a HUGE help with Nathan opted to skip the ship tour.
Nathan was confused by everything. He wasn't sure about his Dad until he saw the other children hug Jay. Then Nathan really got into the spirit of the day. Jay would have to run off to do something and every time he came back in a room Nathan would yell, "Daddy's Back!" It never got old. Jay showed us all over the ship and we had a great time.
Can't wait till tomorrow when we get to bring him home.

Gratitude Weekly - Less than a week

Jay will be home in less than a week. Right now he is playing around in the middle of the Atlantic headed our way. Less than a week.

Gratitude Weekly - In-Laws

I truly have the best in-laws ever. They are really a second set of parents. I know they love me like their own child and I love them too. Now my in-laws are closer. They are serving a mission at the Washington DC Temple and we hope to be able to see them monthly.
I will also add that I feel like I hit the jackpot when it come to in-laws. They aren't perfect, but it isn't from lack of trying on their part.

Nothing but a giant playpen

My father has begun work on our attached garage. The goal is to turn it into another bedroom. Nathan is loving Granddaddy working around the house. He wants to be right in the middle of the action. Daddy has found a safe way to make that happen. The trailer appears to be nothing but a giant playpen.

Hold to the Rod

I am laughing outloud with no one to share it with so I am putting it on my blog. Alex is in the shower singing at the top of his lungs, Hold to the Rod. I don't think he realizes that everyone in the house can hear him or the people walking by outside if their were any. Lucky for all of us he is a really great singer. Oh, now he has switched to I Lived in Heaven.