Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Air Evac helicopter

One very cool thing about having a dad who drives an ambulance is that when the Air Evac helicopter comes to do training, you get to come and watch it.



Eleanor helps her dad check out the landing site and make sure all of the signals are flashing.




Those blades make a big wind.





Wouldn't you know, just before the chopper arrived, the ambulance got a call and Dan had to leave. Fortunately, the call was actually in Paris' district and they were able to get back for the training.



Elijah in the paramedic's seat.

Mackenzie tries out the pilot's seat.

By this time, Eleanor was cold and tired, and the mosquitoes were threatening to carry her away, so Katie had taken her to the truck. After the kids got to see the inside of the helicopter we joined them and left the ambulance crew to their training.

Puppy Love





Monday, October 6, 2008

One of my favorite poems

Stay, stay at home, my heart, and rest;
Home-Keeping hearts are happiest,
For those that wander they know not where
Are full of trouble and full of care;
To stay at home is best.
Weary and homesick and distressed,
They wander east, they wander west,
And are baffled and beaten and blown about
By the winds of the wilderness of doubt;
To stay at home is best.
Then stay at home, by heart, and rest;
The bird is safest in its nest;
O'er all that flutter their wings and fly
A hawk is hovering in the sky;
To stay at home is best.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow






Sunday, October 5, 2008

He's coming home!!!!!


Michael called this morning and told us that they are preparing to leave Iraq. We've been hearing this rumor since the beginning of the summer, and from my limited experience with all things Army through my brother and his family, I was skeptical. Hopeful, but skeptical. The Army seems to do things whenever they do them, usually later than sooner.


But, when Michael said one of his jobs today was to pick up the big shipping containers so they could start packing up, I thought, "hmm?"


And when Dan checked his email this morning, there was a message from the battalion commander, and they are coming home!!! No dates for sure, but we have every reason to believe he will be home for Christmas. Hooray!!!


I am just weeping as I type this. God is so good and has been so faithful in keeping him safe from harm during this time. Just from talking to him, I can tell how much he has grown and learned in the last year. Words fail me to express how proud I am of him.
The only thing that gives me any pause in my celebration is knowing that for Michael's batallion to come home early, someone else has to replace them early. I hate the thought that somewhere this morning a mom or wife or fiancee is also crying because her soldier isn't going to be home for Christmas like she'd hoped. There are still so many sacrifices being made by so many.
But, I am grateful... so grateful... for this incredible and wonderful surprise.
God is so good!!!!


P.S. He is also very excited about being a big brother again, and agrees with Elijah that it's time for another boy.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Introducing...




Yes, it's true!! Krabel baby #5 will join our family sometime in late March. The actual due date is April 5 (the day after Michael & Jamie's wedding--how convenient!), but the doctor said we will schedule a c-section the week before. Too early to tell yet if we're having a girl or boy, but Elijah is really hoping for a brother.