Austin at Arlington National Cemetery

The following, about our son, Austin, is written by his sweet wife, Jessica:

After a buddy of Austin's from basic found out where Austin was being stationed, he asked him to please visit his grandfather, LTC Raymond N Clark. He fought in three wars and was awarded a Purple Heart.

On Saturday Austin and I made a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, to pay our respects to a true American hero. Austin wore his blues; however, when wearing them for "personals" they must be altered. One of the cap straps was removed, no belt was worn, he had to take off his metals and wear his ribbons instead and he wore the shoes he wore to our wedding rather than his steals. It was quite a trip for both of us!

When we got there, rather than parking in the parking lot, because he was in his blues we got to literally park right up front by the gates! We were the only ones parked there the entire time, so I think it is a quite a rarity to be allowed to. It all felt so foreign to Austin, being in his blues in public and not having to keep ceremonial composure. Also, when Austin does ceremonies he's a dime a dozen, but on our personal visit it was just him, so people stared and pointed, even said "Thank you" to him in passing.

A group of little girls "oohed and aahed" over him. It was amazing for me to see everyone responses to him as well! I felt so honored, proud, happy, etc, to be his wife (I always feels this way, but Saturday I felt it more than ever). It was truly an amazing experience!

Skype, a blessing!

No matter how you look at it, Paul is too far away right now. Today, I calculated that he is 8285 kilometers or 5148 miles or 4474 nautical miles from our home here in Highlands Ranch, Co. Every day, if not twice a day we talk or Skype. Now the phone is a miracle, but Skype is a mega miracle. It allows me to talk to Paul and see him at the same time. When I was pretty little, my family and I were at Disneyland where we went into Monsanto's House of The Future, and I had the opportunity to go into a futuristic phone booth and speak and see someone in another state talk back to me. It was like Dick Tracy talking on that TV watch thing out of the Sunday comics. I never thought the day would come. Well, it came and is here in full living color, Skype. I never used Skype much before, but now it is a necessity, an everyday occurrence, a blessing. So, thank you Disneyland, Western Electric, Bell Labs and everyone else who pioneered this technology, because Paul is too far away!!!

Girl-bonding RULES!!!

So, with Paul working in Suisse, we are now having a little more mom and daughter bonding time. We are finding that we are watching a little more Jane Austen, chatting in the evenings too late and not going to bed on time, as well as stopping spontaneously for girly treats. The last part not being too good for our girlish figures. :)

...This last weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, was General Conference for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For our family, it consists of watching the morning proceedings at home home on TV, from Salt Lake City, Utah. After the first session on Saturday, Laura and I watched the Disney movie, Tangled. Laura had baked up a peach dessert and we sat on the coach, eating it while we laughed at the antics of the characters in the movie. I had a moment to take it all in. I am so grateful for a sweet daughter that I love being with. She brings great joy and so much laughter into my life. I am also realizing that being with her brings more calories into my life. :( I am going to work on that, but girl-bonding still rules!