The Great Pumpkin

At the very beginning of the month, I scoped out the pumpkin patches in our area. With the help of YELP, I found the happening place. Every weekend since then, we have hoped that the sun would show its face at some point. We got tired of waiting and decided that yesterday was our day. We would layer our rain boots and coats if needed. We woke up to cold gray, but we were ready to take it on and have a good time come what may. As we were driving there (about 30 minutes) the clouds began clearing and by the time we parked it was full on sunny! 

First each kiddo got to pick a pumpkin to bring home. The only rule was that they had to be able to lift their own pumpkins into the wheelbarrow. I certainly don't want to deal with 5 100lb pumpkins!

 Josh put SERIOUS thought in finding his perfect pumpkin! He is so much like his daddy :)

 Sarah picked the very first pumpkin that she came to that she could lift. She was SO excited!

 It took Abby some time, but I think it is mostly because she was busy wandering in the sunshine. 

 Michael knew exactly what he was looking for and once he found it, he was ready!

 Sam was too quick for me to get a picture. He was determined to muscle that wheelbarrow through the mud. He needed some teamwork a few times!

 They had a hay maze that led through the big barn. It ended at this slide. It was SO fast. Good thing they landed in a big pile of hay!

 Then we headed to the petting area. I told Sarah that if she was still, the bunny would come to her. She stood there for about 5 minutes without moving. Unfortunately, the poor bunny spent the whole time running from a little girl that didn't know that secret.

 Poor bunny got cornered...do you see fear in its eyes?

 This just about sums up my Sam! Can't help but love this boy!

 This building is filled up with about a foot of hay. They had so much fun jumping from the walls! Michael was completely fearless!

 Sam's too quick for me!

 Once Sarah got the courage to go once, she was all over it!

 Don't know if you can see it in this small picture, but Abby's face is fear. I do believe this is a picture of negative peer pressure :)

 Josh loved it!

 They could have spent HOURS in this small building filled with corn! 

 Rode some horses...kinda

Went on a hayride after we stocked up on warm, homemade applecider doughnuts and kettle corn!

What a wonderful way to spend a BEAUTIFUL Saturday in October. We all loved it! Yelp did not let us down! The only thing better than an afternoon at the pumpkin patch is an afternoon in the sunshine! To get both was just amazing!

Lessons Learned

We are as settled as we can be not knowing how much longer it will be before we have orders. It could be next week or not for another 6 months or more. It is so hard to live without planning for me. But, I am learning to be content with today. Some days I do really well, other days I feel on the edge of crazy. I suppose if it wasn't this, it would be something else. I saw a great quote on someone's facebook status the other day. It said, "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful." AMEN! I need to remember everyday to focus on the wonderful in my life instead of the things I wish I could change but can't. In all reality, I am blessed beyond measure. Even if everything else was stripped away tomorrow, God has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. What a thought! I honestly did not think this time of limbo would last near this long, but I can honestly say that God has given me peace in the midst of this craziness. We are not sure what the near future holds for us, but we are fairly sure that Marvin will be on his ship for at the very least the first half of deployment. That means he will miss the second Christmas in a row. As hard as that is for the kids and I, it is really wearing on my husband. He has missed so many memories. He has been home only one of the girls' 4 birthdays. It is hard to know that life goes on without you for the people you love. I'm sorry for that sad tangent, but I want to be real here so that those of you who are praying for us will know exactly how to pray. Pray that he will stay focused on his race. He reenlisted only because, after much prayer, he felt God calling him to do so. He has the opportunity to reach the otherwise unreachable on his ship working side by side with them. He has a mission field there. As long as he remembers that, the sacrifice seems small. Please pray that we would not lose sight of the race that has been set before us. We do not want to get caught up in the things that we will be missing and miss out on the things He has set for us to do. Please pray that we would not focus on ourselves but on those that we can serve. Only in following Him and doing His will can we find contentment and peace. As we get ready for another seperation, not knowing how long it will last, we can rest in the knowledge that we are exactly where He has called us to be. He will give us the grace to get through each day if we will continue to seek Him first and do His will.

Flower Girls, Ringbearer, and a Very Special Day!

 Uncle Jay and Auntie Christy are very special people to my kiddos. So, when they asked the girls and Josh to be the flower girls and ring bearer, they were SO excited. They have been talking about it for a very long time. The girls could not wait to be princesses and Josh was so excited to have an important job. Last year they were in their Uncle Mark and Auntie Blessie's wedding, so they knew what was coming. Excited would be an understatement!

The girls practiced their "princess smiles" for days before the wedding. When we got to the wedding facility, they were on. They did so good. The girls dropped those flower petals like pros and Josh marched up that aisle like he was on a mission. It might have had something to do with the suckers they knew were waiting for them in their seats, but they all did amazing :)

 Marvin was aboard ship off of San Diego, but was able to get leave and get a flight off the ship to make it to the wedding. I am so glad that he was able to get there.

Marvin has 2 younger brothers, a step brother, and a half brother. Here he is with his 2 brothers. Can you tell that they are brothers? It takes a couple of days before the kids call them by the right names, including their daddy! Just a small family resemblance :)

My Mother In Law and I with my handsome boys

It is fuzzy, but I love Michael's smile in this picture!

Marvin and his Lola

 These girls are in love with their Abba! I love watching this relationship as they get older!

It was a truly beautiful day!

Wedding Bells!

Jay is Marvin's little brother. He was 14 when Marvin and I married. I have watched him grow and mature into a wonderful man of God. I am so proud of the man he has become.The moment I met Christy, I knew they were made for each other! I am so glad that they thought so too. 

I have watched them go into this marriage with their eyes wide open, so much more prepared than Marvin and I were. They have focused on finding their weaknesses and allowing God to heal those things that might become issues in their marriage.

When two people unite, purposefully putting God at their center, it is truly a beautiful thing. It is what marriage is supposed to be, and it is what gives their marriage a lifetime, instead of just a beautiful moment.

When two people come together as one, putting the other before themselves, it brings into focus the love God has for His bride. It is the most beautiful thing to feel the very presence of the Spirit in the midst of a wedding ceremony.  

I pray that, as you move on from the wedding and into your marriage, you will remember the foundation that you have built so far. As long as that foundation stays firm, you will be able to weather any storm. I love you both and could not be more proud of either one of you!