It's fall 2011! Bryan continues to improve daily. We've been camping twice this summer with the kids! Bryan was able to set up and take down the tent -- just has to be careful how he does things, but he's not very limited when compared to where he was 5-6 mo's ago! So we praise God for his continued healing. We are hoping at the end of this month that we will get to hear that he can stop the antibiotics. They still bother him at times and it will be so nice to finish them!
We didn't take any large trips this summer, but we did go camping twice for 2 nights each. The first was to CO. Our fires had been so bad this summer that we had to go a little farther to be able to have campfires. It was a beautful lake and we enjoyed the time together with all of our kids! Then last weekend we went to our old campsite area in Paliza with Abby, Scott & Chelsey. It was a rainy weekend but still relaxing. The only other trip we took this summer was Bryan and I when we went to Denver for the Josh Groban Concert over our 28th Anniversary! It's was THE best weekend of our year! It was by far my favorite concert so far! Josh's music has been meaningful to me through the years, so this was a very special concert for me. Bryan enjoyed it as well, but I know he did it more for me, which makes me love him all the more. He's quite the giving husband!
The other special thing about this was that I first saw it advertised on FB back in March when we were home for the week between hospital stays. I wanted to go so badly but wasn't sure if he'd be up to traveling by August, as we weren't even to the point of knowing for sure what was wrong with his back yet. So Bryan being able to travel made it all the more special after so many months of uncertainty!

Another huge change for all of us is that Beth and Daniel are expecting their 3rd baby!!! I'm thrilled that we will soon have another newborn to cuddle and watch grow along with his/her sisters! In the midst of hard times Daniel and Beth have been going through with jobs etc., God is always good and always wise! This child is a gift, and not just to his/her Mommy and Daddy but to our entire family! What a blessing! :)

Lots of things have changed for Abby as well! She's finally on Day Crew! Had to change stores to get it, but it's going so much better at this new store in just one week! She's also a student at CNM this fall, just with one course. We will look into getting her GED soon and then she will begin a program in photography at UNM in January if it all works out. She and Kyle just reached their 5 mo-versary! They are doing well inspite of the long distance between them! Skype makes it a little nicer. Kyle is going to be able to get away next weekend to come home for a few days. Abby is so looking forward to seeing him again! Then, in about 3 weeks after next, we are taking Abby on a trip to OK for a long weekend. It was one of her birthday gifts in August. I'm really proud of how well she's handling everything and doing well inspite of missing him so deeply!

This weekend Abby and I are going to Glorieta for a ladies' retreat. It's just started feeling like fall here after a summer in the 100's, so it should be pretty wonderful as far as the weather! Looking forward to building friendships and seeing what God has for us this weekend!