I'm a Star

We are celebrating our fiftieth anniversary at the Credit Union.  To celebrate, we are running several commercials throughout the year.  This is our first one...and I am in it!  If you look quickly, I am the person crossing the lobby in the purple cardigan and black pants.

The Girls

I have not been very good at keeping up with the blog...or anything else now that Taris is gone again and things are getting back to single parenting mode.  I did want to post some recent pictures of the girls that I took a few days ago.  (These are really for Taris and his SUPER slow Internet.)

This girl loves her ball.  You would never know
that she had a stroke.



Kacey was resting while chasing ALL of the
squirrels and birds from the yard.




Abbie's favorite spot in the house...our bed



Postal Surprise

I got a huge surprise in the mail today.  Taris sent me a card!  I know this sounds strange, but the more he deploys the less I get in the mail.  On his first deployment I got letters and cards regularly.  (Maybe I should chalk that up to just being married for a little over a year.)  After six deployments (this being the seventh) and almost ten years of marriage, the need for mail seems to have gone out the window.  Don't get me wrong.  Deployments have come a long way...from timed 15 minute phone calls and super limited email, to internet in the room with Skype to video chat.  (I don't even know if the place Taris is at has a morale tent with phones.)  So, with all of that who needs old school mail.  Well, my love language says I do!  Taris always says that there just isn't any cards where he is.  I told him to bust out some crayons and markers, dig deep into his inner artist (which he shouldn't have to dig far since his mom is an art teacher), and make one.  Well, he did!  He wrote a note inside and I have already read the thing four times.  It was a great Valentine's day treat.  (To go along with the beautiful bouquet of flowers he sent to the office.)  Thanks honey for filling my love tank...even when you aren't here!

Rachel turns 29

My younger sister, Rachel turned 29 today.  She is the youngest of the Byers' girls.  She is an amazing mom, great wife, and a wonderful sister.  We shared a room for 15 years.  We know each other inside and out.  I hate living so far away from her, but I can always see her and the boys on Skype.  Happy Birthday Rae!

Taris' Squadron

When Taris got back from his R & R, he sent me his squadron photo and "hero" shot.  I know...he is HOT in the flight suit.



Can you find him?  First row, third from the left



My Word

I listen to K-LOVE every day at work.  They are doing something really nifty.  Instead of making new year's resolutions they are encouraging everyone to claim a word for themselves this year.  A word that focuses on your vision for the future, both on a personal and spiritual level.  I prayed for days for God to make clear my word for 2011.  I was at lunch one day and saw a sign that left me not doubting what my word should be.

Courage.  Courage to step out of the boat and take a step in faith.  Courage to do my job with morals and values.  Courage to trust God enough not to worry about what our future holds.  I am excited about what 2011 holds for me and our family.  And I claim COURAGE as my word this year.

Finally having ourselves a merry little Christmas

While Taris was home visiting for his two weeks, we were able to celebrate the Christmas holiday.  Our gifts to each other were supposed to be our vacation extravaganza to Dallas and Vegas, but we all know that I am not the best at following rules.  I brought home the gifts from my sisters from my visit to Abilene and of course the girls and I had items under the tree waiting for him.  I did awful taking pictures, but Taris got lots of movies, per his request.


He got Toy Story from Ashley and Alexis



Taris got a much needed upgrade to his MP3 player