Guess who's here?!?!?

You a ll must remember the newest star of our family - the perfect Miss Melidee! Well, God apparently felt that the US Army needed her daddy in Afghanistan more than she needed him home, so his deployment continues for another month or two. 

It was very hard for Melidee and her mom, so last Monday, I headed up north to get them and bring them home - tough duty for NiaNia to have to fly up and get my hands on this sweet little baby! 

God's hand was truly over this as I was able to get up to them on the first flight of the day and bring them home on the last one - all on miles we had in various account. Melidee on her airplane ride! She was not unhappy at all on the flight - I think in this picture she was more annoyed I made Ashlee turn her around so I could get a photo! 

 Meeting grandpa.....(pardon the quality of these photos - it was 1 am and I was too tired to find my good camera!). Day 1 - he is a goner for her! To be honest - we all are! 

 Aunt Becky - who is SOOOOO happy to have Sissy home. I let her stay home from school the next day until Ashlee was up - she couldn't stand it! She is referring to Melidee as "my baby"!  

 Aunt Cami is clearly more skilled at baby holding - 

 It has been so great for the girls to have Sissy home - she is doing a great job at being a new mom with all those demands but still making time for the "littles" and making them feel important. 

 Great Grandma with Melidee - she stepped to the plate big time and drove a car over from Arizona so Ashlee would have some mobility! 

 Auntie Erin - I remember these two from freshman year in high school.....look at them now! 

While it has been amazing have this precious time with Melidee, it is bittersweet. It is through her daddy's commitment to serving his country that this gift comes to us. 

Jonathan,

 We love you and are so very proud of you. It is an honor to have you in our family. Your dedication to serving God by ministering to those on the front lines of defending freedoms - those freedoms that allow us to worship freely our God - is nowhere more evident than in our house right now.

Thank you for entrusting your two most precious loves to us while you are gone. We promise to take great care of them while you are gone - knowing that nothing can replace you in their lives. 

Godspeed - we love you.