A Bitter-Sweet Week

First of all I am excited to announce that my friend and I have expanded our little business! We decided to take a chance and sell some of our stuff at a little boutique and gift shop, and now "the little things" can be found at Wrought'n Apples here in Parker. This week we were able to get everything finalized and after a lot of hard work, and many late nights, we finally have our store display all set up and ready to go. I am really excited about it, and although we have no idea how things will turn out, I'm really glad we decided to go for it. We have worked hard to get it all put together and are really proud of how everything has turned out. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported our little business venture - our wonderful husbands, family, and friends!
What would we do without you!

Now that I've shared the "sweet" on to the "bitter"...

A Soldier's Duty

Today I said my final good-byes to my brother Donny. He is a specialist in the Army National Guard and on his way to Afghanistan sometime within the next week. His tour will last about a year, cross our fingers that it won't be longer than that. He has been training for that past few months and is anxious to do his duty and serve his country. We are all so proud of him and the wonderful, amazing man he is. I was so excited when he called me today, since I wasn't sure what his timetable was for deployment, and was able to keep my composure during the first half of the call - of course it was all down hill from there! Once the tears came, there was no stopping them! I am so proud of him and all that he has accomplished. Since enlisting in the army he has graduated from an intensive language training program in Russian and is now fluent in both Armenian, which he learned while in Armenia for two years on his mission, and Russian. When he returns from his tour in Afghanistan he hopes to attend the language school again and become fluent in Japanese. He has also had the chance to attend an interrogator training school which will help him in the future since he is debating a career in the FBI or CIA.
Although I hate to say goodbye, knowing where he is going and the dangers that await him there, I know that he is ready and prepared for the task ahead.

I love you, Donny! I am so proud of your willing spirit and incredible courage. Know that your family loves you and not a day will go by that you won't be in our thoughts and prayers! I cannot wait for your safe return!