WELCOME HOME
  GABRIEL!

SOOOO CLOSE!

Dear Gabe,

Sorry if I sounded weird over the phone when you called.  I had been sleeping on the couch and was still half asleep until I recognized your voice.  What a wonderful way to wake up.

Everyone is getting so excited about your homecoming.  Not just here in Colorado but all over the country.... Grandma and Grandpa, all of your aunties and uncles, cousins, and so many wonderful people who have been reading updates on you here and over at the Dust Bunny Club.  I've had a couple of people offer to stand in for us and meet you at the plane.  We are all so happy and relieved that your tour is just about over.

And now I have something else to look forward to, your homecoming to Colorado.  I hope Kayle will agree to let Little Zachary come with you.  I'm so impatient to hold him and squeeze him, and cuddle and spoil your little boy, its making me NUTS!

So anyhow, enjoy the scenery and have a safe journey home.  We'll see you in a few weeks.

Love you always,

Mom~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

      

Dude, you better slow down or you're gonna catch up with Dad and I!  Happy Birthday Son.  Hurry home, we'll have a cake waitin' for you, and some of that nasty beer you like so much...

Be safe.  Miss you, love you always,

Mom~

DEAR HEROES

Dear Gabe,

I just wanted to share this letter with you.  I got it from McClean's dad, who got it from a co-worker's wife, who got it from one of her special needs students.  He posted several letters on the Rakkasan board, but this one really grabbed at my heart strings with its sincere questions.

"Is it hard to be in the Army?"

"How do you get to see your mom?"

It won't be long now, I've got a new, unoffical count down going on inside my head.  I'm trying not to get too excited, because we know how easily the dates can change, but I've got my fingers crossed... and my  toes, and my eyes, and arms, legs, and anything else that I can cross... which isn't a lot in my current physical shape, but hey, every little bit helps.

Be safe son.  Miss you, Love you!

Mom~

CHECK THIS OUT!

Oh My God!  You could be twins, you and your dad!  Scary huh?  Soooo... guess what you will look like when you grow up?  Hahahaha!

Be safe Gabe.  Your time is almost up, make it count and then get on home.  Miss you, love you!

Mom~

LIFE AT HOME

Dear Gabe,

Summer is just about over, and I am so ready for school to start back up.  Actually its been a good summer.  We didn't get to do near as much as we did last year, but thats okay, because Art and Becca have band camp which ties them up from 9 to 4:30 every week day.  Those poor kids are so tired every day after practise.

Well darn, I'd hoped we'd be planning a birthday party for you, complete with your favorite beer, what is it?  Rolling Turd?  Oops, sorry, Rolling Rock....  (tastes just like water if you ask me).  Well, how about celebrating MY birthday instead?  That would be uber cool! 

Big Red is sick.  She's making all kinds of noise when I drive.  Dad says its just the brakes, but I think there's something else wrong as well, he just can't hear over the noise of my squeaky brakes.  I don't know... I think I'm ready to turn over the keys in favor of a smaller car.  After that one accident I had backing into that car I've been almost afraid to drive.  Big Red feels too big now.  And I hate driving the Hemi, its even bigger.  Too bad the Bonneville is dead.  Grrrrrrrr!

Henry the Goldfish is mad at us.  Becca still hasn't cleaned out the aquarium so he's still in the big pot.  He glares at me everytime I walk by.  I think he'd spit on me if he could.  Poor thing.  Can you imagine living in a pot, never knowing if and when someone might throw you on the stove and cook you as you swim?  I keep thinking of your dad when he was a kid, frying his sister's goldfish in a skillet so he could eat them!  Hahahaha!

Well, I guess I better get the trash out before the garbage man gets here.  I hate having to face them, I always feel guilty about having too much trash, or stinky trash.  Sure don't envy them and their job.  I hope they get paid well.

Be safe son.  Keep your head down, watch your back, and your buddies' backs.  Don't forget to pray, and we'll say some extras for you as always,

Love Mom~