Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you!

I hope that you all have a wonderful day with friends and family. If you are away from your loved ones, I thank you for all that you have given and hope that you can spend it with them next year.
It is yet another holiday spent without A, but I am just thankful that it is another day closer to seeing him! :-)

I felt like this really says it all:
And this is just funny...hehe! -

Changes

...that's exactly what keeps happening with A's return information. A few weeks ago, we were given one date for his return. I had been slightly stressed because of the timing in comparison to my final exams, etc. but had gotten passed this issue after talking to my professors and working it all out. So I was getting really excited as this date was approaching and getting closer and closer.

There is a website where the homecoming ceremony information is posted and I kept waiting to see his flights ceremony information. Well, I was excited yesterday to see this information, but it was listed as being a few days later than I had thought. Ok, not what I was expecting, but this might be better...after all, then I can go to my classes and be in GA when he gets in and not miss as much school. So I was annoyed it was a few days late, but was trying to look at the bright side of things.

Well...now, we are being told that the information that was posted on the website is wrong and that you should go with the information being told to you by your soldier. WHAT?!?! Maybe if they could just get this stuff straight...of course, I know that the date can change ANY time, so I'm dealing with it as it comes and I need to not get comfortable with any sort of "definite" information, but it's getting frustrating! AHHH. Thanks for letting me vent. Regardless, it's just around the corner and I can't wait to be wrapped in his arms again :-)

Happy Birthday Big Brother

Happy 30th Birthday Michael!!

I am headed up to NYC right now on a bus from DC to meet up with my brother for his bday weekend (and more importantly...Notre Dame vs. Army football!)
I'm looking forward to a fabulous weekend with my brother and some of his friends. I have not spent his birthday with him in probably 10 years if not more so this is great.
Pictures of the great weekend to come...but for now, here's a pic of us at his graduation in May:
Oh...and Happy Birthday to my puppy, Jewels, who turns 3 today! Yes...my dog and my brother really do have the same bday. When I saw her and then saw her bday, I knew that I would just have to have her. :-)

Happy Veteran's Day!

And thank you for your service to all of our veterans and our men and women who are in uniform today! It is because of you that we can continue our lives the way we do.

Here is a prayer that I would like to share with all of you:

God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation and have laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom.
We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war, whose nights are haunted by memories too painful for the light of day.
We pray for those who serve us now, especially for those in harm's way.
Shield them from danger and bring them home.
Turn the hearts and minds of our leaders and our enemies to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.
Spare the poor, Lord!
May the peace you left us, the peace you gave us, be the peace that sustains, the peace that saves.
Christ Jesus, hear us!
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!
Amen

--Author Unknown

I thought this was a prayer that says it all! May God watch over each of you and your loved ones, especially those of you who are separated from your loved ones at this time.

God Really Does Answer Prayers!

I do not tend to get super religious on my blog. However, I am a practicing Catholic and felt the need to thank Him today.

My uncle was diagnosed with leukemia over the summer. He has undergone multiple sessions of chemo over the past few months and fortunately was able to make it to my cousin's (his son's) wedding a couple weeks ago. However, at that point he was seeming very weak and was looking down the not-so-fun road of more chemo. We were told that if a blood marrow donor was not found that he would have to undergo at least 3 more sessions of chemo. His sister has cancer and therefore cannot be a donor and his brother was not a match. Therefore, we had to pray that there was somebody out there who was a match and willing to donate. We, as a family, said many prayers and continued to ask others for prayers. Well...on Sunday night my dad talked to my uncle and found out that a donor has been found and that he will be getting the bone marrow transplant sometime after Christmas! Now let's pray that the transplant goes well and that his body accepts it.

Thank you God for answering our prayers!