Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son! How are you doing on this Friday evening? Today has escaped Mom altogether as it is now going on 7:45 pm & I have no idea where all the time has gone today. It was a pretty busy day for Mom. I did some long overdue housework this morning & in the afternoon I started my classes for college. I finished with that & I did 2 exams. I won't know what the grades are until some time next week though as everything is all done by regular mail instead of the internet. I think I did pretty good on the English exam but the Math was a bit tough as I have not done that kind of Math in a very very long time. I guess I will see how it goes. The rest of the day was chatting on the phone with a sweet friend & then making dinner, & after I write to you I will be relaxing before calling it a night & going to bed. 
 This morning Mom woke up to more sad news in this world. Either last night or early this morning there was another terrorist attack in Nice, France. I was reading the article that they had on this & my heart just broke for all who lost their lives & for the families that will have to go down the road I have for the last 3 years. I wish that on no one & the news is just devastating. I will withhold the details that I read as I do not know if they are all correct...it really doesn't matter anyways as the details don't matter. What matters are more innocent lives have been taken from this world when it didn't need to happen. Mom has followers in France that read my letters to you. I just want to take a minute to tell anyone who is from France & if you do indeed read my letters to my sweet precious son, I am so sorry for your loss. I am sorry that you will have to go through this painful journey as you know I have all to well. My heart hurts for you all. Even though we have never met, that doesn't matter to me. I will be keeping y'all in my thoughts & prayers. May each of your family, friends, loved ones who lost their lives in this tragedy R.I.P. & be welcome into heaven for eternal life. 
 Tyler, Mom does not have any updates for you as I have not spoken to any of our family last night or today. I am sure I will later this weekend. I do however have the daily prayer for today. Here it is: July 15~ For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. Almighty Father, the ways of the world offer a dose of short-lived fun, followed by a sentence of long-term sorrow. Please keep me from " buying in " to the world's lies. Help me focus my intentions & desires on the path of life to which you call me. It may not seem glamorous at a temporal glance, but the wonders & joys you offer are deep & pure & profound, lasting for all eternity & satisfying the true desires of my heart. Thank you for the peace & promise of living in your presence. the ways of the world are those that look like candy but turn out to be the bitterest of pills. The ways of Christ, on the contrary, may seem a bitter pill in the beginning, but they lead us to an exquisite feast. Amen.
 The evening sky is almost upon us. Mom was hoping to see a pretty sunset tonight but that did not happen. The weather was just so hot & humid again. It hit 97 degrees today. It feels like Texas weather to us. It was sunny & oh so muggy. The sky for some reason is pretty cloudy. It is weird. Maybe I will get to see a pretty sunset soon. Doesn't look like there will be any stars visible to see or the moon. I know you are shining bright for someone who needs it. May your night be filled with happy things, adventures to go on, things to learn, things you need to do & things you may want to do as well while Mom is sleeping tonight. Come visit me if you get the chance. I would love that. Thanks pumpkin. I will whisper to you as I always do so be listening out for my voice. Smile when you hear it & I will smile as well. I miss you so much. No words can ever describe the feelings I feel. I love you for infinity & beyond. To the moon & back & all the way around the world. You are my hero, my wind beneath my wings & will forever be in my heart, mind & soul. Good night, Tyler & sweet dreams.
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Dear Tyler,

Hi pumpkin! How are you doing on this Thursday afternoon? Mom is doing better today. I did get some sleep last night but today I just feel drained & it seems like I didn't sleep at all. I am tired all of a sudden. Mom wanted to write to you right now so that just in case I fall asleep early tonight my letter to you would be done. I am feeling better & it has been 48 hours now since I had that scare. Things are fine & I am doing much better with that. I called on you & the Angels so I thank you and all of them who helped Mom. I was scared. It means a lot to me to know that you are indeed right by my side through it all even if I can't see you. 
 Well, today is the day... your Mom is officially back in college. I received my 1st set of books this afternoon. I had a few things I needed to do today so I will be starting classes 1st thing tomorrow morning. I am anxious but excited if that makes any sense at all. Just like all the other times, I know you will be right by my side every step of the way. I need you. I always will. Never forget that, ok?
 Last night I had the chance to chat with Grandpa & Debbie about our upcoming vacation. It is coming fast. We started planning this in January & here we are 6 months later. Our vacation will be in 2 more months. It will be nice to get away again & to have Meme & Bob with us this time but boy I wish that you were here too. The places that we will be going just remind Mom of the times we went there together. The memories make me laugh & they make me smile but I sure do shed tears as well. I am sure it will happen again this year too. Mom doesn't have any other updates for you as I had only talked on the phone very briefly last night & the rest of the evening was just trying to relax. Tonight will be the same way as like I said above...tomorrow starts my classes. It will also be an early night so that I can be well rested. Mark has a certification exam to take tomorrow as well so its  an early night for him too. He took this exam last Friday & unfortunately he did not pass it so he has the retake to do. He has been studying like mad all this week so I know he will pass with flying colors. Knowing him he will get a 100% on it. He is a smart cookie. He is good at his job. I was reading through my things today to get familiar with it all & by the looks of it I will have 30 pages to read, a couple practice exercises, 2 exams & then a final exam on that chapter. Then I will be set to do lesson 2. I think this will take me a bit to get used to this course but I will. I have faith in myself as I know you do too. Mom is not sure what my schedule will be like when I really start to get into it again so I will try my best to either write to you 1st thing in the morning or in the evening. I am hoping to write daily but it might be that it goes to every other night. I will try my hardest & my best. I know you understand. 
 Hopefully I will have more updates for you over the next 3 days or so. It is another busy weekend coming up. Couple appointments on Saturday, grocery shopping to do & on Sunday we have a couple things scheduled & a couple skype calls later in that evening. Here is your daily prayer for today though. 
 July 14~ Give justice to the weak & the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly & the destitute. Great & good Father, increase my concern for those who need practical intervention in their lives & who may need the help of another person to encourage or teach or defend or shelter them in some way. Bring these vulnerable ones to my attention & though I may not be able to provide everything they need, show me what you would have me offer that would demonstrate your care. Grant me your own compassion & willingness to give of myself for the sake of another. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. As I help others, I cultivate a spirit of helpfulness & love in those around me--- in my children, in neighbors, in coworkers & in my community. Amen. 
 The weather today has been another hot & muggy one but now the clouds are rolling in & looks like we may get a couple good thunderstorms. We just got an alert on our phones that stated this. Not sure if there will be a sunset or if  I'll be able to see any stars or the moon tonight shining bright but if I do that will be super but if not I know that you are somewhere giving all those things to someone who may need them more than Mom. Regardless, I will whisper to you as I always do. Be listening for me & smile when you hear it. I will smile as I talk to you. I hope that you have a restful & peaceful night but if I know you it will be anything but that. You will be staying busy doing things you need to, want to, learning so much & having some adventures along the way while I sleep. Have fun, Tyler. Continue to fly high & free. Come be with Mom tonight when I go to bed. Hope to see you in my dreams as well. Remember you are forever in my heart, mind & soul. You are my hero & my wind beneath my wings. I miss you like crazy & I love you to the moon & back & all the way around the world. To infinity & beyond. Give Max & Snickers a big hug & kiss from Mom. I sure do miss them very much but I know they are with you & you are caring for them. Good night my sweet precious son. Sweet dreams to you.
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!