Goodbye and Goodluck

Last Friday Daniel's office had a special luncheon for him. It was for the staff to have a chance to say goodbye and good luck. They ordered in sandwiches for everyone and got this giant cake. Ainsley and I were able to join them for lunch. Daniel gave a short speech where he told the staff how much he enjoyed working with them and how he is honored to serve his country. He also told them that the most important thing you can do when things come your way that are unexpected and less than desireable is to have a postive attitude. He said that your attitude is what makes a difference and even though this is not what he would have chosen to do right now he is looking at the positives. He is happy to serve his country and knows that he will become a better surgeon because of the types and amount of surgery he will be performing. He will see and work on things that are very different and on much bigger scale than what he sees in his office. It was a very postive speech but Daniel's a very postive person. Today was his last day of work before he leaves. He said one of the girls in the office bawled as she said goodbye. It's nice to know he's loved.



Sunday afternoon we had a get together to also give friends and family a chance to say goodbye and good luck and celebrate his birthday. Two of my siblings and father came, two aunts, an uncle and cousin and several families from Valley Forge who he was close to. It was a nice gathering. He received an LDS DVD for military, several LDS music CDs (to put on his ipod for Sunday listening), a huge carmel and toffee covered apple drizzled with dark and white chocolate and a bag of beef jerky to take with him (the apple WILL be eaten before he leaves because of course it would never survive the desert heat((that's really the only reason, it's really not that I HAVE to have bite)). The kids and I are saving our gifts for this weekend since he will be home on his birthday now. His plane leave at 8 am Sunday morning. We are glad for the extra 3 days.