Saturday, 29 November 2008

• Happy Thanksgiving!

  Hello Folks! Happy Thanksgiving! Hard to believe it's that time of year already, huh? I'm dreadfully sorry for just now posting. So many things have been going on and one day last week I thought I would take a moment to catch up. So, I changed the background...and that was it. But after many emails and calls from friends and family, I figured it was indeed time to update again! I've been all over the place it seems... Dallas (with grandparents), Montgomery (with my older sister), Conroe (with the Roland's), Quinlan (a visit with Dad's sister and her family), and so on. So, here is a not-so-quick update!

  Before I go into too many details, let me first say thank you again for your continued prayer support for my husband. Jerry is doing well and continues to work long days (like 18 and 20 hour days) serving his battalion. He works between two different FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) since the battalion is somewhat spread all over. He has "homes" at both places and thankfully he gets cell phone reception in both places too (most of the time). It is really a blessing getting to talk to him so much. It was quite the opposite during the last deployment (as many of you know), so the frequent emails and phone calls from him just brighten my life and comfort my heart. He is such an energy-giver and I feel many times he is the one encouraging me when I feel like I should be doing that for him. He is just amazing! I have fun buying him things and sending him packages and he has even surprised me a couple times and sent things to me too! Speaking of which, I do have his address for those who would like it. I don't want to post it here so if you are interested, just send me an email (erinmollyroland@yahoo.com) and I'll send it to you.

  Thanksgiving was quite different for both Jerry and I this year as we were both so far apart. I had to work hard to not wallow in self-pity the whole day. I only cried once but thought about crying about 10 other times. I drove to Dallas to spend the weekend with my grandparents since they were going to be all alone. As most of you know, my grandpa was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia about 6 weeks ago and got to come home from the hospital this week for the first time! I was in Dallas earlier in the month for about 2 weeks helping while he was in the hospital but left to go back home (to Conroe) to get more school done, take exams, and do some sewing for a wedding. But like I was saying, our families were all spread out this time which made it a little untraditional. But thank goodness for cell phones! We were all talking to each other multiple times throughout the day! The Giese's were all out in Guam, Christina was home sick with her husband and kids, CarrieLynn was with her husband's family, the Roland's were at their house celebrating with Dad Roland's family, and Jerry worked the whole day (poor guy!). I know they did have a Thanksgiving meal and he told me he also got a visit in with the BDE commander when he came down to spread "Thanksgiving cheer."

   Anyway, things have been going well for me too. I've had my head in my books as much as possible trying to finish the semester. Thankfully finals are right around the corner and I can be done with school -- until January. I'm still planning on heading out to Guam around the second week of December to spend some time with the Giese's. They came down for a visit for a couple weeks in October and it was so good to see them! It had been almost a year since we had seen each other, so it was long overdue and quite welcome!

  Well, so as not to bore you with anymore details of our lives, I'll close with some pictures of the goings on. I wish I had some of Jerry but I don’t. When he comes home for R&R sometime in March I’ll make sure I send him with a nice camera so he can take some pictures for all of us! Thank you again for checking back… I’ll try to be more faithful in getting things posted! Love and Blessing to you all, Erin (for Jerry too)

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  Grandma and Grandpa on Thanksgiving Day

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  I tried for over 15 minutes to get the self timer to work on my camera so I could take a picture of the three of us! I needed Jerry... I clearly do not do well with operating electronics:( Needless to say, this is a little up close... it was one of those hold-the-camera-out-and-snap-it pictures. hehe

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  
  

  Here is one of the 4 of us kids goofing around at Christina's house last month! It was so good to be together again!

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  
  

  Here is Grandpa with Mom and Grandma. This was taken the first week that he was admitted (around the middle of October).

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  
  

  I took the kids and NellieMae to a fall festival in Dallas when they were here the end of October. They had fun rock climbing and jumping on those big jumpy things, or whatever they're called!

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  
  

  This was from the quick trip I took with Dad to go see the Hopsons (his sister and family).

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  
  

  Melissa and Heather came in too! It sure was great visiting and spending time with those gals!

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  
  

  I couldn't post without including one of my Presh. No, he's not fishing up in Iraq... these were taken on the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado over block leave this past summer! We had so much fun:)

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

  
  

  How I love that precious smile! I miss him so much! He'd be on the river every day fly fishing if he could!

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