Dear Tyler,

Hi pumpkin! How are you doing on this Friday afternoon? It is already 3:12 pm and the sun is already starting to set. It will be dark here in about 1 hour. Sometimes it is so depressing that the daylight is only about 8 hours a day for the next couple months. The sun is shining though and the wind is pretty mellow. The temp is cold though. We just got done bringing the pups out for a walk. The coolness did feel good on my face though I have to admit. This weekend is suppose to be sunny and super cold. The high is suppose to only be 28 and the night will be a low of 20 degrees. Winter is definitely here now. Looks like we will be getting rain all next weekend though but all the days in between will be sunny and dry. The weather goes up to the 21st and looks like it will be a very green Christmas for us here in New England. Mom is super okay with that. I know there is a little bit of snow in NH but not much. I think maybe 4" tops. Probably by the time we get there it will all be gone as well. I am very okay with that! I hope that one day is dry so that I can come visit you for a bit and maybe sit on the bench. I don't care if it is cold. I will keep watching the weather for those days ahead.
 Last night was a very quiet night. Mom had dinner for one. I ate and did the little bit of dishes and curled up on the couch and watch a couple shows and a Christmas movie before Mark got home. He pulled in around 7 pm last night. That made a 16 hour day. He was exhausted when he got home but he had some dinner and then relaxed for about 2 hours before calling it a night and going to bed. Mom was so tired that I went to bed at 9:30 pm and slept pretty good for the most part. I was up early this morning helping with the pups. I laid in bed for about an hour and then got up, started to listen to some music and decided to start on all the things I wanted to do today. I started with giving both dogs baths, cleaning both bathrooms, dusting, breaking down boxes, gathering up the garbage, mopping the floors, getting ready, vacuuming the floors, making breakfast, doing 2 loads of laundry and folding both and putting it all away, doing the breakfast dishes and then paid all the bills online that needed to be paid plus I did the grocery shopping. I then started to study but I noticed that my instructor hadn't messaged me back so that is when I took the pups for a walk and came in to write to you. It has been a very productive and full day for Mom. I did everything so that this weekend I did not have to do anything. Saturday will be a day of going Christmas shopping and then coming home and relaxing and Sunday will be a day that Mom goes and gets her nails done and then more shopping is on the agenda. Monday will be right back to studying and work for Mark so Mom wants to enjoy the down time while I can. Tonight will consist of Mom making dinner, feeding the pups, making cookies for Mark and then relaxing and watching a movie before bed. I will be starting everything right after I get off the computer. Mom is hoping that your evening will be filled with fun things but also things that you need to do and may want to do too. I sure hope you will have the time to stop and visit with me in my dreams. Later Mom will be lighting the candle and whispering to you so smile when you see and hear Mom and I will smile back to you. Mom has no updates for you at all because I have not spoken to anyone at all. I will touch base over the weekend though. We have a skype call with Tubal and Karen too on Sunday evening. I will keep you updated when I have any news to share. I sure do miss you my sweet precious son. I love you to the moon and back and all the way around the world. You are my superhero and the wind beneath my wings. Forever you are inside my heart, mind, body and soul. I will be back tomorrow with another letter to you either in the late afternoon or evening at some point. It is going to be a busy and long day as everyone will be out shopping. There are only 17 days left of the shopping season. Doesn't seem possible but it is true. 25 days until a new year too. Mom is going to get going so that I have time to do everything I need to do so until tomorrow comes.....good night and sweet dreams. Twinkle bright up in the sky for Mom. You will be my forever bright shining star. I love you.
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Here is the prayer for the day:

In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Micah 4:1–2, NIV

Lord our God, we gather in your presence, coming from this world so full of suffering, grief, and misfortune that we could well be afraid. But we do not have to rely on this world. We can come to you, the almighty God. You are our Father, and no matter what may come, we remain your children and receive your blessing. So protect us in this present time. Even if a flood of evil seems about to break over us and our hearts are heavy, you will uphold us. You will strengthen us so that we can bear this time patiently, hoping in you and in what you do for all people, who are your people just as we are. May the praise of your name be in our hearts for ever and ever. Amen.