In my favorite poem by Robert Frost, Nothing Gold Can Stay, he reminds us that like the seasons of nature, life is one season melting into another, and quickly fading away. This is my attempt to document each season in my life and my family.

What’s New With The Harmon Crew

Filed under: Abby Jo, Army, Chris, Elijah, Family, Kids, Kyra, Owen — Rachel at 5:28 pm on Wednesday, February 10, 2010

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything of substance here. We have been sick. The kids were sick for three weeks straight. I don’t even want to talk about it, though. I’m just glad it’s over.

I thought I’d write a little update post for all of the family types that care about such things.

Chris has had a few interesting things going on. Our church recently voted to pursue his ordination. Hopefully, sometime this month or next, Chris will be getting ordained. The church also made him a deacon, so, along with all of his new deacon responsibilities like serving communion and going to meetings, we also get to laugh harder about the “deacon’s kids” jokes. Or am I the only one who thinks that’s fun? Chris finished his MA with his seminary a while back, and so he is currently putting together his packet for the Army. Hopefully, within a couple months, he will finally be an Army Chaplain.

Rachel, who has recently began referring to herself in the third person, has not been doing much of anything. After recuperating from her surgery, she spent several weeks cleaning up poop and vomit. That took up most of her spare time. She has also been reading books, taking naps, and attending a new Bible study with Chris and some friends.

Kyra just finished up second grade half a year early. We are very proud of her. She is reading like a champ, and is doing pretty well in all her subjects. She is her mama’s right hand woman, and helps a lot around the house. She is especially helpful with taking care of her baby sister. She has decided that she is going to be a missionary when she grows up, and often refers to her future plans. I’m kind of convinced she will actually do it. She solicited a rather large sum of money out of her father to donate to the relief effort in Haiti the other day, and that is a very good skill for a missionary to have. Kyra makes friends very easily with random kids on the playground, and within the first five minutes of conversation she will have asked the kid if they are saved.

Elijah is working hard at kindergarten. He struggles with not getting frustrated at his mother for not moving at the pace he could move at. He’s very smart, and could be finished with the kindergarten curriculum by now if I weren’t such a slacker. Between the baby, the surgery, and the sickness, we’re just getting by with kindergarten. He is doing very well at it, though. He spends most of his days running up and down the hallway, jumping, making sound effects, and force choking invisible opponents. He also recently lost his first tooth.

Owen spends most of his time personifying awesomeness. He is the most hilarious kid I’ve ever met. He is incredibly mischievous, and he keeps us in stitches. He’s really rather rotten, but we love him.

Abby Jo has had a lot going on lately. She got two top teeth a few weeks ago, bringing her to a total of four teeth. She took her first steps yesterday, and I’m sure she’ll be walking soon. She loves her brothers and sister, and follows them around. She loves to play with them, and they are usually pretty good at letting her hang with them in their rooms. She can say “DaDa”, “Mama”, and “Yayuh” (Kyra). She’s great fun. She likes to point, clap, and laugh when someone else laughs. She is obsessed with all things electronic and spends a good portion of each day trying to get laptops, iPhones, playstation controllers, and remotes.

That’s about it for now. I doubt y’all could handle much more excitement without getting jealous, anyway.

Chris’ CHBOLC Graduation

Filed under: Abby Jo, Army, Chris, Elijah, Family, Friends, General, Kids, Kyra, Owen, Photos, School, Trips, Videos — Rachel at 11:58 pm on Tuesday, September 8, 2009

August 28, 2009 was a big day for Chris. He graduated from Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course, which finished up his chaplain training, at the Chaplain School at Fort Jackson, SC. The kids and I were so proud of him. Here are some photos and videos from our day. (I was having trouble with my camera, and I didn’t get videos of the last two platoons, including Chris’, singing their division songs, nor a photo of Chris walking across the stage.)

100_8927

Christopher before the ceremony.

100_8969

This is me with Mrs. Diann Hart, a chaplain’s wife that I got to know a little bit during my time at the Spouses’ Seminar. She, along with her two daughters, babysat all four of our children during the banquet.

100_8973

This is me with Mrs. Teresa Boone, the wife of the Commandant. I enjoyed getting to know her at the seminar.

100_8974

The whole family.

100_8976

This is us with Chris’ mom, Velvet.

100_8979

Me and Christopher

100_8982

Daddy and his boys.

100_8983

Daddy and his girls.

100_8984

Daddy and all of his young’uns.

100_8986

I love you, Christopher, and I’m very proud of you. I’m so glad you’re home!

Visiting Daddy

Filed under: Abby Jo, Activities, Army, Chris, Elijah, Family, Kids, Kyra, Owen, Photos, Trips — Rachel at 11:24 pm on Sunday, August 9, 2009

Since Chris has been gone to Fort Jackson since early July, the kids and I made the trip to South Carolina to see him this weekend. The drive wasn’t too bad. The kids were mostly good, and Abby never really cried…only fussed till her big sister put her paci in. I was making good time until Elijah needed an unplanned bathroom stop, and then all the kids had to go. Then, not longer after that stop, Kyra said, “Owen has something yucky on his shirt and pants.” I turned to look, and saw that Owen had thrown up on himself. I was on the phone with Chris at the time, and said, “Great! Owen threw up.” When he heard me say this, Owen immediately started crying. It was quite a ways to the next exit, and Owen fell asleep while I was driving. This prompted a phone discussion with Amy on whether or not it made me a bad mom if I kept on driving while Owen was covered in puke, since he went to sleep and it didn’t smell that bad. I drove a while, but then I started smelling it so I stopped and cleaned him up. (This retelling reminded me that his pukey clothes are still in the van tied up in a little, scented, blue, plastic bag. I think I’ll be tossing that!)

Besides that and a homicidal truck driver who tried to run me off the road, it was an uneventful trip. We made it to Fort Jackson, and got to see Daddy. He was out in the parking lot of the hotel waiting on us. The kids were ecstatic to see him, and I think he felt the same about seeing us. We really miss him when he’s not home!

img_0477

We went to Outback right away, and then came back to the hotel. Chris had to stay up late working on homework for CHBOLC. He didn’t get in bed till after midnight, and then had to get up at four for PT.

On Friday, we hung around the hotel until he got off, and then went to Applebees and to Walmart to buy swim stuff for the kids since I didn’t bring theirs. Chris went to sleep pretty early since he only got four hours sleep. On Saturday, we went to the zoo here in Columbia which was pretty fun. I’ll have to add pictures of that later, since they’re all on Chris’ computer. We ate at Maurice’s BBQ, which was kind of interesting but good, and then came back to the hotel. Chris took the three big kids swimming, and Abby Jo and I took a long nap. That was about it for Saturday. Today, we went to IHOP for breakfast, and then went to the Sesquintennial State Park and then to see G-Force at the movies. After the movie, we went to Rita’s Frozen Custard, and enjoyed some Italian ices and frozen custard. It was absolutely delicious! Today is the only day I took photos on my iPhone, so I can add the pics from today. Enjoy!

img_0486

Waiting for IHOP is not much fun…but worth it!

img_0490

This is at the park, where it was crazy hot…like around 98, I think. This isn’t the best photo, but I added it because I love Abby Jo’s expression. She looks like, “You call this fun?!?”

img_0493

Elijah at the park.

img_0497

Hot, little Abby Jo after having her diaper changed on a picnic table. She was still smiling, even though she was sooo over the whole thing.

img_0500

Kyra sitting pretty in the shade.

img_0509

Chris at the park, with Elijah in the background.

img_0513

At Rita’s, they promised me happiness. I love the sign in the upper right that tells you where to order happiness. They came through. We were happy!

img_0514

Kyra got some sort of strawberry flavor of Italian ice.

img_0515

Owen and I had passion fruit.

img_0521

After everyone ate their individual treats, Daddy went and ordered us all a large chocolate vanilla twist custard to share. We were very excited!

img_0522

Ready? Set? Go!!!


We Made It

Filed under: Army — Rachel at 9:46 pm on Saturday, August 2, 2008

I am totally exhausted, sick, and have a sore back, but the kids and I made it safely to Columbia (Chris is staying in a hotel off post) a little while ago.

Let me just say, it wasn’t the easiest trip ever.

I had training at Choices last night from six until nine. While on my way home, my sister in law, Misty, called me to tell me my little brother was in the ER. Luke has been hurting for a few days, mainly in his neck and back, and it had gotten worse and his legs had broken out in horrible dark red spots. They were testing him for things like west nile virus and meningitis. I was really worried, and, since my kids were spending the night with Misty, I went to the hospital to check on him. I ended up staying there with him until 2:30 this morning.

When I finally left, I still had to pack, so I didn’t get to bed until about twenty after three this morning. I didn’t fall asleep right away, either. My mind was too busy. After about three and a half hours of sleep, I got up at seven to finish packing and make it back to Oak Ridge by nine when my training started. I then had six hours of training, and was finished at three. Mom brought the kids to me in Oak Ridge, and we set off to see Daddy.

About six hours and three stops later, we made it through three torrential downpours…one in Tennessee, one in North Carolina, and one in South Carolina… and into Daddy’s arms. We got to Columbia at about nine thirty, seconds before the afore mentioned torrential downpour made it to the hotel.

All I can say is…I AM TIRED!!!

Oh, I can say one more thing…

I am Superwoman.

Just The Four of Us

Filed under: Army, Elijah, Family, Kids, Kyra, Owen, Photos — Rachel at 10:47 pm on Sunday, July 20, 2008

It’s just me and the kiddos for the next forty days. Daddy left for Fort Jackson today. He’s doing a practicum there for the rest of the summer, and we are sure going to miss him.

We love you, Daddy!

Great Video

Filed under: Army, Videos — Rachel at 12:25 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2007

For anyone who’s interested, Amy sent me a link to this video last night, and I thought I would share it. It’s a video made up of pictures from the Chaplain School that Chris went to this summer. I never spotted Chris in any of the pictures, but this was his class. I saw my friend Laura’s husband several times, and also Chris’ roommate and a few others that I spoke to briefly or have read their blogs. It’s a good video, and it might give you guys an idea of what Chris was doing while he was gone.

Please remember to pray for all of our men and women in uniform. They really need our prayers and support.

Friends

Filed under: Army, Friends, Me, Owen, Photos, Trips — Rachel at 11:53 pm on Monday, July 16, 2007

100_4296_1.JPG

This is Laura, me, Amy, and Heather at Fort Jackson.

100_4294_1.JPG

Laura and Owen

Our Second Trip to Fort Jackson

Filed under: Army, Chris, Holidays, Kids, Photos, Trips — Rachel at 11:43 pm on Monday, July 16, 2007

Here are some photos from my second trip to visit Chris at Fort Jackson, on the fourth of July.

100_4246_1.JPG

Owen having some watermelon at the Chaplain Picnic.

100_4249_1.JPG

Elijah enjoyed the watermelon, too.

100_4256_1.JPG

This is how you wash your hands in the Army!

100_4261_1.JPG

Fort Jackson has some majorly cool pine cones, too!

100_4262_1.JPG

Kyra’s a pretty good photographer. I like this picture.

Photos from our First Trip to Fort Jackson

Filed under: Army, Chris, Kids, Photos, Trips — Rachel at 8:54 pm on Monday, July 16, 2007

100_4142_1.JPG

Chris and Owen hanging out by the playground behind his apartment at Fort Jackson.

100_4144_1.JPG

Kyra was loving all over her Daddy the whole time we were there.

100_4151_1.JPG

The kids had a lot of fun playing at the playground.

My Gorgeous Husband

Filed under: Army, Chris, Photos — Rachel at 9:59 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2007

100_4159_1.JPG

Next Page »