Camp Ripley

We made a stop in Little Falls to check out the museum.

Annual Canoe Trip

Jay made it home just in time to come with us on our annual vacation to the Park Rapids area. We left Thursday early afternoon. Jay was pretty tired and does not remember the first few days... he had only slept 5 hours in the past 30. Jay and I stayed at a resort near the camp site, while the boys slept at the camp ground with our friends. We had a great time, relaxing and enjoying being in each others presence. It was fun to visit with close friends during our trip up north. Jay went canoeing with the boys all day friday and was able to fish with Andrew. Saturday after eating at the logging camp we spent the day at the resort. Sunday we strapped all the canoes together and floated to the first bridge. Kris took Reign back to the camp site so Jay and I could continue down the river. Jay had a great time catching a few bass and northerns.

"My Daddy Home"

We picked Jay up on Wednesday July 15th at 4:15 pm. Tyler, Caleb, Reign and I were able to go to the airport. Andrew had to work. :-( We had talked to Reign all day about going to get daddy. We were not sure how she would respond. We could see the plane pull into the gate and when I told Reign that the door on the plane will open and daddy will come out, she asked if daddy would jump! :-) We waited an extra 20 minutes for Jay to come off the plane and when we finally saw him, Reign was a little hesitant yet she new he looked familiar. She went to him and let daddy hold her. She was still kinda shy and then all of a sudden she yells... "MY DADDY HOME" she continued to say this in a very loud voice all the way down the concourse. People were watching with tears in their eyes as Jay in full uniform carried his little girl down the concourse.

day 146

219 days to go, before this deployment is over! We are all doing very good! I know that it is because we have so many of you praying for our family... Jay and I talk about how we can feel HIS PRESENCE! continue to pray... He is so faithful!

A few weeks ago Jay was taking trash out to the dumpster, somehow the lid lifted up and hit him in the jaw. He just shook it off and after awhile he had some jaw pain... a few days later some tooth pain. Today he went to the dentist after his mouth swelled up, and found out that he has a root fracture... his tooth will be pulled on Friday and when the tour is over he will have a bridge built, thank God it is a molar! It would be worse if it were a front tooth!

My brother is doing great! thank you all for praying for him! He will be moving back to his home very soon, as he is healing and can now take care of himself!

Tylers 17!

No pictures... I forgot the camera, we went out to eat and our favorite family restaurant BWs. A few youth from the youth group and Pastor Tiffany and Josh joined us! Then the boys and I went to see the move Transformers 2. That was action packed for sure! I cannot believe that Ty is 17! Where has the time gone!? On the kid's birthday we always talk about the day they were born and share some of the highlights... When Tyler was born I had to be induced. It was taking forever and Jay decided to leave the hospital "big mistake" and go look at guns at some gun shop near by... HE ALMOST MISSED TYLER'S BIRTH! this was before cell phone days! during labor I was watching little house on the Prairie and I was crying about something Laura did. The nurse thought something was wrong with me and was very caring until I told her it was the t.v. show! :-) My sister Julie was watcihng Andrew and took him to Valley Fair, this was his first time on the WILD THING! Tyler was born at 2:24p.m. on June 30th 1992. He did not have a name until after 9p.m. Jay and I could not decide between Christian or Jacob... so we got Tyler! His name means builder of stone! It fits him perfect! God knew what he was doing when HE named Ty!

Jay's R & R

Jay will be coming home for his 2 week leave! Hopefully in July! I am asking for all of you to pray for NO DELAYS with his flight or leaving the Middle East in Jesus name. A few soldiers have been delayed for several days due to weather and other issues. We do have a vacation planned and reservations made. I am believing for God's Favor and that everything will work out great in Jesus name! We can hardly wait to see him!!!! :-)

The 4th of July

We have celebrated Easter, Mothers Day, Our 19th Anniversary, Fathers Day, Jay's Birthday, RFKC, Tyler's 17th Birthday without Jay, and now its the 4th of July! Holidays in general are just hard without being together. However the 4th just seemed a little harder than the rest. We had a great time out at the Lake with friends, food, boating, tubing, illegal fireworks! It was a blast and thanks to our church family... The Kranz' we had had a great time! We just missed a very important person... Our Dad, my Husband! On Sunday we went to the MN Twins game. It was military appreciation day... jeeze that was tough! I cried half way up there and during the ceremony! of course baseball is Jay's favorite sport, so I was thinking how much fun Jay would be having if he could be here with us. Caleb was honored during the pre-game stuff. He was able to go down to the field and play a MBL-2 game against one of his friends from Military Kids Camp, Matt Bedessem. Matt's Mom is deployed with Jay. Matt and his Dad ended up sitting next to us... So it was a great treat for Caleb! Andrew went down to the field with Caleb while Tyler helped me keep Reign busy. We had two very busy, fun filled, packed days! WE JUST MISSED OUR MAN!