Had to Share

This is a conversation in the car today, after we took Kate and Ellie to see their great grandparents. 

Mommy: Kate, what should we thank God for?

Kate: Thank you God for beautiful mountains and beautiful sky. 

Amen!

Halfway

Hurray! 1,600 miles later we have arrived safely in Colorado Springs. Thank you so much for all your prayers! The girls did as well as they could--the last hour was a little dicey, but Kate pulled through in fine style. Now for two weeks of rest and relaxation. We'll head to California and all those new adventures the day after Labor Day. But that is a story for another post.

Penultimate Day of Travel

We've made it to Hays, Kansas. Jon is definitely my hero--he's taken both kids during their worst times. Granted, we didn't KNOW it was going to be their worst times, but anyway, he handled everything like the pro he is. Tomorrow we'll be in Colorado Springs. Hurray! Thanks again for the prayers--we appreciate them so much!

On the Road Again

Just a quick update from the road. As I type, we are relaxing in a Hampton Inn outside of St. Louis. We can even see the arch from our window! Amazing. Actually, this is the perfect hotel room for us. We can see the arch (the gateway to the West!) in the distance, and a digger in the foreground. Kate is thrilled.

We've made it through two days of driving and the girls are doing fantastic. Thank you SO much for all your prayers! (Wendy, the CDs are life-savers!) Kate is thrilled to be riding in "daddy's truck" and Ellie is having the best naps of her life. :) We had a nice visit with some of my relatives in Ohio and I was even able to see my grandma in the hospital. She had emergency hip surgery today and is doing well. Also, we had lunch with Rob and Courtney and their family this morning, which was great. Tomorrow we face only two states ahead of us, with seven behind. Oh, just FYI, avoid I-70 through West Virginia--the construction is a nightmare!

We expect to arrive in Colorado sometime on Monday. Thank you, Lord, for your traveling mercies!

Saying Goodbye

As we look toward our move West at the end of this week, we are feeling quite nostalgic about leaving Virginia. We came to this state as a couple and leave as a family--doubled in size. :) We both endured stressful jobs (Jen was able to quit--Jon didn't have that option). We visited some beautiful parts of the East and DC, enjoying fall foliage like Jen's never seen before. We had the privilege to serve and be served in a vibrant church. And of course, we made some great friends for which we will always be thankful. We really love our life in the military--we enjoy moving and seeing new places, working in different locations, and meeting new people, but leaving is definitely one of the harder parts of the life we've chosen. Our follow-on assignment may be right back here, so you might not have a chance to miss us. :) We will miss you!



Wendy and Andrew (and Melissa thrown in for fun!). Thank you for your friendship and openness. I will so miss meeting your new little girl.

The Waider family, who moved to Dayton just this week! Courtney, that you could always live just down the street--how great would that be?


Of course my awesome playgroup. Thank you, ladies, for journeying with me into the unknown world of motherhood. What a privilege it is to know you and call you my friends!


The Grime family who just moved FROM Dayton to VA this April. Maybe the next assignment will have us moving to the same place at the same time. So sorry we'll miss you as you start your tour here in VA.


The Yoho kids--our surrogate family.



Ryan and Lacey Yoho--kindred spirits who have families like ours. We are so blessed to continue to call you guys our friends. When shall we start our vacations together? :)



Jon's last day working in Chantilly. Hurray!!! Check out that big smile.


Last but not least, we have to have a parting nod to the best doughnuts we've ever had: Shoppers Food Warehouse. Ahhhhhhhh.




Ellie's sad face says it all, but again, we are so thankful for our friends and the time we spent here. And to those for whom I do not have a picture--Jim and Dawn, Anwar and Aisha, Tony and Lynn and your family...I'm sure to forget someone important, so if that's you, forgive me! God is so good--and we are excited to see Him continue to work in our lives and the lives of those we leave behind. God bless you and keep in touch!!

Happy 3 month birthday, Ellie!

Happy three month birthday (one day late :)) to our sweet, smiley, Elliana. She is such a blessing in our lives! What a content, mellow and happy baby she is. I can't believe she's three months already. Where has the time gone? And to think, she's lived in four different places (and two closets) since she's been born. And thanks to our friend Lacey, she is now sleeping longer through the night! If only she could have told me, Mom, I'm cold! Last night she slept 9 hours and we were all thrilled. We love you, sweet Ellie. Thank you for the joy you bring to our lives.


At the Yohos on the big day.


Hanging out with the playgroup babies. L to R: Lucy, Zachary, Ellie, Anna.


Smiling with Elizabeth Yoho.



Being held by Abigail Yoho.


Last but not least, posing with big sis. Of course, it has to be the stare-y baby shot. But isn't she cute anyway?

Mt. Vernon 2

Here's one of my favorite shots. This is the wharf at Mt. Vernon. Incredible to think who docked here to come see George and Martha.




Here's Jon's back as we're heading toward the house for the tour.





This is also neat to look at--there are 13 trees still alive on the property that were planted by George himself. One of them is in the center-background, over looking the Potomac. What stories it could tell!

And the next time you talk to Kate, be sure to ask her about where we went on the bus. SHe loves to tell people that we "ride a bus and wait our turn and ladies talking [tour guides] at George Washington's house." It's hilarious. Oh, and she'll also tell you we didn't find the pigs.

Mt.Vernon 1

We're a few weeks into our stay at the TLF here on Ft. Belvoir and we decided we'd see some of the local sights. Considering we'll be a long way from DC when we finally settle in CA, we thought seeing as much of the place as we can while we're still here is a good idea. Hopefully, Kate and Ellie agree. :) Last weekend we went to Mt. Vernon. How impressive! We had a great time. And let me tell you, the gift shop is phenomenal. I think, besides how well preserved the house is, the thing that impressed us the most was a rather old-looking, clunky key in a box in the hallway. The guide casually mentioned this key in the short spiel they give to the guests as they wander through the house. The key was given to George Washington by Lafayette and is none other than a key to the Bastille. Yes, the actual BASTILLE. Jon and I were amazed. Unfortunately, you can't take pictures of the inside of the house so we don't have one to show you. Utterly amazing. Lafayette is quoted saying something very touching about giving the key to his country's liberty to the father of liberty.... And there the key sits, hanging nondescript-ly over a door frame in Mt. Vernon. What different times it was back then!

George wanted his family's tomb to be redone after his death, so they built this tomb at his request via his will.
Kate and Jon checking out the horses at the barn. Kate loves horses, but as you can see by her face, she's a little tentative about the large creatures. The famous 16-sided barn that George invented to better accommodate the training of his horses and the storing of his grain.
The view looking at the house from the famous back veranda.