A card in the mail!

While Jay was home; We recieved a card in the mail from an old friend of Jays. It goes like this...

Hi Nancy ~

I have thoughts of Jay often and have not much skill on the computer to say hi myself! My first thoughts remember him as the skinny little boy in coveralls and shaved head in the summertime. I am so proud of the man he has become ~ serving our Lord and Country as he is doing!

We remember your family in prayer and want you to have a special "treat" to enjoy this summer ~ signed "J" and family (enclosed was a check for one hundred dollars)

God is so faithful!

3 Fallen Soldiers

While Jay was on his way home for R&R, the area where he is at; was attacked by a missile and three soldiers were killed. This was very hard for both Jay and I, as it is just to close to home. Please pray for these families and the rest of the troops that are serving!

Vacation

Jay came home on July 15th at 4:00p.m. in the afternoon. It took a few days for him to get some rest and get back into the swing of things and then when he did we never stopped... below are pics of a few things I captured while he was home. The resort, canoe trip, Camp Ripley, MN Zoo, Valley Fair, 2 movies at the theatre.. GI JOE and ICE AGE 3, A quick trip to Wisc to see Joyce, Jay's sister, A going away party for my neice, dinner with friends, Lunch with Jim and Julie, softball, Jay's hand surgery, Caleb's 13th Birthday Party, Sibley Park, Restaurants - to name a few.. chinese, mexican, and lots of pizza!... and the list goes on! We were kept busy that is for sure. It was good to have him home and to spend time with each other and the kids! Jay left on August 8th at 7:30 a.m. and had arrived at his second to last destination on August 8th. at 1:oo p.m. I guess they really wanted him back. It was a quick trip!

I of course am heart broken, and I know it will take a few days to get back on my feet. The boys are doing pretty good. Caleb showed some emotion at the airport as we all did. Reign thinks its great that daddy went up in the sky on the plane! :-) how fun for daddy!

We covet all of your prayers during this time!
Blessings to you!

Back to the Airport!

Reign laid back on Jay's chest and gave Daddy a kiss bye-bye.

Prayer

We had an opportunity to gather with friends for worship and prayer! Praise the Lord for our church family!

Corn On The Cob

One of Jay's favorite foods, and Reign got to enjoy it with Daddy ... her first time eating it! (we had to save some firsts for daddy)

Caleb's 13th Birthday!

Caleb turns 13 on August 25th. We decided to have his party a few weeks early so dad could be home to celebrate!

Sibley Park ~ Mankato

This is one of mine (Nancy) and Reign's favorite parks to go to. We love the flowers, water and animals. It is so relaxing

Softball!

Of course Jay could not resist getting in a game or two of softball while he was home. It was a good game... He played with Andrew and they played against 3 of Jay's nephews. Jason, Jamie and Jesse.

A 4 hour drive - for a 1 day stay... WISCONSIN

We went to Wisconsin, Jay had a nice time visiting with his sister Joyce, while Caleb, Reign and I relaxed.

ValleyFair!

One more summer activity... We met up with the youth group from church, along with my neice Christina and a few other friends and family. we had a blast!

Surgery

Jay had surgery on his left hand, He had seen a Doc in Iraq and they suggested he see a specialist while at home on leave. They removed a thickening on his tendon, on the palm of his hand. He was able to stay home an extra week. However they wanted him back the day after the stitches were removed!

Jakes Pizza!

Before going to see the new movie "GI JOE" we went and ate at our favorite pizza place!

The Minnesota Zoo!

Dinner with Friends

Tom and Kris, Pastor Greg and Donna, Kip and Kathy, Dave and Tina

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!