The year in Review

I have been contemplating about doing a Family Christmas update on my blog for awhile. I feel a little bad not sending out Christmas cards but I knew I wouldn't get to that this year so I decided to go ahead with this!


This has been a very busy year for us! It has been full of blessings and wonderful experiences. We decided to start the year off with a bang by having Michael leave for his deployment to Afghanistan. He had so many interesting experiences there. He had the opportunity to witness the opening of the first District in Afghanistan! We felt like we were watching history happen. He also had many opportunities to share the gospel and his testimony. He made friends he never would had and learned about a culture and people as he lived among them.

Laurie loved/loves watching Michael Dunn grow and learn. It's amazing to see the world opening to your child and see things start to make since and connect in his mind. Michael Dunn was such a comfort and distraction to his mother during this time.

In June Michael was able to come home for the birth of our second Son Hyrum. It was such a joy seeing him and having him be a part of our little family. Hyrum has done well from the start. He slept most of the time, willingly went on a schedule and was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. He has such a cheerful disposition that makes him an easy target for attention-as well as Red hair and good pinching cheeks!

A few months after Hyrums birth, life was interrupted by 2 hurricanes. Laurie and the boys high-tailed it up to Utah to stay with Michaels parents. Once she got there she decided to make a trip of it and stayed for a month. It was a wonderful time for her and the boys. Michael Dunn was in heaven with all the attention he could ask for and people who loved him.

We came home because Hyrum decided it was time for the vacation to be over. It was such a blessing to come home and see that our house was still fine! Our life retuned to as normal as it gets for us. The next couple of months were filled with Doctors appointments and Medication as we tried to figure out why Hyrum had a Urinary tract infection. Through it all he still maintained a mostly cheerful attitude.

Michael came home a week before Thanksgiving! We had so much to be grateful for. The transition for the boys was almost seamless. Michael Dunn jumped enthusiastically into the role of Michaels son. He LOVES his daddy. He has transitioned quickly into becoming a daddy's boy. It was such a joy to watch. Michael Dunn is happier then he has ever been before.

We have so much we have to be grateful for this year. It is hard to think back and see the trials because mostly all we can see are the blessings that came from it. We are so grateful to have Michael home safe and happy. We are grateful for the home we have and the love that is in it. Mostly we are grateful that we are a forever family.


Merry Christmas!