A Different Kind of Summer

Dear Luke & Nora,

Today marks exactly 3 months since we moved to South Carolina! We've been in our house now for 5 weeks and you've completed 4 weeks at Crowders Creek Elementary School. The past summer was so full and unique. I had underestimated the monumental tasks we would face when we arrived related to finding doctors, registering for school, getting our drivers licenses, etc. Thankfully, we found our house only 3 days after arriving and on day 2 of house hunting. That enabled us to get the ball rolling on many other dominoes to follow and try to enjoy the lake house as much as possible. 

The lake house started out almost magical for you two... playing baseball in the yard, running around for hide and seek tag, playing fetch with Millie (Ms. Ellen's dog), catching fireflies, and jumping off the dock into the lake. We never hooked up our TV, and while you weren't thrilled with this original plan, you adjusted just fine. We watched a couple movies on the ipad and you enjoyed your switch, Luke, but you also got to play outside and read a lot of books and spend time in the sunroom. We ate almost all our meals out on the deck and loved having Daddy grill burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, pineapple, frozen pizza... We sat out there our last night in the lake house and shared so many things we were thankful to God for as we reminisced on our summer experience there.

We didn't get out and explore Charlotte as much as I expected, due to all the moving related work and the fact that the lake house was such a nice place to be. You did get to participate in some camps though: Camp Thunderbird and baseball camps for Luke, art and softball camps for Nora. We got library cards and made a habit of checking out lots of books. We went out to eat as a family and found several delicious gluten free restaurants. We enjoyed our membership at the Discovery Place Science Center, thanks to the Jones family! Going out to tube on the Meyer-Cunos' boat was definitely a highlight, along with fun visits from the Pellerins and Justices, followed by Ms Katy, Michael and Anna. 

We got to travel quite a bit, even after all the travel that brought us here. Gramps went to be with Jesus the week after we arrived, so we traveled to California in June. Aside from the incredibly complicated time we had getting there, including an unexpected night sleeping in the airport, it was so special to celebrate his life and get to introduce you to so many family members and second cousins. I'm also very thankful we got to travel to Dallas for the 4th of July birthdays, since that has been a meaningful tradition over recent years. This year Wesley turned 10 and Grandpa turned 70!

As wonderful as the lake house was in many respects, it also grew old on us and we were very ready to move into our own permanent space by the time our house was ready. You two enjoyed sharing a room initially, but it was time to spread out and start connecting with other kids in the community. You both seem to have adapted incredibly well to school, sports, and church, and I could not be more grateful. We are certainly still finding our way at home with our routines, establishing friendships, and trying to get enough sleep. But I'm so thankful to God that you seem to be feeling at home here and making connections so quickly with other kids. Thank you, Lord, for guiding all our steps and help us to keep following!

Love,

Mommy

Eight is Great!

Well, Miss Nora, you are now 8 years old! And what a busy time in life as we celebrated your 8 years! 

I had promised you a friend birthday party after you didn't get to have one last year, due to my tendonitis. So, even though we were preparing to move across the country, I planned a little celebration at our Creekside Ranch neighborhood splash pad and park the Saturday before we moved. Honey and Grandpa got to be there, along with Nana, and a mix of friends from school and Grace Fellowship. The weather was perfect and you were delighted with the whole thing. Then we got to have a family celebration at Bicentennial Park in Southlake with Honey and Grandpa, all 4 aunts and uncles, and all 4 cousins! 

June 1 fell in the middle of our drive to South Carolina, but you had asked me specifically if we could please not drive on your birthday. So, we planned to spend the whole day in Nashville and what a special birthday it was. We stayed in the coolest 3 story air bnb called "the treehouse," and you and Luke had a ball exploring and climbing the stairs. We went to an Adventure Science center in the morning, then had lunch at True Food Kitchen, one of my absolute favorites. 

Over lunch we each went around the table and listed 8 things we love about you. It was especially meaningful to hear what Luke had to say... "I like the way you style your hair"... "You're smart"... "You're tough, not like some other girls"... "You have a strong voice"... "You're trustworthy." You later told me hearing what we had to say was the highlight of your day, and that you had never thought of some of those things about yourself. :) Grandpa met us in Nasvhille that afternoon, then after opening your presents, we went down to Broadway for some Jack's BBQ. Afterward, we returned to the air bnb to stick a candle in some gluten free oreos. A fun and unique birthday indeed!

At 8 years old,

You are starting to look older. You've always looked a bit on the younger side for your age, with some adorable chubby cheeks, but you are starting to lose some of the baby look and just looking older in your smile and expressions. We have mixed feelings about this. ;)

You are getting taller and slimmer as well. You grew 5 pounds and 2.5 inches this past year. Dr. Batchelor was pleased to see this and gave you a hug at your last well visit with her. I can tell she's going to miss you!

You have started to show some sass and are needing more reminders about your attitude. You are still very sweet and really respond very well to correction, returning to your cheerful self pretty quickly.

You have started dealing with some car sickness. I was worried about it for our long drives across the country, but very thankfully you did well wearing the bands and used a behind the ear patch some, too.

You will now eat broccoli, so peas aren't your lone vegetable. ;)

You continue to make such a good impression on your teachers and coaches. I hear nothing but good things about you from them. What an example you are to others, a model student, a great listener, so good at following instructions. One of your softball coaches said how much he loved coaching you and that he'd love a team full of Noras!

On that note, you have become quite the softball player. Something really clicked this past season and you became a consistently strong hitter, getting on base just about every time you were up to bat. You also played third base on defense. I was really proud of you for sticking with your new team, the Rangers, when you started out feeling like you missed your old team, the Outlaws. By the end, you had made new friends and had a great experience. 

You seem to have processed this move really well. You expressed plenty of sadness over leaving your friends, our church, your school, etc., but it also showed me what a happy and secure life you have. And you have been adapting well, already excited about our summer lake house, our new church, and new home. 

You've been such a good friend to so many. I've noticed how well liked you are by your peers, both girls and boys. Several wanted a picture with you at the end of the year, wanted to be pen pals, and I could tell they were genuinely going to miss their good friend.

You love dogs, even though you still feel timid around them. You told us recently you have a collection of imaginary dogs (huskies and Pomeranians) that follow you around. You really took to the Meyer-Cunos' pets and love to talk about them. And you keep asking me when we can go swimming at their pool!

I love you, dear girl, and am so thankful I get to be your mother.

Love,

Mommy