Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son! How are you doing on this Tuesday evening? Mom is sorry that I did not write to you last night but after the drive home, doing laundry, putting stuff away, dinner & everything else that needed to be done Mom finally relaxed at 7 pm & I was in bed at 9:30 pm. I was so tired. I awoke early this morning for a few brief moments & fell back to sleep again. Today started off being a better morning but as the day progressed it wasn't too nice. Mom & Mark had planned on going out for the day as it is our 2nd Wedding Anniversary. We were going to do a little shopping & then go for a nice lunch but that was cut short because right as we were getting ready to leave I got sick & then a couple hours later so did Mark. To say the least we got in our jammies & we have had a quiet day watching movies. We will celebrate our Anniversary this weekend along with New Years. 
 Going up North was nice but it really is exhausting to us. It is hard to see & do all the things we want to because we can't leave the pups in the hotel room alone & we can't take them with us all those places either. We didn't get to see half the people we wanted to but we did get to see Great Grammy, Meme, Bob, Grandpa & Debbie. We saw Sam at the cemetery & Marion & Charlie stopped by the hotel Christmas night to see us. The 3.5 days went by fast. We will be going up there for another visit in a few weeks for a day or 2 & then again in May for Mom's Birthday. Maybe we will see more on those visits. 
 What sad news we have been having. George Michael, a singer passed on Christmas night, Carrie Fisher from Star Wars passed this morning & another comedian & actor passed either yesterday or today as well. 2016 has been tough on so many of us...family, friends, celebrities.... I think that many are happy to see this year go away & start fresh. 2017 will be appearing in 4 days. It is kind of hard to believe but I think it will be good to leave things behind & focus on the future. Mom has been thinking about her New Year resolutions.... some are the same as always...eat healthier, exercise more, but some are different.... I am always focusing on other people & their issues & problems. I listen to them & give advice when I can, help them when I can, etc... but not this coming year.... I will always be a friend but they need to start to figure out things on their own just like I have to do. Mom is going to focus on me for a change. I am going to " destress " as much as I can, think more positive, keep negativity out of my life, argue less & love more. I am going to focus on my college so I can graduate & find a job & also save money for Paris! I know some will be upset at my changes but I am willing to take that risk. I need to do this for me, for Mark & for our families. I think that you will agree with all this. I need to " purge " things to let other things in. I know you will help me along the way & I need that from you, Tyler. I thank you for it as well. I know you want Mom to be happy & that is exactly what I plan on doing. I know you want me to live my live so you can see it & I plan on doing that as well. I think that in the coming year I will change up my blog too. Do things a little different. I am not sure about that but I will figure it out. 
 I don't have any updates for you but I do know that everyone is doing well & they were glad to see us this past weekend. Uncle Dick sounds tired but he is doing good too. We got to talk to him on Christmas Day. Bean called me so that was always a wonderful surprise. Don't forget to go visit her as today is her Birthday. She was so sweet to share her special day with Mark & I. Just don't scare her...lol. That's all I got on that. I do have the 2 daily prayers that I need to catch up on so here they are: December 26~ God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh & aloes & cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad. Today's psalm paints a royal portrait--- a King enjoying palace life. I wonder if this is a glimpse of your heavenly life, before you came to earth to be born. If so, it's a stark contrast to the stable. Fragrant robes replaced with swaddling clothes. Suddenly your " companions " are oxen & donkeys. This is what you gave up in order to save us. I love the fact that one of these royal scents is myrrh. The magi knew you were a King & they offered a whiff of majesty. Lord Jesus, thank you for becoming one of us. In your precious name, I pray. Amen. Christ Jesus.....though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. Amen. 
 December 27~ By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth & of the farthest seas. O god of our salvation, your most awesome deed was the sending of your Son. His incarnation as a human being restored the worth of your creation. His sacrifice for our sin won our freedom. His resurrection from the grave established your power over death & we are the beneficiaries. Thank you, Lord, for this greatest of all gifts. I know I can never repay you, but I offer you a song in my heart, a prayer in my soul & the love that drives me forward each day. Blessings to you, unfathomable God. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Amen. 
 Mom is all caught up. The evening sky is upon us right now. The days are starting to get longer & it is staying lighter outside once again. It didn't start to get dark until 5:15 pm. That is pretty good as it usually gets dark by 4 pm. I will take it. The sky should be pretty clear as today was a partly sunny day in the high 50's. I was surprised by that as well. I will be looking to the sky later to see if I see anything shining bright. Regardless I will whisper to you as I always do so be listening out for Mom. I will smile just for you & I will close my eyes to see your smile in my mind. The smile that I miss so very much. I miss everything we shared... the laughs, the joys, the sorrows, the tough times, the tears, the laughter. Mom would give anything to have it all back but I know no matter how hard I try it won't happen. I know you are at peace, you are happy, you love to fly & you are doing so many good deeds every where. I also know you are learning a lot s well for whatever lies ahead for you my sweet precious son. I would never want to take that away from you. I want you to be all that you can & one day I will see you again & I will see it all with my own eyes. I love you to the moon & back & all the way around the world. You are & will always be my everything. To infinity & beyond. You live forever in my heart, mind & soul. You are my true hero & the wind beneath my wings.
 Mom is going to close this letter for tonight but I will be back tomorrow with another one. I hope you have a fun night doing all things you want to do & need to do. Have some adventures along the way as well while Mom sleeps. Come be with me or visit me in my dreams as I sleep. I always love that! Good night  & sweet dreams, Tyler. 
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!