Joe and Nivia Torres! When the Military calls, they go~

Hello Friends,

I would like you to meet my friend Nivia Torres. Her and her husband Joe were at our church for three years while being stationed here in Millington. Pictured above is a photo of us at lunch the day before she leaves to go to Joe's next duty station in Virgina.

I meet Joe and Nivia at one of our adopt a blocks. I could tell they were new, the look, the license plates and the look of being in the military. When she walked up to me, I had the strangest look..... we exchanged names, and then I said,.... Do you happen to home school?

Normally that is not one of my first questions. When she said, YES... I jumped up and down.

She must of thought I was weird. I was daring. She still remembers that encounter.

Joe and Nivia are one of those families you DON'T want to move from your hometown.

Great family. Loved their kids and really jelled. For those of you who love to scrap... she is a dire hard scrapper. So besides the church relationship... seeing each other every week... I saw her on a home school level and scrapping! We have had a lot of laughs and really gotten to know them over the past three years. You learn being in a military town... you need to make friends fast. Cause you know in a period of 2-3 years they will be gone.

Both Joe and Nivia are from New York City. I loved their accents. So I learned a lot from that culture of growing up in a 'city' environment. Coming to Millington and living in Atoka, was like going out to the sticks.. where no city lights are, the sides drop off on the edge of the road, no huge skyscrappers..... vastly different than the city.

For those who do live here in Millington or have lived here in Millington or have lived in a military town. You know how valuable your friends are, or your church friends are and who you can connect with for your children. All those elements help make your stay in a town that is very strange to you enjoyable and maybe one day want to come back.

Even though they don't want to come back to Millington-- they are 'coast folks'. They would like to take Lighthouse Fellowship back with them. There are a dozen churches in Virgina, but when you find a loving and involved one... it's hard to let loose and go on.

It was a pleasure to get to know them. We have friends all over the world who have cycled in and out of our church or my home school group who are military. They have different needs and I've learned to adapt with their needs of being a friend.

We will miss you Joe and Nivia, their twin daughters and son.

Liz

Maybe I'll buy some hand cream too!! (NIVEA HAND LOTION) it will help me think of you!