10/15/2026
I sort of waited for today to post these shots from our recent trip to the Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE) Fall Fiesta.
It’s impossible to make this trip without thinking about Morgan.
Some of the last memories we spent together were here — and when I tell everyone about that trip I never fail to end with, “… and she had such a great time.”
She did. I can still hear her telling me all about how much she loved it the next three days after we got back.
And every year we go back, not only do I hear my students repeat the same thing, I selfishly look forward to it because of that first trip.
Because it’s like I get to back and say hi.
I spend those days thinking about her. And I spend all day this day thinking about her, too.
Addison is now the same age she was on that trip. I might have held her a little close to me while we were there. I could tell it hit her, too.
For those of use that knew and loved our Pinky Leigh, that sad feeling is absolutely still there when this day rolls around. Those feelings are still fresh.
But, I also know that times of darkness must also come so that you can appreciate life in the light.
The smiles on my students faces are all evident in these photos. But knowing we were there to learn and grow and enjoy the trip I know she enjoyed — I promise you, the smile in my heart was 100-times bigger.
For those who wish to help give to the Morgan L. Christian PNG Band Memorial Scholarship or the Morgan L. Christian PNG NDN Press Memorial Scholarship, here is the link to do so, provided by the Foundation for Southeast Texas.
➡️ https://www.fsetx.org
When you get to the page, click on GIVE BACK and you’ll hit a page where you can select those scholarships.
We were all blessed to have Morgan as part of our lives. And I count those blessings daily, in all the God winks and ways that I’m reminded of her.
She’s the reason that I work and teach, every day, the value of capturing life.
