*My 31st*

On September 23rd, I turned 31!!!!!!!!  For some reason, age doesn't freak me out yet?  Not sure if that'll happen later on or if I'll just continue embracing each year of age.  I still feel like I'm 25 so that's what matters right?!?!

I thoroughly enjoyed the big 3-1 this year.  Even though I worked during the day, spending the evening with my two men made it SUPER SPECIAL.

Rance makes birthday cards for me each year and I always look forward to them because he is super creative and crafty with his card-making skills.  This year, he used the Western, NC outdoor adventures brochure (which our hiking picture is in HA) to be creative with my card this year.  I must say, it was my favorite of all time.  Each page was filled with scripture (all from chapter 31 in each book of the Bible he quoted - get it?  31?!?!) and pictures that he glued in the brochure, etc.  It was AWESOME.  At the end, he told me to dress comfortable because we had an evening adventure outdoors. 

Here goes a mixture of iPhone/real camera pictures!

Rance ended up surprising me with a short hike to where he proposed to me March 20, 2010!  It was amazing to be in that same spot where it all went down in 2010 and be back 4.5 years later with Jayden!  Reflecting back over all God has done in our lives over these past years was overwhelming.  Walking through all the Lord has taught us and shown us and what He is continuing to teach us and show us leaves me speechless. 

We enjoyed SUBWAY, coffee in the perculator, singing praise & worship, talking, taking pictures in the same spot Rance proposed to me in but WITH Jayden this time, sitting in the hammock, and just the stillness of the evening with one of the most beautiful views.  This place is so quiet and serene and simply breathtaking. 

ELLA'S CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!

 

Where it all went down March 20, 2010

 

 

 

Jayden's FIRST hammock experience

Oh how we LOVE coffee!!!

He's over the picture taking :)

We ended up hiking out in the dark thanks to the time changing and it getting dark earlier!  The night ended with a team meeting with our best friends and partners in the ministry. 

Giving thanks for another year...

XC DOMINATED

I wrote this blog LAST week so pretend you are reading this LAST week :)

CROSS COUNTRY dominated this past weekend (as in weekend before last)!  Jayden got a lovely cold but was a super duper trooper regardless.  On Friday, he broke my heart during the day because he was so stuffy and could not breath well and was just pitiful at one point.  I was begging the Lord to transfer it to my body.  Oh it's hard seeing a helpless baby suffer with sickness of any kind.  If only he understand BLOWING or hacking up the gross stuff (wait a minute, even I can't 'hack up stuff'). 

On Friday evening, the cross country team came over for a PASTA dinner.  CARBS are super important the night before a BIG race so we filled their bellies with spaghetti and bread and of course, LOTS of chocolate milk!  Afterwards, everyone headed to the football game to sell tickets for the XC fundraiser (which was a GUN this year, oh yeah!).  Jayden and I hung out at the house together instead.

I absolutely LOVE when Jasmine gets a hold of my camera because she takes LOTS of impromptu shots :)

On Saturday, the high school teams raced in Asheville and THE WEATHER WAS INCREDIBLE.  I am embracing the amazing fall temperatures.  One of the greatest highlights of my Saturday was spending time with COONDOG (Lindy!). 

XC bound!!!

Jayden gets SO much attention at races!

Ahhhhhh heart is spilling over...

Coondog & Jayden finally meeting!

Starbucks/Coondog all in a day?!?! I can't handle it!

Jayden being loved on by Charlena & Frank

Jesus talk in the SHADE with these two lovelies:)
plus little man

 

 

I love the bravery Rance has with a bunch of teenagers!  He took the team to the mall on the bus after the race for food and shopping!  For those of us who are not big shoppers, we enjoyed our food, STARBUCKS, and conversation.  

two of my favorite guys in the world

 

Saturday evening as soon as we arrived home, we had to shower quickly and head to church for pictures.  As I said above, Jayden was a super duper trooper!

 

 

 

Moving right along to the next week....