December 2008
To our dear Family and Friends,
We hope that this note finds you all doing wonderfully and enjoying this very special time of year! Because we have not yet succumb to the family blogging trend, we rely on updating our loved ones, you, through the annual Christmas letter! So here goes…
During the beginning of this year, Nick logged many flight hours and even more time studying and preparing for those flights as he finished up his Green Platoon course. Come April, after several months of intense training, he had earned his place as a Night Stalker! He quickly jumped into his position as Platoon Leader, learning the ropes before departing for his first six week deployment a couple of days after the 4th of July. I would, of course, indulge you in all of the excitement of these said deployments, but I am very much unaware of the specifics of Nick’s whereabouts and goings on while he is away. For a self-proclaimed “curious person”, this is a challenge, but in an effort to keep him safe and sound, I can swallow my nosy tendencies. All I can say is that Nick is very fulfilled and excited about his new responsibilities “doing our nation’s business”. He’s finishing up his second deployment and will be home for the holidays!
I started off the year traveling back to my beloved John Muir Medical Center in the bay area to work there in the Intensive Care Nursery, but soon realized that it was time to stay closer to home. After a few interviews and shaking hands with the hospital’s CEO at church, I had myself a job in the Well Baby Nursery and Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Gateway Medical Center, a mere 10 minutes from home. Since April, I have been working a couple of 12 hour night shifts a week. During which I’ve spent some good quality time hanging out with the locals. Please kick me if I ever whip out “I reckon,” “ain’t no” or “might could” in conversation. Seriously, y’all. :-P
Aside from our jobs, we have been working hard sprucing up our home. We’ve torn up our yard, reseeded our lawn (4 times—and still I mow weeds), landscaped, and built the most awesome fence ever (thank you honey!) Nothin’ like a few splinters and a little dirt under the naills! When it comes to fun, we traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida in March for The Chwala’s gorgeous beachfront wedding, then down to Enterprise, Alabama in April for The Tullos’ huge wedding extravaganza and then over to The Poconos in June for Lizzie & Matt Laird’s beautiful lakeside family wedding. We’ve also made frequent road trips to Indiana to visit with Kris, JP and our balloon-loving nephew, Andy. In September, we pitched in to help out with Operation Serve (an enormous community service project through our church) by coordinating a BBQ for several hundred members to kick-off the mission. What an honor it was to participate is such a fantastic cause. We’ve also just loved staying close to home, hanging out with our wonderful friends (our West Point alumni group keeps growing--who would have thought that we’d all reconnect in Clarksville, Tennessee?!)
Molly and Darla have been taking full advantage of the new yard to stretch their little legs—no girly dogs here! ;-) We have attached a jingle bell to the door knob to the back yard, and Molly will ring it whenever she feels like playing outside (our blondie, Darla, hasn’t yet figured out the concept). It rings constantly. The fence has also given us added peace of mind. No longer do we worry about Darla’s unaccompanied neighborhood expeditions or Molly sneaking off to find her main squeeze, Norman, down the street (his 130 lbs is a bit much for her petite frame). They have been the best company since Nick began his deployment rotation, always offering up good laughs and great cuddles.
To those of you who are faithful bloggers, keep up the good work—your captivating thoughts, artistic pictures and entertaining witticisms keep me awake and happy between midnight meds, feedings and diaper changes! And to everyone, thank you for your unfailing love and support. We feel so blessed to know you all. Have a very Merry Christmas! Here’s to a happy, healthy and safe 2009! Cheers!
With Love,
Nick, Ali, Molly & Darla Horn
