There have been a lot of changes the past little bit for our family. 

 

 

Taylor was transferred to a facility in Philadelphia and then transferred to a facility in Oklahoma City. I didn’t hear from him this morning, which is odd, so I wonder if he is on to his final destination, which is Springfield, Missouri. 

 

I can’t describe the ups and downs of going through this experience. The other day I was talking to a friend, and she had mentioned how it looks like we are holding it together, but asked, “how is it really going?”. That is a great question.  How is it really going? I don’t even know…I have 5 kids that are looking to me right now and words can’t describe what that feels like. It’s overwhelming (that word doesn’t even seem quit adequate). There are many unknowns and many parts of our lives that are just in limbo and transition… and that is really hard. I’m anxious to move and get settled in somewhere else. Washington has been good to us, and we will miss it so much, but I look forward to a less expensive place to live. 

 

 We will move closer to where Taylor will be, so that we can visit him as much as possible. I’m so ready for that too! Our little kids haven’t seen him since November…that’s too long!

 

The other day Caleb (5) asked about if “Dad will get out sooner if Trump Wins”, I told him he probably would. He asked me, “is he good at the game?”. I said, “I hope so “.

 

We have received so many letters, texts, emails, donations and words of support from so many. Thank you all so much, I can’t say how helpful all of it is.

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Each night during scriptures and prayers we read a message from Taylor, this was a recent one:

 

Family,

I know that me being gone has turned the world upside down.  It probably doesn’t seem fair, and frankly it probably never will.  Some people say we suffering, and it’s easy to say that, it’s easy to be down and out and feel like the world is against you.  I want you kids to know that is not the case.  We Johnatakis’s are built for hard times, we have been through a lot, one thing us Johnatakis’s do is endure our trials well, and we always come out on top.  My great Grandpa, the 1st Johnatakis in this country endured a world war that took his whole family but his brother, and he watched a sister die of starvation before he immigrated to the USA.  Once here, he worked the streets of New York shining shoes and shoveling snow.  He worked his way to Utah where he labored in a Coal Mine for years.  Everyday was hard labor, coming home to a house with a dirt floor covered in Coal…He did it for his family, he endured that and along the way endured the accidental death of his oldest son…My grandfather, your Great Grandpa endured the loss of his wife when my dad was 13 years old.  That’s right, my Dad lost his mother when he was 13, even me being gone for 1 year or more is not as bad as losing me for the rest of this life.  My family growing up endured financial hardship, personal tragedy and many more things that continued the tradition of enduring hardships.  Our own family has endured many things as well, you can probably think of a few things, Destin’s death, Bensen’s fall, Financial ups and downs, many many things.  But through it all, we keep our head tall and see the little blessings along the way.  We know that the sun will rise tomorrow, and if we stay the course we can chart through any rough waters.  I know you guys have had time for things to settle in with me being gone, and you know there is still a move up ahead, a new home and lots of “challenges” that might be true opportunities.  Life is what we make it, we Johnatakis’s blossom where we are planted, we stay grateful, we push forward, we are undeterred from the important things in life.  Always remember, we don’t suffer, we endure, we are blessed, and we bless others along the way.  People always have watched our family to see how we react, remember the best revenge is a life well lived.  

 

I love you kids,

 

Dad