Colonel Rasmussen

Soon after Jake left on his mission, Jay left for a year-long tour to Afghanistan.  I have a lot of different emotions swirling around inside me about being away from him for so long.  The first thing I'm feeling is that I feel sad for him.  People always feel sad for me when he is gone, they feel sorry for me, but really, it is harder on him.  Jay does not like to be alone.  He will miss me.  He will miss his kids.  He will miss his grandkids.  His living conditions will not be great.  It will be dangerous at times.  I will miss him terribly, but I think it is easier on me than him.  I still get all the comforts of home.  I get to go on trips and see the kids and grandkids.  My routine will not change that much.  I will be lonely, we both will.  I love him with all my heart.  I am also feeling very proud of him.  He is the best husband and father anyone could ever hope for.  I hope the year goes by fast, but, it's always good to have something to look forward to, and we can both look forward to Christmas and his mid-tour break!

Girls' Trip to Pennsylvania

While my (very pregnant) daughter Jessica was still here visiting, we decided to go on a little get-away to somewhere both she and I have always wanted to go- Falling Waters, which is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home that is open to the public for tours.  We decided to make an overnight trip out of it and visit some other sites that were close by to the house.  My two friends from book club and church, Denise and Elaine, came also.  For book club we had recently read David McCullough's book "The Johnstown Flood" so we went to the Johnstown museum and the site of the previous earthen dam that broke.  Also close by is the site where flight 93 went down on September 11.  There is a small makeshift memorial there, and they are working on a permanent memorial.  But, it was a very emotional place to visit, very somber, very sad.
 
It was a wonderful trip; fun, interesting, and emotional.  We were all quite drained by the time we got home!

Jessica, me, Denise, and Elaine at Falling Waters

At the Johnstown Flood museum

Site of the dam that broke and flooded Johnstown

Saying Goodbye to Elder Rasmussen

We enjoyed the fireworks on the 4th of July

We ate one last meal together at the Cheesecake Factory

Then we went to the airport

Gave hugs, shed a few tears

And said goodbye to him for two years!

 If you would like to follow the adventures of Elder Rasmussen on his mission, hop on over to his mission blog at ElderJacobRasmussen.blogspot.com