Normalcy?

Well, we have been back for a few days now, and some normalcy has set in.  We ran long overdue errands this weekend, I got caught up on schoolwork, we had morning coffee in the sun room with our pups, and Joel prepared for work this week.  All was fairly normal. except for that last part.  D-Day (ish) is upon us, and we are doing our best in the midst of chaos to handle it.  Do deployments suck?  You bet they do.  But, I am trying not to let that weigh me down.  Sure, he is going to miss my birthday, his birthday, our anniversary, and lots of other days, but we still have each other, and he will come home.  I need to stay busy with school, work, and the pups.  Plus, I am going to try to get my fitness on (didn't I say that before? hmm...) and try to work on some self improvements.

Wish me luck that the tearful goodbye isn't quite so tearful and that Joel makes it off without a hitch.  I will update once both of those have been accomplished.

A great loss...

Thanks to everyone that said a little prayer for Joel's brother.  Unfortunately, early on Valentine's morning we lost him to heaven.  It's been a great loss to everyone, but of course, especially to his immediate family and his wife.  No parent should ever have to bury their child, and no wife should ever have to let go so early on in their marriage.  Joel is taking it pretty hard, as is everyone.  Please continue to pray for his family as they grieve such a tragic loss.  And please say an extra prayer for his wife.  It was difficult enough for me to have the "what would you want if you died" talk with Joel before he deployed; I could not imagine the pain that she is feeling right now.

What goes up...

Sorry for my lack of posting.  Of course when life is going too well, something always has to happen to bring us back down to earth.  Joel and I are currently on emergency leave tending to his brother.  He has been battling cancer for years, and just when we thought he had won his battle, a virus reared his ugly head and has taken over his body.  If you wouldn't mind, would ya'll say a little prayer for him?  Things don't look good, but his doctors only gave him a few days to live on Wednesday, and he is still hanging in there.  They did an experimental procedure, and we are waiting for the test results.  If it works, it would be a miracle, but there's always hope until there isn't, you know?