Dear Tyler,

Hi pumpkin! How are you doing on this Monday afternoon? Mom is not even going to try & lie & say that I am doing okay today because I am not. I don't know what I did but my back & my whole body is just in so much pain. I know it is from overdoing it this weekend but mostly yesterday. Mom has some icy hot on her back & shoulders right now in hopes that it will work a little bit. Mark is sick as well but he is having tummy issues. He is still working though. God bless him for that. Mom is wanting to write to you now so that I can get a little bit of studying in & then go curl up on the couch for a while & just relax. Mom was up at 6:15 this morning & it is now 1:15 pm. Mom has done nothing today but make breakfast, clean the dishes, get ready & I did take the pups out for a short walk. Now they are resting & Mark is getting ready for a conference call all afternoon. Mom is going to be super quiet so that he can concentrate as he is running the call & will be talking a lot. Hopefully when I go lay on the couch the pups will follow Mom & be quiet the whole time. Ozzy will & I think Princess will today as well. She has been acting strange the last 2 days. She barely wants to eat, doesn't want treats & she really isn't drinking. Mom is watching her closely to make sure nothing else is going on. If it does then it will be a trip to the vets for her. Please watch over all of us, Tyler. Mom needs you. Thank you my sweet precious son. 
 Last night was pretty quiet after Mom did all that cleaning & unpacking. Mark & Mom had dinner & watched a movie. we were in bed by 9 pm & asleep by 10 pm. I was exhausted. I did chat with Meme & Grandpa. Mom called to let them know that we made it home safely. I told them I would chat with them tonight but I might just call them tomorrow night considering how we both feel. I will touch base with everyone during the week at some point but Mom is really focusing on her studies right now. I should be done with this class I am in this week. That is the goal at least! Mom just realized that this weekend is the Memorial Day Holiday. It is a 3 day weekend for Mark & a 4 day work week next week! Mark & Mom are going to try from here on during the weekend to go somewhere & just enjoy the day together. Go explore places that we haven't been. We are going to start this weekend so Mom will fill you in on the places we go, things we do & the adventures that are along the way. That should be interesting! I am sure we will have fun as well!
 Mom doesn't have any updates for you at all today but it is just the beginning of the week so I know that will change. I will keep you posted on everything as soon as I get them. Make sure to go visit Uncle Dick today as it is his Birthday! He is 73 years old! Make sure you send him a sign to let him know you are around. Thanks Ty! Mom is doing well on her fitness routine & I am meeting my goal every day. It feels great. Today may be a day that I don't but I am going to try really hard to. Everyone over the weekend noticed that I looked like I lost weight. That was nice. Mom is going to up her goal again on Wednesday. I started with 600 points to earn, then 700 points & now I will go to 800 points. That equals out to be about 8,000 steps a day. I am pretty much doing that now so I won't have to try extra hard. I will stay there for 2 weeks & up it again. This really keeps Mom motivated & it is healthy too. I don't eat as much at all anymore. I rarely snack too. I feel great & I will be keeping up with it! Mom will keep you posted with my progress. 
 Tonight I will light the candle for you & I will turn the scent candle on as well. I will whisper to you like I always do so when you hear Mom, smile & I will smile back to you. I miss you so much. I love you to the moon & back & all the way around the world. You are my hero & the wind beneath my wings. Forever you will live inside my heart, mind, body & soul. Mom hopes you evening will be everything that you need & want it to be. Have fun while I sleep tonight. Come visit me in my dreams if you can. I will be back tomorrow. I promise. Until then.... good night & sweet dreams.
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Here is the prayer for the day:

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”" Romans 1:16-17, NIV

Lord our God, you have revealed your righteousness to us in the gospel, your righteousness that comes to us through faith and continues in faith. Grant that we may understand your righteousness and live by it even in a crooked generation. Then to our joy the gospel will bear fruit. Protect us in the midst of temptation and conflicting opinions so that we are raised above them and remain free, with our thoughts on you and your true and loving righteousness. Your righteousness gives us hope for the many, many people who still need help to realize that their lives are not of passing value but of eternal worth. Amen.