Oh Baby!

Since this is the season for announcing...

1 + 1 = 5 !

Our little family is growing! We are excited to announce that Baby #3 is coming mid January!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you."

Jeremiah 1:5a

(July 4th, 2019)

I feel great with this pregnancy; it's been my best one yet. A lot of people think that this means it might be a girl; I'm just hoping it means my body knows what it's doing by the third time around! LOL! 

 These two little fellas are ready to be big brothers. They just got bunk beds which they are thrilled about. They have been asking everyone who comes to our house if they want to see their bunk beds!

They grow up all too fast. Slow down, my little loves.

Matthew and I recently hiked to the top of Mount Mitchell (highest point east of the Mississippi). It wasn't that long of a hike, but he took it slow for me. We had a great time doing it and the 360 degree view was amazing!

(August 19th, 2019)

Praising the Lord for His sweet blessings!

It's A GIRL!!!!

I thought this title would catch everyone's attention, but I bet it's not the sort of announcement you were all expecting!!!

Ethan is courting!

This special young lady's name is Grace Elizabeth Adams and the two of them seem to be having a grand time getting to know each other.

Ethan and Grace met through the Florida Shindig that we all attended this past January. After several emails back and forth, the two families decided they should meet. Grace's family lives in Georgia, a little over 3 hours away, so they drove up to Aiken to spend the day with my family, as pictured below. Everyone hit it off really well and Ethan decided to pursue a relationship with Grace. She agreed and they began an official courtship.

 

Below is a picture of Ethan and Grace with Greta and Griffin (Grace's brother and sister).

It's funny to see Ethan actually interested in a girl. For a couple of years now, I've been watching him when we are at different functions to see if he ever takes interest in a particular girl or if he treats any of the young ladies special. But he has always treated them all the same way and gave no inclination to liking any certain girl. I began to wonder when my little brother would ever take interest in a girl! (rolling eyes) 

So it's been sweet to see him treat Grace in an extra special way. He later told me that he just "knew how to be discreet".  Discreet indeed!!!

~ ~ ~ 

This picture was taken right after they started courting. 

With Grace being a Georgia girl, she has a thick southern accent. But the funny thing is she says Ethan is the one with an accent. Dad, being silly, likes to do his best to try to imitate their accent with the corniest Southern phrases he can come up with.

At a dance they recently attended.

I think Savannah and Greta have both been enjoying being sister chaperones. 

We are thankful for this sweet time in both Ethan and Grace's lives. As we've mentioned in both Jordan & Caleb's courtship as well as mine and Matthew's, courtship is a time for a couple to get to know each other better, with the purpose of marriage in mind, to see if that is the way the Lord is leading. Courtship is also done in the context of having chaperones around for accountability's sake. If, through courtship, two people find out that they are not the ones that the Lord has for each other, then no courtship is a failure, because it has done what it was designed to do.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

I'm sure both Grace and Ethan would appreciate your prayers as they take this time to get to know each other and to discern the Lord's will for their future.

Nature's Beauty...

Matthew recently took this picture of our farm early one morning just as the sun was cresting the tree line.  There is such beauty in the foggy morning sunrise.  How blessed we are to be able to enjoy such beauty right here on our property!  

 "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised."

Psalm 113:3

Engagment Photos!

Hello Everybody!  Well, we're down to 2 days before the wedding, and I am one excited gal!  All of our wedding plans have went very smoothly and things are falling into place.  We have had a beautiful 6 week engagement and we are both very much ready to finally be married.  It's been fun seeing everyone's faces when we tell them how long our engagement was and telling them we're planning a wedding in 6 weeks and to see their jaws drop.  They usually tell us it can't be done, but....it has!  And we haven't had to give up anything to have it either, which is the amazing part.  We are getting married in the most beautiful spot in all of Aiken, and doors have opened up for us to have our "dream wedding" in ways that only the Lord could have done.  We have done it all by staying under our budget, and kept it nice and simple.  

Matthew and I are so thankful to the Lord for bringing us together, and can't wait to start our married life together on Saturday.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers as the day approaches!

In the middle of August my family took a week long vacation to Cherokee, NC, and Matthew and I got some engagement pictures while there.  (Yes, right smack dab in the middle of our 6 week wedding planning, we took a one week vacation!  I think folks thought we were crazy, but it was nice to get away and have one last family vacation all together!)  I figured I'd better post some before I post wedding photos when we get back from the honeymoon!

Up at Mingo Falls

Holding hands!

 

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."

Song of Solomon 6:3 exerpt

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

"I found him whom my soul loveth."

Song of Solomon 3:4 exerpt

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."

Genesis 2:18

 Matthew is my best friend, my lover, my encourager, and I can't wait to be his wife!  God is so good!

Today is Noah's Birthday!

Noah turned 15 today!!!!

Fond Memory: Every week Noah and I sell our products at the Aiken Farmer's Market.  It has been a wonderful experience working alongside him.  Many mornings on our way there, I'll look over and see him dozing off, only to deny it when I call him on it.  After the market, we take our weekly trip to the library (it's both of our favorite spot in town!).  After browsing through the library, we head on over to make a cheese delivery at a local store, and then we head out to eat at Taco Bell.  It's our weekly routine and I have enjoyed being able to spend the one-on-one time with my little brother for the past two years!

Funny Moment:  Noah had his wisdom teeth taken out a few years back and they had to put him under.  When he came too after  he got home, he was utterly hilarious to listen to!  He kept talking about how the room was spinning and how funny everything looked in a very mumbled voice.  We had to help him to his bedroom (practically drag him), and as we walked him by the canned jars, he exclaimed, "Whooaaa!  That'sa lotta tomato sauce!"  Savannah and I started chuckling and barely had enough strength to help him to his bed we were chuckling so hard.  He was the only one who reacted that way to wisdom teeth surgery and to this day it makes me chuckle when I think about all the random comments he made that day.

Flashback....

We love you Noah and are so thankful that the Lord put you in our family!  You are always so cheerful and can brighten anyone's day. You're a joy to work with and never complain about helping out.  You are patient and easy to work with and can downright make me chuckle.  You have a way of warming up everyone's hearts who you come in contact with and we love you sooooooo much!

Happy Birthday Noah!!!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23

Dad's Birthday!

Fond Memory:  When the three of us girls were little, Dad worked shift work.  On many occasions when Dad couldn't be there to personally tell us goodnight or good morning, he would leave little sticky notes on the wall beside our beds with a little personal note for each one of us.  When we'd awake in the morning, it was always so special to find a little letter from Dad!  We have saved our little notes in our keepsake boxes and enjoy going back to read them.

Funny Moment: For Dad's 30th birthday Mom was going to throw a surprise party for him.  So she asked my cousin to take him shopping for one hour, let everyone arrive, and then bring him back.  Well...the designated time came and went, everyone was already at the party waiting for the birthday boy, who was nowhere to be found.  My Mom finally got ahold of my cousin and asked him where he was at.  My cousin replied that he couldn't get Dad to come home because Dad was having a good time out shopping.  Mom said,"Well, think of something, but get him home quick!  We're all waiting!"  My cousin eventually thought of an idea to get Dad to head home.  He arrived home very surprised to find a party waiting for him!

Flashback...

Dad and Jordan

Happy birthday Dad!  We hope and pray that this year brings you many blessings, more than you can count!  We love you and are so thankful for you.  You lead our family well and we are so glad that you are our father!  You keep a smile on all of our faces and you never run out of new things to try and do.  Praising the Lord for you!

Love ya lots!

Joshua 24:15b

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."