Months gone by...

I never intended for my blog to go untouched for so long. We've had quite a lot happen over the last year. Here's a quick summary... in pictures!

Noah played 7 on 7 during the spring with Carolina Elite Football. We loved that he got to play with his buddy, Walker.

Natalie played on a co-ed baseball team for the first time ever. We were proud of her progress throughout the season with the Mudhens. 

I finished my degree in Elementary Education last December but decided to walk at the May Commencement. It was a special weekend made even more spectacular because my sister, Lynn, was also graduating and we were able to walk together. 

Natalie was honored to be a participant in the National American Miss North Carolina State Pageant in June. Her first pageant ever! We spent several days in Winston Salem for all the events and can't say how thrilled I was to see her carry herself with such poise and confidence. I'm not sure if she will continue in the pageant world, but know this experience was life changing for her. 

NAM has the contestants use escorts during the formal wear competition. Evan was so sweet to agree to be Natalie's escort. He was even asked if he was interested in doing some modeling! 

We left after the pageant for a family vacation in Myrtle Beach. My Mom and sisters (minus 1 family) rented a house for a week the first week in July. It was a fun week: full of laughs, food, sand, and sun! 

I thought that my graduation would have been the most emotional part of the year, but as the Lord would have it, things changed... and change isn't always bad! We had been praying about the next step for our family for quite some time. Chuck had already graduated from seminary. Our kids were happy and thriving in school. I was ready to begin a full time career teaching. Life was full of bumps and bruises along the way, but we were a part of a new church plant that taught us so much and loved us so well. We had so many friends to share life with. But it was then that we felt the Lord leading us to take all that we'd learned and move... leaving behind all those precious friends and a life we'd grown to love in Raleigh. 

I wish I had pictures with all our NC framily:) 

Chris and Alisa Jones were the very first people we met when we moved. They were newly weds and living in the corner apartment next to us. We lived in such close community with them, led small group with them, played games, argued, and helped welcome them home when they brought their first baby into the world. 

Sean Robinson instantly became a part of our family once we met through Oaks Church. We will always be grateful for the time he invested in Evan.

Lisa and Mike Harris and their children will always have a special place in our hearts. We've worked together, played together, and sometimes laughed til we cried... it was hard to say goodbye to these friends. So hard I contemplated stuffing them in a box and taking them with us! 

The Burgess, Ryder, and Zust families shared some much-needed time in the park with us before we left. I've learned so much from these friends, their servant hearts, and love for the Lord. Thank you for teaching me what true biblical community really means. 

So that leads us back to south Georgia... back where it all began. We're transitioning back into a slower pace of life and trying to find out just where the Lord wants us to serve. Without a doubt, it's hard to be back in a small community. But, without a doubt, HE led us here, again, for a purpose far greater than we could imagine. HE is good and HE is faithful. 

His faithfulness doesn't always look like we want it. But it's always there. Always. 

His provision isn't necessarily how'd we like it. But HE provides. Always.

Even when that provision means you live with your mother for 4 1/2 months.

Even when your husband searches for a job for months on end. 

Even when your new job doesn't pay as much as you'd like.

Even when your children make poor choices.

God is at work.

God is at work in all the little details of this small town life. For that, I'm thankful. 

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Natalie was able to to be a part of the mini camp that the varsity cheerleaders hosted in August. They learned some cheers, a dance, and did some basic tumbling.

Noah played his first year of middle school football. It was A LOT different from Pop Warner with no weight restrictions, which meant he was one of the smallest guys on the field. They didn't have a winning season, but it was definitely a learning experience. 

Here's Natalie and some cheer friends the night they performed at half-time during a Patriot football game. 

We celebrated our Pepapa Walker turning 90!!

And we got to watch Autumn's softball team win Region and then runner-up in state!

We're now much closer to our beloved DAWGS and got to see a game late in the season. I loved being able to spend the day with Evan, knowing that in just a year and a half, he'll be headed off to college. Time flies... so I'm hoping to make the most of these days with him.