I am totally exhausted, sick, and have a sore back, but the kids and I made it safely to Columbia (Chris is staying in a hotel off post) a little while ago.

Let me just say, it wasn’t the easiest trip ever.

I had training at Choices last night from six until nine. While on my way home, my sister in law, Misty, called me to tell me my little brother was in the ER. Luke has been hurting for a few days, mainly in his neck and back, and it had gotten worse and his legs had broken out in horrible dark red spots. They were testing him for things like west nile virus and meningitis. I was really worried, and, since my kids were spending the night with Misty, I went to the hospital to check on him. I ended up staying there with him until 2:30 this morning.

When I finally left, I still had to pack, so I didn’t get to bed until about twenty after three this morning. I didn’t fall asleep right away, either. My mind was too busy. After about three and a half hours of sleep, I got up at seven to finish packing and make it back to Oak Ridge by nine when my training started. I then had six hours of training, and was finished at three. Mom brought the kids to me in Oak Ridge, and we set off to see Daddy.

About six hours and three stops later, we made it through three torrential downpours…one in Tennessee, one in North Carolina, and one in South Carolina… and into Daddy’s arms. We got to Columbia at about nine thirty, seconds before the afore mentioned torrential downpour made it to the hotel.

All I can say is…I AM TIRED!!!

Oh, I can say one more thing…

I am Superwoman.

It’s just me and the kiddos for the next forty days. Daddy left for Fort Jackson today. He’s doing a practicum there for the rest of the summer, and we are sure going to miss him.

We love you, Daddy!

For anyone who’s interested, Amy sent me a link to this video last night, and I thought I would share it. It’s a video made up of pictures from the Chaplain School that Chris went to this summer. I never spotted Chris in any of the pictures, but this was his class. I saw my friend Laura’s husband several times, and also Chris’ roommate and a few others that I spoke to briefly or have read their blogs. It’s a good video, and it might give you guys an idea of what Chris was doing while he was gone.

Please remember to pray for all of our men and women in uniform. They really need our prayers and support.

This is Laura, me, Amy, and Heather at Fort Jackson.

Laura and Owen

Here are some photos from my second trip to visit Chris at Fort Jackson, on the fourth of July.

Owen having some watermelon at the Chaplain Picnic.

Elijah enjoyed the watermelon, too.

This is how you wash your hands in the Army!

Fort Jackson has some majorly cool pine cones, too!

Kyra’s a pretty good photographer. I like this picture.

Chris and Owen hanging out by the playground behind his apartment at Fort Jackson.

Kyra was loving all over her Daddy the whole time we were there.

The kids had a lot of fun playing at the playground.

My super-hot husband at Fort Jackson. Gotta love a man in uniform.

Chris is the guy on the right on the top of the middle wall, helping the othersoldier over the wall.

Chris is the bald guy on the bottom level of the tower thing.

If you want to see those pictures bigger, you can go to www.chaplainmarkolson.blogspot.com