Busy Busy Busy

As you all know by now, Josh was home for about two weeks at the end of March/ beginning of April. We had a wonderful time together and with family. Josh was very thankful for the much needed rest and visit with everyone.

While Josh was home we were blessed with the most precious little bundle ever -- John Allen Anthony. He was born on 31 March, weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces, and measured in at 19 inches. Josh is an amazing father and did such a wonderful job with John while he was home. John loved to fall asleep on his daddy's shoulder or in his daddy's arms. The memories we have already are precious to us and will be treasured forever.

Friday 10 April was one of the hardest moments we've gone through as a family. Josh had to say goodbye once again to return to Iraq, but this time he had to leave his son behind as well as his wife and family. There's a chance that Josh will only have about four months left of the deployment, but it could last several months longer than that. If it's only a few months longer, then Josh won't miss too much of John's "firsts" and the new things he learns to do (crawling, talking, etc.).

Josh just called me early this morning (about 3am) to let me know that he had arrived safely in Iraq. Hopefully I'll hear from him again soon and be able to talk to him for more than two minutes. He's still working on going Active, and we're waiting to see where God leads us with that situation. He has a PT test either late this month or sometime next month that will determine what happens with all of that. Please keep him in your prayers as his knee has really been bothering him lately.

As I hear more from Josh on how he's doing and what kinds of things he needs in care packages, I will keep everyone updated. **PLEASE DO NOT SEND LARGE AMOUNTS OF CANDY** I will also try to post pictures every now and then of the baby and update y'all on him.

Waiting for him,
Ariel