Ugly Coke Sweaters

That's right! No shame in our game.  Ugly Christmas Coke sweaters for Day 2 of Christmas Decorations.

Christmas Decorations 2019

It's the day after Thanksgiving and you knowwwwwwww what that means.  Put on your ugliest Christmas sweater, crank up the Faith Hill Christmas album and let's decorate!  Up early and we are off to a great start.  The first three (of 12 trees) are up and all of downstairs is decorated.  That puts us ahead of schedule to be completed by the time we go to bed Sunday night.

All Hands in the Kitchen

Turkey Carving a Turkey

Historically, carving the turkey would be Papa's job.  This was a our first go at it, it wasn't pretty but it did taste good.  Miss you, Papa.  More ways than one and more days than one.

Thanksgiving 2019

With a grateful heart, we give Thanks.  Missing Papa, Aunt Bessie and Skyler from around our table this year.  We take a moment and give thanks for them, even in their absence.

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

Bella was working on desert while Mommy worked on the main course.  Gonna be a feast, we have much to be thankful for!

Deborah, Meet Litton's

Duty called and I finally had a chance to introduce Deborah to Litton's.  Oh yeah, and get her fitted for a casket as well.   Face Palm!

Action Jackson

Happy to catch some glimpses of our soldier.

Stow Aways

These three girls were stow aways in the van as I packed up Christmas boxes.  Less than a week until we start putting up Christmas decorations.

A Girl and Her Dog

Comfy

The definition of comy.

Belated Birthday Celebration

A great night out to celebrate the gift that is Deborah Cain.

No Greater Love

Isabella giving up her favorite seat so that Lady Juliet can sleep by Bella while she plays.

Going Dark

It will be a different time for us as Skyler and his battle buddies start their OSUT Infantry training.  They will spend several nights out on tactical training.  And then conclude their training with a 5 day, 4 night exercise that will encompass all that they have learned.  Ending with a 12 mile ruck march into Honor Hill at mid-night.   Bravo 2-54, Going Dark.  God speed, boys!

Final Day Before Graduation

Our final moments before we have to say "goodbye" until his graduation.  That date is December 20 so we have another four weeks where we will have very little contact.    

We were honored to spend the day with him and his fellow platoon soldiers, Caberra and Church.  Mom got to give Skyler and his battle buddies a mandated hair cut.  Skyler enjoyed touching base with friends back home as well.

Sunset over Ft. Benning

You are never quiet prepared for the emotions that flood in when you say goodbye to your children for any length of time.  But especially when you know there will be no contact for a while.  Mom and Bella went up to the room for showers but I went for a walk to pray, think and watch the sun set over Ft. Benning.  There are no words - I won't try.  I walked a hole in the pavement between our hotel and the Infantry Museum down the street.  My heart is full of pride but encased in heaviness.

Infantry Museum

We started our day together at the Infantry Museum  - nothing like getting that tour from your very own Infantry Soldier.

Dining with Our Soldier

My, how we loved spending another day with our soldier.  Concluded the day with a nice dinner where the staff helped us acknowledge Deborah's birthday.  Not a better gift than getting to see her boy.

Turning Blue Ceremony

What a sight for sore eyes......it has been 13 weeks since we have laid eyes on our boy.  So happy to see him and to watch him become an official Soldier in the Turning Green Ceremony.