To Ethan for his 8th

Dear Ethan,

When I look at you, I still see the 9 month old whose shoulders squished up when I lifted him and smiled adoringly at me with large, brown eyes. I see the toddler, rounded face, drooling, saying his numbers; purposely getting silly at "5-and-teen." I see the young boy going to preschool. He wore a belt with shirt tucked in for 6 months because another boy in the class did too. He never ever wore shorts, even in summer; and never ever wore sandals, even in summer.

Now I look at you and see a really big kid. Tall, lanky, growing wildly into pre-teenhood. He's so sensible, smart, and intrigued by so many things. He sets about tasks with hard determination to throw harder, draw better, read more, build higher. He can spend long hours with a book, or a pencil and paper, or a construction set.

Most of all, dear, know that you are loved and we are proud. Live your life with integrity. Don't compromise, cut corners, or find the easy path. Be honest and true to yourself and to others. Go with sureness and confidence. Find your place in the world that will fulfill dreams. Take care of your loved ones and family, others in need, and your earth.

What I see is the boy who will grow into the teenager, who will grow into the man, and I will be so proud.

Happy 8th Birthday.

My How Life Changes

If there's one thing I've learned from being a military wife, it's that life can change in an instant. And there's always a change.

I wonder to myself if those families who live, marry, and raise kids in one place enjoy that brand of predictability, or if they find it boring. Probably both. At least I pine for that, but only somewhat. The living in one place until your kids are grown and off. It's appealing in a cozy, quaint sort of way.

But we're not to know that life. The one where our kids grow up with the other kids on the block and Dad's home every night by 5:45 forever after. Ours is more the 'Dad's sometimes home, sometimes deployed, sometimes training, sometimes living in another state. We may stay, we may move, we're definitely staying, we're probably moving- kind of life.' Just a bit of a roller-coaster.

Which brings me to the latest hill. Ric got a call last week that he was chosen for a job in Stuttart, Germany, a 3-year assignment.

So much for our plan to remain in Colorado for 3 more years. First disbelief and doubt, followed by trepidation and lastly excitement. A lot to think about, a busy year lies ahead with now a long list of major changes. But we're all looking toward an adventurous stint in a foreign culture.

That is, unless things change.

Ethan's Early Eighth

We had an early celebration of Ethan's 8th birthday today. Pool, cake, presents. You can't really go wrong here. 

Thanks for hosting, Nanny and Pop-Pop, Aunt Christina and Uncle Rob. 

And it's  a rare occasion when each of the Ong children are present in one place at the same time. They are spread across 4 different states, throughout the US.  It was a lot of fun to all be together for a couple days. Only missing out on Crazy Uncle Ed.