Houston!

We spent the last week visiting Steve's family in Houston, and had a wonderful time. It was great to see Isabella and Jack play and spend quality time with their Grams and Great Grams. We spent time at Great Gram's house, the Houston Children's Museum, shopping and eating some wonderful food. It was sad to say goodbye and think that it will be several years till we get back to Houston, but know that Grams and Great Grams will have fun visiting us in Germany!


Steve with Great Grams




The kids and Steve with Grams and Great Grams. As you can see from the picture the kids were more interested in playing then stopping to take pictures.


At the Children's Museum. One of the exhibits was all about telephones. Isabella was able to practice dialing 911, and playing with all the different types.




Her favorite was the switchboard.


Daddy showing Isabella where we are going to move to.


Riding a scooter in the Vietnam exhibit.


In the same exhibit they had typical musical instruments from Vietnam, which Isabella enjoyed playing.


Isabella looking through the periscope.


One of the coolest parts of the museum was the miniature city. It had all the typical city facilities, including a grocery shop, veterinarian, bank, bike shop, diner, TV station and city hall. It was too bad that it was so busy, but Isabella still enjoyed it!


Isabella fixing a bike in the bike shop.


And then charging Daddy for her work.


The police squad car was very popular, but we waited in line so that she could sit in the driver's seat.


Grocery "shopping"


She just had to have the drink mix.


There was a great tot play area that was perfect for Jack.


He found EVERYTHING in the room that had wheels.

We're ready!

The kids and my "official" passports arrived yesterday, complete with our SOFA stamps. This was one of the last things that we needed before Steve can outprocess the base. Along with our tourist passports we're ready to go!

Reflections on Mother's Day

I am blessed.
I have a healthy daughter.
I have a healthy son.

As I think back over the past 9 Mother's Day's, the nine that I've been married, so many different thoughts and emotions rise. The first few were joyful, celebrating my Mom and Mother-in-law. The next few, I'd say the 3rd and 4th were dreaded. We were living in Germany, attending the base chapel. For both those years I was in the middle of a battle. A battle with infertility, resentment, and self-doubt. As all young girls, I had always thought that being a Mother was something I would do. Now I was wondering if my dream would ever come true. Did the Lord think that I wouldn't make a good Mom? Had I done something to cause all of this. Of course the answers were yes to the first and no the latter, but I was convinced that it wasn't going to happen for us. I was sick of all the shots, medicine and icky feelings. I had gained 30 lbs of "infertility" weight. I felt like the "odd man out" with other military wives. Everyone my age was either pregnant or already had a child or two.

I remember Mother's Day 2004 as clear as day. We were at the base chapel for church and the chaplain asked all the Mothers to stand and be recognized. All the women around me stood up...I was surrounded. I remember bursting into tears and holding on to my seat in order to not run out.

It would be almost two more years of infertility treatment, tears and prayers before my longing for motherhood would be fulfilled.

When I look back to all of those years I see God's hand in ALL OF IT. God knew exactly when Isabella Claire and Jack Steven needed to enter this world. IT WASN'T ABOUT ME...God has a plan for my children, the people they will meet, their own spouses.

This Mother's Day is full of celebration. My dear friend is celebrating Mother's Day as a new Mommy...someone who suffered that pain of infertility. But I also think of my other dear friends who dread this day, surrounded by what the day means.

I am currently reading Laura Bush's biography Spoken from the Heart. She too suffered from years of infertility and wrote this passage in the first part of the book:

The English language lacks the words to mourn an absence. For the loss of a parent, grandparent, spouse, child, or friend, we have all manner of words and phrases, some helpful, some not. Still, we are conditioned to say something, even if it is only "I am sorry for your loss." But for an absence, for someone who was never there at all, we are wordless to capture that particular emptiness. For those who deeply want children and are denied them, whose missed babies hover like silent, ephemeral shadows over their lives. Who can describe the feel of a tiny hand that is never held?

I am blessed! And pray for the blessing of Motherhood for those who wait.

Air Show!

Today was an exciting and TIRING day. We all had a blast at the air show here on base. The kids and I were able to see Daddy's new plane, Bella was able to pretend to be a pilot in Daddy's old plane, we watched old men re-enact the bombing of Pearl Harbor in the airshow Tora, Tora, Tora (I told Steve that only old men get a kick out of this sort of thing), and the amazing flying of the AF Thunderbirds. I was amazed at how well the kids did, considering how warm it got and that we stayed out long past nap time. Isabella must have walked MILES!


Isabella listening intently to Daddy's flying lesson (not rolling her eyes too much).


Isabella trying her hardest not to touch ALL THE BUTTONS!


Jack and Daddy...Jack's first time on a C-130H


Isabella pretending to fly.

Isabella was in heaven. She REALLY wants to be a pilot "just like Daddy" now.

Daddy and kids in front of Daddy's new plane the C-130J

A better picture of the C-130J

Isabella and Daddy in an Army MRAT

A C-130, C-17 & C-27 formation.

The Thunderbirds in a four man formation. Because of the low ceiling they weren't able to do their six man formation.