Harmon's Haven

Meet amazing dad Robbie, mother-in-training Jesika, 7 year old best big sister Bree, 5 year old boy in every way Gabe, 3 year old who thinks he's 10 years old who makes us all laugh McKay,
and 9 month old sweetest Quinn Marie...the Harmon Family!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

For Chris and Lisa!!

This past weekend some girlfriends and I ran a Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Race for the Cure 5K. As I was running I started thinking about cancer. It hit me in such an unusual way that there is no cure! NO CURE! I knew that obviously, but I'd never given it that much thought I guess. For so many other illnesses there are medicines, procedures, and recommendations for changes in lifestyle, that can cure you. But for cancer there isn't! As I was running I almost started crying. I wanted so badly for there to be a cure. I felt so helpless just running down a beautiful North Carolina street with thousands of others who had signs on their backs with things such as, "In memory of our mother...", "In honor of our friend..." It made me want to tell everyone about the Savior's love and his sacrifice that would bring them comfort, peace, and even reunite them with the one they lost. Though it doesn't make up for there not being a cure, it gives meaning and purpose to the suffering many experience. Oh that everyone knew this!!

We did have so much fun. There were TONS of people. The girls I ran this with are just awesome! Ceri, Ali and Kristen are the kind of friends you want to surround yourself with...happy, bright, and so much fun! Oh it was SO HOT...I was drenched in sweat the entire time :) Gotta love the good ol' North Carolina humidity! And it was so fun to have Robbie bring the kids there to see us at the finish line! I love when Robbie is Mr. Mom for a while :) He's so good at it. But it is always eventful (well, when is life with children not eventful really?)! Once we finished I ran to grab some stuff and Robbie went to hang out in the shade and feed Gabe. He called me only a couple minutes after we separated and said Bree had had to go to the bathroom while he was feeding Gabe but the port-a-potties were clear across the way...and they didn't make it. As you can tell in the picture Robbie forgot to grab the bag with extra underwear :) There were lots of fun sponsors, like Yoplait, so it was fun sampling some goodies afterwards! There was a band playing and Bree stopped to dance while she ate her yogurt and this lady noticed and just thought it was the cutest thing. She stood there by Bree for the longest time just dancing like Bree was and imitating her eating yogurt. It was kind of funny! And Bree acted like she didn't really notice! And as we were walking to the shuttle back to our car we looked down and Bree had been "sharing" her water with Gabe. "Look mom he likes it!" she said. He couldn't actually suck out of the cup, but he was loving chewing it!
It was a wonderful event. And while I hope to support it in the years to come, it inspired me to be better at sharing my knowledge and testimony of the Savior with those around me! Because ultimately that will bless them more than a cure ever could!
I included the website so that you can find a Race for the Cure near you! http://ww5.komen.org/

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Together Forever!

Where to begin!! We have had quite the past couple of months in the Harmon family.


Tonight Bree, Gabe and I were eating dinner (well, Gabe was technically pulling the place-mat and sucking on a toy) and Bree looked at me and said, "Mommy, I love you." I looked at her and said, "Wow. Thank you so much Bree! I love you too!" That was the first time she had ever really said that. Whenever Robbie or I say it to her she just nods her head and says "Uh-hu". Then a little bit later I said, "Bree I sure love you." She said, "Thank you so much mom!" and then she said, "I'm going to tell my daddy that tonight when I see him." It was like you could see her thinking about it in her head, like she really knew what it meant. I LOVE seeing my children discover things for themselves. I think that is probably how our Father in Heaven feels when we figure something out, or even learn from a mistake. I've been doing a lot of learning lately...How can you not with two children :) But the only sad thing about her comment was that her daddy is out of town! That has been our last four out of five weeks...without daddy!! It's been awful...much harder than I thought to be honest. BUT, we were all able to make some great memories, even though they would have been better if we were together!! First, my amazing husband was in Nairobi, Kenya for three weeks in May. He was chosen to go with four other students from the Business school here at UNC to redesign a business training curriculum for a micro-credit organization (in other words helping those who teach the people from the slums how to start successful businesses once they get micro-credit loans, teach better...so helping the teachers be more effective). It was really successful and he did amazing work, it was just TOO LONG to be apart!! AND the hardest part was that we could hardly communicate either. He didn't have much internet access, and when he did skype wouldn't even work very well. But he was good to post up pictures so we could see what was going on. I would look through them with Bree every time we saw new ones and it was so cute, one day she saw this picture and then this one of the three boys after, and she said, "Those boys are smiling because they're with my daddy!" It was the sweetest. She really missed him and was SO excited when we finally reunited! And this third picture is my favorite...yes, that is Robbie dancing in the middle of the group :) He had a good experience but the poor guy worked so hard, but only slept and ate little.
(I think cause he missed us so badly!)

While he was in Africa the kids and I went out to Utah. Yes, me flying with two kids. Fun. Well, maybe a more accurate description is, survival. Actually the whole trip I just felt like I was in survival mode. Don't get me wrong, it was so fun being with our families, but I think that having the kids away from home, off their schedules, without their daddy, was a little too much for me. And really I was just crazy being without Robbie. Honestly it was like my brain didn't work! Half of me was missing and it was awful. But I saw more clearly than ever before how perfect God's plan is. A father, mother, children, all learning and growing and helping together...it just works better than anything else and is the best way to live life! I just LOVE my life with Robbie Harmon! I thought that so many times while we were apart. Yes we were having fun with our families, but I just LOVE being with our little family more than anything else! And the fun just wasn't complete without Robbie there. Our reunion was so sweet in the Raleigh/Durham Airport! As I hugged my wonderful husband I couldn't help but hit him too...Don't you ever do that to me again!
Here are a few of the fun things we did in Utah: Gabe got to meet everyone! Grandpa Mark had been waiting for four months! And Gabe loved him right away! Our favorite thing: The ranch!! It was a little bittersweet being there because it's Robbie favorite place in the whole world...but we tried to enjoy it for him. This was Bree's first time on Buddy. And Gabe's too :) Bree loved "super dog" from Uncle Tanner (also known as under dog) and loved petting her first goat. I got to see my dear friend and mission companion Lauren Starr, and her husband Shane and daughter Lydia. She is just SO amazing and taught me everything about being the best missionary! I STILL want to be just like her! Bree also loved mowing the lawns with Grandpa Lon, doing dress ups with Aunt Sarah (don't be embarrassed by this picture Sarah :) And meeting soon-to-be Aunt Rachel! (We can't wait to have her in the family - Good job Mike!! AND, if any of you St. George girls think she looks like someone you know...she is Melissa Petersen's cousin! Their dads are twins too!)
And Gabe was just pretty much smiles the whole time :)





















Oh and I have to include a picture of the Mother's Day breakfast we made...I tried them out on Robbie before he left and got good reviews... though nothing could do justice for my amazing mother who deserves the best of everything!
And now Robbie has been in Minnesota on business for the week...he was supposed to be home already, but his plane was delayed twice out of Atlanta :( And I don't want to go to sleep one more night without him! With him being gone so much Bree is getting confused I think...her prayers for the past week have been, "And please bless my daddy in Minnesota, and Africa, and Kenya..." Poor thing. He'll be home soon Bree!! I can't wait!