Just Jymnastics

Wow, we have come a LONG way. 2 years ago we started in the Mom and Tot class and ended this summer in the Turbo Tots class. There were days when I wanted to throw in the towel and not take her to gymnastics at all but we kept going.  She would throw fits and not participate and truly until this past month she would have to be carried downstairs to class. All the other kids would stand in line quietly and walk downstairs. Not Hannah, she was clawing and bawling her eyes out. Today, she waved at me and Chris and went straight to class. It was a miracle.
 Here are some pictures from when we started to today.

First day of gymnastics. Fall 2009

Fall 2010. She wouldn't stand by herself.

 AND HERE WE ARE TODAY:

Sorry it's so blurry

Reagan

The Stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of TEXAS....

Imagine a deep sigh, because that is what I am doing as I start to write this post and getting teary eyed. You don't realize how much you have fallen in love with a place, the people there, until it is time to leave. We will be getting in the car 3 weeks from today and starting our drive back to Texas. I never thought 2 years ago that I would love Rapid City as much as I do. I even love the yucky winters and snow. I honestly think I will miss it. But most of all, the part that brings tears to my eyes are the people. 

 I began praying that God would change my heart towards moving to SD after Hannah was born. I don't even really remember why we thought we would be moving but it was NOT something I wanted to do. So for about a year, I prayed, "God change my heart, if you are going to take us to SD you must prepare my heart to leave Abilene".  Of course, He did. Don't get my wrong, I still did not want to leave my best friends, our super babysitter, church home and my house but I knew God was calling us to go so I was willing. I think I bawled my eyes out the first hour to SD. Chris kept calling to ask me if I was going to be okay and apologizing for being in a job that would always require us to place our heart somewhere and then move. 

 We got here and my awesome and wonderful friend Patri took me under her wing. She told me it was going to be ok, that I was going to love it and make new friends. And I did. Thank you so much Patri for being my rock those first few months. They were hard but you and the Riker fam made it so much easier. 

 I also met another friend, Jennifer Dancer. God truly brought her family into my life. I was searching for a church and emailed them for information. Justin, her husband and pastor of the church, invited me to their home for dinner. I mean how crazy, we were strangers. Chris was out of town so it was just me and Hannah. They had a son, Josiah who was Hannah's age and came to be her best friend. Jennifer and I instantly became good friends and could commiserate over our strong-willed toddlers who we loved but were and are still challenging. 

Thank you to Jennifer for opening your home to us, for helping when I needed someone to watch Hannah and just being a southern friend who understood being totally displaced. 

 We were lucky to have our friends Amanda and Mike move here in the fall after we got here. There are no words to express my love and appreciation for my friendship with Amanda. She became a staple around our home. She put up with Hannah's craziness and we adjusted to life here together.  I will miss you so much girly! 

 And then the Slinkards came into our life. Their daughter Reagan has become Hannah's best friend. She LOVES Reagan and we will miss them so so much. Susan, I always thank God for people who come into my life as an instant friend. Someone, who takes no effort and you just feel like you have known them forever. You are definitely one of those friends. I will miss you dearly. 

 God is always so good to us. I asked Chris the other night, why is God so good to us, why do we not have to suffer like some of our friends do. We have healthy children, Chris has a good job with a steady income, we have a home. God is good.

 I really could go on and on about our friends here in Rapid. There are so many others who have touched our life and become apart of the tapestry of our military life. We come in and out of each other's lives and we are forever family. We share a bond deeper than other friends. So to each of my South Dakota friends, I love you and I will miss you so much. 

Ok, enough of that. Here is our new and beautiful home that Chris bought us last weekend. It was a crazy Saturday and after looking at many houses, he knew this was the one. I can't wait to see it in person.

Lucy is all over the place these days and I found her in Maggie's bed. I am trying not to think about how gross that is.

Chris and Hannah were taking pictures and here is one Chris took of Hannah's silly face.

July Fourth and more

It was finally warm in SD last week so we broke out the pool on Wednesday when we hit over 100 degrees. The water was still like being in ice water. I set Lucy down in the pool before testing the water and she screamed. Hannah never sat down but loved playing with the water hose.

I'll just swing, thanks!

Lucy turned 9 months old at the end of June. She is crawling all over the place and now can pull up and stand where ever she wants. She is on the move. 

Happy Fourth of July. I attempted to get pictures of the girls but nearly impossible. Here are a few.

We went downtown with some friends and the girls had a great time. It was a late night but well worth it. 

Hannah, Reagan and Maia

Thanks to the Slinkards for letting Hannah ride.