be my valentine...

Kaylee's school valentine party was Wednesday. The kids are out of school Thursday-Monday for conferences and President's Day. Kaylee got so many cute cards (60 to be exact!) Noah loved watching all the first graders...he just stared at all the kids and took it all in. Happy Valentines Day!

Update on the Major

Well, just a little update on how Robbie is doing in Qatar. Let's just say, this going to be a "challenging" four months for him. He lives in a 10x10 room with no bathroom or sink nearby. He has to walk to another building to get water. He has to walk to an even further building to take a shower. He is scheduled to be working from 6am-6pm, which really means 7:30 or 8pm. Tonight it was 10pm. He is very tired when he gets home and still has to be working on his online masters class. He also has a very "interesting" commander that makes life at work...difficult.

If you have any interest in sending Robbie a little card or package or even an email to lift his spirits, please contact me and I'll get you his info. He can use any bit of encouragement. Please uplift him in prayer as well!

baby Cora

Met Jesus today. Please pray for her family. The pain they are feeling is all too familiar. Although I have not lost a child of my own, the loss of my niece, Maddi, changed myself and many others, forever. It's amazing how God can use tragedy to bring Him glory and bring people to the foot of the cross. May God use this loss to do exactly that.

on my knees...

I write to you with a heavy heart this morning. I do not know this family personally, but I know the uncle of the baby girl I am writing about. I suppose my feelings are amplified by the fact that I have a baby at home and can't imagine the pain her parents are feeling. She is critically ill with neuroblastoma and the cancer is all over her tiny body. She is 10 months old. Her name is Cora and she is precious. The situation has turned dire overnight and I am asking that you get on your knees with me to pray to our Creator, HEALER, and Sustainer for this precious baby. It appears that it's going to take a miracle for her life to be spared, but we all know that Jesus performs miracles.

You can follow her blog at this address: http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/

Did you think we weren't here anymore?

Well, let's just say it's been WAY too long since I posted anything on here. I could give lots of excuses, Christmas, traveling, a deployment...but all I can say is that I promise to try and do better. I won't try to go back and recap the last 6 or 7 weeks but just start from where we are now.

Currently, Robbie is residing in the country of Qatar for 4 months. He seems to be doing better there now than he was when he first arrived. He got a cell phone that we can call him on and we just set up the webcams yesterday. It was awesome to be able to see him and talk at the same time, although Kaylee was kind-of a camera hog. Please keep him (and us in your prayers as we go through this journey)

Speaking of Kaylee, she is now in her 2nd semester of first grade. She is busy with Daisies (just got done selling girl scout cookies--the girl sold 108 boxes!!), children's choir at church, and helping me with Noah while Robbie is gone. She's such a wonderful helper!

Noah is now 4 1/2 months old, rolling both ways, sleeping in his room, and weighing in at over 15 lbs.! He is eating some really food, although he's not fond of his veggies. He has tried rice and oatmeal cereals, squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots. He has got the most sensitive skin of anyone I've ever known and it is a challenge for me to figure out what kind of creams to put on him to help him stay comfortable. Again, he's just like his Daddy!!

As for me, I am just doing the mom-thing and taking one night class. I have lots of people helping me and offering to help me, which I am extremely grateful for. I will post some pics of our last few weeks. Glad to be back on here!

Our family right before Christmas.