We said goodbye to Wilson last Saturday with an early morning drop off at the SB airport. It took him three flights and a full day of travel to get to Ft. Knox, KY for cadet training that he texted is “real boot camp-style stuff”. He arrived on base at 9pm, had a 3 hour in-take process, got to bed at midnight and was up to report for duty at 3:30am!! He said he was happy to get any sleep at all as some of the cadets arrived on base at midnight and didn’t get to the barracks before it was time to report for the day. He was allowed to call home on Father’s Day and we’ve received only a couple of texts but he sounds good and upbeat…ending each communication with “don’t worry about me”! Ha Ha I guess I’m not doing a very good job of hiding my concern for him but I am so proud of his attitude and his willingness to be challenged in this way.
The Sherpa fire continued to rage all weekend but the strong winds cooperated by blowing away from the populated areas of Goleta. Rolf and Rudy took some time to watch the helicopter water drop refills happening near our home all day on Saturday. We are grateful for the fire’s containment and the BEAST firefighters who worked it in record heat this past week!!
We definitely felt Wilson’s absence on Sunday as we celebrated the big guy on Father’s Day. Olivia and Max knocked it out of the park on Rolf’s traditional Father’s Day Tshirt and we had a nice celebration at church. Although I love special days on the calendar set aside for celebrating, I don’t need Father’s Day to encourage me to appreciate Rolf as a dad more than I already do on a daily basis. His commitment to his kids is evident in the many ways he chooses to connect with them and the countless ways he serves and provides for them. He communicates his love directly and indirectly and demonstrates doing life with faith, humor and mad building skills! 🙂 GRATEFUL!!!
Rudy started summer school bright and early on Monday. He had a great first week getting to know a new teacher and reconnecting with a big group of special ed friends he knows from the different classes he has been in over the years. Nurse Jessica is filling in for Nurse Sara this summer and Rudy’s transition has been seamless.
Speaking of reconnections, this has been a fun week of reconnecting with dear friends for our family as well! I find that life often happens in extremes…in a week where my heart has been deeply burdened and entrenched with thoughts of Rudy’s situation and Wilson’s journey, I’ve also experienced the great joy of being with friends who love our family dearly and are BIG Rudy fans…good for the soul and good for putting Rudy’s amazing progress over the years in perspective.
We are still waiting on Rudy’s cath date…’hope to get it confirmed SOON so I can piece together other summer plans before the summer gets away from us. I’m starting to get a little nervous and need to balance what I WANT to get done with what NEEDS to get done. ‘Praying for peace today. Peace to you and yours dear friends!!!!
Rudy's Beat 
You are on a roll!! Summer is here! I pray that your summer will be productive, but more than that, that it would be RICH. Love you! Hugs to Rudy-kins!