Friends Reunion 2012

 Each Memorial Day weekend we gather with some of our closest friends from college.  We take turns planning the weekend and this year Wes & Sage organized the weekend and it was so fun and refreshing!  We stayed at a a great house in Boone, NC that was very conducive for togetherness.  It was  rich time of fellowship and fun!  There were 6 couples this year.  We so missed those that couldn't make it.  We are so spurred on by these friendships and feel incredibly blessed by God to have these friends!  

lots of laughter;)

we saw this guy on our hike!

beautiful waterfall

Baby Waylon (Wes & Sage's 4th baby) and I:)

Chad & Reagan

Jason & Cayce

Matt & Jill

Wes & Sage (with baby Waylon)

My hubby & me

Adam & Stacey

 

the gang this year

 

playing games

view from the back deck

 

yummy dinner by the Finleys

So thankful for these friends and this weekend! 

Baseball

Carson just finished his first season of coaches pitch baseball and had a great time.  It was fun to watch him work hard and improve during the season.  It was a privilege to again have a coach that goes to our church.  He did a great job!  There are perks to living in a small town:)

Finished the yellow book!

She finished!  I'm very proud of her and excited to move on to reading books together this year in Kindergarten.  Good job Bryn!

poor bambi

 The other day Carson kept talking about "crows" that were in the field.  After running errands Carson said they were still there so he asked to grab his bee-bee gun to go out to the field.  I decided to follow him to see these birds for myself.  As we got closer it became clear that these were not crows but vultures!  Which of course means there was something dead in the field!  I hope you don't have a weak stomach;) 

 

do you see the hunter?

Poor Bambi

Dad's Surgery

saying goodbye before the surgery

 Wow, it's been a crazy and unexpected season for us to say the least.  As you know, the kids and I spent a week at my sister's house in Virginia while Carson was at Disney with my parents and nephews (meanwhile Jeremy was at Staff Retreat).  Our last night there we got a call that my Grandpa had passed away.  So the kids and I drove to my parent's house to be there for the funeral.  Jeremy joined us a couple days later and then we all headed home on a Saturday.  The following Thursday my Dad went in for a scheduled heart cauterization (he had a stress test that showed something, which prompted the heart cauterization).  They found significant blockage which would require quadruple bypass surgery.  I waited to hear if the surgery would be Friday or Monday and as soon as I heard it would be scheduled for Friday I ran home (from Carson's baseball game) and packed my bags and jumped in the car at 7:30 pm and drove all the way to Virginia.  I got there at 2:45 am.  So thankful God protected me!  I had to be there with my family during this big surgery.  It was an emotional drive there.  I was listening to music in the car and almost every song made me think of my Dad.  And why wouldn't it?  I don't know life without him!  He is weaved all through my life.  He is such a source of strength and comfort to me.  He is my Daddy!  It was scary to think of not having him anymore.  I did much pleading with the Lord to protect his life!  

I slept a couple hours then Mom and I headed to the hospital to spend time with Dad before the surgery.  Andrea got there soon after and Michael came later from work.  It was hard for us all to say goodbye in the pr-opp area but we were together trusting in God and His power and faithfulness!  And praise God, He did show Himself mighty and gracious yet again!  We waited and waited and waited in the waiting room and we would get some updates during the surgery and finally got word that he was coming out of surgery.  We were overjoyed....such a relief!  I'm so thankful!  I stayed until Sunday and headed home.  Dad is still in the hospital recovering and hopefully will get to go come soon.  Please pray for him and his recovery!  Pray for Mom as well as she cares for him.  I'm so thankful for parents who are together and love each other deeply.  Such a gift to me!  My Mom is an amazing caregiver and God continually uses her in that roll!    

waiting

Some pictures from our 2nd week in VA

Dad & Uncle Bob playing Monopoly with Carson & Bryn while Mom and I ran some errands.

Have I said how amazing this woman is?  How blessed I am to have her as my Mom!

They loved playing backyard baseball with Uncle Bob & Grandpa.

The kids & I went with Mom & Uncle Bob to the nursing home for the first time which was really hard, especially going in Grandpa's room.  The kids would usually sing a few songs for GG & Raggie and so Mom & Uncle Bob asked the kids to sing in the dining hall.  Here is a little video of them singing Amazing Grace.   

Dad getting some Spencer snuggles

Jeremy made it!

On Tuesday evening (day before funeral) we had a gathering for all the out of town family & friends in Mom & Dad's backyard.  It was good to see family that we don't get to see very often. 

We went to the lake for a couple of nights before heading home.  It was good to have a couple relaxing days after an intense 2 weeks.  Bryn caught her first fish.

Carson caught this big catfish

Grammy time:)  Thanks Mom & Dad for a good visit.  I'm SO thankful I got to be there during this bitter sweet time.  I'm also very thankful I got sweet time with Dad on Wednesday evening and Mom on Saturday morning.  I love you both so much!