The Morales Family: Figuring It Out As I Go

Showing posts with label Figuring It Out As I Go. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

A Really Hard Good Day

June 4th, 5:39 AM.

102 pounds of checked luggage, a much lighter carry-on, a trusty backpack, and a nervous but confident smile.

We all know that the DSM airport doesn't actually require getting there anywhere close to the recommended 3 hours early, but even the 90 minutes early that we gambled was a bit more than necessary.

Our final family photo for a little while.

There are few words I want to use to descibe these tender moments. This was a really hard, good day.

This elevator is not my friend. The one that delivers arrivals is much kinder to my tender heart. Look at this amazing young woman, off to serve and learn and grow in ways that only God knows she can.

And then we sat and waited for her flight to take off.

And we sobbed when it actually did.

And the kids came home to Leah! She will be with us every day for the next 18 months.

And it's not even that she's been gone for that long- only three weeks, how?!- it's that she WILL be gone for 18 months. How can we even comprehend the change and growth and love and strength and trials that she will conquer over the next 18 months, as she grows from teenager to woman? This is an adventure of faith, and there is no way any of us could handle it if the true gospel of Jesus Christ wasn't at the very center of all we say and do every day. He has miracles in store for Hermana Morales!

A New Adventure

I started subbing for preschool in 2019. I started secretary subbing three yeras ago. There has been a ton of changes in our school this year, and, once the conditions were finally just right, they got me. I'm the new part-time general secretary at the elementary school that my kids spent the bulk of their years at. I'm excited to give back!

Because I really do love this school!

Starting at the end of the school year was interesting, and it took me a LOT of deliberation to say yes.

But I quite love having a desk, a team, a reason to get up and going every day that my kids are in school. And as Leah said, I have already been doing this for years. It's just official now. (Don't panic!)

Things are changing already, so in the fall I might be singing a different tune.

But it's a nice little gig, and I am happy to remind myself that I can quit anytime. "I didn't even want it!"

Goodness my desk is colorful and fully stocked!

Eww.

Of course, the very best part of being in the school, as it always has been, is getting to see my kids during their days and experience a little bit of what they are experiencing. Public school can be a LOT.

I'm going to be alone at the school next year, but that's okay. I'll be home before anyone even knows I'm gone!

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Off to College!

Whew, this is going to be a big post, so I think I'll start simply with the goodbyes. The day after school started for everyone else, it was time for Leah (and I) to hop on a plane to Utah. The father and I talked about a hundred different scenarios in which we could get Leah to college while also supporting Noah, Emma, and Adam in their back-to-school adventures, and ultimately we decided that I would fly out with Leah while he stayed in Iowa to work and take care of all the things at home. Dividing and conquering is often best, but that doesn't mean it's the easiest. Saying goodbye was hard for everyone.

Adam was off to marching band practice before anyone else was awake. It didn't really occur to me how special these last morning-as-a-family moments would be, but looking back, I would have insisted that Adam stay home to join us at the airport.

One of those suitcases was mine, but the rest was all of Leah's college life, packed into just a few suitcases!

Thank you to the sweet ticket counter woman who offered to take our family picture. We were all on the verge of tears. Happy tears, sad tears, nervous tears. This was it!