On Sunday, our family had the pleasure of attending the Retirement ceremony for my exceptional husband Rich, after 24 years of unfaltering and dedicated service to the US Navy. It was a beautiful and meaningful ceremony filled with traditions as old as the Navy itself. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one, I highly recommend it...it is a very moving experience.

My friend Leah and I spent the entire month of October and into November preparing every last little detail of the ceremony, and I have to say that it went off without a hitch. We had family from 2 different states make the drive into town to be a part of this monumentous event, and to those of you who could not make the trip, we fully understand and we appreciate your cards and phone calls.

I just want to take a minute to thank my husband for being who he is. He is probably one of the most honorable people I've been blessed to know. He has been a beacon to me and to our family. He is so patriotic and proud of this beautiful country in which we have been blessed to live, and watching him retire and "stand relieved of his watch" was a bitter sweet experience. I know he will miss the commeradery of his shipmates and the honor of wearing his Navy uniform in service of our country. I know closing that chapter of his life was hard, and I just want to thank him for giving us the opportunity to honor him with a ceremony. (no, he did not want one - but I insisted! I think he's kind of glad I did now.) I am so grateful that the Lord saw fit to bring our lives together. He always knows best!!

That said, I hope to have the pictures and videos of the ceremony soon, as I was trying to focus on the event itself and at the same time keep the kids somewhat quiet, I really didn't do much picture taking. But there were at least 4 other cameras going the entire time. So, I should soon have discs of the entire thing to share with you.

Congratulations babe!! It is all so well deserved!! You're the best!