Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son! How are you doing on this Tuesday afternoon? Mom is doing alright but I do have to say that I am really tired today. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night due to having an upset stomach until about 1:30 am. The cramps and pains were horrible. I think I finally fell asleep around 2 am and woke up at 6 am. About 4 hours of sleep and that is definitely not enough for Mom but it will have to do. I will be going to bed very early tonight to make sure that I get some sleep. Mark had to get up early for his cutover but something went wrong and that never happened. Mom fed the pups and made coffee and got the garbage gathered for the guy who will be here in a little bit. I came upstairs about 2 hours later and I called Auntie Kristina. She is doing okay. She was telling me that her dad was not doing well at all these days. He just is not bouncing back from the last time in the hospital. He is retaining a lot of fluid and has massive edema again, he is having trouble breathing due to his CHF and he is shaking a lot more now. He is having trouble with holding utensils and feeding himself. It is so sad but they are the same symptoms that Bob has as well. I told her that I will pray for her dad and the rest of her family. 
 It is after 1 pm and it is pretty quiet today. Mark is busy doing whatever he has to do for work, Bob hasn't slept in 2 nights and he is sitting outside, Meme is quiet as well...not sure why there and the pups are sleeping. Mom has been looking up things for her studies today and getting ideas and writing them down for her 1st project. I have done laundry as well and it is now drying. So far a productive day on my end even with being as tired as I am. Mom will probably relax after this for an hour or so before I need to prep the ham for dinner tonight. We are going to have salads. Something light and something easy. I am not all that hungry really today. I had cereal for brunch with a banana and that was it. I am pretty full right now so I don't even want to think about food for the moment. My eyes are so tired and heavy. I bet if I closed my eyes right here I would fall asleep. Every one else does it so why can't I? I just might do that after this! 
 Last night I spoke to Grandpa. He said he was doing good. It was a tense conversation though. He acted different than usual. He spoke about the weather, his VA appointment and the football game that was on the other night. That was about it. I brought up the conversation that was spoken between Debbie and I the other day but not much was said. Grandpa knows how I feel about it all. I told him I would call on Thanksgiving to say hello. It was a short chat. About 15 minutes and that was it. Debbie never said anything at all in the background and she always does. That was fine with me. Guess we will see how Thursdays call goes. Mom will fill you in on it later that evening. 
 Mom can't believe that thanksgiving is in 2 days. It is crazy to believe that. Christmas is now less than a month and New years is a month and 7 days. This time of the year is suppose to be joyful and fun. For Mom it is harder as this will be my 7 th set of holidays without you. It is not getting easier at all that is for sure. I miss you every minute of every hour of every day and the holidays make it much worse. I miss you like crazy my sweet precious son. 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 live inside my heart, mind, body and soul. I have a new candle to light for you tonight. I lit one last night and I guess that candle was done. When you see it, know that it is burning bright for you and all our family, friends and pets that are with you. I will whisper to you later this evening so smile for mom and I will smile to you. I hope you have fun doing all that you need to do and want to do. Come visit me in my dreams if you can. Thanks! Mom will be back tomorrow with another letter to you. For now I think I am going to lay down and just take a short nap. I hope to feel better afterwards. Until tomorrow comes.... good night and sweet dreams later this evening.
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Here is today's prayer:

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! Isaiah 64:1–2, NIV

Lord our God, in our times too you hear the prayers and cries of your children. We need to cry out, for humankind has not become your own but still lives in pain and under judgment, and many thousands have to die or undergo terrible things. They should be yours, every one of them. They should all be your children. So we cry out to you: Reveal and glorify your name on earth so that a new time may come and great wonders may be done by your hand. May your name be honored, your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.