Phillies :(

Thanks for another great season. A painful loss...get 'em next year. And let's get our pitching straightened out!

Losing to NY...yuck.

Go Phillies!

Quote

What is your sorrow? Has health failed you? Has property forsaken you? Have friends turned against you? Are you tried in your circumstances? perplexed in your path? Are providences thickening and darkening around you? Are you anticipating seasons of approaching trial? Are you walking in darkness, having no light? Go simply to Jesus. He is a door ever open. A tender, loving, faithful Friend, ever near. He is a Brother born for your adversity. His grace and sympathy are sufficient for you. The life you are called to live is that of faith—that of sense you have done with. You are now to walk by faith, and not by sight. This, then, is the great secret of a life of faith—to hang upon Jesus daily—to go to Him in every trial—to cast upon Him every burden—to take the infirmity, the corruption, the cross, as it rises, simply and immediately to Jesus. You are to set Christ before you as your Example to imitate; as your Fountain to wash in; as your Foundation to build upon; as your Fullness to draw from; as your tender, loving, and confiding Brother and Friend, to go to at all times and under all circumstances. To do this daily constitutes the life of faith. Oh to be enabled with Paul to say, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Oh holy, happy, heavenly life!—the life Jesus Himself lived when below; the life all the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and martyrs, and the spirits of just men made perfect, once lived; and the life every true-born child of God is called and privileged to live, while yet a stranger and pilgrim on the earth.

- Octavius Winslow, Evening Thoughts, Nov 4

Thankful

Tis the season to think about all that we have to be thankful for. I am feeling it especially this year, as I am aware of many who are close to me who are struggling with their jobs or out of a job or dealing with illness or just a difficult circumstance. I am grateful for this season to reflect on all the many blessings we've been given.

We are trying to have fun with the boys (well mostly David) teaching them about Thanksgiving and what it means to be grateful. I am truly thankful for these two little boys. They are a gift! I am asking David each day this month what he is thankful for and today he said, "Food, God, you, drink, and Daddy and Owey." :)

Halloween

We had such a blast on Halloween. We attended a fantastic harvest party with lots of our friends. The party had a carnival theme and all the games gave you tickets and at the end of the night, the kids turned them in for candy! David and Owen both loved all the games and much fun was had by all. The Goodsells and VanBerkom's put so much work into it and we are so glad! We then took the little ones trick or treating with our friends, the Jacksons. David was so excited and he and Isaac would run up to each house and say, "Trick or Treat!" It didn't take long before Owen go the hang of it too. Before too long, he was walking up to the houses and holding out his little hand and then putting the candy in his little bucket. Adorable!

The cutest little trick or treaters ever! Lightning McQueen and Winnie the Pooh

Owen with his pot of "hunny"

The whole gang at the harvest party

Delicious food

Painting pumpkins

The bean bag pumpkin game!

Gourd bowling

Finding the candy in the hay

Trick or treating...

David's First Field Trip

David went on his first field trip with school a couple of weeks ago to a pumpkin farm! He got to pick corn and pumpkins, go on a hayride, go through a soybean maze, learn all about pumpkins and gourds, and go through the train. It was a fun day and Mommy and Owen got to come along too!

His first trip on a real school bus!

Snack time

The littlest tag-along!

Trip to Milburn Orchards with our friends!

We were able to go up to Milburn Orchards with our friend a couple of weeks ago and it was a beautiful fall day. We had such a great time!

Here is my attempt at a picture with the boys...Owen was too busy looking at the pumpkins! :)

Owen loves animals. He LOVED the cow and kept saying, "moo, moo, moo!"
It was so adorable.

The hayride!

Owen wasn't so sure what to think of all the hay.

25th Anniversary

A few weeks ago, we traveled up to CFC two weeks in a row to celebrate their 25th anniversary. It was a very emotional night, filled with so many memories. We walked away freshly grateful for the goodness of God in our lives through that church. Some highlights for me were: the museum which was simply amazing! Seeing old, dear friends who feel more like my family. My dad was able to be a part of a panel of original church plant team members and they recounted the early days of the church which is a part of my childhood that I cherish. The eighties band led my Bill Patton. When I saw them walk out and saw Mr. Patton, I began to cry. The slideshows and the laughter. It was a wonderful time looking back on the past 25 years and recounting the goodness and faithfulness of our God.

the panel with my dad

The eighties band

This was powerful. Different people came up to the song, "Prodigal" and on one side of their banner, it showed their life before Christ and the other side what Christ had done for them through the church.