Morgan is Home!!

Morgan is home!!

After enjoying a full week in Florida with her grandparents and her cousin Aubrey, she arrived back home to her own house around 4:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.  And we are so glad to see her!!

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Her trip home wasn't without its own adventures, that's for sure.  As I mentioned in a previous post, she had texted me earlier on Friday morning to tell me that she had checked into her flight online that morning but the flight was already delayed about 30 minutes at that point.  There wasn't a reason given but most likely it was because of the early morning weather delaying incoming and outgoing flights.  They must have spent the rest of the day trying to catch up and as the day went on, the delays kept coming.  I tried to keep Nate and Dawn in the loop as I found out about each delay...I felt terribly because they were already suppose to have a late night picking her up at her normal arrival time of 10:25 p.m. and now it was getting later and later.  Dawn kept assuring me that they were fine with it and what could I do about it really anyway??  Morgan's flight finally left Florida around 10:30 central time and she arrived back home in Grand Rapids, MI right before 1:00 a.m. and then back at our house right around 4:00 a.m.

She would have a quiet house to sleep much of the morning on Saturday as Noel and Melayna had an indoor track meet at Purdue Ft Wayne, Nolan was at Gramie C's house, and Marissa and I were down in Indy at the Senior State Swimming Meet.  We would have a great time of reunion and story telling later that afternoon when we were all back together again.

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Senior Night // Morgan's Senior Swimming Season // WCHS VS Col City

Senior Night 2022 took place this past Tuesday, December 20th for the Warsaw Tigers mens and women's swimming and diving teams.  This year there were three girls and six boys who are graduating and they would all take part in the Senior Celebration that was held during the home meet versus Columbia City. 

Thankfully the banners were finished up over the weekend and were all hung on Monday, just in time for Senior night on Tuesday.

And then the seniors all designed their own Memory Board to hang in the hallway leading into the pool.  Morgan finished her poster on Monday night right before her swimming lessons arrived.  

Then on Tuesday night the junior swimmers took the finished posters and hung them up and decorated the pool deck.  They also finished putting together the senior gifts that would be passed out that evening.

There was a lot of debate / confusion about when the swim meet was suppose to begin and then when the senior recognition would take place so after having the time changed about three times, I finally just went to the school around 4:00 to take a couple of pictures and drop off a few things that the girls had requested and then double check the time once more.  Then I stopped by the T-RAC to let Noel and Melayna know the final times before running by Nolan's school and picking him up from an after school Christmas party and bringing him back.  I arrived just in time (maybe a few minutes late actually) to start scoring for diving before the first part of the meet would begin.

Then, at the break halfway through the meet, the seniors and there parents were asked to gather down on the deck and to get ready to be recognized.  Morgan would be called second and we would walk across the pool deck while her bio and future plans were read over the intercom.  She also included a personal message to us as parents and to the coaches.  (I'm glad that they wrote it down and put it into a booklet because none of us really remember what was being read out loud!  LOL)

Thank you to Nolan for coming down to the stairs and taking these pictures for me.

When we finally made it to the first lane, the underclassman were standing there to pass out the senior baskets and Marissa had arranged to be the one to give Morgan her gift.  When I looked at Marissa's face I could see that she was fighting to keep from crying and then I had to fight to keep from crying too.  (One of the other juniors watched Morgan and Marissa hug each other and then she said, 'that was the saddest thing ever!' LOL)

And then a quick congratulations from the coaches, before taking our place alongside the pool.

Congratulations to our hard working determined senior.

How did we get here already?!

After the senior recognition was over, they had a few minutes to warm up again before the rest of the meet would take place.

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I just want to take this time to say that as a Mom, I was so incredibly blessed being part of this night and watching how many friends came out to the meet to support and cheer for both girls.  Morgan had her own little cheer section with past and present students who yelled for her every time she swam an event and then a couple of rows behind us there were other girls that we there to cheer on Marissa.  Our friend Clarice came for the girls and all the grandparents were there along with a couple of the girls' cousins.  Aaron came for Marissa and then Makeyla came over with a bouquet of flowers for each of the girls -- one for senior night and one for Marissa's birthday.  It was just all so sweet to watch and to see how many friends love them and care for them.

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Both boys and girls teams came out as winners at the end of the night.  The coach mixed up the events once again that night so both Morgan and Marissa swam off in at least one event but overall they were happy with their times and places.

Morgan's Events:

200 Freestyle     1st Place     2:17.05

100 Butterfly     3rd Place     1:10.75 Season's Best

200 Freestyle Relay     1st Place     27.68 split

400 Freestyle Relay     1st Place     1:03.65 split

Marissa's Events:

200 Medley Relay     2nd Place     25.93 split

200 IM     2nd Place     2.28.15

100 Freestyle     1st Place     58.65

200 Freestyle Relay     1st Place     26.44 split

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Once again I find myself asking how the days have gone by so quickly that we could have a senior, but I'm always overwhelmed with gratitude that the Lord has given us so many blessings and good gifts in this life and that we can have front row seats to these accomplishments and celebrations.

Morgan's 16th Birthday // Part One // The Set-Up

Morgan's 16th birthday was on Saturday, May 9th. 

Normally I feel like a 16th birthday is a milestone of sorts and one that we'd celebrate in a big way.  Six months ago, I would have told you that Noel and I would take Morgan out to a nice restaurant and we would dress up and probably buy her something special.  Who would have ever thought that as we planned her sixteenth birthday party, that we would be trying to celebrate from our home instead.  Not knowing how long we'd be under self-quarantine in our house,  I begin to plan a different way.  Marissa and I emailed family and friends and asked them to send birthday wishes to Morgan via a video that I would put into one big montage.  I also began to order party decorations and a gift online and started looking through restaurants that would allow for curb-side pick-up or home deliver.  We may not be able to get out, but I wanted to bring the party to her.  

Then, a week before the 9th, our governor started lifting our quarantine in phases so we saw that we could leave our house and go out for non-essential places if we wanted, but Morgan seemed to be okay with staying home.  (She's our biggest introvert for sure).  She told me that she wanted me to make ham and homemade mac and cheese and banana bread and she just wanted the six of us to be together at home.  And so that became our new plan.

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I made Morgan's cake on Friday.  She asked for an ice cream sandwich cake like we had eaten at a friend's house a few years ago.  Thankfully I was able to find the recipe on pinterest and it was easy to make.  It turned out SO yummy!  (Definitely not healthy or low-fat by any means, but still very yummy!)

Except for the whip cream frosting, the cake was assembled and ready to go back into the freezer.  Then I spent the rest of the day cleaning up the house.  After Morgan went to bed Friday night, Melayna and I blew up the traditional balloons to scatter all over the house and we also hung up most of the party decorations.  I'm so thankful that Morgan went to bed at a fairly early time that night because it took Melayna and I a while.

The next morning, Nolan was up early enough to help blow up a few more confetti balloon (and manage to get confetti all over the floor, if you can believe that!)

We were all excited for Morgan's big day.  There were a few surprises planned for her and we were all so excited!!

National Junior Honor Society Induction 2019

 It has been another busy week as we continue to wrap up a few activities that the girls have been involved in.  As I mentioned earlier, band finished up Monday night.  Marissa and Melayna have had their track parties this week and then on Wednesday night we went to the National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony.  

Morgan was inducted last year as a 7th grader and took the vow to fulfill her service requirements.  She did complete those service hours and was recognized for those achievements during the ceremony along with the other 8th graders.

Then Marissa was recognized as an incoming 7th grader and pledged to fulfill her service requirements through this upcoming school year.

 After the brief induction ceremony, the girls were able to have a few refreshments and take pictures with their friends.  I honestly think that part was the real reason why they agreed to come.  LOL

Morgan's Annual Trip to Ohio

After a late night with Noel at Winter Jam, Morgan went to school to compete her last day before spring break began.  

After school, she had about an hour to pack her bags and to get ready before she left with my parents to head to Ohio to watch her cousin perform at the USA state gymnastics competition.  Morgan has been able to ride over with my parents for three years now.  (Maybe four even?!).  They usually arrive Friday night and stay over at my sister's house before leaving for the event on Saturday.  This year they stayed overnight in a hotel after the gymnastics meet rather than making the long drive back in the same day and then my parents left my sister's house on Sunday afternoon and headed back home to drop Morgan off.

I'm so thankful that she has this opportunity with Aubrey.

2019 Spring Semi-Formal

 Last month, I mentioned that the girls were going to their spring semi-formal at school.  Finally after what seemed like weeks of waiting and planning, the time for the event came last Friday.

Morgan and Marissa had made plans to go to the semi-formal with two friends,  Piper and Alli.  The four girls would all go home to Piper's house where her mom has a salon in her home.  While Piper's mom was painting nails and curling hair, Alli's older sister Kylee would do their updo's and make-up and then they would all get dressed into their dresses.  At first we didn't know when we would get to see them all dressed up, but both Morgan and Marissa asked Noel and I to meet them over at Piper's house where we could see them and take pictures before they left.  I thought that it was very sweet of them to include us in the preparations like that.

When we first arrived at the house, three of the girls were in the other room getting their dresses on.  I heard Morgan call out to see if I was in the living room and when she knew that I was, she made her grand entrance.  Wow!  That's really all that I could say!!  She looked so grown up and mature - and she was so excited about how nice she looked -- she literally was glowing!!  It was such a sweet but surreal moment for Noel and I.  I mean, it's such a blessing to watch our daughters growing up into beautiful young women, but we are always asking what happened to those little toddlers that use to flutter around our living room in fairy wings and plastic play shoes?  

I could hear Marissa talking in the kitchen, so when I was done taking pictures of Morgan, I told her we were ready for her to come out.  And then she made her grand entrance and my reaction was just the same for her!!  Once again, Marissa was just smiling from ear to ear as she could see my reaction and admiration.  They were just loving every part of this and it was fun to be part of it.

I took these pictures of Morgan after she went out to show Noel.  I wish that I had taken a picture of his face when he saw her...  It was so very sweet!

And then pictures of Noel and his girls.

Right before they walked out the door to leave, I was able to take a couple of pictures of all four of them.  What a neat group of girls!!

These pictures of the school were taken off of Facebook later:

Chase is our neighbor and is in the 7th grade with Marissa.  They are good friends and were excited to take a picture and spend some time talking together.

Reagan is Chases' sister and is in the 8th grade.

I'm thankful that they had someone take this picture of the four of them

I am SO enjoying this time in the girls' lives!  'Just feeling so blessed that I am their mama and that I am able to witness all of their many milestones in life.  Whether it's taking their first steps or saying their first words, or even going to their first school dances.... I am SO blessed that God chose us to be their parents.