What a slacker I am! It has been over a year that I have written. Guess it is about time, huh! Many things have happened over the past year and I would like to talk about a few of them. Especially in the past few months. My beautiful daughter Jessica (18), graduated from High School. I have been a little taken back by the fact that my first child has left the home to go off and do her thing. She is currently in Provo, Utah working at Subway and starting School 11 August '13 to start at Renassiance Hair Design to do Cosmotology. She is way excited, and I am excited for her!
Over the past months I have had some time to reflect on my life and my oldest daughter, and it amazes me how fast time goes by. It was just yesterday that I was helping her say her "R's" or swinging her on the swing or ruff housing with her on the floor. She has grown into a beautiful young woman, who I am very proud of. So in the last month and a half I have missed her greatly, and I try not to show how much I miss her, becuase that would not benefit anyone, especially me.
As most of you know our family has been in Hawaii almost (11 August) two years now. Time has flown by. At the beginning of this year, Jaden's developmental pediatrician asked if we where going to stay another three years after our initial required three years on the island. We had heard about it but hadn't made any definitive decisions. So we felt it was the right thing to do, and put in paperwork (IPCOT) that would give us a total of 6 years on the island. I know the hardest thing we miss by being on the island is our extended family. That part has been really hard, we have had family grow up without us around, and we understand we all live our own lives but it is great to get together with siblings and all the cousins get together. I really do miss those times! So just this past week we got our answer and we are able to stay for another 3 years, meaning 4 more years since I still have a year on my initial 3 year requirement. To add to that, after the 6 years on the island, William will be starting his senior year of high school. So we can do one more year of senior stabilization. So a total of 7 years! That is pretty crazy. What happens after that I do not know. It has been a wild ride over the last almost 21 years of military service.
Tiffany (29) has really been busting out college classes. She will earn her Bachelors in Creative Writing in December '13 and then will go straight into her Masters Degree. I sure am proud of her. I don't know how she does all of that and also everything else going on in her life. Considering she is a huge perfectionist, it is no wonder she is at (better get this right) 3.96 GPA..... (I am going to hear about it if I am wrong....LOL).
Scott (20) in the past two years has been on a National Champion Cheerleading Squad and has the goal of going to the University of Louisville and getting on the cheer team starting next Fall '14. He definitely has been working hard and his body has become stronger by lifting the girls everyday.
William (13) is an 8th grader this year, and does an amazing job as a percussionist in his Middle School Band. he is definitely at the top of anyone in the percussion section as school. I am really proud of his accomplishments. He also is a Boy Scout and has just had his Board of Review for Star Rank as of last week. So this coming Tuesday Will will be able to be advanced at the Court of Honor. He loves to read and it is so sad when there are no books that he wants to read in the house. William is going to try to get as far as he can in scouting before he starts High School next year. He is eligible in January '14 to get Life Scout. Keep working hard buddy.
Ryan (9) is a 5th grader and loving school! He is a Bear in cub scouts and is looking forward to his birthday in September so he can become a Webelos. He just had a scout pack meeting where they did a Raingutter Regatta. He came in first place almost every time. Great job Ryan, I think I wanted to hyperventilate with him as he was blowing the boat down the lane. Ryan is the biggest character of the family. It is a great day to hear him speak in an English accent, I love it. Also, if you want to know cars, William and Ryan excel in this category. He also loves planes and helicopters, which I do too, so that is cool to talk to him about them.
Emma (7) will have the opportunity to be baptized. We are sure excited for her! She is a spark plug and definitely if full of life. She can be frills and hair up and all that, or she can be in shorts and a tank top and get ruff and tumbly with the boys. Ryan has had his hands full on more than one occasion when wrestling with his sister.
So there is an update on everything that has happened lately. We had a great visit from Grandma and Grandpa Porter in April '13. We really enjoyed having them and enjoying spending time with them while they were here. I am sure it was a nice break in Maui when they went as well.
Until next time,
Jeff
