Hangin' with the fam

Last week my sister and I had to find some creative ways to stay cool because of the heat wave here. So we took Eliana swimming.

Tonight I enjoyed spending some quality time with my parents - watching America's Got Talent. (Gotta say that the chicken-catching country singer and the grannie comedian are my faves!)

37 years ago today

. . . my parents got married.

Actually it was their second wedding. Their first (and official) wedding took place on July 13 when they went in to the city to sign the paperwork.
Their actual wedding ceremony was on the 15th. Getting married in Africa made doing both of these on the same day rather difficult.

They both moved to Africa to be missionaries - Dad as a Bible teacher, Mom as a nurse.

When Mom first felt God calling her to be a missionary nurse in Africa she fought it for a while. To her, that was the same thing as asking her to give up every hope for ever getting married. Finally, she said yes to the Lord and resigned herself to the fact that she would never marry. She packed up all she had and moved to Ethiopia to work as a nurse. . . and then met a dashing young man with dreamy eyes in her language class.

And while Dad enjoyed hanging out with the sassy young Aussie in his language class, he had already decided that he would never marry someone who came from east of the Mississippi - it would make visiting family too difficult. So, of course they could only be friends. Ha! Famous last words.

Love has a way of sneaking up on you. . .and here is the end of their story:
(And yes, that is Dr. Brake standing on my dad's left for those of you who know Dr. Brake.)

And I came along 11 months later.
(And yes, I did have a baby mohawk too.)

Mom and Dad - thank you so much for the amazing example you have given of what it means to have a godly marriage. You have loved Lynn and me with all of your hearts and sacrificed much along the way to take care of us. We would not be who we are today without you!

Hanging out with the Morrows

A few weeks ago we went up to Tacoma with my sister to hang out with my folks. I'm sure they were happy to see us. . . but I think they were pretty excited about getting some time with their grandkiddo.


While we were there we went to a local farmer's market. So fun! Check out my Moby Wrap. These are great! A little tricky to put on but soooo comfortable!


And of course Lynn got some good auntie time too.

Notice the blankets that Eliana and Hobbes are sleeping on. Both are from Dream On Blankets. Matt's co-worker's wife, Lisa, owns this business and gave us one as a gift for Eliana. These blankets are amazing!

We also had a visit from Sarah - someone that Lynn and I consider a sister. Our mom used to run an in-home daycare for years (20+ I think). Anyhow, Sarah was her first daycare kid. We've known her since she was 6 weeks old.

Aahhh. . . good times with family!

Father's Day with the Mormances

Each year the Mormance family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandpas & grandmas, and last but not least, great-grandpa mormance) goes golfing. For any golf enthusiasts reading this - we play "best ball." Go figure, eh?
It started out a little wet . . .

Matt taking a swing in the pouring rain.

Fortunately the sun come out after a while.
We were paired up with Cousins Matt & Amy, Abigail & Jack, and Uncle Bob (who didn't make it into this photo).

We learned that Amy did awesome if someone was talking to her during her swing. Ha!

Aunt Shelley & Cousin Grant

We had a blast!

Cherishing Moments with Family

A little over a week ago I Matt got to see my Grandpa again and quite possibly for the last time. He's an old corn farmer from Iowa who has lived a full and honorable life. He is 94 and still going (must be all that bacon and eggs for breakfast over the years). I got to see him and my grandma every Christmas when they flew out to Oregon to see two of their daughters and families that live here. We would also travel to Iowa every other summer to visit them and my aunt, uncle, and cousins there.
Over the last few years since Grandma passed, Grandpa hasn't felt as young and spry as he used to and didn't make it out this last Christmas. But luckily my aunt and uncle took some time off to fly with him out to Oregon one last time. It was good to see him and hang out but at the same time hard knowing that this goodbye would be the last time we see him till heaven. I choked a little bit as I said that last goodbye and "I'll see ya upstairs." He promptly replied "you'll see me with my wife"... such a testament to a guy who still loves his bride and can't wait to see her again. He's been a great example of one who loves God and his family well.


Here is a photo of the four generations.
Eliana with Sharon and I, My Mom and her dad, My Pa and his dad (who's 93)

A "Goodbye" that is not forever

Anyone who knows me (Sharon) knows that I hate saying "goodbye." In fact, it is more likely that you will hear me say "see you later" than "goodbye." So, last Thursday, with a big lump in my throat, I waved "See you later" to our wonderful friends Peter and Jen at the Vilnius airport. In true Morrow fashion, I waited and watched at the security checkpoint until I could see them no longer, and then gave a final wave just before they rounded the last corner. The five of us who remained ate a delicious lunch at Dublinar; then we drove back to Kaunas. The drive home was pretty quiet - I think I might have slept through a good part of it.

I felt a wistful sadness (that's what happens when people get in your heart). . .
. . . but no despair (I'll see them again in just a few months).

Matt and I spent a quiet evening at our flat that night. Later I skyped with my sister Lynn. . .and learned that my 95 year old Aunt Mary had passed away just a few hours earlier. (Aunt Mary was my grandpa's twin sister. Growing up, all my grandparents lived either out of state or in Australia. Aunt Mary lived across the street, so she was very much like a grandma to me.)

I was again struck with a deep wistful sadness . . . but no despair!

You see, my Aunt Mary knew Jesus as her Savior and loved Him as her Very Best Friend! For those who follow Jesus, this is not a "goodbye," it is simply a "see you later." We will meet again in Heaven one day - I can not fully express how much peace and hope that gives me!

Later, Matt asked me how I was doing, knowing that my day had been filled with a lot of loss. I smiled and said, "Well, I feel like there is a big party going on right now in Heaven that we are missing out on, (kinda like what we felt last Christmas when we were away from our families). Aunt Mary no longer feels pain, and she is hanging out with my Grandpa and Grandma and so many of her friends. I wish I could be at the party; I wish I could see the expression on Aunt Mary's face as she recognizes her friends and family. I wish I could hear what Jesus is saying to her - to this wonderful lady who always worked her fingers to the bone to help and serve and give to others. Aunt Mary always did like parties - I just wish I could watch her at this one.

I guess I'm glad that this is not a goodbye. . .it is just another "see you later."

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16