Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down 2013 #5

Late again with my weekly post! I thought I might stray from the norm a bit on this post. If any of you follow me on Facebook you know that the Air Force community lost another pilot this week. Though we did not know Capt. Gruenther, we still feel the loss as if we did. Our community is so tight that it is difficult not to get your stomach in knots anytime something happens to one of our own. Mainly because you can't help but put yourself in the shoes of their family because it could've happened to you just as easily. Been praying like crazy for his wife and their unborn child that he will never get to meet. I continue to pray daily for my friend Tami who lost her husband less than a year ago and their two children. If anything it makes you reflect on all the blessing you have in life and hug your family a little tighter. So this week I thought I would list some of my blessings this week because let's face it, I'm extremely blessed!

• Jackson is so very thoughtful. He always wants to show us affection, especially Kennedy. He is constantly hugging her or kissing her cheek. He also has many terms of endearment for her like Hunny, Sweetheart, Love, Baby Girl, Sunshine, K, or Sissy. Jackson also loves getting praised from Mike and I. He'll tell us something he did and then say, " you're so proud of me" which of course we are! Mike didn't get to talk to the kids much this week because he was working days and didn't get in until the kids were already in bed. I told Jackson that I talked to Daddy and that he was so sad and missed his Jackson boy. I think Jackson has mentioned that to me everyday when he asks when Daddy will be home or in the morning when he hops in bed with me and asks why Daddy isn't there.  Such a sweet boy that loves with his whole heart!

The painting activity didn't last even 10 minutes. Jackson didn't like getting 'dirty'!

• Kennedy, likewise, loves her big brother and would do anything he asked of her. They are so cute to watch when they play together. You can also tell how much she misses her brother on the days when he's at MDO. She gets the biggest smile on her face when we go pick him up! She is talking more and more each day and has the cutest voice. Here are some of the words she knows: Momma, DaDa, Brubba (brother), Minnie (for both Minnie and Mickey), Up, Down, More, Milk, Sock, Shoe, Foot, Nose, Yes, No, Baby, MiMi, Night Night, hot and she can sings parts of the ABCs and Hot Dog Dance! I've never seen such a happy girl! She loves to talk on the phone too. Earlier this week we were talking to Mike while I was at Wal-Mart and I hung up the phone and put it in my purse and she kept looking into the purse screaming, "DaDa, DaDa!" She is definitely a Daddy's girl!

My attempt at doing something with K's hair. It is always so crazy all the time!

• Then there is my wonderful husband - Mike! He just wrote me the most amazing love letter last night when he couldn't sleep. He wanted to assure me that I was the love of his life and though sometimes he has to be away for work, I am always with him. I needed to hear that! It is so hard being apart from each other more than we are together and he knows exactly what to say to make me smile and get me through another day. He did the sweetest thing before he left on this TDY. He had requested Turkey Pot Pies for dinner, but then didn't come home until 10pm and obviously wasn't hungry. This was the day before he left and so he wouldn't be eating any of the leftovers either. He knew that I spent a long time making these pot pies and the next morning when he got up to get ready to go, he heated one up and ate it for breakfast! Now that's love! I couldn't ask for a better guy!
• I'm also extremely blessed to have fabulous parents. They always make time to talk to me on the phone or FaceTime especially when Mike is away. They are opening their home up to us when Mike deploys later this year for us to literally move in for 6-7 months. They even bought the kids a play kitchen to play with while we're there. They go above and beyond to make us feel loved and 'at home' even though we live hundreds of miles away.
• I'm also blessed to have great in-laws too. They have such wonderful insight into the things we are going through because they've been there too. Not to mention that they are willing to do anything for us on a moment's notice. Mike's siblings are fabulous too and I consider them my own and am so blessed to have such a great relationship with them even though we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like. Thank goodness for Facebook, Blogs, and FaceTime!
• In the same way, I'm also very blessed to have such a wonderful AF family. These ladies would do anything for another spouse without question. They drop everything to help you out in a bind. It's truly like having a bunch of sisters living right next door. The best part is that no matter where we are stationed there are always friendly and familiar faces to make you feel welcome. 

I could seriously go on and on, but I think you get the idea. When you're feeling down in the dumps I hope you too can take a step back and count your many blessings. Please join me in praying for the Gruenther family and all those who've lost a loved one. Life is so short and so precious and should never be taken for granted!