Thanksgiving weekend

This weekend was quite different from our first 2 Thanksgivings together. We usually are driving and seeing lots of family, which is great but it was nice to stay home and have some good rest as a family. We had our meal with our church family--we brought the pies, one regular pumpkin, one gourmet pumpkin that Leah always makes, and one new apple-cranberry walnut that I (Shauna) read about in a book I read recently (pie making has been something I have gotten into a little).


Everly enjoyed her first Thanksgiving. She had a chair at the big people table! Next year I'm sure she'll be sitting with the kiddos and running around and playing with them... wow--running, that's a whole new level to think about! Here she is playing with the boys' trucks in her dress.

On Saturday we decided we would go see Santa. They had been advertising it on the TV that at 7pm it would snow there, so we made our plan to get to the mall early and leave right after the snow fell so Everly could get her sleep still. Before we got to Santa we searched many stores for a red bow for Everly because someone had already called her a boy. We had no luck, and decided she was cute enough without. Everly didn't cry when she saw Santa which was surprising since she hadn't taken her earlier nap in the drive as we had hoped. And we even got a good smiling picture!

We had some time to kill before the big snow fall, so we walked around (the Disney store is always fun), took some pictures and had some eggnog icecream.

Everly did watch the snow falling, though we're hoping for a better experience up North this Christmas!

The rest of the weekend we spent decorating the house for Christmas, watching Home Alone (actually we fell asleep not far into it!), drinking hot cocoa, and enjoying dressing Everly up in her Christmas attire.


It's exciting to be sharing the holidays with her, though I know she won't understand it for a couple years. Still, it's a lot of fun for us! :) Hope your weekend was as wonderful as ours!

time for some pictures!

Here are some photos from last week...

Aaron and Lucas with a minister from OH cut down our neighbors dead tree.


Here are Everly's first two teeth that are getting bigger every day!


And I thought this was cute- Everly playing with Daddy. :)


Yea! Winter clothes from Nana.


Everly after she eats a baby cookie!


A big oops! I accidently left the laundry room sink on while I went about doing other chores. Water leaked through to the living room but luckily our neighbor had a wet vac and blower (I don't know what else to call it?) we could borrow.


The living room finally back together after the blower was on for 48 hours! Ev thinks she can help me with my crossword.

The best week ever!

Aaron said last night that he is having the best week since we've been down here. That's pretty exciting. Why? He said there's been many volunteers say he's doing a great job. There were times when we worked with CrossRoads that would get a lot of negative feedback, some that would challenge us and help us grow, but others that would just tear us down. So it's good to see that we've grown, or just to have volunteers who are positive and encouraging! Another reason it's been a good week is that Aaron has been going in early and getting a lot done, which forces me to also get up early and get things done. So, I agree. It has been a good schedule this week, although I do like to stay in bed for a little longer while he takes care of Everly! And, another reason is probably our team. Yesterday we had an open house at the gutted bowling alley. It was primarily to let people know about the counseling program which will start in January at another location. I got to make a brochure about the Gathering, and it was good to contribute directly to the ministry. While there weren't a lot of people that came by, there were some important contacts made. One was an architect who said he would sign off on our floor plans (made by contractors in Indy) for free, which Aaron says is a very expensive thing usually. So, that's a blessing! And we have had Todd down who is going to be the director of the community center. He has been working on their house--please pray with us that their home in Phoenix will sell soon so that he and his family can move down here! I believe that the group of men coming from Indian Creek in December are going to do a bunch of work on their house here, so that will be good. And we've had Ron down for the last week. He's our counseling genius, :), and is also working on his house. Right now he stays at the middle school and will move December 27th with his wife following after school gets out (she'll be retiring from teaching).
Well, this is a lot of text that is kinda unorganized, but pretty exciting stuff. Oh yes, one more reason Aaron said this has been the best week--God providing for us through faithful supporters just at the right time. That gets Aaron choked up. We're both really appreciative when people sacrifice to take care of us, to know that the believe in what we're doing, and to see that God is caring for us, too! I feel like God will take care of us if he wants us in this ministry, and we've never been without. Thank you, all.

birthday at Navarre Beach!

This past weekend we got to see our good friends, Jen and Joel Searby, and their 10 week old baby Evan for my 25th birthday. The Searbys live in Gainesville and we were blessed with a condo halfway between us and them at Navarre Beach. It was so much fun hanging out, playing with the kiddos, and just being on the beach! Here are some pictures.


This is definitely one of my favorites--Ev is so cute in her bikini!


We are now 1/2 way to 50 and 1/4 way to 100!


On the board walk with Jen and Evan.


Hanging out in the beach tent.


Evan is only a few inches shorter than Everly! Aren't they cute?!

There are more photos on the Searbys blog if you're interested: www.thesearbys.blogspot.com.