Dear Tyler,

Hi pumpkin! How are you doing on this Tuesday afternoon? Mom is doing okay but I am extremely tired. I went to bed last night at 10:30 pm and I thought that I fell right to sleep and slept well but I guess I did not. My tracker said that I got 3 hours and 45 minutes of restful sleep and 2 hours and 40 minutes of light sleep. That is not good at all. Mom needs to get a really good nights sleep and more than just 4 hours worth. Tonight will be a night that I will be going to bed before 10 pm and hopefully getting some much deserved rest. 
 This morning I was up at 5:30 am and just couldn't sleep. Mark slept in until almost 8 am. Mom laid in bed and checked emails and such and just stayed quiet. I was up at 7:30 am feeding the pups and getting them set. After, Mom made the bed and then hopped right into the shower because maintenance was coming to change all the light bulbs in the apartment to more efficient ones. They started in building one which is the building we live in at 9 am and they were knocking on our door at 10 am. Mom gathered the pups up and got them all set to take a walk while they were in here. Mom didn't realize how cold it was out there with the wind blowing. We were out for about 15 minutes and then came inside. Mom has had a chill ever since. I made some brunch and hot cocoa and that didn't help. After I finish up with your letter I am going to snuggle on the couch with a blanket and watch some of the shows that I have on DVR. Mom needs to think of what to be having for dinner as well. I am not sure just yet. I have a little bit before I need to cook so I will be fine. It is 3:35 pm and the sun is already setting. This is crazy. Winter Solstice is on December 21st...in 16 days. That is the longest day of the year and the darkest day of the year plus it is also the 1st day of winter. After that day, every day it starts to get lighter outside. It takes awhile to get to where it stays lighter out than 5 pm but it is the start of the reverse again. When Mom was growing up we would have to turn the clocks back in September and turn them ahead in April. Now it is November we turn them back and March we turn them ahead. Big difference. 7 months vs 4 months. I will take it but I sure do wish that we didn't do it at all. That would be so much better. I wish that it stayed lighter outside until 8 pm or longer. Maybe someday we will have that. Anyways...enough of that!
 The weather today was super cold and windy but the sun was shining all day and the skies were almost fully blue. That was nice. Guess the rest of the week will be good but the weekend it is suppose to ran Saturday night into all day Sunday and Monday. That is okay. I will take the rain over the other stuff right now. As it stands and the weather doesn't change, it looks like we will be having a green Christmas here and also in NH. Mom is completely okay with that. Last year we left our home with seeing green grass and sun and we got to NH with cloudy skies and a snowstorm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I remember we went from the hotel to Meme's and then back to the hotel again. We drove 2 miles and that was it the whole time we were there until we left to come home 3 days later. It was pretty but I was glad to be back to green grass again. Time will tell if that will be a repeat again or if it will be different. We plan on going up there for 2 days this year. Mom is hoping that I can sit on your bench and visit without freezing my butt off plus I want to bring you your yearly ornament and place it down there like I have done for the past 5 years. This year will be the 6th. I know that Sam has the ornaments that Mom has placed down there for you with her so that they don't get ruined or stolen. I know they are in safe keeping and I am okay with her having them. We will be going Christmas shopping this weekend and next weekend so I will be looking for that special ornament just for you. Usually by this time I have everything done, wrapped and I can sit back and watch the chaos but this year for some reason I am not into it. I have bought 2 gifts and I have not done Christmas cards or nothing. Not sure what my problem is because I have been listening to the music and watching the movies. Guess I like the idea of the holiday with family but not the commercial piece now. I sure hope that you will send Mom all kinds of signs along the way during the holidays so I know you are with me. I miss you so much. I have been posting stuff daily on your timeline on facebook. I sure hope you are seeing them and they make you smile knowing I am always thinking about you. I love you to the moon and back and all the way around the world. You are my hero and the wind beneath my wings. Forever you will be living in my heart, mind, body and soul. 
 Mom hopes that your evening will be everything that you need it to be and want it to be. Have fun while I sleep and come visit me in my dreams if you can. I will light the candle in a bit and I will also whisper to you later so be listening out for my voice. Smile to Mom and I will smile back to you. I sure hope you are liking the pics that I am choosing to post on here so the last few days to start December off. Most of the pictures will be the pups in Christmas outfits or hats that have to deal with Christmas and also the other pics as well. January will be pictures of the winter scenes and such. Mom tries to be creative on here as the years pass. It is hard to believe that I have been doing this blog and my letters to you for the last 5 years and 5 months. I will continue as well until I don't feel that it is needed any longer or you send me a very clear sign to stop. Mom thanks all the followers that read my letters to you daily. I sure hope they enjoy them and they get to see how I am doing plus what is going on with our family and friends. It says in my stats that I have posted over 7,020 times with pictures and letters and that I have an all time "hit" count ( number of times my blog has been viewed) of over 55,500. That is beyond incredible. Thank you all so much for sticking with me through the years. I sure hope that I have helped some along the way as well. May each and every one of you be blessed always. 
 Mom needs to get going as it is now after 4 pm and I need to really be thinking about what to have for dinner....lol! I also need to get the pups fed. I will be back tomorrow with another letter to you after I study for a bit. Still waiting on my instructor to grade my 2 exams that I submitted yesterday. No grades have been posted yet. I will let you know when they do though. Until tomorrow comes my sweet precious son...good night and sweet dreams. I love you with all my heart and soul.
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Here is the prayer for the day:

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 3:10–11, NIV

Lord our God, strengthen our hearts today through your Word. You are our Father and we are your children, and we want to trust you in every aspect of our lives. Protect us on all our ways, and grant that we may always watch and wait for the coming of your kingdom, for the future of our Lord Jesus Christ. Keep us from becoming confused by present-day events. Help us to remain free, that we may serve you and not be led astray, no matter what happens in the world. Grant us your Holy Spirit in everything, for without your Spirit we can do nothing. Help us, and accept our praise for the many ways you have given us help. Amen.