It has been a very busy week. I did get some pictures my brother emailed that I wanted to share with you. He was so excited about his visit with the President. He said it was the most incredible experience and that the President was, as he put it, genuinely proud of all of them. I guess the homecoming to Washington was incredible but it was very hard because they had to stand at attention and couldn't wave at all of the people. He said he was crying because it was so moving and all he could do was salute. He wasn't able to get off of the ship today but will be able to get off tomorrow.

He was able to get off of the ship last week when they stopped in San Diego. My dad and his wife Michelle drove from San Francisco to be there with him. I guess they went out to eat and a gentleman who could tell that they were celebrating asked the waitress to find out why. When she told him that Gilly had just got off of the USS Abraham Lincoln he asked her to bring the entire tab to him. He was gone by the time my brother and dad found out that he had paid for everything. Isn't that like the coolest thing? I wish we knew more about him. Was he in the service? Did he have a son who was serving? I'm sure he had a story to tell, I just wish that we could have heard it. I know that will stand out in my brother's mind and some time in the future I can see him doing the same for someone else.

Ack......it's time for American Idol. I have to get going but hopefully I will have time to post more later. Enjoy the pictures. :-)

~Click for a larger image~