Respites

Do you sometimes long for a respite? Driving, hands on the wheel, windows down, flying over gravel-topped roads with trees whizzing by on either side until you pass the trees and the only things beside you the fence posts of ranchers, the occasional indifferent cow watching you as you drive, enveloped in your own world and thoughts, carrying around you an aura of escape – or longing – or maybe both.
A respite from the hectic life, a respite from saying the right things, and doing what you should do, a respite – calm and serene – where you can lay your head on the lap of someone wiser and stronger, someone who’s arms will surround you and hold you safe from the world around, where you can cry until there are no tears, then laugh until there are more tears.
I sometimes long for a respite and I wonder if it will come, or if, when it does, will I still need it?

Letters Home at Christmas

I recieved this letter from my brother who is in Iraq. I think it is profound and touching.

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Jones,
You know when I joined the service 51/2 years ago, I did not know what
to expect. I was scared and alone, and I thought I had made the mistake
of my life. I knew in my heart though there was a bigger purpose. I
still to this day don't know exactly what God had in store for me here.
As I have traveled around the world, and seen death and destruction
first hand, I have grown closer to my savior and my family. There was a
time in 2005 when I thought God had forgotten about us. We were trapped
in a house, and taking fire from all four directions, we were quickly
running out of ammo, and I was afraid. Really afraid. I had a pocket
full of letter from my marines to there families, and you can imagine
what they said. But as I racked back the bolt on my rifle and opened
fire on the enemy that was so close to taking us that day, I saw the
faith my marines had in defending our country and the faith that they
had that I was not gonna die. I realized then that I was going to live
another day. It was like they walked with there head held high, afraid
of nothing. They were truly devoted to defending what we so easily
embrace. When we finally made it back inside friendly lines, it was like
Gods angels had followed us all the way back, and were safe and free
from deaths chains. I will never forget that day, or the sound of
bullets breaking the sound barrier as they flew past my head. But I want
you to know, we are grateful for a grateful nation. I will probably get
out of the military, and go on with my life, but those days of glory and
pain will never leave me. I can honestly say that I never thought I
would have been able to go to war, and with out the marines that I
fought beside and held as they breathed through pain of injury I would
not have been able to at all. And last but not least, I want to say
thank you for believing in my. Ever since HS you have let me be a part
of your life not just as a brother, but as a best friend. You truly are
a blessing. Thank you I know this is bunch of random words, but I hope
that you get something out of them. I love you Jones you are my favorite
sister.
Chad

Bella's audiology appointment

So, Bella had her hearing aid ear-mold-making appointment yesterday. It was pretty interesting. Terry and I got there earlier and the audiologist went through the information with us about her hearing loss and all that stuff. She went over bella's specific hearing loss as compared to other kiddos, and then she showed us graphs of it. It was all pretty informative and interested. Finally, Bella got to come into the appointment. Terry keeps insisting that she is ADD (which, I don't think she is!!) and so he brought that up in the conversation no less than 5 times. I was like - lets just see how this hearing aid thing goes, it could solve all of her issues!! I don't want to diagnose her as ADD if she's not (and last time I checked, he didn't have PH.D or MD after his name to do any diagnosis anyway!!)

So, Anyway, Bella picked pink hearing aids and pink ear molds with glitter. LOL. She loves them and can't wait to get them! We're all pretty excited... will post pics soon!!