The Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday Brad!

We hope you have a great day!

"On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true!" So sappy but I know you love it--Happy Birthday Honey!

We love you!

Halloween Yahoo!

Let the craziness begin! It always seems like when we reach Halloween that it's just a whirl-wind of work, fun, shopping and exhaustion until we find ourselves sitting on the couch all day Christmas day in PJ's and totally content not to even get dressed until noon the next day.

So let the craziness begin with Halloween!The Kids diligently carving their masterpieces

The Pumpkins--this is so Brad's kind of thing, you know the surgeon in him loves to cut and create. Here is our attempt without the pro. They actually did a great job!

The Ward Party with the Witch, Dorothy, Sarah Palin and Lego Man

Lego man, he totally concocted this costume all by himself.
Look at a generic Lego man--spitting image!

The cutest little witch I ever did see!

Dorothy--with rubby slippers and toto too!

We had a great holiday but we sure missed Brad--he LOVES Halloween!

Brad at His New Home

The first case--bullet removal!

Forward Surgical Team home

His address is:
Major Brad Matthews
2nd FST, ATTN: Medics
FOB Lagman
APO, AE 09355

He is in a very remote location so the mail takes quite awhile (almost 3-4 weeks). I know he would love to get anything from anyone! They have some down time to kill so I know he would love anything that could fill the time--books, movies etc. We miss him so much! We're happy he is there to help those who need him but, we are counting down the days to his return. He is still able to view our home email so you can also send him messages that way as well.

Thanks for your support!

Major News

Just wanted to let you know that Brad is now at Baghram AFB in Afghanistan, we finally got word on Sunday night. I was on pins and needles for a few days, not having heard from him. We are happy that he got there safely. He will be heading to his FOB later this week. He is having to schedule all of his own flights, sleeping on WWII cots, and the food is horrible--the luxurios life of an ARMY doc. --he's miserable. I will post photos as soon as I get them. Your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated!

When the Cats away the Mice will play

I took the girls on Saturday for haircuts. Daddy seems very attached to long hair and doesn't like to see them cut it. Liz has been begging to cut her hair short--and begging to do it for months. We made the appointment about 2 months ago with my friend Holly, for right after Brad left. When the day actually came they were so excited. I had been trying to give them something to look forward to and they were so thrilled. We cut off enough so she could donate it to an organization like locks of love for kids with cancer. Lizzie was so excited that someone else would get to wear her hair--that lucky kid!

Lizzie with her locks of love

Yes, winter has returned we got our first snow on Sunday--or course, they had to get out and play in it that morning. After church it was almost all gone. But, don't worry we got more today about 1-2 inches.

The girls in our winter wonderland

The biggest news of the week is that Michael earned his WEBELOS Badge. He has worked so hard to get it and had to do a lot of extra things outside of den meetings on his own. He is so determined and such a hard worker! Brad and I are so proud of him! Way to go Michael! He is set to receive his arrow of light next month. He just has to finish making a scrapbook of his art projects, then he is done. What a huge accomplishment.

Michael getting his Webelos Badge

We are just trying to stay very busy so we are happy! We would love to have visitors whenever anyone can make it our way--let us know.

Life Must Go On

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement! I almost turned off the comments last post, I was in such a funk, I didn't know if I even wanted encouragement, I wanted to feel sad and sorry for myself for a while. Somehow, each of your comments found me just when I needed to hear them! Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways--even through blogs! THANKS!!!

Well, the first few days weren't too bad! Yesterday, was not good however! It was a very difficult day. I am sure the kids are trying me, and testing the limits. It was HARD. We talked at FHE about what we can do to be happier and kinder people. I know I needed the pep talk just as much as each of them. I have to find more patience, and more understanding somehow.

Me yesterday!

Getting going and getting places on time has been so difficult (that has always been a challenge for me--but not usually with the kids). Maddie doesn't want to go to school. Michael keeps trying to squish Liz in the garage door. ARRRRGGGHH!!! Any suggestions? I keep thinking about something my Mom always says "when kids are the hardest to love they need the most love." I am sure that is true!


An update on the Major--Brad is still at CRC at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He has been issued all sorts of ARMY goodies, he just has to figure out how to pack them all into 4 bags--this will require divine intervention he says. He will be heading to Kuwait Friday, then on to Qalat a mere 7400 miles. He will be supporting the 101st Airborne Division. Of course, his type A personality is having a hard time with the inefficiency and mundane tasks at CRC. But, he has met up with some old friends ie Dirk Slade from Medical School, and then friends from residency and some from here. The address I have for him seems sort of sketchy--you know lots of letters and random numbers--so when I get confirmation I'll pass that along to you all. I know he would love to hear from you!

We appreciate and are grateful for your thoughts and prayers!

Crying Like a Baby

I just dropped Brad off at the airport. I was unhappy when he told me, earlier in the week, that his flight was at 1 am. But today I am so glad it was. We decided that we would have the kids say goodbye here at the house and let Brad tuck them into bed. Brad and I left the house at 12 and the "ortho family" met us at the airport to say goodbye. It was so nice of them to come--they are such a great crew! Then Brad and I had to say goodbye. It was HARD! Of course, I bawled and made a scene--good thing the Fairbanks airport is tiny! It was so hard to walk away. I stood there and watched him go through security, I just couldn't walk away. The poor lady at the parking pay booth, I bawled like a baby to her and she had to keep reassuring me. But, her guardian angels are now looking out for my sweetie, so were good! Then I bawled all the way home, and cried like I have probably not done for 18 years! The lady at the front gate didn't even tell me to have a great night--that never happens--clearly my night was not going so well! Anyway, I am glad I got all that crying out of my system. Tomorrow Lizzie's class has a field trip and I am going on that, so I needed to get it out. I think I will sleep much better tonight, I am totally spent!