Receiving Week is done!

It's hard to believe that Receiving Week is drawing to an end for our recruit!  I told him that each Friday I consider another week finished given that is what they base their graduation ceremony date on.  I started a letter and add to it daily in diary format.  He may find it boring but my hope is that he'll feel like he's not missing out on anything.  I include little pictures throughout it, like the garden flag I ordered or Buddy with his new bone, to spiff it up!  Today the items I ordered from the parent website came so I included a little picture of the flag by the front door in his letter.  According to the matrix the hair was buzzed yesterday and today is the fitness test and in-house procedures.  It's great to have an idea of what he's doing each day.

  

A dog's life

Mark saw this bone as we were buying dog food today and decided Buddy had to have it.  He is in doggy heaven!  The other furballs got flavored, smaller bones or there would be no peace!

Recruit O'Donnell

Amidst lots of tears on my part, Connor commenced his journey to becoming a Marine today.  He was understandably quiet and anxious but is determined to see this dream come true.  He knows it will be very hard but left with a great attitude.  We ordered a "matrix" which shows what the focus of each day of the 13 weeks entails.  We will get a scripted "I got here" phone call tomorrow but it will be 7-10 days before he is allowed to write us with his mailing address.  He will be in our thoughts and prayers many times daily over this next 13 weeks...and this will be in our yard...

New garage door

Our new garage door was installed today and we are loving how quiet it is and how bright the windows make it now.

The train

At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty, we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you all a joyful journey.

- John McDonald

A masterpiece

Can you believe this is a cake?  The details the baker added to this masterpiece are unbelievable.

Grow, grow, grow

The garden is in!  I hope to win the war against creatures this year although there was a baby bunny next to the pool equipment this morning.  Hopefully we closed up the only spot it could possibly be coming through.  The greenhouses are very nifty but next year we will organize the area a little differently.

A visitor

I am so excited to have bird visitors at their annual nesting spot this morning. Look at this beautiful red-chested one ... not very clear as I had to hurry and take through the door!

Garden prep underway

The garden prep started today with the help of our furry kids ... tomorrow the greenhouse covers go on.

 

 

 

Sammy's First Spa Day!

Sammy isn't too sure about his spa experience but reports were that he did great for a little fella.  He looks older now with his new haircut and you can see his eyes more!

Another birthday boy!

We celebrated Mark's 63rd birthday with a pineapple upside-down cake which was delicious!  He's very excited over the new TV remote that he got and he can even use an app that lets his phone be a remote as well.  Gotta love technology!

Roses

My roses are starting to bloom ...

Getting ready to garden!

I'm so excited to find the perfect garden bed and cover for it.  Last year we had so many problems with creatures eating things as they matured so this year I'm hoping to outsmart them.  I found these at Home Depot and the sizes were perfect ...

 I also got the raspberry bush planted and my tomatoes are coming up too!

Boxed card set

The "Bird Call" embossing folder is one of my most used items as the results are beautiful every time.  This boxed card set is a birthday gift for someone dear.

The wording on all these cards are from Papertrey Ink's
"Signature Greetings" stamp set.  The 3D
embellishments are from Michael's.