Our tour of a P-3

Landon was in awe

"What's that?"

That's us looking so small in front of the P-3

Kev's Buddy Salmon--Uncle Fish to the kids

Noah in the Pilot's seat

Noah and Cora in the Main Load Center

"Hmmmm? What do I want to touch first?"

I wanted to add these pictures, even though we did this a while ago because it was such a fun experience for the kiddos. Back in October I was presented with the opportunity to take the kids to the hangar for a tour of a P-3. I jumped all over it because I knew they would enjoy it and they would get to see what daddy actually works on, inside and out. There were 3 people with us to answer all the kids questions (and boy did Noah ask) and they were so wonderful with the kids! One of the guys, Chris Salmon (but we call him Fish--he's a friend of Kev's), talked a lot about how he works with daddy when he is home (at the time Kev was still gone). There is one picture of Noah and Cora in a Main Load Center and I love it because when Kevin was in Iraq he had someone take a picture of him working in a MLC and he emailed it to us, so when I took this one I emailed it to him. I thought it was cool (but it's late as I write this so maybe I'm not making much sense and it doesn't help that Kevin is standing here reading over my shoulder correcting me) ANYWAY....I will just shut up and post the pictures. I hope you like them.

All the praying, all the waiting, all the wishing...has finally paid off!

What a homecoming it was! Our longest deployment and time apart ever, and the hardest we have gone through (and hopefully ever will). Having Kevin home completes our family again. Without him we are not whole. The kids were so excited and it is obvious in some of the pictures that they just did not want to let him go. I just wanted to cry, I was so happy. And, of course, Kevin was relieved to be back on Hawaiian soil with his family, but mostly he was elated to see us.

He told me about the crazy things that happened while he was in Iraq and it breaks my heart that all of our troops, marines, soldiers, sailors over there have to go through all of this. It really puts things into perspective when you hear firsthand accounts of what our loved ones are experiencing over there. I can't imagine ever having to go through that. I cannot thank God enough for all our brave men and women fighting for our freedom everyday.

While I'm at it I just ask that you say a quick prayer for all of them...wherever they may be...that God encircle them with a hedge of protection, keep their minds sharp and focused, that He continue to fill their hearts with bravery and courage to get them through another dangerous situation, another day away from their loved ones, another moment with too little sleep. Pray that He keep their hearts, minds and bodies strong, and that He will continue to give peace to the families and friends that have lost someone fighting for our country. And not to mention all the other--fill in the blanks--you can think of to add.

So to all of you who haven't seen these pictures, I hope you enjoy seeing tidbits of our warming welcome to Kevin. You can also check out the link to Gallery of Life Photography in the upper right corner to see three of the many pictures Elizabeth Boughton took of us through Operation Love Reunited. They all turned out so beautiful...I wish you could see them all but I would be doing a great disservice if I scanned them and put them on my site. So enjoy!

God Bless our Troops!!!!!!!!!!!