Primary Program

Saturday we had the primary program practice. Yeah I know, technically not supposed to take pictures in the chapel, but I couldn't resist. I took these with my phone so they may be a bit blurry.
Seth ended up getting sick and didn't participate in the actual program so I'm glad I captured his rehearsal with the group that he was supposed to sing with.
It was a great program and the children did a fantastic job!

Seth's singing group-valiant 8 & 9 year old boys (since it was just practice, several members of the group were missing)

a shot of the kids, paige is on seated on the bench with the brown hair bow and keegan is in the front of the stand in the orange shirt sitting next to the teacher in the white shirt.

Sis. Pyle was reminding the kids to be reverent and to pay attention.

phase 1 is done

Well we've made it our first week. Technically tomorrow is the week mark, but what's a few hours here or there.

He had a good time in DC and even got to hang out with his brother and family. I'm really glad that he was able to see them before he left. He stayed in some swanky hotel (he made the comment that it was nicer than our house-of course that's not saying much...) but he said it was comfy and nice with a decent restaurant where he ate most of his meals.
When he arrived in DC he was given a stipend for food and/or anything else he wanted to use with it and was picked up and taken all over the place for any training that needed to be done. He had medical and dental tests done and of course they waited until the last possible minute to clear him, but he was cleared. He's good to go to the next phase which is CRC (I forgot what that actually stands for......some military jargon).
We were lucky in that he called every night and he and I were able to text back and forth several times a day. I know that will not happen when he actually gets to Iraq so i'm taking full advantage of it now. He'll be 10.5 hours ahead of us so add into it whatever schedule he'll be on, that should prove to make communication (other than email or snail mail) rather interesting.

He's also made it safe and sound to phase 2. The plane ride was quick and other than an awful 3 hour bus ride to the base he's good to go.

So here's to another week of training and then off to Iraq where the real fun starts.
We haven't technically started counting down yet. We'll do that when he actually sets foot in the desert.

Saying Goodbye

We took Dan to the airport this morning. Hard to believe that it's really happening. I mean we all knew this day was coming and as much as I may cry or whine or whatever it is what we wanted and it is a good thing. Just very sad that he'll be gone and not around to see the kids growing up or to see his new girl come into the world. I will say it was just as I expected at the airport. Everyone was very emotional. We are planning to stay busy so as long as we do that, we'll be ok.

We decided to keep the boys out of school Thursday and Friday so they could spend as much time with Dan as they possibly could. He made sure that we were busy at every minute.
Friday we decided to do a bunch of things. We started out at the park then heading to the drink store, off to Coronado National Monument (no hiking though-it was a spur of the moment trip and we were all wearing flip flops) and played in the visitor's center and took a drive up the canyon, then headed back down and went to Our Lady of the Sierra's Church (Monastery) on the top of one of them mountains. It's quite a hike up to the top of it and it's almost straight up hill. But so worth it if you are able to do it.
By the time all that fun was over we were exhausted and came home to rest for a while before getting clothes washed and Dan all packed up.

What a day!!!

playing Zelda with the maps up on the computer

inside the center at Coronado National Monument. They had chain mail you could try on and yes, that sword is real.

if you were ever curious as to where we are in AZ, where Seth is pointing is about where we live.

i couldn't believe that this butterfly let me get so close. I couldn't resist taking a picture of it, so pretty!

view of part of the valley

looking up from the parking lot at the giant cross and monastery

i don't recommend the hike up if you are pregnant or out of shape (i happen to fit into both of those categories)

Angel of Mercy statue at about the half way point.

taken from under the cross. it was carved out of one piece of wood.

a wishing well just to the left of the cross. Dan even saw some Polish money in there.

we climbed up a little higher beyond the cross and this is looking down into the valley from behind it.

as high as we could go. red faced and terribly tired!

inside the church, very small but very beautiful inside

on the way back down.

New Job and a New Adventure

Wow.......

I really don't' know how to proceed. Dan's current job got cut because of some stupid warrant officer who thought he knew best how to run the course Dan was teaching. So his company decided to leave Ft. Huachuca and therefore Dan's job went bye bye. We've been searching and searching for something else (as anyone would). He applied for what felt like a million different positions and we just prayed and prayed that one of them would take. With one week left on his job he got an email from a new company. It was a breath of fresh air to be sure. They offered him a job in Iraq. Yes, Iraq......And since nothing else was panning out we decided that it would be the best thing for him to take. He'll be gone a year and we aren't sure where in Iraq he'll be, but with the conflicts moving to Afghanistan it should be much safer. So that is one less gray hair I'll be getting while he's gone. The biggest thing on my mind is the kids. They aren't really sure what to make of this whole thing. They know he's leaving but it really hasn't sunk in. It has too soon though because he's leaving this Saturday....as in 4 days from today. Quick for sure. I should have expected it since the last time he was deployed we had a 3 days notice. Fun....only then we only had 1 baby and not 3 and expecting 1. I won't lie, i'm scared to death to have this baby without him. I've already broken down several times because of it. I try not to cry in front of Dan because I don't want to upset him. I'm sure i'll be a MAJOR basket case on Saturday. He's flying out of Tucson so i'll need to be done with all my crying at least for the drive, then I can break down again when we get home. Ug......
Don't get me wrong, this is a HUGE answer to a prayer. And I'm NOT complaining one teensy bit because he's wanted to go downrange (and strangely I've been ok with that) and we've needed this job. Where the timing may be off, I do not doubt that this is right. We have been blessed with technology and we'll be able to see him on occasion as well as chatting on line when we can't skype. Plus I'll be taking even more pictures (if that's even possible) that i'll be emailing on a regular basis. So it'll be like he's here (sort of).
So that is the latest in our family saga. Pray for us, we'll need it because well, i'm not really sure that I'll be able to do this all by myself. And I know i won't be alone, I have a fabulous ward family here and they will be around to let me cry or play with the kids or just to keep me company. I'll be eternally grateful for that. I know that will make this separation easier to deal with although i'm not even going to pretend it's going to be a walk in the park. Pray for the kids more, they will be lost without their daddy.

having fun on a Saturday morning!!