Happy 14th Birthday, Tyler!!!

Dad and I are so thankful for how God has blessed our family with you.

With your smile as you wake up in the morning...and your willingness to start your day right!

With your caring spirit towards your siblings...for how you love them...for how you look after them...

for how you wrestle with them (sometimes a bit TOO rough ;)...for how you make them laugh.

With the relationship that is continuing between each of us as your parents.

For how you ask questions...for how you are sensitive to all that is going on in our crazy house...for always being willing to pitch in wherever needed.

With your attitude during a rough season of football. 

No matter what the score...what the call...what the play...you led your team in playing with heart.

In meeting new friends...putting yourself out there...willing to be awkward...we are thankful you are who you are.

We are praying that this next year will continue to draw you closer to Jesus as you grow into the man He is making you to be.

Happy Birthday!!!

A few days before Thanksgiving, we headed out to Lake James for Jason to teach at a college retreat.

The family that was hosting the retreat graciously rented us a cabin so that our family could tag along.

The big kids were invited to go zip lining the next day with the college group. 

They LOVED it!!! It was their first time seeing the beautiful fall colors...ZIPPING by!

 

especially if we needed a taste tester! :-)

We set up the table with Jason's Grandma's special desert rose collection...because...we were blessed to have Grandma Fran celebrate Thanksgiving with us in North Carolina!

We heard many stories about "when Jason and Jeremy were boys"...

and Hailey and Grandma had a tea party with the desert rose dishes.

So so so much to be thankful for.

Tuesdays = Choir 

For the last several months, Amy and Hailey have been spending their Tuesday afternoons singing their hearts out.

They joined CHEA choir - which is a homeschool choir.

They have practiced and practiced...

until ready or not...it is concert day!

Along the way, they DID manage to have SOME fun with their friends.

But the goal was this...

standing on stage (withOUT knees locking)....

along with each of their choir members...for the winter concert!

Here are a couple of songs they sang...

It was a beautiful concert...full of heart and festivity for the holidays!

We are so proud of the girls and all of their hard work!!!

Life with four kids can get crazy.

Lots of activities...church events...sports...commitments...jobs...ministry life...go into each of our daily lives.

Which doesn't leave much time to invest in friendships.

Thankfully...God has blessed us with some VERY intentional friends.

These dear friends called us up and invited us to come and spend a weekend away with them in San Antonio.

And we said YES!!!

We had such a good time walking along the river walk...talking...catching up...

...eating...laughing...and just having fun together!

Even though we don't get to see each other very often...it was as if no time had passed at all.

We were quickly moving from "catching up" to heart talks...sharing what God had been laying on our hearts...praying over future decisions...marveling in the provisions He has made in each of our lives...and sharing the burdens each other were carrying.

There were moments of serious talks...and of course...

times of just being silly.

We checked out the Gunther House for breakfast and Steel City Pops for dessert...

we walked and walked and walked some more.

We popped into bookstores and explored the Alamo.

We ate as much Mexican food as we could!!

But mostly...we just filled our cups to the brim of love and laughter.

Storing away memories in our hearts as treasures.

Jason had one request before we left Texas...

a quick stop into Whataburger!!!

We ended our weekend soaking up hugs and love from each of the precious Richardson kiddos.

It was an incredible weekend.

We are blessed in our friendships...and feel thoroughly sharpened by each other after this weekend!

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

Anne of Green Gables

October is in full swing.

The leaves are changing.

The air is tinged with anticipation of fall.

The sweaters are coming out of the closet.

And the APPLES are ready to be picked!!!

I was a little worried that we wouldn't make it up in time to pick some this year...

it's been a bit of a crazy schedule with Tyler playing football for the Carmel Cats.

But when we found out that one of his games was just around the corner from the apple orchard...

we decided to get some apple picking in before the game!!

Tyler has had a great season with the Cats.

They haven't had a winning season...but they have played hard and grown as a team.

Number #44 has been the BEST!!! :-)

And he definitely has the LOUDEST cheering section!!

After spending the afternoon in the cool mountain air...I was tempted to head back up there.

So a few days later we decided to skip school and go to Linville Falls.

The weather was gorgeous and the hiking was beautiful.

I am so thankful to have the freedom to experience all of these treasures with my kids.

And I am also thankful that they are willing to join in my craziness...just to enjoy a day outside!!

On our way back down the mountain we pulled off the road to see some more waterfalls.

The kids asked if they could take their shoes off and walk alongside the bank of the creek.

I warned them that the water would be FREEZING and that the rocks would be slippery...

No sooner were the words out of my mouth when one of them fell in...

it was so cold Amy could hardly breathe...let alone make it to shore.

But by the time we left...two more joined her in the water!

It was cold...but it was worth it!

A couple of days later we got dressed up and joined some friends for Halloween.

Jackson was a ninja.

Hailey a cowgirl.

Amy recycled her Princess Leia costume from last year.

And Tyler...chose to be a typical teenage boy and skip the costume.

It was a fun night with enough candy to keep a dentist in business for years on end!