Life has been fairly hectic of late. We’ve had a few speed bumps on our road lately. Actually, if feels as though we’ve been driving down a dirt road that hasn’t been maintained in about 15 years. There have been a few problems that have come up with re-enlistment, issues with neighbors back home and a death in Heidi’s family all in a very short time. Our dryer broke somewhere in there too! We don’t know how things are going to work out with the Air Force, but we have faith that whatever happens it will be for the best for our family.

Nicole has finally decided that she knows how to walk and now it’s impossible to slow her down. She’s even already taking her dirty diapers to the trash for Heidi after getting changed. Nicole brings such a joy to our family. Always (well, most of the time) smiling and giving hugs and kisses.

R. Marcus has started pre-school and is loving every minuet of it. He started about eight weeks ago and only has two weeks to go, but Heidi is already seeing a major change in his behavior at home. He’s listening better and paying more attention to how his actions effect others. We have had a hard time dealing with Marc because he’s a little behind on his cognitive development (which we only found out after having him assessed by STRIDE here in Wyoming). Now that we understand why he’s "difficult" it’s easier to help him through his struggles. He still has his moments that drive us crazy, but what four year old little boy doesn’t? He’s full of love and is always finding ways to make Heidi smile.

Kaylee is nearly finished with Kindergarten! It doesn’t seem like that long ago that we were taking her to her first day of school and now. . . Time really is starting to fly by! She has started to read and is even writing simple notes to friends and family. Heidi even got a Mother’s Day card that Kaylee made by herself at home (in addition to the one she made at school). Of course, it seems that the older Kaylee gets the more bossy she becomes, but again, what five year old little girl isn’t?

Heidi is hanging in there. It’s only been two months since Richard left for his deployment, but it feels like it’s been much longer. She has managed to take the kids to Utah for Easter and go home to Paradise, Ca for her Aunts funeral all on her own (left Kaylee and Marcus with friends in Wyoming for the Funeral). The kids help give her strength to pull through every day. She’s missing Richard very much. October (or November, but we’re hoping for October) can’t come soon enough!

Richard has been going crazy at a desk job out there in Afghanistan. He’s been put in ops, which might be boring for him, but at least we know he’s safe. He has had to deal with a few stubborn individuals that are hindering his advancement as an EOD technician, but there are others out there that are helping him deal with the problems that have been created by said stubborn individuals. He’s learning the value of patience and following military formalities.

All in all, the past two months haven’t been all that bad. We have felt the stresses of our family being on opposite sides of the world, but we have also felt many blessings. Heidi has very supportive friends back home and Richard has found new friends out in Afghanistan. It may seem like October is forever away from us, but it will be here before we know it and our family well be whole once more. We want to thank everyone that has been helping us out by keeping Richard in their prayers. Life would be so much more crazy without the blessings we enjoy from being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are truly blessed by having the Gospel in our lives.