For many across our nation, Memorial Day is a holiday ... an extra day to kick back, party, swim and eat to their hearts content. To thousands of others, it's a reminder of loved ones who have willingly sacrificed their lives for our freedom and comforts.

Though more than two years have passed since we said good-bye to the one we love, we continue to miss him ... and we continue to honor him for what he did.

Yesterday was a special day of honoring for Dustin ... a time of dedication. A new education building in Iraq was built so our soldiers can continue working on their educations when they aren't busy defending us. This building was named after him and dedicated to him in his memory (we should be receiving pictures from his commander soon). He was working so hard on his education in the midst of his soldiering, we know he would be so proud to be a part of seeing that come about for the soldiers that he knew and loved.

Thank you to our special friends who were especially attentive to realize that yesterday was a hard day for our family. Thank you to those who wrote notes and called to say you were thinking of us ...  thank you to those who didn't forget. We love you and hold you dear to our hearts.

In Loving Memory of our Soldier Son

Cpl. Dustin Lee Kendall

KIA 1-15-06

Operation Iraqi Freedom

I came across this ... A Military Wife's Memorial Day Diary. I don't know her but I appreciated her words ... thought you might like to read it as well.

Last week was Kayli's big recital ... the end of her theatre arts class that she's been taking. She's been having a wonderful time learning how to refine all the talents she already possessed. She's been pretty good at being a drama queen for most of her life but at her recital she had the opportunity to be just a little bit less. A little bit less in stature that is. She performed a monologue from 'Alice in Wonderland', in a pretty good English accent, I might add. Even though she did have a kitty-cat to scold and instruct, it quietly accepted Alice's guidance without talking back. What a good little kitty it was.  =0).

Kayli was all decked out in Alice's blue dress and apron, her black MaryJane shoes and her white knee-high socks. She was soo cute and she did a wonderful job of her performance.

Her daddy lavished roses on her in congratulations when she was finished and we all got to celebrate with her over a scrumptuous meal of steak and hot sourdough bread.  yum!

The theater was very dark so the photos aren't too wonderful ... still ... I thought you'd enjoy a peek into the evening.

While we were gone this weekend, Amber and her crew came in to help hold down the fort. We missed them by about an hour so we had to go to the retreat without seeing them. They apparently had a wonderful time here with Jared and Kayli and they didn't miss us a bit.

We were blessed though, that they got to stay through Monday so we got some special time with them. Austyn turned 4-years-old on Tuesday so we celebrated her birthday with all kinds of princess things while she was here. We also got to grab some time in front of the camera to capture her special day, in her new frilly princess outfit. Ethan and Addy allowed me some time to click off a few of them as well.

If you visit my photography blog, you've already seen these, but thought I'd share them here as well.