Merry Christmas 2009!

For unto you a child is born, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. ~Luke 2:11

I am so thankful for a Savior who loves me just as I am. Christmastime reminds me to look at all of the things I have been blessed with. Though the times we walk through on earth are often hard, we have so much to be thankful for. This year I thank my loving Heavenly Father for a husband who made it home safely after six long months on deployment, a healthy and precious baby girl, an energetic three year old who fully embraces the adventures of life, and a strong and motivated four year old who is always seeking new challenges. I could keep going with a long list of all the ways God has shown our family His love this year.
We are still enjoying life in sunny California. Though we tried hard to get orders back to the east coast, it looks like God has plans for us in Coronado. This has been a hard thing for us to wrap our arms around, but we know that God is in control and we have decided that we will be happy here. If we have to be far from home, this is the place to be!Andy and Zach are both strong and healthy. They are riding their bikes without training wheels and racing all over the island. Two days a week they attend the preschool at our church and have made some sweet friends. They really enjoy the freedom of being outside all the time!
Ellie Kate is growing fast! She has transitioned right into our crazy life. She is an easy baby and sleeps in the midst of all the noise around her. We are still working on her nap schedule, but that will take time. It's hard to be on a schedule when we are constantly on the go with the boys. She is such a blessing to us.
Matt arrived home in July and was thrown back into our busy life with kids! He deployed with his squadron on an aircraft carrier. He was able to continue flying and get some needed qualifications to advance in his career, he even had the opportunity to drive the ship! They spent their deployment in the Far East. Matt enjoyed getting to see a different part of the world than what he had experienced during deployments originating on the east coast. If everything goes as we have been told, he will report to HSM-77, a new MH-60R squadron, as a Department Head. He should be deploying again next fall. We are just thankful to have him home with us right now!
I haven't been doing much outside of taking care of my husband, kids, and home. The boys and I spent three months on the east coast while Matt was at sea. It was fun to have an opportunity to spend lots of time with our extended family. I really needed the help while being pregnant and trying to keep up with my energetic little guys! I am in a Bible Study with some of my best friends. It has been such a blessing to walk through motherhood with these sweet ladies. I am busy and constantly behind, but I am loving this stage of life. This is what I have dreamed of every since I was a little girl!
Thanks for taking time to check out our update. We try to add new pictures at least once a month. Our prayer is that your family will have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a BLESSED NEW YEAR!
With Love, The Loesch Family

TRUST... Life is good in Coronado!

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9

I have been doing a lot of soul searching lately. For those of you who don't know, we have been given spoken orders to stay in Coronado for another three years or so. If you are not familiar with Navy life, spoken orders mean that we will most likely be staying here, but it is not definite until we have written orders, and even then things could change. Sounds like a fun way to live doesn't it?

If you know me very well, you know that I am a planner and I have a hard time living with the lack of plans the Navy seems to offer. You also know that my heart is constantly yearning to be back on the east coast. I have loved our time in Coronado, but have felt a sense of sadness being so far from our families. We really thought that we would be moving back to Jacksonville this fall.

When Matt got the department head slate showing that we were slated for Coronado, our hearts dropped. Matt and I both went through days of questioning, feeling depressed, working with people to get it changed, and asking everyone for prayers that it would be changed, but God seems to have a different plan for us. That's where the TRUST comes in. This is where I am asked to fully rely on my Heavenly Father to supply all of my needs. This is where I am forced to TRUST that His ways are better than mine. This is where I am TRUSTING that God is keeping us in Coronado for a very special reason.

I thought I had found peace in all of this, but I am still struggling. I have had a pretty negative attitude about California and have really had to pray that God would change my heart. I started feeling very convicted about my attitude and was reminded that by complaining about life on the west coast, I was complaining about what God has chosen for me. I have been blessed far beyond anything I could have asked for or even imagined and I am complaining about having to live in "paradise"!

I can't really explain how I feel, but its something in my gut that tells me that this just doesn't feel right. I am praying that God will help me to get over this feeling and look at all of the reasons why I do absolutely love life in Coronado! We have a wonderful church family. I am part of a very special woman's Bible Study. These women are some of my very best friends. The boys are in a wonderful school. We have a fabulous beach lifestyle, not to mention the amazing weather. We have a cute little house in a wonderful location. I could go on and on, but I just miss my family!

As I said before, I know that God is keeping us here for a very special reason and something tells me it has to do with some relationships that God has given us with some friends. We are praying that he will use us to accomplish His will no matter what that looks like. Or, maybe He is just teaching me to TRUST that His ways are always better than mine! You would think that I would have learned that by now! I never would have chosen this crazy Navy life, but this is what God chose for me and it has been good. He continues to teach me so much and bless us more each day.

So, there you have it. I am growing and struggling and learning, but most importantly I am TRUSTING!!! Life truly is good in Coronado! If you don't believe me, come out for a visit!

Look Who Is Three Months Old Today!

Look at that big smile! Ellie Kate was in such a sweet little mood while I was taking pictures this morning.

She has just learned that she can grab her dress or doll or whatever is near and put it in her mouth. This makes it a little harder to keep her clothes dry and to try to take pictures!

We are having such a good time with this little girl. She is still sleeping well at night and her naps are starting to become more regular. She is cooing at us more and more, especially when we are reading books. She loves when anyone talks to her. She is already very social. Tummy time only lasts for a few minutes with her, because she pushes up on her arms and rolls over or lays her head down and sucks on her hand. Her favorite spot is in her Bubmbo chair, where she sits up and watches her brothers. She has been staying up for longer periods of time between naps, so we have all enjoyed having more time to play with her. Looking cozy after her bath. One of my friends made her this sweet hooded towel.