Inside the Spin-Mosaic Studio

 

The following is a change from this Blog's usual content with the intention of providing a variation of a story, slideshow and guestbook for my daughter, Morgan's Bridal Shower in a sweet little vintage chapel that does not have slideshow capabilities.

 

If you are a regular follower, enjoy a cup of coffee and an inside view from the heart of 2 mothers. For those who have arrived on this page for the Shower, follow along and enjoy some pictures to go along with our voices! Be sure to leave your name and a hello to Morgan & Jaylen, comments or well-wishes in the Comment fields at the end as a Guestbook variation.

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Welcome to Morgan's Bridal Shower! We love you and are grateful for your presence today!

Amy & I have had fun putting this small collection of memories together for you.

 

A picture is worth 1,000 words, right? Feel free to follow along with us as we share a few stories. We don't exactly have a picture to parallel each story, but just roll with it, okay!

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CHRISTI: If we go back in time 22 or 24 years, this puts us back into the season of young mothering, rocking babies to sleep, telling bedtime stories, making peanut-butter sandwiches, watching first steps…

 

Amy and I have this era in common. We watched Morgan and Jaylen grow up.

 

As God ordained, we each had the front row bleacher seat of the 1st days of Morgan and Jaylen’s existence on this earth. 

 

Here are a few details we thought we would share with you today so that you can envision how it was once…as we all celebrate their future together. 

 

As we share, of course, think of Morgan and Jaylen, but please free to connect in your own way as well. 

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Morgan and Jaylen have many things in common. They both have their birth-order placement as the 2nd child in the family...in common! They both have sisters who were just a couple years older when we each found out…another baby was on the way.

 

Morgan also had a sister who could not wait to have a real baby to hold and play with!

 

 

She was inspired to enter this world on a Sunday after lunch at Bob Evans. 

 

AMY: Jaylen entered this world on a Monday. His arrival was planned as my actual due date was on Thanksgiving day that year. The ultrasound had predicted his birth weight to be 10-11 pounds. 

 

We all know these scans can be off a pound in either direction; but, my dr didn’t want to risk potentially that big of a baby being born on a holiday when there is low staff. 

 

So, I checked in at the hospital on Monday morning at 7 AM. on Nov 20th. He was born at 4:49PM and was 8lbs 11oz.

 

CHRISTI: Morgan was the tiniest of my four babies at 5 lb. 13 oz.

 

 

None of the cute booties or socks I brought to the hospital fit her extra tiny feet, so my mom ran to the store and found her tiny pink doll shoes. They fit!

 

She had TONS of black hair 3 and 4 inches long. She looked like a tiny, dark dandelion puff. At the time, Daddy’s hair was black (now it’s silver), so she looked like Daddy’s little girl.

 

 

She was almost delivered by ME in the elevator. An intern dr. from the ER sprinted down the hallway to deliver her. True to Morgan’s temperament today, when she makes up her mind about something, “Lets GO! Let’s do this!”

 

She was the snuggliest baby imaginable. Even until she was 3 years old, so long as she had her little head tucked under my neck and I held her close, she was fine. If she could not see me in the room…she was…not fine. (I’m right here, honey!)

 

 

AMY: When Jaylen was born…he was a very snuggly baby as well. In fact, I spent the first 3 days sleeping with him on my chest in my recliner. I could not put him down. He would cry and was inconsolable any time that I was not holding & cuddling  him. I actually called the hospital and told them that something was wrong with my baby! That I couldn’t put him down. 

 

So, on that 4TH night, I was instructed to put him in his crib and just let him cry it out all night. I did it, but I sat on the floor outside his room and quietly cried right along with him. 

 

It was horrible, BUT, from that moment on he was the best sleeper. I laid him down awake, no rocking for him, and he would put himself to sleep!

 

 

Sweet little guy!

 

 

CHRISTI: The toddler years were extra special. Morgan did not need to talk for a very long time because her older sister was able to read her mind and said everything for her. 

 

Her favorite doll wore pink jammies with a bib that I had sewed a laminated picture of my face onto so she could see me whenever she wanted while I was at work. 

 

She stayed with a wonderful Amish family while I taught at the high school.

 

 

One day, they put her in a little Amish dress and bonnet to attend a wedding so she would not stand out. They said she was better behaved than any of the “real” Amish children there! That’s my girl.

 

Morgan had big greenish-brown eyes from which she watched the world through the young heart of a poet…or artist…or musician, I thought…and I wasn’t wrong. 

 

Her favorite activities were coloring, story time, dressing up in princess dresses, putting on her tiny apron and doing laundry with mama. *Laundry is no longer her favorite activity. She got over that.

 

 

Strangers would comment how cute she was with her “palm tree” ponytails. Everyone called them little palm trees…except our Amish friends–they were not so familiar with palm trees. They called them llama-ears.

 

I would often pick her up after school to find that the Amish girls had french braided her few inches of hair. What 2-year old sits still long enough for anyone to weave tiny french braids–my girl, that’s who. She was so calm.

 

AMY: The toddler years were extra special: Jaylen was very much a little man. 

 

 

He loved taking care of me and helping with chores and yard work. He would follow me around the yard when I mowed with his bubble mower. He used his battery powered John Deere ride-on tractor to pick up twigs & leaves in the yard when I was trimming. 

 

 

Papa had made him a trailer to pull behind his tractor and he loved it. He also used to love salon-time with me. He loved putting makeup on me and he would do my hair using as many hair clips that he could make fit! 

 

We also used to enjoy little field trips together while Ashley was in school. We would go to the library, the Thomas Store (Hallmark store), slide park and fountain park.

 

 

He loved McDonald’s “SiSi’s” (french fries) and chicken nuggets. Age 4 was also the first time that I ever took him to Disney. His love of the parks and travel was born!!

 

CHRISTI: Next thing I knew, Morgan’s 1st day of Kindergarten was here at Harrison Elementary. She wore red and ribbons. That’s the only part I remember. I was a blur of tears. Even back then, she had a preference for not leaving the house without something pretty in her hair: barrett, headband, colorful clippies, ribbons.

 

By this time, she also had a little brother buckled into his carseat when we did parent-pickup. She told me Jesus told her she was going to have a baby brother before Dad and I had told anyone we were even expecting. 

 

 

Miracles have always seemed just around the corner when Morgan’s faith is present.

 

AMY: I remember Jaylen’s 1st days of school as fairly uneventful. I don’t remember what he wore. It was probably a little polo shirt with every button buttoned up to the collar!

 

 

He was like a little man and ready to go. So brave. No tears. He rode the school bus with his little Bob the Builder lunch box in hand! It was so cute!  

 

CHRISTI: As elementary school years moved forward, Morgan’s interests in reading, volleyball, friendships and leadership became evident. I remember her coming home in the 6th grade to tell me she had the job of Student Council Historian. 

 

I had no idea what that meant and secretly wondered if it was a made-up job because, as a teacher myself, sometimes teachers do things like that to include students who tend to be peacemakers. She was well-loved and stood out for her kindness, calmness and wisdom.

 

I still don’t know what a “historian” means for 6th grade student council, but she was really proud of it and took it seriously…a precursor to her sense of responsibility that would someday enable her to finish high school a year early and start her own photography business at age 15.

 

AMY: As elementary school years moved forward…Jaylen’s interest in sports was born at the same time his intense dislike for reading surfaced! I didn’t think we would survive the learning-to-read years, BUT… here we are! 

 

Jaylen was always everybody’s friend and subsequently liked by all. Also, side note…regardless of his disregard for reading, he did manage to complete all 6 yrs of elementary school earning straight A’s in every class the entire time! 

 

 

He also participated in a program called EdCom. It’s hard to describe, but groups of students would research topics. They would then put together presentations complete with speeches & slide shows for large audiences. Jaylen was always a big part of his group doing the narrating, running the projector, and giving speeches. It was a lot of responsibility and a big deal. We always asked him if he was nervous about handling it all. He never was. We were always so proud of him!

 

CHRISTI: There are certain moments as we watch our children respond to childhood that give mothers a view of our children’s depth of heart and uniqueness. One of those moments was the last day of 6th grade, saying goodbye to her friends knowing everything would be “different-ever-after” come junior high. 

 

I was standing at the door of our front porch waiting for the screech of the bus breaks the last time Morgan ever stepped off a bright yellow school bus. For some reason, I have always been one of those moms who keep track of “lasts”... 

 

She stepped off the bus and stayed standing at the other side of the road with her backpack loaded. She didn’t move a muscle. Her whole little self shook with sobs so hard that she couldn’t walk. She dropped her backpack and everything in her hands and I could see her legs almost buckle beneath her as the gravity of the finality of her elementary years took hold of her heart. She has always been been one to feel deeply..

 

I knew then, as if I did'nt know already, God made her heart to care deeply, to understand deeply and to realize the weight of inevitable change. Yet, over the years, I have not witnessed her heart become raw or callous because she feels deeply, instead, she embraces friendships and reaches into the future all the stronger.

 

AMY: There are certain moments as we watch our children respond to childhood that give mothers a view of our children’s depth of heart and uniqueness...One of those moments was watching Jaylen befriend a new student at school in the 6th grade. Max, as he was called, was a young man that was brought over to the US from an orphanage in Haiti. He was street smart, as he had been on his own most of his life on the streets of Haiti before the orphanage took him in. 

 

 

Because of these life skills, his American family soon placed him in the school system, even though he knew little English and had never had a formal education. Well, enter Jaylen! He took Max under his wing and helped him adjust to this new environment. Max adored him! In fact, throughout 6th grade he insisted that he be called Jaylen! It was so funny! 

 

Jaylen was one of the first English words he learned. They remained good friends throughout middle school and only grew apart in high school as Jaylen became busy with school work, basketball, and soccer. They will always have a special place in each other’s hearts though.

 

CHRISTI: Next thing I knew, high school years were upon us.

 

 

Volleyball, basketball, cheerleading. She set herself apart as helpful, kind and diligent. I taught Art at the school she attended, so I had a pretty good view. 

 

 

She had a good head on her shoulders and didn’t seem to get tangled up in drama like many her age. I loved seeing her love of music and worship grow as she chose friends who inspired and helped her grow in character.

 

 

Her eyes would light up at “experiences”. I remember her coming back from a church retreat glowing about a long extended worship time. 

 

I remember her telling me about the 1st time she met with friends to paint en-plein-aire on canvases outside in the sun and wind–something that I, myself, had never done.

 

Once, we had free tickets to a baseball game …in the winter. Though it was insanely cold, she was “all in” for the experience. We froze that night and finally left our bleacher seats to huddle, cuddle and sit between the drinking fountain and the brick wall looking homeless because it was one place out of the wind. We were just that cold. Morgan made it fun.

 

 

AMY: Next thing I knew, high school years were upon us and they were very busy. Jaylen played travel soccer, travel basketball, played high school basketball and soccer, and also worked as a pharmacy tech at the Pill Box.

 

 

He also spent two Summers as a camp counselor for WCC’s Camp with an Impact. Here, he was responsible for mentoring 6th grade boys and leading them to follow Christ. The boys loved him! We were always amazed at his time management and that he could be successful in all that he did. That’s Jaylen though. Once he commits to something, he gives it 100% effort. 

 

Everybody loved him and always wanted him around. He was nominated to the prom court and homecoming court during both his junior and senior years. He got to ride on the back of a car in  the parade through town on those occasions. It was just a very fun time. He was also the recipient of the character award for Tiger Basketball. He was just a very loved and respected person. On more than one occasion, we would be in town and notice people pointing and whispering that there is Jaylen Reese!! Haha! Oh Jaylen!

 

 

CHRISTI: By the end of high school, Morgan had established herself as a photographer.

 

 

Her grad open house featured prints of her own photos and she was well on her way.

 

 

Though she had options, covid made living at home and attending Grace college the best option. 

 

I was secretly happy I didn’t have to say goodbye. Sharing an upstairs bathroom with her brothers for a few more years took all the patience she had in her. 

 

AMY: By the end of high school, Jaylen had committed to Grace College. He committed to a school earlier than his friends because the basketball coaches came calling. There were moments that he second guessed this decision as one by one he watched his friends commit to the bigger schools like Purdue & IU. 

 

 

There were lots of self reflection and prayers going up as he reconciled his heart with his choice. He knew that he was not built for big campus life. He wanted to keep himself Christ-focused and away from the party scene. This proved to be the best decision of his life. 

 

Being a part of Grace basketball and the Grace community was the biggest blessing to him. He has made lifelong friendships and ultimately found his way to his future wife, the amazing Morgan Ziebarth!

 

 

CHRISTI: The 1st time I met Jaylen, Morgan had brought a group of students home from Grace to make gingerbread houses. Jaylen was among them. I tried to stay out of the way while providing snacks–like most good moms do. I remember he made eye contact and said thank you to me. 

 

By the end of the evening I had noticed how fun-loving this one guy was. I literally thought to myself, “I hope Morgan ends up with somebody like that.” 

 

Turns out, this was a pretty prophetic notion. When they became interested in each other a couple years later, I…remembered the “gingerbread boy” and I…was not disappointed. 

 

 

AMY: The 1st time I met Morgan was by natural happenstance at a local nail salon. I had no idea who she was and struck up a conversation regarding the nail polish. We chatted effortlessly and enjoyed a natural connection. I commented to my friend Julie, who was there with me, that this girl was very friendly, polite, and pretty. We decided Jaylen should try to meet this girl, so we began frantically texting him about this mystery girl at the nail salon!  

 

He ended up realizing that we were talking about his friend, Morgan. She had already shared with him that she would be there at that time. So, then conversation turned to WHY ARE YOU NOT DATING THIS GIRL?!! 

 

I was not aware that they had already been friends for awhile, but I became her biggest fan advocating that they should date! I was thrilled when I first learned that he was indeed taking her out! The rest is history!

 

 

CHRISTI: They make the CUTEST couple. I have been so impressed with Jaylen’s intentionality, his attentiveness and a certain quality about him I have only recently been able to articulate with the 2-word phrase, “endearing positivity”. 

 

I have noticed how he surprises her with not just flowers, notes, chocolates or jewelry, but flowers of certain special kinds in selected colors and vases, notes with scripture verses, chosen words of affirmation or timely encouragement that speaks into the need of the moment, chocolate or special treats that are her favorite or hard to find, and recently, jewelry that will be worn on a certain finger with a very universally-recognized commitment attached custom-designed with artistry and meaning behind it.

 

AMY: As their relationship has grown, I have also always been impressed with Morgan’s intentionality. I love that she waited in life to find her person. I love her pure heart and the way that she loves Jaylen. She loves with her whole heart and loves to make people feel special and uplifted.  I have always said that this is the girl that my son will either marry or will break his heart. 

 

I am beyond thrilled that she turned out to be the one that he will marry! He shared with me just this week that being with her makes him the happiest that he has ever been in his entire life! That makes my momma heart beyond happy! This is all I have ever wanted for my son. I truly believe that being together is a gift breathed by God and I AM HERE FOR IT!  

 

CHRISTI: This shower marks that we are moving very close to wedding season. What better time than the spring: a time of new beginnings. If I were to give 3 words of advice to the new couple, it would be:

1. Clean your own toothpaste out of the sink

2. Believe that the best is yet to come

3. Listen to your mother (mother’s plural)

AMY:

1. Keep God present

2. Love unconditionally

3. Practice grace & forgiveness

CHRISTI: As they say, “I am not losing a daughter, I am gaining a son”.

 

 

Morgan’s father and I...

 

 

(goofing around at her high school graduation photo session) ...are delighted to share our daughter with the Reese family and we look forward to having a front row-seat to their new lives together.

 

By the way, this is what I looked like back when I married that guy pretending a flower is a microphone in the dress Morgan is wearing today.

 

 

Here's another view of the artistic transformation.

 

 

AMY:  As they say, “I am not losing a son, I am gaining a daughter”... We are excited to see all that Jaylen & Morgan accomplish and experience together as husband and wife! I am thrilled to welcome Morgan into our family as our daughter and our friend. Can’t wait to make memories together! 

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YOUR TURN! This is our virtual GUESTBOOK for the shower: How do you know Morgan or Jaylen? What is one of your favorite memories with them? Would you like to leave the Bride or Group a note? A favorite verse to share? Well-wishes? Advice for their future? Anything goes...

 

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Thanks SO much for joining us today!