16th Anniversary

Mike and I are getting ready to leave town to celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary. Someone kindly asked me the other day if we were 12 when we married. . . The same day I was called blonde. Now that's funny!

We are headed down to LA and then we're taking a 4 day cruise to Mexico. I was about to say, "Just the two of us!" but the truth is we will be joined by Mike's folks. Okay, now it may sound odd to say that we are celebrating our wedding anniversary with our in-laws (I'm a therapist- I know how it sounds) but the truth is we do enjoy traveling with others and they offered to join us. I made sure we had separate rooms and we pledged to give each other lots of space. I figure Betty and I can go shopping if Mike and his Dad decide they need to do something manly. Like shop for golf supplies. Or shop for shoes. Or shop. (Mike's dad is a biiiigggg shopper!)

Many friends and family members have come together to make this possible for us. Finding someone to keep 5 kids for a week can be quite a challenge. I even bought trip insurance just in case. . . I am so grateful to Katie, Donna, Stacie, Amanda, and my emergency back-up Randi! If ever I heard a good reason for small families it's this: Getting out of town if tough with more than 2.5 kids.

16 years, I must say, is something to be proud of. I am proud to say we have fought long and hard to develop a strong marriage- one with it's ups and downs, with it's strengths and weaknesses, with it's dignity and depravity. Celebrating at this point feels well earned, after a year of lots of transitions and hard questions. I don't suppose we're celebrating the fact that now we'll never have hard moments again as much as we are celebrating the fact that all meaningful relationships are made up of hard moments and of a willingness to enter into hard moments rather than flee or deny the difficulties.

With that said, I plan on fleeing for at least 4 days on a cruise ship bound to Mexico!

Armed Forces Day

We took the kids out to Ft. Lewis today for an Armed Forces Day Celebration. It was great to see the families show up and all of the great memorabilia from the past. As a homeschool mother, I was awfully proud that my 10 year old could identify the Allies in WWII! How many adults you know can even do that! (For that matter- I heard that a majority of Americans cannot identify our Vice President today- a majority!)

It was super to be there, but also an odd blast from the past. Mike and I met when he was a soldier at Ft. Lewis and so some of our old dating stomping grounds are on base and in Tacoma where the base is located. Before that even, my best friend when I was in high school and I spent too much time on and near base with a handful of friends who were either active duty or people who still hung out with active duty soldiers. ( We really weren't those kinds of girls!)

And then, there were two years I spent on base in Great Britain, one year in England and one in Scotland. My base in England, High Wycombe at Bushy Hall is closing for good this week. My school is shutting down and it's a sad thing to know the place I graduated is now standing vacant. Alas, the American presence in Post World War II Europe is diminshing as we establish presence in the Middle East.

I am forever grateful for my time in and around the US Military. It was a stable source for my life in the midst of certain instability and chaos. I am more deeply grateful for the servicemen and women of present and past who honor us with their service and commitment. My ex-Ranger husband makes me proud, my Reserve Coast Guard brother-in-law makes me proud; all of you who have put time into service make me proud. Thank you for your service.

Phoebe Jane

This beautiful baby girl is Phoebe-Jane Elizabeth Allred. A big name for a teeny-tiny, itsty-bitsy girl.

My sister Randi, 4 Boy Mama as she is otherwise known, gave birth to this delightful pink bundle of feminine characteristics May 14th at 4:44 am. Barely 6 pounds, 18 inches long, she came out howling and woke up her startled brothers.

They were startled not only to be awoken at 4:44am, but more specifically to be awoken by a GIRL! They were all pulling for boy number 5, but they quickly got over the shock and welcomed Phoebe Jane.

Now if only Chad could get over the shock!

Welcome sweet baby! You help us all remember what this life is all about: Children, family, siblings, the beauty and miralle of God's created order that just keeps on creating. Praise His name for this beautiful addition to our family. (We're up to 10 now between Randi and I! Add Cousin Stacie and we make 14! We need a bus. And to win the lottery.)

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