Family Pictures

After all the drama over what to wear for family pics, here is what we came up with....
A few of the pictures:

Jay: shirt-detailed black button-down, old navy, jeans-7 for all mankind (thrifted)
Debra: top-Gap ruffled plum tank, skirt- wool pencil (thrifted), blazer- black dept. store (thrifted), shoes- nine west
TJ: sweater-old navy v-neck emerald, jeans-pac sun
Cory: sweater- old navy v-neck charcoal
Madison: sweater-target, skirt-dillards, shoes-green nine west (thrifted), headband-F21
Zachery: sweater-crazy8 snowflake half-zip, pants-gap rusty cords, chuck taylors in grey

Walking in Ghent

The photograph I wanted to copy from this

BIG fan of this one. Love the trees....

Falling for Charlottesville





"I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles." Philipians 4:10-14 (The Message)

Don't you love this translation of the "Whatsoever State" passage?  I latched on to this scripture very early in my Christian walk.  It has been a hallmark of my faith to be content with every circumstance.  The Lord gave that gift to me quickly, and I am so thankful.  I can find joy in such little things with the reminder of this passage.

This past week, we took advantage of the school break, and took the kids up to Charlottesville to see the leaves, and to see Montpelier (home of James and Dolley Madison).  The weather was gorgeous, the leaves and mountains stunning, and the house was beautiful.  TJ got to practice some country driving, and I got to play around with my camera some more.  What an amazing backdrop!

Even in such a beautiful scene, I was reminded to take life a little more slow.  To pay attention to the details.  Like stopping when the kids found interesting leaves, to look at the scenery they found interesting, play a round of volleyball with my girl.  I tend to get so busy "taking care" of everything that I don't get to enjoy "everything".  We rented a small cabin at a KOA campground, and had a ball cooking outside, and playing card games with the kids, and even Jay and I snuggling Zach (who had a hard time sleeping)- all three of us in a double bed!

I love that our God displays Himself in such obvious ways! Look around you, He is in creation. Such magnificence!





The Sweetest Thing

T.J. with Cory, taken Sunday

As most of you know, my oldest son turned 16 Wednesday!  That day brought back a flood of memories about what my life was like the day he was born.

The circumstances around his birth were difficult. I had a lot of growing up to do in a very short time, and many decisions to make.  The easiest one was to Chose Life. The hardest were how to accomplish that. 

I was lucky to have the support of Jay, who never bailed on me once. The day we found out about our pregnancy, I said to him, "You don't have to do this. I am. If you don't want this, you can go.  But don't come back. I won't have the back and forth for this kid."  I never expected him to stay. He had no commitment to me, nor I to him. But he stayed.  I would say we both "manned up" to the situation.  Looking back, I don't know HOW we did it?  Except God.

The Lord looked out for us in our stupidity, and turned the most difficult time of our lives into the greatest joy.  Our marriage and our parenting could not be anything but a testimony of grace.  The happiness we share, and the three more children that came after are nothing more than added bonuses.  I am more thankful for my children than anyone could imagine.

I can't wait to see what the next 16 years bring!



T.J. with his constant accessory.