Never forget … we love you both forever and always !

The truth, peace and comfort- about all things in life, is always found in your heart, in memories and in good choices you will build bright futures.

In these photos and stories sent to mom and dad while they served we hope you both will always know how much you enjoyed these years of your lives and the time spent in the Mitten and while time will fade these memories because you were so young we will always treasure them and love seeing images of you all so happy …

From hide and seek, school bus driver, Moana dances and building race tracks , to putting on shows and play dates , from safari cafe and photo booths to all the times we went up north! Then eating out with family and friends for breakfast lunches dinners, the parties, the gymnastics, cheer, soccer , dance- Nana and Eli time, Poppy and Eli time, Nana and Gugu time and Poppy and Gugu time , visits to Santa and school activities, coloring , art, crafts, play dough, baking, gingerbread houses- there are just so many – too many to even list! There are lists of memories we have Shared from the Mitten to Disney, Washington, Indiana, Chicago and so so many airports in between on our various commutes! So many field trips and birthday parties. From camp days and singing carols we did so many fun and wonderful things. The images to now have been preserved – and hope they will always be a guiding force for you two and we can hope they will always make you smile with joy. That they will give you peace knowing that we truly want more than anything for you all to continue learning growing and loving each other to all live happily. We know that with time That it will not likely be plausible that you will able to keep memories of your time in the Mitten- but these images tell the reality of some truly amazing memories being made – and know that they allowed for a very happy start to your lives. The foundation for amazing things no matter where you travel in the world no matter what you do for a career, no matter what … you’ll know how much love you brought to us and all the family and continue to bring joy and happiness to each other and those around you . Hope you’ll always know how much we love you!

We love you both and we always wish for you to be happy, live in love, joy, fun, safety! We hope you will make so many new memories, and we know they will be amazing. We will ❤️ LOVE, with all our heart and soul… always and forever … to the moon and back ….

and will always be your Nana and Poppy!

XOXOXOXOXOXO

❤️Nana and Poppy❤️

This site was originally written when Guillilanna was born. During her parents deployment and training, we would keep Guillianna in the Mitten. Then Elijah was born and he too was a frequent flyer to the Mitten. They lived with us on and off for nine years. Over the last deployment to Korea and during the past three years where in the kids lived with us for three consecutive years, the internet and this site was not really used to communicate with their parents, FACETIME was quick and easy. Their dad recently got out of the Army and they were relocated. We have not seen or talked with Eli or Guillianna for months. Last we saw them on FaceTime was May 2018. Last we held them December 2017, just after Christmas. Yet the reality is THIS IS NOT ABOUT just OUR BROKEN HEARTS- it is about theirs, ours and our entire family! for these kids who are so small and innocent, they have had a major change in thier lives. It is our hope that the journaling of our time together, and the and the new love letters for them will one day allow them to truly know the depth of love we ALL here in the Mitten have for them.

This site is also a special gift for our daughter, it documents all kinds of small details and images for her to keep, love and enjoy! These memories encompass nine and six years of the lives of her children! A true gift, that one day she may actually appreciate and have gratitude for. She doesn’t think of us as her parents at present, but maybe in the future, she will sit and reflect on all these memories, maybe she will see the love and dedication that she herself was given because of our love for her. If not, this journal, can hopefully one day allow Guillianna and Elijah to see and feel the truth, the love, and they will realize the amazing impact they have had on all of us here in the Mitten, and they will feel the love of all those who they spent their lives with, before embarking on the new journey they have begun. Friends, family alike have shared in nearly a decade of thier lives and all wish for the family to be happy. If it is a parents right and philosophy to “cut people out of your life like a kindergartener cuts out paper snowflakes” and raise their children to feel the same, this new set of love letters are written with the hope that in time the innocent will feel the love they HAVE always had, and the love they can ALWAYS carry it with them.

Never forget … we love you both forever and always !

You Missed

Happy Birthday Guillianna!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIJAH❤️

Christmas 2023

❤️Happy Birthday Guillianna ❤️