I love my husband. Even across the miles he has a way of making me laugh when I'm crying and emotional. Now that is skill!!! HAHa.. Many people say that laughing at life's trials or things that are hard is the only way to get through them or make you see things are not that bad. I believe that. With mark we laugh, and were able to push through these months while away from one another. Seeing his face on SKYPE for the first time was such a joy. I laughed and smiled the whole time, because he was smacking his gum, and he could see me, but could not see himself, and even tho we felt stupid, it was so nice to be able to laugh at one another for feeling stupid. I cried when john laughed and smiled at his daddy for seeing his face as well. Mark brought to the skype cam the Buz Lightyear you see off to the left. It's one of johns favorite toys. You dont understand how much a family means to you until your heart and it's strings are pulled and tried from miles away. This time away from mark has been hard, but we've both grown stronger together through the lord and his love. MARK I LOVE YOU!! THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME SMILE AND LAUGH. I'm glad Buz & Woody are keeping you safe at night.

love kristen

5 Days until our Son Cody James Arrives.

Our world is so crazy. Learning how to skype, trying to set up computers, or just plain not have them crash on us. Setting up verizon wireless. Cordinating who will watch his older brother john, who will take pictures, who can be there to support me and try to fill the large shoes mark has left to fill. It's all so much to do, but it will be worth every min. All the stress leading up to his birth will calm down and it will be minites on March 20th, that he will be welcomed in with his mommy and grandma kelly. Soon there after Cody will be able to hear his daddy's voice, and his daddy will be able to see his beautiful face via skype. How wonderful for all the advances of techonlogy. Mark will not miss a beat. Photos will be taken, along with Video. Mark will always be able to see and hear new things about his new son Cody and vise versa. Small groups of people will come and go while in the hospital, but his daddies voice he will remember, and keep close to his heart. He may not feel the touch of his skin, but he'll know his daddy from what his older brother tells him, and shows him from his daddy book. Cody will learn the smell and touch of his mommy, and the sound of his brother running through the house with cars and buzlight year. He'll see and touch and learn things from his nani, who always has her hand in nature. He will feel the sweet kisses of his cousin audrea, and the gental touch of johns baby skin agianst his. He will know he is loved. Cody will adjust well coming from our fathers kingdom. He will be home.
As a mother all is leading up to no-longer having one child but two. Two of heavenly fathers choice sons. I am blessed. I sometimes think the lord has given me such a huge task, especially with mark being deployed. But I know that everything has a purpose, and that my faith can and will make me stronger in order to adapt to change and to be able to be the best mother to John and Cody. I pray daily for strength, and I know i'm only as strong as the lord allows me to be, so while mark is away. Heavenly father is my rock, and my foundation, and I know i'm stronger because of his love.
I love my husband and all he is and does for his family. We were very stressed about having a baby, and having mark being deployed. Yes, we've had trials, but the Lord has gotten us through them. We are excited only 5 days left. We are ready to welcome the birth of our Son Cody James Ralston. We love him, and all he will become.

Things are looking bright. I'm due March 26th, but we plan on having the baby by c-section on March 2oth. Marks mom Stephanie and Audrea plan on coming out to help with little john and to help with my recovery. We are almost all ready for the baby to come, just a few more items and we will be set.
John and I have joined a gym here in Ogden. John goes to the day care, and I walk the track. I'm walking 2 1/2 miles, and trying to to do Nothing to serious because I have too many contractions other wise. But with going to the gym it gets us out of the house, and helps john with his attachment issues, and working on sharing. Plus he loves the play house, and all the new fun toys.
John has missed his daddy. He looks a pictures and likes a ACU bonnie hat that mark gave him. Sometimes I catch it in his cribs in the morning, and he hands me the hat saying daddy, daddy. Very cute, and makes you want to cry.
We have are hard moments were we all want daddy home. We know daddy is happy serving his country and making sure other families are safe as well. We are so proud of him and all his does. Its hard, but if life was not hard, then it would not be worth living.

Starting the blog over agian. update

Well alot has happened since our last blog. Which was over 6 months ago. We are now expecting our 2nd child. His name will be Cody James Ralston. He is due in March. We are all very excited. Kristen and John are going back to utah at the end of December to spend the year with her mom while Mark is deployed for 12months. It's going to be hard, but life is a journey that we must all press ONWARD & UPWARD. O&U is going to be our goal for the year and it will help us remember that living life is not only about Enduring but moving onward and upward to a better brighter day.

Mark has left for Iraq, and is doing well. He sends his love to all, and says thank you for all your support and love. We are so thankful for what the lord has given us and is yet to bless our lives with. We hold true to faith, and the love for one another as a family.

Thank you for all your prayers and love.

We 2 Ralstons

John and I are in Utah. With his G-Ma Kelly. Things have been going well. He's now learning how to run, and he loves to make music with her pots and pans. He loves his car that his G-pA Rudy got him for an early birthday present and is always honking the horn at G-mas Dog. We are happy to be in utah, but we miss our daddy/hubby very much. We are so proud that he is serving his country, but we know that trainning is only for a little while. He has a little more than 4 weeks left. We are very excited.