Happy New Year

Well since it is a new year I figure that I need to update my blog. This year so far has brought some changes to our family. No it is not those kind of changes I am not pregnant. Lt me finish what I am writing before you all jump to conclusions.
Our son Alex also known as AC turned 12 on Dec 31st, so on Jan 4th he was ordained to the office of a deacon.
On Jan 7th(Wed) at 0500 int he morning I drove Rick to the Brunssum NATO base where he got on a bus and headed to Ramstein to catch a plane to Afghanistan for a 3-4 month deployment. I am hoping that he will be back for our 13th anniversary which is April 10th. Rick called that night from Vogelweh saying that there were no flights out of Ramstein due to the cold weather. Thursday night around 11pm Rick called saying that he finally left Germany and was in turkey for a few hours until the next flight left. He called again on Friday to let me know he had made it to Krygystan. For the next 6 days everytime Rick called the question was asked if he had made it to his destination yet and the answer was always the same "no I am still here". Finally on Jan 15th I got a call from Rick and the question was asked"Are you there yet?" this time the reply was yes. So Rick is finally in Afghanistan in Kandahar. If you would like to correspond with him through email and are not a member of my immediate family (siblings or parents on both mine and his side) then send me an email and I will forward on his emailaddres that he can be reached at. I know that this deployment will be a quick one (compared to his previous ones) and he will be back before we know it. I have many offers of help from friends here so ia m in good hands. It is also a nice feeling to know that with AC having the priesthood we will always have it in our home unless both Rick and AC are gone like this weekend.
Ac is in Kanderstag Switzerland at the moment for a Boy Scout Winter Carnival. I am greatful to be in Europe at times like this when he can participate in Boy Scout activites and go to places such as Switzerland and Normandy for a weekend to do scout things and have fun with his friends.
I am trying to keep busy as always with the kids in school and Rick gone I make sure that I get seom time to myself as often as I can. I finally got all of our Christmas decoartaions put away. Actually I have some boxes to still put in the garage but I need to tape them up first and don't have the tape for it.
At least I can say that my Living room is clean(we will see how long that will last with my kids)
I hope that everyone has a healthy and happy new year.