Bloodlines

Bloodlines Documentary with John Piper from Crossway on Vimeo.

The Gospel

Hair Cut

I held out as long as I could but I began realizing that every time people saw Spencer they would make a comment about his hair....that was my cue...time for a hair cut! So, without even really planning it I grabbed my scissors and started snipping away. And now he looks like a really big boy! I can't believe he's almost one!

Dance Class

Bryn and Lydia are taking a dance class up at the church with our friend Ashley Jones. There just isn't much cuter then little girls in leotards and tutus! A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!!

Week with Ethan

When we came home from the lake after Christmas we brought our nephew, Ethan, home with us to spend a week. It was so fun to have Owen and then also Ethan separately for a visit in our home. I feel like I got to know them both much better in a different context. They are growing up so fast and it was fun to have this opportunity to have them to our home! Here are a couple pictures while Ethan was with us. We, of course, took him on a tour around Clemson and then out to lunch . Here is Ethan, Carson & Bryn in front of Death Valley! We love you Ethan and enjoyed having you!

Spencer is 11 months

Reflections on 2011

What a year! I think the word that comes to mind as I reflect on 2011 is FULL. Yes, it was a really full year with lots of extreme ups and downs for our family. I think we felt the full range of emotions this year. Here is a list of some of the things we experienced this year...

• The birth of our nephew Owen Chasteen
• The birth of our sweet Spencer
• Finding out my sister was pregnant
• Don's retirement
  
• Traveling to Dallas and also Richmond for Amy's commissioning services
• Saying goodbye to Amy
• Going to India and spending time with Amy and the Gainor family
• The death of Mama Chasteen
• The death of Raggie
• Don's heart attack
• The birth of our nephews Henry & Riley Clarke

Yep, it's been a big one. I'm so thankful that in the midst of the ups and downs of life that God is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)! I'm so thankful that I can say with the Psalmist, "But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge." (Psalm 94:22)

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Happy Birthday Bryn!

We celebrated Bryn's 5th birthday at the lake. Our little spunky girl is growing up! I've been pretty amazed by her maturity this year. That's not to say she doesn't put up a good fight here and there be she truly is becoming a delightful young girl. We are so proud of her and so thankful that she is ours! We love you Bryn!!!!!

We gave her a new 16 inch bike and she is rockn' it!

Smith Christmas

We left home on Christmas Day for the lake to meet up with the Smith side. We were at the lake until Saturday with Grandpa & Grammy, Bryan & Andrea with their kids, Michael for a night, and GG (my grandpa!). It was a relaxing (except for the moments where we felt like we were in a zoo!) time together.

We gave all 3 (big) boys slingshots for Christmas. Thankfully there were no injuries;)

the (little) boys

It was so nice having GG there for the week. But oh how we all miss our Raggie!

We celebrated Bryn's 5th birthday (more on that later)

Grandpa & Grammy with all NINE grand kids

Dad keeps a stick at the lake to measure the growth of all the kids

Henry & Riley had already changed so much after not seeing them for 2 weeks. They were troopers at the lake, such sweeties!

And of course the hunting....Jeremy and Carson got this deer together. Pretty fun that Carson was there to watch.

And a bonfire...

Great week, thanks Mom and Dad for everything!

Christmas Morning at Home

We left Papa & Nana's on Saturday afternoon and headed straight to our church for the Christmas Eve service. We enjoyed being home Christmas morning as a family but it was a crazy turnaround because we left late morning for Virginia to spend time with my family (more on that next). It's so not our desire to travel on Christmas Day but it's how it fell this year. Here are just a few pictures of our morning together.

Chasteen Christmas

The Friday before Christmas we headed up the road to spend the night with Papa & Nana to celebrate Christmas with the Chasteen clan. We had a yummy dinner at the Elliotts on Friday night and then exchanged gifts at Papa & Nana's house on Saturday and Scarlet made a wonderful meal that afternoon. Papa & Mama Simmons, John & Cathy, Pat, Russell, Katie and their kids all came over for the meal. It was good to be together and we especially enjoyed being with Jon, Leigh & their kids. We try to soak up the time we get with them since we live far apart. We also loved skyping in Amy! She was on the big flat screen TV while we opened our gifts and she opened hers. It felt like she was (almost) in the room! She was VERY missed!