A drive to Matt's campus

Today we decided to enjoy the fall colors and take a drive to the campus Matt will start attending in January. Beautiful drive, beautiful campus. We are so excited for Matt - he is going to UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore Campus) to major in financial economics. Since we didn't get the usual "parent weekend" or anything, we decided to drive and see the campus ourselves!

I thought this was the neatest way to send an acceptance letter!!

Matt will soon be walking the trails of this campus, studying his heart out, and starting a whole new chapter of his life...

I LOVE FALL!!!!!

Fall is my absolute favorite season. I love the colors, the weather, the decorations, and it is the time of year I got married (hmmm, that explains it!). I can't wait for Starbucks to bring out my all-time favorite - pumpkin spice lattes!! I can't wait to gather leaves with the kids, pick out pumpkins and gourds, and eat roasted pumpkin seeds. I can't wait to go to the Amish Market and buy their delicious pumpkin roll and bake molasses cookies. I love the scent of pumpkin candles, I love the crisp, cooler air, and I love my trips away in the fall with my husband for our anniversary... aaaaaah yes, I certainly do love fall.

This is the beautiful fall display that Hannah made for our table this week.

The focal point of the table...

I love getting out all the fall decorations for the house!

Did I mention that I love fall????

The blessing of house guests

Doug Wilda, Keith (a church-planting intern), Gene Emerson and Matthew Williams

Aaron Campbell

This week we have the honor of hosting Gene Emerson and his whole gang of pastors (five in all) who are here for the Pastor's College. They have come to hear CJ Mahaney teach. This is probably the fourth time we have had these five guys stay with us, and each time is such a blessing to our family. My children sit at the dinner table with five godly, wise, kind men who also happen to be hilarious! It is a joy to watch them relate to each other and to my children as well. I am so grateful that they continue to come back... This year we got to celebrate one of their birthdays! Danny made his famous filet mignon and we had cake and ice cream afterwards - what fun memories! Hannah made a beautiful fall arrangement on the table, and when we lit the candles it was stunning!

I thank the Lord for bringing these opportunities to put before my children examples of men who have devoted their entire lives to serving our amazing God, to caring for His children, and to reaching those who are hurting or lost and need the knowledge of Jesus' love for them. I am grateful to be able to serve them in this small way...

Farewell Faithful Friend...

Yes, it looks like my husband is sobbing, or down-hearted... but he was actually cleaning out our van before we turned it over to my brother. We had to say good-bye to our faithful red van, after many years of memories and trips and laughter and paint smears and food on the floor and long drives to faraway places and accidents (well just the one) and rocks being thrown at us while driving and carpools, and on and on and on... Funny how a hunk of metal can be something we get attached to, huh?

Sweet "little" Ryan

Have you ever seen a plate of chips so beautifully garnished or had them served with a kiss? I was working at my computer today and Ryan came to bless me with a snack! He brought me this little plate of chips all decorated with a garnish of lettuce and grapes! It was soooo sweet! He certainly is learning a lot from his Dad... What a VERY blessed mother I am!!

Love ya Ryan!!!