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One Year Old?

That's right. I really can't believe it! We had a fun family birthday party Saturday and Karis was so precious! She had so much fun with her cousins. She got a walking toy that she loves and has really been practicing! She actually took a couple steps on her own a couple nights ago. I was at the store and I told Dee he should have pushed her down. She can't do that away from me!! I'll post some pictures later, but just wanted to give a quick update!

She is learning new things every day & it has been so fun. Her babbling seems more like words, her fine motor skills are developing, and she understands my words more and more. I remember a friend from church telling me that when her child went for her 12 month checkup, the doctor said they understand about 90% of what we say. That's a little scary and also a good reminder that little ears are always listening.

She has been using her signs for more and please so well lately and it helps us both communicate better! Typically, when she signs "more", she sort of claps instead of putting her fingers together. Last weekend, I was asking her if she wanted more as I signed it to her. She stared at my fingers for a while, then studied her own hands and slowly put her fingers together like mine and did it correctly. It was amazing to watch her have that epiphany of, "Oh, that's how you do it!!"

Today at the doctor, she was really intrigued with the stethoscope as the doctor listened to her breathing. She sat really still and watched very closely. When the doctor finished, she walked away and Karis signed "more, more". It was so funny. I guess she liked it!

I love my little girl!!

Giving Up Noah for Adoption

Most of you know we recently gave our dog Noah to our friends, Jason & Shawnda. We knew we would have to do something before we move and when they started looking for a dog, we decided it was worth it to go ahead and do it early. He really is happy there & he gets to be inside! He loves that and he loves all the kids and he loves all the attention! Buster is still with us and he got to come inside too! He has very limited roaming space, but Dee convinced me he's too old to be in the cold with his arthritis. So, we lost one and gained one...sort of!

"I'll miss you, Buster!"





The last bath...he hates it!





Karis loves to stand and look at the dogs out the window





Buster still doesn't know what he thinks about being inside with Karis. She loves him & gets so excited! But, as you can see, he usually just walks away. I think the shrieking overwhelms him. It's pretty funny watching them sometimes!

Even More Cousins!

Yes, it has been a childcare extravaganza around here! Dana and I have been taking turns keeping all the cousins lately. So they have been around each other a lot and Dana and I are seeing what it's like to have 4 kids very close in age! The kids are Kayden: 2 1/2, Isaiah: 15 mo., Karis: 11 mo., and Kayla: 5 1/2 mo.. So it is a busy day when they are all together, but it's fun! Dana and I have definitely gained a greater appreciation for my mom who does this all the time! It's so wonderful to have a mom close by that serves all of us in SO many ways. I know I won't always have that and it's one of the hardest things about moving. But the kids have a lot of fun together. Mealtimes are definitely the most challenging! And since I am starting to slowly wean Karis off her bottle, she does NOT like it when Kayla gets hers and she doesn't get one! But we're all learning to share and be patient....the moms, I mean!

Kayden's usual state all day long...no pants & eating a snack!





He does NOT like it when any of the babies cry. Here, he is telling Karis in the monitor it's going to be ok.





Kayden loves to "hold" Karis.






I had a little photo shoot with Kayla. It's so much easier when they can't move that much!





Typical moment: Kayden telling me what he wants to do next, Isaiah & Karis whining & Kayla was sleeping, I think

Karis loves to laugh!

Dee says she only laughs like this with me, but I think you just have to know her tickle spots!

More cousins

We love being Uncle Dee & Aunt Stacey to our dear friends' kids! We have had the privilege of spending a lot of time with them lately while our friends were away for the weekend. So the Lanier house expanded to 4 children for a few days & we had a blast. Karis loved it! Being the first child, I definitely think she gets bored of looking at me! I have always loved being around and taking care of lots of kids like this. In high school, there were 2 different families of 4 that I kept regularly. It has fueled my desire for a family. And I love seeing my husband with other children. He is so good with them, playing, dancing, doing hair, and keeping them in line! It was definitely a lot of work and I see our need to grow as parents, but that will come! Our friends are such an example to us in their heart for adoption and their willingness to be a part of meeting a need for an orphan even when it's hard. The Lord has used them to increase our passion for adoption and she is a great example to me in parenting. I learn a lot from her. Here are a few snapshots of our extended family!



Big brother helping read the bedtime story




BATH TIME!




Helping Aunt Stacey around the house




Uncle Dee loves some cuddle time





Sisters




Karis loved having a playmate!

UPDATE!

I know it's been so long since I've updated anything! We are still alive! I'll try to post lots to give some of the details of the life of the Laniers and not all at once. Karis has had lots of friends and cousins over lately. She really has loved it! She loves playing with other kids and it has definitely kept me busy. I am so blessed to have so many friends and family so close to spend time with and keep each others' kids. It really is a privilege and a joy to be a part of their families too!

I am very thankful for Karis to be able to spend so much time with her cousins lately. She and Isaiah are like twins in a lot of ways. She chases him all over the place....he's still faster and now that he can walk, she has to work hard to keep up! But they really do have a lot of fun together! We love you Isaiah!

Like I said, they seem like brother and sister sometimes. Here they are sharing?? a toy.





They really can't stay away from each other. Whenever one is eating, the other one stays right there to eat the crumbs that fall!! :)





This is one of their favorite toys. It's funny to watch Karis smack his hand or for Isaiah to move her hand from what he wants to play with.




The stairs is one their favorite places to sneak off to, so now we use a gate all the time!





Here's Isaiah playing a game. He likes to throw things (ie my flip flops) to the other side of the gate & then try to get them back. Here he got his arm stuck!




Karis follows Isaiah in a lot of things. Watch this! He is really enjoying showing her how to drum! (Karis really was ok in the end...she didn't get hurt!)

Amazing Aquabatic baby!

From Dee:
I am definitely the type to delete forwards as soon as they hit my inbox. It's a shame, but I have reported family members for spam alert on my email server. Well, every now and then I open one of these things up, and what I saw amazed me. I'm sure many of you are already aware of infant swimming lessons, and Stacey may even be well aware of the importance of it. But after watching this video I was blown away.

Google Apps is Cool

Let me start by saying that my wife already calls me a "walking commercial." Seeing that this is true, I might as well live up to my name and start advertising. I have been big on Google Apps for a little while, and now I have to share the joy. This past week I started using Google Apps almost exclusively, since I tend to have files and preferences spread amongst 4 different computers that I use daily (and 3 different platforms at that)! After really giving it a test drive, I have to say that I am sold-- wait, it's free! Could you imagine how churches, and missionaries, and schools could use this? Truly amazing.


Click here if you're a business or organization and want to see a more detailed look.

Go Karis...Get Loose Now!

And away we go...

Alright,
It's official-- the Lord has seen fit to move our hearts to Philly! OK, the tough part will be moving our actual selves, but that'll come. No set timeline yet, but we're praying and planning (soon enough) to start moving in that direction. To sum it up, we loved Epiphany, and the many families that we got to spend time with. And overall we loved the city. We felt the burden of the distressed in the target area, and we breathed in the rich history of the city as a whole. On top of that we got to see some really nice chill areas to get away to commune with the Lord and with each other, just to regroup and hit it back hard in the community. Details to come, but we just wanted y'all to know!

Much love,
Dee (Phil 3:13-14)

In Philly-- Sunday

We're here for the week, spending time with Pastor Duce and his wonderful wife, Missy, and the kids. We had a great time at Epiphany this morning, as well as time of fellowship afterwards. We are here four more full days. Pray that we seek the Lord's face and continue to evaluate objectively.

Much love,
Dee

Up and Down

That's basically where our emotions are these days...up and down. It has been an eventful few days which started Thursday afternoon. After leaving work and picking up Karis, I took a quick pregnancy test since I was a few days late. Two tests quickly came out positive. Dee and I spent the next few days in shock, talking about this huge unexpected change in our family! Yet we were excited though amazed at the reality of this. We were trying to get time with my parents to deliver the news on Sunday. That afternoon, I started what I believed was the beginning of a miscarriage. Yesterday at the doctor, they agreed with me and said it was probably what they call a "chemical pregnancy". It's basically where fertilization happens but implantation does not and your body expels it just like a normal cycle.
So I've basically had a normal monthly experience, just heavier and a little more painful. We're doing ok and have had lots of love and prayers from the few who knew. I don't know if we've really processed all this. I've been keeping myself busy. The Lord is faithful. I do know that.

UNBELIEVABLE

This is my reaction that I OFTEN have when I drive by church marquees. Per my husband's suggestion, I will start a new series on this. I have a MAJOR pet peeve about church signs because they very seldom have real meaning or value nor do I believe they make a lot of difference in people's lives. I'm not saying there are no exceptions. I know of a story where a billboard with a Christian message was used to bring a man to faith. I have seen a couple that have been impactful, but mostly, I see phrases and quotes that are cheesy or meant to produce guilt. I hate when the church represents guilt and condemnation. That is NOT the message of Jesus! Others are just really cheesy which is another element I don't like the church taking on.
So, I will start with the one that I saw a few years back that created my pet peeve for this and invoked so much anger.

"Get Filled or Get Grilled"

I did a triple take in disbelief that a church would actually display this for passersby to see, thinking that it may have some impact on the world???? or bring some to Christ??!!??!?

So, that was the beginning...
Dee saw another today that was just plain cheesy.

"To Save Face, Shut the Lower Part"

Ok, that's not even creative or catchy. Just funny to me. I'm sure there's a book out there of 101 Church Sign Messages. AAAAHH! So, sorry if I'm on a rant, but these things really bother me because I want the body of Christ to represent so much more! I would rather the church sign be merely informational. That's more attractive to me. At least it helps me get in the door. I know when to show up!

Ok, off my soap box for now... I'm sure I will see another soon that I will share.

Please Read

Please read Dee's blog for some big prayer requests concerning not only Dee, but our whole family.

Oh yeah, super praise reports concerning Karis:
1) She's 21lbs, 2oz today (she's about to turn 6 months old)
2) She's picking herself up to stand if she holds your fingers. "Scoots" backwards, and rolls over on both sides with ease.
3) Is getting fussy for no apparent reason at times. Can you say, "teething"?

She's a joy, and growing too fast!

Cuuuuuuuutttee!!!

Thanks Jason, these are wonderful shots of our baby girl. You have a gift of photography!

Kayla Jane Hartness

Kayla was born 1 week ago at 9:32 am. 6 lb, 12 oz, 18 1/2 inches long. She has a proud family, with Mommy, Daddy (my brother Chris), Big Brother Kayden, 2 cousins (on our side), and aunts, uncles, Grammie and Pops!! She's so tiny that my baby looks so big now! I know, I know, she IS big. But she REALLY looks big now!!
We love you Kayla!

Old Pics--Karis' first wedding

I have meaning to post these and haven't gotten around to doing it until now. This was a couple months ago, but I really wanted to share these sweet pics of our little girl all dressed up. My good friend, Kali, who lived with us for about 6 or 7 months, got married. I was in the wedding (15th Bridesmaid appearance for me!!!!). Karis was a real trooper for such a long day and it was fun to dance with Daddy and Karis.

Tagged

I was tagged by Kelly and I am going to break the rules. I'll fulfill my tag and not tag anyone else. So, if you read this and you haven't been tagged, go ahead and do it!

Ok, it's 8 things most people don't know about me...

1-My childhood nickname was Lucy Goosey. (My parents still call me Lucy or Goose every once in a while. I don't where it came from.)

2-My top 2 favorite music genres are Country & 80's music. (My husband and I have an ongoing battle where he argues that 80's music has no real instrumental talent because it's all electric. I like it anyway.)

3-I have never been on a foreign mission trip, but I have been to Norway twice to visit my friend. (ok, a lot of you probably knew that one.)

4-I played the piano for 6 years.

5-I played middle school basketball. (Seventh grade-we lost no games, Eighth grade-I don't remember winning one. Oh yeah, in the seventh grade, our whole county was under a measles quarantine so we didn't PLAY any games!)

6-I met 3 friends in the same major on my hall my Freshman year of college who became my roommates for the next 2 years. We still get together 5-6 times a year for every birthday, Christmas, and summer trips with our families.

7-I really love putting puzzles together. I could sit and do that for hours.

8-Born on the first day of Spring in 1976 and my parents coming from the Hippie era, my first name choice was not Stacey, but my name was ALMOST....Spring Hartness!!!
(I have often wondered if that would have changed my personality entirely!)

Pics at the Park

Braggin'

Just a quick brag on my husband...check out this post from his blog. Read his words and hear his heart! I love you, Dee & I love your heart!

From Matt Bradner, in Blacksburg

This is from the Campus Outreach, Virginia Director, Matt Bradner. Stacey and I both went to school together, and served on staff with "Matty B" and a few other staff members of CO-Virginia. Please be in prayer for them:

Blacksburg, Virginia – 4/18/07 – 11:02pm

Supporters, friends and family, (feel free to forward this to anyone you like)

As I sit to try and write you an update on the past 36 hours, I begin to recognize how mentally and emotionally exhausted I am. It seems like there are both an enormous amount of things to say and report…yet at the same time it feels like silence might very well say it best.

First of all I want to sincerely thank all of you for the calls, emails and text messages over the past couple of days. Your encouragement, perspective and counsel have really been of great value to me and my team. God tells us that “two are better than one” and we have definitely experienced that through your help.

Monday’s event is truly as dark and as evil as anything I have known. This is not the way things are supposed to be. Even so, we believe that God can and will take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. We are not thinking that this will happen overnight. Saying that, we appreciate your continued care and concern as we move forward.

I dream of the days ahead when men and women from Virginia Tech will point back to 4.16.07 and not only think about death, but also about how that horrible day was the catalyst that pressed them towards a relationship with Jesus Christ.

In this email, I will try to give you a picture into our day on Monday, the current scene here in Blacksburg, how we as a family and team are doing, and how you can be of continued help to us.

4.16.07

It was a whirlwind. We were in the middle of a staff meeting at our office (at edge of campus) on Monday morning when my VT Campus Director, Doug Rose, began receiving text messages about the shooting in West AJ. We paused the meeting to pray and then all began calling students we are connected to from the West AJ and surrounding dorms to check on their safety. As we were talking to students, we received report of a second shooting. At that point I ended the staff meeting because the sirens and ambulances were blaring constantly down Main Street and the Emergency Response Intercom was notifying everyone of the presence of a gunman and telling everyone to “Remain indoors and stay away from windows.”

The ride from the office to my house takes me even closer to where the shootings took place. I was passed by nearly 15 ambulances with sirens and lights blaring. At this point the report was that there were three people shot and my honest thought was that the Ambulances were called on the scene to help look for a gunman on the loose. Little did I know that they would all be very much needed in the moments that followed.

I arrived at my house to find the coverage well under way on every major news channel. Throughout the morning, the reports got worse and worse.

One of the most shocking moments for us was when the news channels changed the fatality number from one to 22. We were all sure it was an error.

As the news unfolded, including the shooter, the death total ended at 33 with over 15 others wounded.

Our house began to take on the feel of a “rescue mission” throughout the afternoon with our staff and various students showing up. Julia had plenty of food and drinks for everyone who was up for eating.

Perhaps the most memorable thing through the afternoon was the sight of students scanning through “Facebook” (social internet site) and frantically searching to see that there friends were not among the wounded or killed. Due to the amount of cell phone usage, many circuits were jammed for hours which made the internet the main source of contact for students.

As the day went on, it became clear that none of the students killed were deeply involved with us. We do have a few students that we are working with that did lose a close friend or faculty and many of them lost someone from their same dorm.

At about 5pm I received an email from the Dean of Students whom I work with through an organization known as the VT Campus Ministers Association. He requested help at Squires Student Center because they were opening a room up for students to go if they needed to talk. I went over with another of my staff, Andrew Schwartz. It was not to our surprise that there were not many students seeking out counseling. Most students will tend to start within their network of relationships when seeking help. (That is why we believe so strongly in building relationships at a grassroots level.) Nevertheless, we were happy to show our support for the department of Student Services.

Around dinner time, we ordered pizza at the house and everyone agreed to turn off the TV for a little while, which was a great move. We had people over at the house until midnight while other staff spent time on campus with students.

The Scene in Blacksburg

I have never experienced anything like this. Every single major news channel currently calls Blacksburg home. CNN, FOX News, NBC, MSNBC, ABC, CBS…they are all here. It is truly a madhouse. There are news trucks, cameras and reporters everywhere. It is hard to go anywhere without getting a microphone put in your face and a reporter asking you questions about Mondays events.

President Bush and Governor Kaine were on campus yesterday.

I just came from a prayer gathering on the Drill Field (center of campus and yards away from Norris Hall) involving all the various campus ministries. There were literally dozens of camera crews shooting the prayer time. Every time I opened my eyes there was a camera in my face or beneath me at my shoes looking upwards. After our final prayer time (we prayed for four different areas of need) I opened my eyes to see Franklin Graham standing a few feet away. He walked up and asked if he could share a few words to all present.

Police are everywhere. A number of buildings are still yellow taped.

Memorials, flowers, notes and candles dominate the main areas of campus that would be filled with college students playing football, soccer and talking on a beautiful day like today.

The scene is very much surreal. Like a Hollywood movie is being filmed with all the top news personalities in the world. Though we know this is very much real.

We are, and will continue to use our homes as places of refuge where students can remove themselves from the madness of the campus. It seems that our best and clearest conversations with students and each other have occurred around our dinner table or while in the front yard playing with our boys.

Students are beginning to leave town and go home since all classes have been cancelled until Monday. With the swarming presence of the media, I tend to think that it could be a good thing for the students to get away for a few days. I don’t think they realize that the frenzy of reporters will still be waiting for them on Monday morning when things are supposed to be “normal” again.

As for us, we are staying here. We believe that the greatest work lies in the weeks ahead as students return to school and the shock of everything wears off. We want to be here and be ready. We are meeting tomorrow as a staff team to talk about our follow up plan for the rest of the semester and how God might desire to direct us in the coming weeks.

To be honest with you, every Christian ministry that I know of on campus is putting together things to invite people to come to. For the most part, the students that come to those events are students who already know they are interested in God.

We desire that God might use us in the coming days to reach men and women that are interested in dialoguing about Christ, yet for one reason or another won’t go seek out help. How do we do that? We go to them.

Through our current network of relationships we believe that we can reach many students in East and West Ambler Johnston dorm. Please pray for this.

How we are doing:

I think we are doing fairly well. We are all pretty exhausted mentally and emotionally. Our exhaustion isn't necessarily from having tons of intense people contact...a normal week for us actually consists of much more people time. This is due to the fact that after the shootings on Monday, the campus was on lockdown and most of the on campus students and freshman that we are working with took off Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

Our exhaustion is more from the combination of conversations, lack of sleep, the constant news coverage and the ever present environment/reminder of loss and hurt and evil.

We also are aware of how great the need is going to be when the students return for class on Monday and so we are spending good amounts of time thinking/praying for that.

I am trying to give my best to Julia and our boys (Isaiah and Toby) when I am around. Isaiah definitely has felt the event in various ways. We have tried to help him interpret this in a way that would be beneficial for a three year old.

I am really sensitive towards my VT Campus Director, Doug Rose. He has invested deeply in the students at Tech all year long and has had many men in Bible Studies throughout the year that will need much comfort in the days ahead. Please pray for him.

John 16:33 has been a rock for me. In Christ we have peace. In the world we will have trouble. Take heart, He has overcome the world.

How you can help:

• Pray for our daily time with Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 is a good passage to pray through for us. That the comfort we receive from God will be the comfort we pass on to others.
• Pray for our physical rest and comfort. Many of our staff are showing physical signs of stress already.
• Pray for wisdom in the days ahead. God tells us in James if we lack wisdom we are to ask Him for it (1:5). We greatly feel the need for wisdom! Wisdom for when to speak and when to listen. Wisdom for where to extend ourselves for the good of this community.
• Pray our follow up plan for the rest of the semester. We will be seeking to make contact with every person that we have spent time with this year and we are praying that many would come to faith in Christ.
• Pray for continued unity among Christians on campus. Today was a wonderful demonstration of this as we had a joint prayer gathering in the center of Tech’s Drill Field. (John 17:20-21)

Beyond Prayer

• If you feel led, please send an encouraging note to one of my staff below. I know that it would mean a lot to them.

• Doug Rose- drose@campusoutreach.org
• Adriana Pariz- apariz@campusoutreach.org
• Collin Setterberg- csetterberg@campusoutreach.org
• Andrew Schwartz- aschwartz@campusoutreach.org

· Many of you have asked about sending a financial donation. We do anticipate needing some additional funding in the upcoming weeks for providing meals and putting on a few gathering events. Beyond that, our greatest funding needs are more long term in nature as our entire ministry is 100% support funded through churches/individuals/businesses. You can reply back to me if you are interested in hearing more about our long term needs. For immediate donations, all checks can be made payable to Campus Outreach Virginia and sent to the address below.

Thank you for your partnership,

Matt Bradner

Campus Outreach Virginia Director

mbradner@campusoutreach.org

814 Cambridge Road

Blacksburg, Va. 24060

CO Virgina Staff OK

From Dee:
As many of you know, Stacey and I used to be on staff with Campus Outreach Charlotte. Upon hearing about the tragedy at V-Tech this afternoon I called my old area director, Matt Bradner, who heads up CO-Virginia based out of Blacksburg. He said the staff team is ok. Be praying for them and the entire campus as they attempt to bring answers to questions like, "where was God in all of this?"

Stomach virus...yuck!

Yes, our sweet Karis has a stomach virus. This morning, we were met with a yucky mess when I went to get her out of her crib. So, Dee started our first load of laundry today at 7:30am. She took about 3oz of formula, then slept for about 2 1/2 hours immediately after she ate, which is unusual. Other than the mess and the sleeping (and the doctor's visit), she has acted really happy, playing and talking/cooing, and smiling a lot. You would never know she's sick.

And again, my little girl teaches me a lesson. I made the comment to my mom this morning, "She's the happiest sick baby I've seen." Mom reminded me, it's not like babies think, "Oh, I'm sick." They just know when it hurts and when it doesn't. It made me think of how many negative emotions and anxieties I have just from thinking about my situation, whether it's sickness, events of the day, or the most popular one in the Lanier house, lack of $. Karis only frets or cries when she is actually experiencing discomfort, not in the anticipation of it. And you know, my fretting and her lack of it doesn't change the outcome of events. So her sick day is much more enjoyable than mine would be, because she at least plays and is happy in the waning of her symptoms. The only thing that can change the events of my life or my emotions about it is the grace and work of the Lord. So, instead of being anxious or miserable, why not pray? That is the only means that He gives us to change things, not my emotions or thoughts. And then I can rest in HIS wisdom and not my own. I can trust His way instead of me trying to figure out what to do! Then no matter what happens, I can be completely secure and happy in Him!!

Oh the lessons of motherhood!

On Philly

Dee posted a review, if you will, on our experience at church on Easter. If you have 5 mins, take a read here.

DC, Baltimore, Gaithersburg, Philadelphia

These are all the places we have been in the last week. Dee had Spring Break so we decided to take a trip to DC to visit his mom who has just moved into a house there. It's actually in Fort Washington, MD right outside DC. It really was a great trip full of so much encouragement for us. We realized we know more people in that part of the country than we realized. We had lunch with a guy that Dee discipled who now lives in Baltimore. We had dinner in Gaithersburg 2 different nights with the Swans from our church who are at the Pastor's College and the Nelsons who are great friends and mentors of ours who used to live in Atlanta. On Sunday, we drove up to Philly and went to church at Epiphany Fellowship, a plant that the one of the guys from Cross Movement is helping to plant. Duce (The Ambassador) is one of the pastors there along with Eric Mason. Manny (Da' TRUTH), Brady (Phanatik), and Shai Linn also attend there. It was a very worshipful service presented in very different means. We'll have a whole other post just about Philly real soon.
Of course, we had a great time with Grammie Lanier and she just ate up her time with Karis. Karis did SO good considering us dragging her all over the place. She slept great and was really happy pretty much the whole time. Dee's mom has a great house there and she is still getting set up. There's lots of room for us and Karis and the 2 dogs!! Yes, Noah & Buster went also and we left them there for a while. We totally neglect them now that Karis is here and Dee's mom has a great place for them. They have a huge yard to run around in (& escape from!) AND they get to stay inside! They don't get that privilege here. We're going to work on our yard, I mean mud pit, maybe have a garden, then bring them back later. I know, I know, they will mess it all up again. Oh well, we'll give it a shot.
It was really cold there all week, so we didn't visit many sites since most things in DC are outside. We went to the Pentagon, but got there too late to see anything. So, mostly we just ate, visited friends, watched a movie or 2, got in the hot tub at the house in 40 degree weather, and hung out with Grammie! It was a wonderful trip! Here are a few pictures...



This is Karis putting herself to sleep after we had laid her down to play while we got things together to go out. She literally covers her eyes, sucks her thumb and goes to sleep wherever she is.







Karis in the car...again and again and again!


















Karis and Grammie (I mean Chaplain Lanier) at the Pentagon



















Oooooh, it's cold out here!
I'm not sure that's under regulation for uniformed officers!









Easter Sunday























Can we go with you?








Dee's goodbyes to the Boys


















Karis is ready to go home!