4,950

What is the significance of this number, you ask? Well, let me just tell you! That is the number of minutes worth of phone cards you all pitched in to buy for Abe. That translates to 82.5 hours, which translates to 3.44 FULL days of phone time. AMAZING! The money you all so willingly chipped in bought nine phone cards worth 550 minutes.

I just want to thank Sandy for beginning this effort. And all the employees at Reams Asset Management, thank you all so much! Abe was shocked when I revealed the amount of minutes… or I assume he was shocked You know he’s a man of few words so I take his “wow, that’s really awesome of them” to mean he’s floored!

Thanks again!

Ask and ye shall receive…

Earlier today, I mentioned that I was going to pester Abe into making another post for all of us. Well, lo’ and behold… what did I discover when I checked my email just now but a message from that dear, sweet man Hope you enjoy it…

Hi everybody!! We are doing our final training exercises right now and the days are going so slow. I have to stay in my barracks to work on the computer all day and a lot of the time I don’t have much to do, which makes time pass slowly. I get woken up at all times of the night for dispatches because we are running missions 24/7. I’m more than ready for my pass and can’t wait to see Jacquie and the rest of the family! For those I can’t see on pass, I miss you all! Thanks for the support.

- Abe

Remember…

Just a reminder to all of you to have your final packages for Abe shipped out by the 20th! That’s the day after tomorrow… sorry for the late warning and the blogging hiatus. I’ll try to work really hard on keeping you all more up-to-date. I’m also going to pester Abe tonight about posting another message and some pictures or something

Remember, packages on the smallish side containing items that can be disposed of/eaten/used up before they deploy are the most practical. However I’m sure Abe will somehow manage to pack everything that’s left over He’s been a pack-rat his whole life, I don’t see why that would change this late in the game!

 Thank you all for your continued support! I know it means a lot to Abe and I can’t begin to tell you how touched I’ve been by the outpouring of prayers, thoughts, etc. You are all amazing! Thank you!

Happy birthday to US!

Okay… so it’s a few (or four) days late. My brother, Joey, and I share a birthday on Valentine’s Day so I thought it’d be nice to make a little post about just the two of us

As wee babes. I was probably 18 months putting Joe around 3 1/2.

This was after we moved into our old, brown house. I was probably three and Joe was about five, I’m guessing. We may have been a bit younger.

This pic is the most amazing photo ever. I can’t even believe I’m posting it… but, I suppose it’s a treasure from the family vault and I couldn’t help but share

This is us today! Not much has changed right?! And can we all just notice how Joe’s hair is as long as mine?! haha He may actually have a bit of length on me… Just teasing, bro.

Thanks to Josh Nicole, Joey, Alyssa and Kyle for surprising me for our birthday. You guys are fab! I had a great time Thanks sooo much for working hard to keep me in the dark, you nerds!!!

 

Florida

Sorry to all of my faithful blog readers. I have been on a terrible posting hiatus lately… with good reason. My dear, sweet mother lost her mom this past week. Her name was Barbara Tipler and boy, did her family love her! Though the week was full of tears, it was nice to see family we hadn’t seen in AGES.

Due to the unfortunate circumstances, I trekked down to Florida with Josh, Nicole, Cooper and Jenny in the steadfast mini van. Of course, the ol’ Nikon came along with me and I was able to get a few nice photos while we were down there!

Coop was our chauffeur for the week… kidding  

The Twizzler Straw. One of many bouts of uncontrollable laughter caused by delirium and/or lack of sleep.

We stopped by the rocket ship in Alabama because that’s what Trager’s do Here’s Josh, Nicole and Cooper.

Here are a few shots from the “beach” in Florida. In actuality it was about a four foot strip of sand by the ocean but that’s okay! You make the best of it!

A rare self portrait…

Cooper at the beach. Cutest thing EVER.

My dad and Coop needed a time out and managed to snag a recliner.

And a pretty red flower because it’s February and it’s snowing outside.