December 2015
To Our Dear Family and Friends,
What a difference a year makes. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I’d be writing this letter from Nick’s tattered old bachelor pad couch situated in graduate school family housing at Stanford University. And yet here we both are. I have been once again reminded that God’s plans are so much bigger than our own (and that this couch is harder to shake than a bad cold.) He has led us on a wild ride in 2015- one that began before the ink had fully dried on last year’s Christmas cards…
After a conversation about his military career, Nick began researching and soul-searching what his next step might be. He determined that grad school was the way he’d be most comfortable transitioning to the private sector, so he completed a few applications to a couple of highly regarded universities last fall. We decided that if those doors were opened to us then it would be a sign what our next step should be. Low-and-behold, last December, Nick was admitted to both. An achievement neither of us really thought would happen. The first few months of 2015 were met with deeper soul-searching and ultimately Nick’s acceptance of Stanford’s offer of admission into their one-year Executive Business program (MsX). After the decision was made, we were swept into an overwhelming vortex of multiple unexpected (and extended) work trips and deployments, finishing Nick’s company command, out processing from the Army, preparing for and selling our beloved home (which we did, and blessedly closed two weeks before Nick’s final pay check,) and made a 5 day cross-country expedition with a grossly over-weight moving truck with car trailer and a jam-packed minivan, 4 kids, 2 dogs and 3 road weary adults. We arrived, safely, into the open arms of each and every one of our family members.
The kids have done an incredible job making this transition; I am in awe of their bravery and flexibility. Emmy, our compassionate leader and innovative artist is coming into her own. She began Kindergarten this fall and spends her down time learning to read, creating new artwork on an hourly basis, and riding her bike around until the last glimmer of daylight with her girlfriends who hail from all over the world. Emmy’s straddling a line of being too cool to have Mama and her three little siblings escort her to her classroom, and waking up early for a private chat with our Elf on the Shelf, Henry.
Hannah, our intensely dramatic and pensive “middle” child, is in the throes of three-nager-dom. She helped to pass the time driving to California by singing her rendition of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” with a special emphasis on the lyrics “Take back my life song!” She is passionate about both her fashion and personal security, and sleeps with all of her favorite clothes neatly folded under her pillow and loads them into her backpack or a spare plastic bag to tote around in her wakeful hours. Her new favorite movie is “Inside Out” and claims she identifies with the character “Disgust,” which, from my position, is a pretty accurate assessment.
Julia, our considerate helper and loving caretaker, keeps us all in line. She’s figured out how to fly under the radar and most prefers to play independently, and yet, her siblings all fight to be near her. She loves to wake Daddy up, cook like Mommy, color like Emmy, dress-up like Hannah and dote on James. She’s the first to mop up spills, grab an ice pack for boo-boos and provide diapers and wipes when James needs a change. She can be found on the playground sitting in a plastic chair bottle-feeding her baby doll or preparing a meal in the playhouse with her sand toys. We can’t imagine what the family would look like without our dainty little Juju…
…Nor can we imagine what life would be like with two Jameses. James, our enthusiastic, happy-go-lucky, bulldozer of a son, keeps us both laughing and anxiety-ridden from the moment he wakes until he goes to sleep. He derives great joy from “acquiring” other people’s toys, dismantling art projects, scaling fences, devouring food (both his and everyone else’s) and running with reckless abandon. But he’s also a gentle Mama’s boy whose quick to offer a hug, an apology, and innocently asks for me to “’nuggle Bubby?” before he goes to sleep at night. A request that is impossible for me to deny.
Nick is working long hours to make the grade, network and absorb every experience made available to him this year. We are getting closer to his next job, with a few offers on the table, and, while he misses the military terribly, he’s getting more excited for what’s to come.
I had to write a bio for myself for the “partners” group associated with Nick’s program. I got a good chuckle comparing my day-to-day with the example person’s impressive resume. I find my accomplishment in weathering totally un-solvable conflict between completely irrational toddlers (extra points for public outbursts,) procuring ingredients for and preparing reasonably healthy meals, keeping our 900 square foot graduate student apartment non-condemnable (which is an impossible task,) and generally making sure everyone has their needs met. It’s a dirty job but I feel lucky to be the one to do it. Aside from the mundane, I am cherishing this time spent near our families, and wringing out every drop of goodness that comes with that. And praising God for bringing my Nick home to us each night, the magnitude of that blessing is unquantifiable and one that I will never take for granted.
We have experienced some heartache lately, however. Our precious pup Darla passed away earlier this week after a hit and run car accident. Thankfully, she spent the last hours of her life embraced in the same love she knew for her vibrant 8 years, but we are all grieving her deeply. Our Molly is getting by so much better than we all expected at my parents’ house, but we are counting down the days until we can all live under one pet-friendly roof again. We’re leaning on faith to guide us to our next step, no doubt it will be right where we are meant to be, just as has been proven time and again.
We wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a bright and joyful 2016!
With Love and Blessings,
Nick, Ali, Emmy, Hannah, James, Julia and Molly Horn
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