Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son! How are you doing on this Friday afternoon? Mom is doing okay. The weather today is really dark & cloudy. The temps are very cold as well. It is 3 pm & we have had to have the lights on for about an hour already. Think we are just getting it because in NH/VT it is snowing like crazy. We will be getting rain later but nothing out of this storm. Mom & Mark are pretty much all set to get headed out on Sunday morning. We will do some quick shopping tomorrow & then we will pack the Rogue up. This way we will get up, get ready & head out the door come Sunday. Lots to still do but they are little things & all is well. 
 Mom forgot yesterday that it was the Winter Solstice. It was the first day of winter. The shortest day & the longest night of the year. It happens every December 21st. Yesterday did not feel long at all but today sure has. Mom was up quite early as usual this morning. Mark fed the pups for me & I made coffee & breakfast. After that was done I made the bed & decided that I was going to color my hair. I got it all prepped & was waiting for the 45 minutes to go by so Mom decided to chat on the phone. I was not watching the time however & by the time I got in the shower to rinse it all out, am hour had gone by. To say the least instead of my hair being medium brown it turned to be a dark dark brown, almost black. Yikes! Good thing this stuff doesn't last too too long...lol. Mark likes it & I think it will grow on Mom but still... I won't make that mistake again. The rest of today has basically been doing nothing. I had no intention of studying. My mind is not in it at all. I will study Tuesday through Friday of next week though. I am sure to get a lot accomplished then. 
 Mom is kind of sad today as I looked at the weather forecast for next week. On Friday & Saturday ( the 2 days before New Years Eve ) we are going to be socked with 2 1/2 feet of snow in 2 days. If the weather doesn't change at all & we get these storms...looks like we will not be having anyone here again to celebrate with. It will be another New Years Eve with just the 2 of us. There is nothing wrong with that but it has been 6 years or longer since we threw a get together. Mom was looking forward to it & I had all kinds of things planned out. If there is anything you can do for Mom, I would appreciate it so much. I hope that you will give me some signs to let me know you are with me as well. I am always looking for signs from you. When I see them I always say hi to you & that I love you. They make me smile. Thank you for that! Not much for updates for you I am afraid. There really hasn't been anything going on this week which is a good thing. What I do have for you is that Mark & Mom finally decorated the gingerbread house last night! About time, huh? We think it came out okay. Definitely better than the 1st one! Our cousin, Andrea is still in the hospital. Day 4 for her. She was sent to the ER with the same thing & symptoms as Mark's brother had last week. They both have chronic asthma. As I was typing this Andrea messaged me to tell me she was discharged & released from the hospital. She is now home now & going to get some real rest! She is still sick but at least she is home. Glad for this. We know all too well what that is like, don't we? We spent so much time in the hospital. Mom is glad that you have to never worry about any of that again. I miss you so much but I know you are happier where you are & what you are doing. You are freed! I love you to the moon & back & all the way around the world. You are my hero & the wind beneath my wings. You will forever be in my heart, mind, body & soul. 
 Mom needs to be getting the night stuff started but before I do I will write you a saying for the day & then write the prayers too. Here is the saying:
 " A beautiful woman uses her lips for truth, her voice for kindness, her ears for compassion, her hands for charity & her heart for love. For those who do not like her, she uses prayer. "
 The prayers for the day are:
 May you grow to LOVE the sound of God's voice in your ear! May you cultivate such a heart of peace and a heart at rest that you fully trust your Father to lead you in the way that you should go. May you lose your taste for the things that weaken you. May you develop a hunger and a thirst for all God has for you. May you receive a fresh revelation of God's love and promise for you. You are a gifted, treasured, loved person and you're called to impact the world in a way that only you can. May the love of Christ constrain you and compel you in the days ahead. May He open your eyes to the new territory awaiting you. 
  May you pause repeatedly this weekend and consider this: YOU are the object of God's deep affection. YOU are the reason Jesus came to earth as a vulnerable baby. YOU were the joy set before Him when He endured the cross and scorned its shame. Jesus made a public spectacle of the enemy that stands against you; He crushed the lies the enemy spews about you because YOU are someone Jesus loves and wants forever in eternity with Him. Jesus IS the reason for the season. May we joyfully celebrate the One who came as a baby and will return as the King. Have a most blessed and festive Christmas celebration!
 Mom hopes that your evening will be filled with peace & relaxation. Come visit me if you can tonight. I will whisper to you later tonight so be listening out for my voice. Mom will smile to you & hope you will be smiling when you hear me. Mom will be back tomorrow night with another letter to you so until then....good night & sweet dreams my bright shining star!
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!