Happy Halloween!

Today will be a great day! Minus the spiders (why, of all creatures, did spiders have to be a main feature of this otherwise fantastic candy filled holiday?) Halloween has always been a fantastic celebration and full of happy memories. A few favorite things:

1. Dad's Birthday. "He would be born on Halloween", is usually the response I get when I tell people. It's true, too. Who better to be born than my dad on a day that celebrates characters, tricks, treats, laughter, and candy? No one, that's who.

2. Candy. 

3. Did I mention candy?

4. Pumpkin Carving. My brother in law takes the cake on this one - he is a brilliant pumpkin carver. Like a true artist, he is never satisfied with his work, but we all stand around "oohing" and "ahhing" over each year's new creation. This year he made one pumpkin with his kids' hands/feet as the face. It was brilliant! The other, was a beautiful carving of "Singing in the Rain", complete with a street lamp and umbrella. Again, gorgeous.

5. Cute kids in costumes. Grayson is Tigger this year, and growls for candy. It doesn't get much better than that! Brooklyn is a beautiful winter Belle, and curtsies while saying "Merci!". And Madi, when in Jaime's carrier, becomes a little popcorn baggie. So awesome! Props to Jaime for her creativity and craftiness on that one as well.

All in all, Halloween is a fun, whimsical, candy-filled day with lots of laughter and love. Plus, it is the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season. From here we speed right into Thanksgiving, then it's just a few short weeks to Christmas and New Years!

Happy Halloween!

Love These Two

This is how Brett and Piper fell asleep the other afternoon. Sweet.

Java

I made coffee this morning. Let me repeat that. I made coffee this morning. 

There was a need in the office, and I filled that need. I brewed coffee on a brand new machine. I brewed it like it was hot. And it was. And the best part? It was delicious. 

But let's start at the beginning.

I'm not a fan of new technology. In general, manuals and set-up, troubleshooting and experimentation: Not my strong-suit. I can rise to the challenge when absolutely necessary (and, since my life has proven to be a string of incidents like printer jams, virus alerts, or error messages I have had to do that more often than I would like.) 

What can I say? I have a special connection with flip phones, good old fashioned hot water kettles, and using a cookbook instead of an app. I'm not what you would call a "trailblazer" or a "trail follower". If I were on a trail I would have stopped at the first river because figuring out how to ford the river would have been too much of a hassle. But I digress..

Here in our office we have quite a few professors, researchers, and even an occasional IT guy who need a good cup of coffee, especially on those cold rainy Georgia days. So, I thought to myself this morning, "Today, I will learn how to work the coffee maker, and we WILL have fresh coffee this Autumn". I quietly made my way into the break room, read the directions 3 times for clarity, and 

~ BOOM!

Ten minutes later (only ten minutes!!) a lovely smell came out. Roasted coffee beans. Just the right strength. Add a little french vanilla creamer, and you've got yourself a morning cup o' jo. De-licious.

Who knew modern technology could be so easy? ;) Next up, I tackle the touch screen.

An Aunt's Life

To my sweet, eldest niece:

You make me laugh! Do I tell you that enough? You exude feeling - perhaps more than anyone I know, you feel things deeply and truly. You are full of life, drama, conversation, opinions, and all sorts of hilarity. I don't always know what a day with you will entail, but I know that at the end I will have many more stories than time to tell them. And so here are a few....

First, you are learning Spanish right now, and a few phrases that have continued to bring you (and us) joy are:

"Mama, may I go to the bano, please?"

"Hola, Tia!"

"Hola Papa, Como Esta?"

Next, While all of us adults were talking, rather passionately and loudly as we often do, you seemed to be in your own world of play. But when we couldn't decide on the time of a recent event ("It was 8:00 I think"..."No it must have been 9:00...") you burst into the conversation and with your loudest, most authoritative voice you stood up to say "It was 9!!" Then, with a look around the room a heavy sigh you said, "I just can't handle this anymore.." and left us in astonished laughter.

Third and finally, You have truly grown up a Georgia Peach. While singing the song "Little Bunny Foo Foo" (Lyrics Here) you changed the chorus to say "..Down came the good ol' fairy..." in perfect southern style!

Hanging with you has always been and continues to be one of my favorite things to do. I love you, Chica!

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

We are more or less settled here in Georgia, and have had so many reminders of God's faithfulness throughout the process. The mantra and phrase that keeps coming up in conversation for us is "our daily bread", and we are finding that God's faithfulness and goodness, though abundant, is making itself known in small, sweet packages. It comes in the form of a phone call invitation to interview for med school when we weren't sure we would hear back at all, or a text message about a beautiful little townhome in our price range that was available immediately one we pulled into the state. 

We're doing our best to be wise, prayerful, and have discernment in all things - and I think we keep both sense that we will be Ok, that we're covered, cared-for, and looked after. It doesn't change the need to make good decisions or be thoughtful, and we've certainly had our share of doubts, second guesses, and frustrations, but God's faithfulness continues to be stronger than our faults and failures.

That being said, there is much to be grateful for, and I look ahead with hope and gladness to this new season - whatever may come!