Try to remember the kind of September.....

Soooo when I was in High School, I got to play Luisa in the musical The Fantasticks! It was so much fun! John and I got a chance to see the show in NYC this past July - it was the best treat ever! It brought back so many great memories of being young, having dreams and having fun!  It's amazing how fast time passes and at the end of each year, once September rolls around, it seems to fly by at a record pace! I wonder what it is about September.... 

September is a FANTASTICK month for me.  I became a Momma in September...and, this year, in the blink of an eye my September baby turned 10! Emma Grace Moris was born at Darnell Army Hospital, Fort Hood, TX on Sept. 3, 2005 at 8:41 am.  She has lived in Central Texas, Northern Virginia, Australia, El Paso, Northern Maryland and here we are, 10 years later, back in Central Texas....in September.  Life has gone by really fast.....REALLY fast and it's been so very wonderful! 

12 months pictures at Central Texas College, Courtesy of Lisa McGrath

Emma loves Jesus! She loves books. She loves the beach, the ocean and thinks she's really a mermaid. She loves animals. She loves acting.  She loves power point. She loves to pretend, invent, explore, create, talk, write.....she just loves everything.  Except soda, she doesn't like soda...not at all LOL.  She loves her friends. She loves her sisters.  She loves her puppies...even her stuffed one (Bingo is still a valid and active member of the family). As I sit here and think about Emma....Love is the word that rolls over and over and over in my mind and heart. Emma loves.  That's who she is, it's what she does and it's how she lives.  She loves.  

Now of course, she's not perfect - none of us are - but what is so endearing about Emma is that, already at 10 years old, she's not afraid to say when she's wrong, She's not afraid to say she's sorry. When she yells at her sisters it's usually because she's trying to help them or keep them from doing wrong or getting hurt and she's learning to do that differently.  Maybe her biggest fault is that she loves so deeply that she is hurt easily.  She's growing into someone who knows who she is and knows where she belongs.  She is a source of such tremendous pride for us ... I could go on and on. 

So this September, I wish that time would slow down...BUT... I'll celebrate my sweet girl and enjoy her right where she is. I pray that she stays close to Jesus, lives to love and serve Him in all she does. I pray that she can stay young at heart, that she can always dream and have many fantastic Septembers. 

Not To Us

Two years and two homes ago I wrote my last blog.  Time to dust off the key board and spend a few minutes each week capturing moments and thoughts in words to both treasure and share.

  The last post I wrote was A Letter to My Girls.  I remember crying as I wrote it - already tired of what I knew was ahead.  I remember feeling unsure of how I felt, how my girls would feel leaving El Paso and how we would all cope.  I remember praying a lot.  I remember crying a lot.  It became hard to write what was in my heart because it hurt too much to see it in print.  I think that's why I stopped.  Life and commitments and (and Jana) made it hard to spend anytime behind a screen anyway.
  God has proved himself over and over to us by giving us Joy, unspeakable Joy even after sadness, move after move. God was so immeasurable good to us during our time in Havre de Grace.  I'd like to think that we were having so much fun there that I didn't even remember to write it all down.  Our neighborhood was something out of a Normal Rockwell painting.  Neighborhood cookouts, cutting each other's lawns, help with kids, kids playing in the street after school, weekend fireside family time, snowday pot lucks....I could go on and on.  All in the back drop of the Chesapeake Bay in the most darling small town in Maryland. It was a gift.....I do know that a large part of our family heart is there and we intend to reclaim our place in town someday in the future.  God gave us a church family at Epic Community Church, he gave us a home on Snowgoose Court and some of the very best friends in the world, he gave us an amazing place to go to school at Meadowvale and for the first time in a long time we felt like we were "Home".  Thank you Havre de Grace!  You truly were a Haven of Grace for our family - just what we needed when our cups and hearts were empty and tired. I want to take this moment now to say what a gift my friend Celeste has been to me.  I could never thank her enough for the way that she loved me - loved us all and treated us like family.  She and Rick and the boys were the Family God gave us in Maryland. We miss them everyday. Friends like them make us wish the world was just a little bit smaller.

  So here we are. John and I are in our 10th home in 13 years of marriage. It's Emma's 7th home, Lily's 5th and Jana's 4th....Imagine being 5 and already having lived in 4 different homes! My girls are superheroes in my book and they make John and I proud every single day.  This move was very very hard - especially on Emma.

   Emma has been a rock during this move.  Yes, her tears fell hard, but her heart was steadfast.  She spoke often to us in the car ride to TX about God's plan and how we could trust Him because He loves us.  No truer words could be spoken. She is pure and good and we are so blessed by her steady and constant spirit.  She is growing into such a sweet young woman who's love for God is truly becoming the source of her love and strength.  She walked into 5th grade at a new school with a brave smile and a willing spirit and made two great friends along the way!  She misses her very best friend but the magic of technology will keep them connected. 

   Lily and Jana are doing great!  They keep us entertained with singing and silly jokes, with dance shows and dress up madness.  I love that my little girls are BFF's and they don't even know it. It's been precious to watch them play together, read together, color together, cry together, hug each other and laugh.  They have jumped into Kindergarten and 2nd Grade with the kind of courage that most adults are incapable of.  I'm in awe of God's love for them and His work in their hearts, bringing comfort and joy. 

  As for John and I, we are back where it all began..... in 2002, our Army Life as husband and wife began here at Fort Hood with two deployments and our first child.  We are excited for the next few years.  We pray that we can be a blessing to those around us and that we serve God well as we begin to serve as Army/Family leaders in our Army.  John always says that we should work hard to make our world and our Army a better place than when we found it.  So, that's our plan.  To love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our minds.  To love our neighbor as ourselves. To make our special mark on The Army, Fort Hood and Copperas Cove.  As always, we borrow words from the Psalmist (and from Epic) and we say, "Not to us, oh Lord, not to us; but to your name we give glory.  For the sake of your steadfast love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1. 

  

 A Letter to my girls

A Letter to My Girls

Emma, Lily and Jana,

   Hello my sweeties!!  I am sitting here writing this letter on a hot summer day here in our home in El Paso.  School is over.  Daddy is home.  Life is sweet.  As I start to plan and think about our 5th move as a family, I am starting to become aware of the sacrifice that Daddy and I are asking you to make with us, recognizing that you didn't choose it. Seeing how amazing you are, how beautifully you have grown into dear, sweet polite little girls, even in the middle of so much change and stress. I am so proud of you!!!  El Paso is, really, the first place where we ALL will remember being "home".  Yes, we have lived in many houses, in a different country, but THIS home is the first we will all remember.  It's the first house we all lived in together as a family of 5, it's the first home where we had real neighborhood friends and school friends, and the first home where we had to band together to withstand not 1, but 2 deployments.  It's the home where Emma and Lily began their own relationships with Jesus. We grew here.... we grew strong.  We became a real family.  We learned that each of us has a special purpose in our family. Emma, you are our strong helper!  You are the sweet girl God had in mind to help lead your sisters, to serve your mom and dad and whose creativity and great love has blessed us all over and over.  Lily you are our joy! You are our peacemaker, our dancer, the girl God knew would be a critical part of helping our family see that life is fun and sweet, even when it is hard.  Jana you are our excitement! We are still getting to know your sweet personality but one thing is clear: your love for us all is unconditional and you are fiercely loyal.  When Daddy came home you hugged and kissed him more than all of us.  
  Last night, I had a precious talk with Emma.  Emma, you are sad that we have to move again.  You cried and said you would miss your friends....I understand that.  I will miss my friends too and will cry when it is time to leave them.  Emma your heart is so big that it takes EVERYONE in....I wish there was a way I could take all your sweet friends with us so that I would not have to dry your tears.  I know that is not possible, so I promise to listen and love you as you leave your very first group of friends.  Lily you have told me that you are afraid of your new school and afraid you will be scared in your new house.  Lily, your mind is special. You see and think about things in a different way.  You have hopes and dreams and fears that are very mature for someone who is only 5.  I want you to know that I see you.  I will listen when you are scared and stop to answer you when you have questions.  I want you to know that you can trust Mommy and Daddy - we love you and want you to feel safe wherever you are.  I promise that if you want to sleep with us when we get into our new house, I won't say no.  Jana, this is the house you took your first steps in.  You learned to talk here, ate your first ice cream and made your first friends.  The only family you really know is here and we are about to take you somewhere else.  I know you are 3 and you will be fine.  I am excited for you as we head to our next home because it will be there where you will have your first day of school, take your first dance class and have your first little friends and so much more.  
   It's hard for Mommy, especially,  to look at this life we live and wonder if we are doing what is right for you.  I know we will have fun.  I know we will have adventures.  I know that Daddy will take great care of us all! I know that you will do your best and that you will love Daddy and I unconditionally. But I also know that it is hard to move from place to place, leaving little pieces of your heart behind.  My promise to you is that in the next few years I will be sure to ask you how you feel.  I will be available to you when you have questions, or need a hug or feel happy or sad.
  Thank you my sweet girls for the way that you serve along side of Daddy, by sharing him with our Great Nation that he serves to fight for and to protect.  Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed.  What's really awesome though?? God had this very life in mind for you before he laid the very foundations of the earth!  He thought of YOU and knew that this life would be a perfect fit in His purposes for your life.  God Bless and Keep you sweet girls.  I love you dearly and deeply and with all of my heart.

Love, Mommy

 

Lily Rose is a Warrior!

 Last month, Lily Rose begged and begged me to go to school.

This month she was offered a spot in the K4 Program at Immanuel and John and I decided to let her go. She is now an Immanuel Christian School Warrior!  My sweet Lil' Rose is growing up so fast.  I can't believe how fast time goes and how much that surprises me.  I woke up excited but with tears in my eyes.  I went to her bed and she opened her eyes and smiled excitedly...she couldn't wait for her first day of "real school."

She chose a Hello Kitty back pack and lunch box.  Her teacher's name is Mrs. Turner.  She is so happy to be in school - even if her mommy is sad to see her go.

How beautiful you are.  How sweet and darling you are and I am so proud that you are ready to go to school.  Your teacher will love your smile, your laugh and your creativity! I can't wait to see what God has in store for you and how you will grow in the next few months.

Fly my sweet Rosebud!  Fly!!!

A Weekend of Challenge and Fun

The last weekend in January was fun for Emma and I.  On the 25th, I participated in our Highlander Brigade Claymore Challenge!  It was so much fun.  I got to shoot machine guns and do a crazy physical challenge and step inside a rollover simulator.  It ended with an MRE (Meal ready to Eat) and a certificate of Army Wife bragging rights!!  I love being an Army Wife and having these unique opportunities that I will not take for granted! Spending time with these unique and amazing women who I would not trade for the world!!

The take away is this....I have NO IDEA how our incredible soldiers run and shoot and fight and live wearing the incredible amount of equipment they do.  This was an experience that helped me better appreciate all the training and skill that John has.  

Saturday was a big day for our Emma Grace.  She was chosen to participate in her first District Spelling Bee!! She studied for weeks, learning words as advanced as a fourth grade level.  She woke up extremely nervous but ready!

She competed side by side with two of her very best friends, Danielle and Vivianna. 

She was number 7.  She completed two rounds when nerves got the best of her.  She misspelled the word Cheer.  But she was corrected, took her seat graciously and turned to me and smiled.  She didn't cry or get upset....she didn't panic, she didn't fret...she just smiled.  She was proud of herself - I was proud of her too.  But the best part.....

Danielle spelled her next word correctly....Emma gave her a big hug and a big high five....my heart was overwhelmed by my very sweet girl who just wanted to cheer on her friend, even when she lost.  I didn't cry when she got Cheer wrong, but I did cry when her heart won the best competition in the world.  For those of you who know and love Emma, this was a thrilling moment for me....it showed growth and a strength of character that I always knew she had.  Emma Grace, you were amazing!! I'm so proud of all you have accomplished so far!!  You should be so proud of yourself for all the studying you did - you are a winner to Daddy and I for sure!

Magic Moris Christmas Chronicles 2012

 On December 23 the girls and I boarded a plane and headed for Sandwich to spend time with The Moris's for Christmas!!  There was magic in the air everyday and I would love to give you a little glimpse into what made it all so very special.

 Christmas Eve was super special.  We saw lots of Aunts and Uncles and cousins, some of whom had never met Jana.  We laughed and ate yummy food.  We shared stories and memories and we made some too!  Emma was given the honor of reading The Night Before Christmas to the whole group - Brady loved it so much he asked her to read it again!

Which brings me to the best piece of Christmas magic - Cousins!!  We only have 1 real cousin and his name is Brady.  Spending time with our favorite little man was one of the best Christmas gifts we could ever get! He loves his cousins, with a particular wonder for Emma.  Brady followed Emma everywhere and did anything she wanted.  He got along great with all the girls and we had so much fun playing with him.  The hardest part of the life with live is being so far away from family.  Brady made our Christmas so very special.

Uncle James and Aunt Sarah are the best!!!  The girls had so much fun wrestling Uncle James and he was happy to play along - it made me smile watching John's brother love on our girls so much!  I know that they loved playing with him and it helped a lot as they missed their daddy so much this Christmas.  I know it's not normally that loud or crazy at their house but they made us feel right at home!! Also, we love to point out that Jana looks a lot like James...this picture is the proof!!  James and Sarah are so special to us - we can't wait to meet our new Moris cousin, scheduled to make his or her grand entrance sometime in May 2013!!  A growing family is a blessing - we love ours so very much!!

  

Nana magic! Our Nana, John's mom Theresa, LOVES to crochet!  She surprised the girls on their first day in Sandwich with new hats and mittens - each to match the girls favorite colors and personalities.  Our Nana is always thinking about ways to make each girl feel special.   Those hats came just in time too because the temperature did not climb much above 30 for our visit...very chilly for our little El Pasoans. We decided show off our new hats and to take this great picture next to Papa's very special display in the front yard - we really miss you Daddy!! 

Christmas Eve, we put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.  Emma informed Nana that we needed 9 carrots - 1 for each reindeer and 1 for Rudolph.  The girls took turns getting out of bed wondering when Santa would come, worried he wouldn't find them at Papa's.  I tried to reassure them but the last little girl didn't fall asleep until 1 am....I'm sure Santa was VERY VERY tired waiting SOOO long for little girls to fall asleep. :-)

Christmas morning was perfect!! Emma was fighting a really bad cold so she slept in.  The little girls were up bright and early...Lily noticed that the door to the basement (where the tree was) was left open.  Papa never leaves the door open.....She and Jana went to investigate....turns out Santa made a great big mess!! Cookie crumbs, cupcake wrappers and half eaten carrots were everywhere!!!  Jana proclaimed it to be "absolutely awesome!" LOL.  They ran to wake up Emma who noticed that our gifts were wrapped by Christopher, our Elf on the Shelf!!  Santa made good on their requests as our American Girl dolls Kit and McKenna joined our family.  The girls were wild with excitement at their new dolls.  Santa new that Jana wasn't quite ready, she got a sweet dolly she named Sarah which she pulled out of her box by the hair and dragged around the basement by the same means most of the morning :-)  The magic came in special dolls beds made by Papa's very special hands and bedding made by Nana - special gifts for a very special Christmas!! 

The only thing missing was Daddy. 

 Papa spent many many mornings with little girls on his lap, giving back scratches and hugs and kisses.  Nana spent time reading stories, rocking babies and teaching Emma the first lesson in crocheting.  We had a perfect Christmas dinner, with Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce and veggies.  We had LOTS of candy cane kisses and more Christmas cookies than we needed.  It was warm and cozy.  Papa had a special toy train - two of them actually, fixed up especially for the kids to play with.  They had lots of fun running the train too fast, blowing the whistle and dancing to the music of the ferris wheel.  Somedays it would be very easy to overlook this very special treat - but Papa is always hard at work looking for things to build for the girls to make it special. Over the years he's made them each a toy box, a stool, a cradle, a doll house and now doll beds.  He's pretty special - and so is Nana!  Looking back, I feel blessed - marrying John and growing our family has brought so many special people into our lives.  John's Aunts shower the girls with gifts and love! Betty and Monty are The Moris's next door neighbors and are also like family.  Uncle Monty and Aunt "Buddy" (as Jana calls her) had their special traditional gift of PJ's and a book for each girl.  John's best friend Adam, wife Jamie and kids Jack and Marcella also made great memories with us this year - lots of laugh and giggles, hugs and kisses for Marcy but those were harder to get from Jack James....he's 8 1/2 now and girls are gross :-)  Jamie treated Emma to a very special but very very cold ride on her horse Dallas - Emma LOVED it!!

Our Christmas could not have been more fun or magical.  We had a great time! We just wish Daddy could have been there to celebrate with us!!  Thanks Nana and Papa for a very very special Christmas!!

Winter Weather in the Borderland

My girls have never lived in a place where snow is a normal part of winter.  We have so many mismatched and random snow clothing that is really quite comical.  In these pictures, you see the matching hats and gloves that I got on clearance at Gymboree in preparation to go to Nana and Papa's house for Christmas :-). 

The Borderland of El Paso had 3 days of LEGITIMATE snow!!  We had so much fun.  We found snow pants that didn't fit anyone, boots that were either too big or too small and our new hats and gloves and had 3 days of fun in the snow!!!  It was a fun way to spend time after coming home from our Christmas vacation and getting ready to head back to school.  Many snow balls were thrown, contagious loud laughter filled the yard and no one fought or got in trouble :-)

This was Jana's first real fun in the snow!!!  She was cold but she didn't want to come back in. Her favorite part was eating the snow - good thing that Dusty wasn't outside too :-)

Emma adores the snow.  She spent 2 hours outside with boots that were too big and pants that were too small and she had to be dragged inside kicking and screaming with a red runny nose and blue fingers.  

Lily is the original snow bunny: she looks the perfect part in her snow attire but really would be much happier near a fire....or surely on the beach in shorts and flip flops! (which she asked to wear in the snow)  She lasted....maybe 10 minutes, but I think that's being generous.  Her favorite part of the snow was making snow cones (her idea!!) 

Here is our sweet (or sad) little snow man...we couldn't roll a proper snowball and we got back from Chicago the night before so we had no raisins or carrots for decorations.  We made due :-)

Not often do we have snow in El Paso.   It was fun.....

 but we are ready to put up our pool now!