What a difference a year makes...

Twelve months. 
A year. 
In some ways, a small slice of a lifetime, and in other ways, an eternity.
Looking back, the 2010 year of "deployment" seemed to last forever; but it is, as I am sure this year will one day be, a distant memory.
 A time that was challenging in ways I had not imagined but made me grow in trust, grow in courage, grow in faith, grow in love.
Last year at this time, we were preparing for our BIG move.  A move that would combine households with my in-laws, helping my step father-in-law manage the care of my husbands mother, who has advanced Parkinson's disease.
A move that would have us building a house long distance in a city we hadn't lived in, in over a decade.
A move that would have me heading stateside in early May with Ramie so we could attend Emily's graduation and, due to unforeseen delays with our home, stay stateside apart from the rest of the family until July.
A move that would have us saying goodbye to military life.
A move that would have our finally reunited family living with friends and relatives until September when our home was completed, three months behind schedule.
A move that would challenge us, stretch us, exhaust us, but ultimately, strengthen us.

We are finally settled in and feeling so grateful for...EVERYTHING.

Here are some highlights of the last twelve months...

Emily graduated with an associate's degree from Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte, NC and is now a full fledged, gainfully employed pastry chef!

Jody is officially retired!

He had a beautiful ceremony and then we enjoyed several months of him being at home full time before I thought he seemed...well,...restless, and sent him back to work part time! (:

 

 

We also had a fabulous family Thanksgiving celebration with forty five family members! A quick rejuvenating trip to Vegas for just Jody and I, a wonderful Christmas, and numerous trips to Louisiana to visit the extended family that we have seen far to infrequently over the past 25 years.

 

We are still finding balance with our new living arrangements, but it is better every day, and we feel we are right where God wants us to be.

Parkinson's is a terrible, debilitating disease and we truly appreciate your prayers for Laura and those of us, especially her husband Gil, who are caring for her.