This is what I often find Brendan doing when I tuck him in at night. He's up on his bunk bed hunkered down reading the funnies. Every week his great grandma (my grandmother), sends him the comics along with a hand written note. Each week he eagerly opens his letter and often sits right down and writes her back. They exchange interests, daily happenings, and have even sent hand drawn pictures to each other. As she is getting older we are seeing her a little less and I'm thankful for this meaningful way of communicating. My grandmother still sits down and hand writes letters to friends and family. Everyone enjoys checking the mailbox and finding an envelope written in someone's handwriting waiting for them. It's personal. In this day of increasing technology I still enjoy holding an actual newspaper or book in hand to read. A hand written letter? Even better. I'm so thankful that my grandmother is still here with us and is able to pass on something that is very important to her generation.....the hand written word.
Six years ago we were blessed with our first daughter, Alaina Courtney. As we pulled out of the hospital parking lot to take her home, I turned to Gary and said, "I feel like our family is complete. Two boys and now a little girl." (Now we all know how that story ends.:)) But at the time, she was the perfect completion to our family. Time has flown by with her and here we are 6 years later. She's in Kindergarten and loving it. She's taking ballet and loving that too. And she has grown into such a sweet caring little girl. She's also a little spunky thing too. Whacking her brothers whenever she needs to stick up for herself. I love that about her too. I hope the next 6 years go by much slower than the last, but part of me can't wait to see what kind of a young lady she will become. So much to look forward to with her! Here she is with her new "friend" Molly, that she got for her birthday. Now both of them are tucked into their beds upstairs and hopefully our Lainy Lou is having sweet birthday dreams. 
