Ty

This is Ty.  He's been attending White River Academy in Delta, Utah since June 2009.  Eventhough Ty had great friends and a supportive family, he had a difficult time dealing with the challenges of having to deal with the divorce of me and Shane and having to adjust to his new home in CA.  The most difficult decision I have ever made, was to send Ty to a school where he could learn, grow and be happy because we couldn't help him.  It's been over a year since Ty has lived with us and we've seen a complete change in Ty.  I can't believe he's found happiness in a place with so much chaos.  He's working really hard to get caught up in school and is nearing the end of his stay at WRA.  Hmmm. I'll have to show you the original picture they took of Ty when he first arrived there.  It's shocking to see the difference of what Ty looked like back then and compare it to what we know him to be now.

It creeps me out to think that this was the Ty I knew.  It's amazing to see how happy he is now and how he can't wait to come home.  Paul put it best when he came out for our last parent weekend, "It's the same Ty - just happier."  

How blessed we were to have Paul come out with us this last parent weekend.  They have not seen each other since the night before we had Ty taken to Delta.  Kelly surprised Ty by pointing to a new kid standing behind him.  It was (as Ty put it) total disbelief.  Ty nearly took out the chair he was sitting in to get to Paul.  The two immediately embrassed.  It was a sight to see.  The two never had a loss for words and they both realized that their relationship was so much better than it was when Ty left.  After the first day of seeing Ty, Paul couldn't stop talking what their future could hold.  They both want to put in mission papers asap so they can come home and be roommates in college together.  Both are talking about becoming doctors - but who knows...they're both excited and are planning for the future.

Paul

This is my favorite picture of Paul.  He's currently 17 and is also with his mom.  It has been really hard having him so far away, but it has only made our monthly visits with him more sweet.  We have been fortunate that he and Ty have become best friends since our marriage.  The heartbreaking thing has been the time apart for the two of them (more on that later).  But they had an incredible reunion two weeks ago, when we went to see Ty. 

Cory

This is Cory.  He is 21 years old and just returned home from his mission last April.  Not only are he and Michael working together, they are both waiting for school to start up in January at BYU-I.  I can't wait for him to get up there and formulate how to ask a girl on a date.  Cory has yet to go out on a first date...but I have full faith in him.

Michael

This is Michael.  Last April he celebrated his 25th Birthday.  Can you believe it!  He's currently living with his mom in Orange County, CA where he and Cory work out of their home doing some kind of online techinical support.  A few weeks ago, Michael proposed to his girlfriend Diana.  They plan to get married in August 2011.  We are all thrilled to add her to the Bunch. Since I'm certain you will all want to see her and her ring, I'll post those as well. 

Here's the story...

This is me and Kelly.  We met over 5 years ago over the Internet.  I had my crazy rules for Internet dating like - 1. I never made first contact with anyone.  2. If you initiate contact with "You're Hot!" or something stupid like, "How You Doin'?"  then you're automatically kicked to the curb.  and 3. If for any reason I don't like you - you're gone.  Kelly defied the odds by plucking me from the bottom of his compatibility list.  I'm not kidding...I tried to find myself from his profile and I was almost dead last.  I'm still wondering if we had anything in common or if what the criteria for compatibility is!  Somehow that night, after messaging for hours, he conned me into giving him my phone number.  And that's the story.