A Month of Thankfulness

Happy Saturday!! 
Right now I’m thankful for a full, fun day with friends.  We drove a few hours southwest to watch the NC State/Clemson football game.  And although it didn’t turn out like we wanted it to, I’m so glad we went.  It was a gorgeous day, not as cold as we thought it would be.  The kids were well-behaved!  And we got to see an old friend and his daughters and catch up a bit.  On top of all that, we got to spend some long overdue quality time with Chad and Faith, who are always a blast.
So to sum up:  thankful for my family, my friends, a fun day. 
Not so thankful for the Wolfpack.  Or that I didn’t take any pictures.
OH! And thankful for an extra hour of SLEEP!!!!!

Christmas Fun

Blogging and I have been on the outs this last year as I'm sure you've noticed.  I haven't really taken the time to analyze what's up with that except to say this year has been a year of change for us and sometimes I just didn't want to/know how to share all of that. 

We've had a great year, don't get me wrong.  But a lot of change.  Some of it has been indescribably beautiful.  Some has caused pain.  But it has all been a Holy Spirit-led ride that we don't want to get off!

So.  All that to say I haven't been blogging.  (duh)  But Christmas with family, friends, snow, and sickness has given me some blog material!  Here goes.

We traveled to both sets of parents's again this year.  Makes for lots of packing and unpacking and figuring out sleeping arrangements but I really wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Asheville still had a ton of snow and we were all excited to get to play! 

                       

                       

My silly husband in Becca's Snuggie

                        

                      

This is the only pic I got of our nephew R (with sis-in-law L).  He's seriously the happiest baby. 

                      

Granddaddy reading to the kids (Hayes and Cousin N)

                      

We went to my parents' house Christmas Eve night because we were nervous about an ice storm coming that night messing up travel plans for the next morning. 

Christmas morning

It was a Star Wars themed Christmas for Hayes.

He woke up feeling bad that morning and this was him by mid-afternoon.  He wouldn't look at me for the picture.

Perked up a little to open more presents. See the theme?

Playing in the new tent.  See the rosy cheeks?

Nephew T in his new chair.  I forgot how difficult it is to get a 1 yr old to look at the camera.

See?  Even the dogs were looking!

Annual get-together with my best friends from childhood.  THIS photo shoot was an ordeal.  All 3 husbands were taking pics and Ashleigh has this problem with closing her eyes when you take a picture.  AND we were late for a family party so we were in a hurry.  You should see the outtakes.

Ok, I'll show you some.

 

Finally Daniel was just snapping pics.

All the kids, minus sick Hayes.  This was hurry-up-and-take-it-before-the-baby-runs-away.

 

Sorry for the never-ending post with all the pics but what do you expect from somebody who blogs every other month?  Who knows when I'll be back?

 

Happy New Year!!!

He Knows

Last year, I dedicated my Mother's Day blog post to, well, my mom. And I would like to say "Happy Mother's Day, Mom!! See you soon!"

But this year I wanted to dedicate it to my friends. My friends who so desperately want to be a mom and/or have had difficulty in becoming one. Some of you have been very open about it. Others have kept it quiet. But you know that I know who you are and that more importantly, God knows who you are.

He knows your situation. He knows your thoughts and your desires. He sees you when you are disappointed yet again. He sees you when you go the long way around in Target just to avoid the baby section. Or when you just can't make it to a baby shower. He's there when you discuss options and medicines and procedures until you just don't even want to say the words one more time. Even if no one else does, He remembers difficult birthdays and due dates that would have been.

I love you and I'm so sorry you're in this situation. And I know Mother's Day is beyond difficult for some of you. Church might be the last place you want to be. And that's ok. Because you know as well as I do that God isn't in a building. We can't put Him in a box and we certainly can't put four walls around Him.

So you spend this day however you need to. Whether it's in corporate worship or quiet solitude. Either way, He's there.

Because He hears. And He cares.

He knows.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Bloggy Meet-up

Guess what I did yesterday?  I met Deidre from For Such a Time as This!!

I've been reading her blog for a while now but didn't realize at first that she lived pretty close to us and very near to my hometown.   Deidre and Faith have become bloggy friends too and we all have had our family's pictures taken by Heather.  Our friend Amy, who also had a session with Heather will be moving to Deidre's town in the next year or so.  So we all have this connection and thought it would be fun to meet in real life. 

Today was the day and it was soooo much fun!  We ate and talked and laughed and talked and laughed and did I mention talked? 

And of course I forgot my camera!  But luckily everybody else remembered theirs!  Except I don't think Heather (the PHOTOGRAPHER!) brought hers either.  Probably didn't want to show us up with her mack daddy one.  That was nice of her. 

It was great to meet Deidre especially since we have SO much in common.  She commented on this post a while back and told me how much!  Since then we've found out other things as well.  She was just as funny as she is on her blog and even prettier than her pictures! 

                      

Me, Heather, Deidre, Faith, Amy

 

 Amy, Me, Heather

 

Deidre and Faith

It was a blast, girls!  Can't wait to do it again!

A Good Day

Yesterday our family went with friends to the NC State/Duke game.  Oh did I mention we were the only State fans in our little group?  Not only were they all Duke fans, they were all Duke grads!  (Well, except for Katie who went to UK but married a Duke grad.  But she ended up going back home with her little one who got sick in the car half way there.  Must have been her new Duke shirt making her sick, right KT?)

Anyway, except for that, it was lots of fun---especially since State won!  woo hoo!  Here we are all decked out in our State gear. 

                                

                      

                            

Isn't this campus beautiful?

                                  

                        

                                    

                       

Becca and Peter spent a lot of the game here.  She said they high-fived the Duke band and cheerleaders as they walked by.  She seemed very excited about that.

                       

 

                     Hayes spent a lot of time playing cars...

                        

                                  and hanging on me and Daniel.

                         

          

                                                      Happy Hubby

                        

End of Summer Fun

Right after we got home from Brazil, as in the DAY AFTER, we went to the beach with Daniel's family. It was a fun but quick trip.

We'll just attribute my lazy eyes to jet-lag, ok? Not to mention no make-up.

Daddy bonding time

Salty Dog Cafe


Cousins---the first 3 pictures were better but then I realized why they were so dark. Flash helps. So by the 4th one, we were losing them.

Sweet little thing

Just minding his own business, while the other two were having difficulty sharing. I think Hayes was just happy to have someone else fighting with his sister.

Yeah.

But he had been away from work almost 2 weeks.

(Too bad I didn't have that attitude when we were there.)

Speaking of work. On a recent Saturday that Daniel had to work, I took the kids with some friends to a small town fall festival in the area.

Buddies

Happy Fall, Y'all!!

Just don't expect her to go on a merry-go-round with you.....

Today's my friend Faith's birthday! And we'll just overlook the fact that I was half way through elementary school when she was born, 'k?


Over the past 8-9 years, Faith and Chad have become precious friends to our family. We first met them in our Nearly/Newlywed class at church almost a year before they got married. We went to their wedding barely 2 weeks after Becca was born!

Sept 2008

We've been on mission trips, beach trips, and shopping trips together. And I can't even count the number of South 21 trips!


Faith was the first person I told when I found out I was pregnant with Hayes, besides Daniel of course! Telling her and her reaction is still my favorite memory of that time. She loves on my kids and I look forward to the day that I can return the favor.

August 2008

Faith is a sweet, talented, Godly woman. She's smart and creative and is striving to honor God with her whole life. I just love her and am so blessed to have her in my life.

In Cuba, 2004 (yes Faith has a pony-tail!)



Sept 2007

Happy Birthday, Faith!

"For I know the plans I have for you, Faith," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, Faith, and not to harm you, plans to give you, Faith, a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old.......

This week has been a flurry of friends, family, and fun. (How about that alliteration!) The kids and I headed to my hometown on Monday for 3 days of visits with my family and my 2 best childhood friends, Mandy and Ashleigh.


Mandy still lives close by so Ash and I try to see her when we go home to see our parents. Ash lives further away than I do, so whenever she is planning a visit, I try to go for a few days too. We all have kids the same ages and they play together pretty well. AND as I said the other day, we were all dying to get our hands on Ashleigh's newest little girl, Erin Hope.

Here the little cutie pie.







Here's Mandy's son with her. I've never seen a 7 yr old (a BOY, at that) be so excited about a baby. Pretty sure he's going to be working on his mama for a little sister!


Funny story. Mandy was talking to him about babies and a baby sister and he said if he had one he'd "play with her the whole summer!" Cause you know, come fall he's super busy. ha!


We had 2 days at the pool and one at Mandy's house. Lots of fun and tons of laughing.



Here are our moms.


Also known as Marcia, Becky, and Mrs. McGuire. Also known as Ash's mom, my mom, and Mandy's mom. (I don't know why, but we've always called Mandy's mom Mrs. McGuire. Maybe because she was a teacher when we were growing up?) We spent basically our whole childhoods at each other's houses. These ladies fed us all many a meal!

Mandy's Molly and Becca

Molly and Hayes (apparently everyone like to play with Molly!)

The 3 amigas

Our kids

(Becca, Andy, Nate, Erin Hope, Hayes, Molly, and Sam)

We didn't spend ALL our time with friends. We had some quality time with family too. My brother came over for supper and to see the kids. And to be introduced to Guitar Hero.

My mom joined in on the action. She cracked me up holding the guitar. Doesn't it look like she's wearing it like a necklace? I kept laughing at her and she kept saying, "What? What?" So funny.

I absolutely love spending time with my oldest friends. We're all pretty different than we were as kids (who isn't? Although they are always late and I'm usually on time. Some things don't change!) but we still love each other and cherish our friendships. Sometimes it's surreal to think that we all have husbands and families when we can still remember things from childhood that seem like yesterday. Are we really that old? Don't answer that.

Anyway, I love you girls! Thanks for continuing to make fun memories with me!