Autumn Bike Ride

Keith and I wanted to try our bike ride again before the winter got here and this time we took the kids along. Last Saturday was warm enough and we actually made it out early enough to miss the rain. We've only tried to use our bike trailer once since moving up here where there are hills so the kids were actually excited about riding in it again, they didn't complain once (even though Samy looks miserable in the picture)! My poor husband got quite the workout pulling them up the hills! We made it back to the car just as it started sprinkling.
The leaves are getting close to peak so it was that much prettier on the trail. As we rode along I couldn't help but praise God for His glory and majesty revealed in nature! Can you imagine how beautiful the new heavens and earth will be when you see how amazing this earth is?!
Enjoy the pictures!

Ahhh, fall.

Fall is certainly in the air up here! Many trees have just a few beautiful red leaves remaining, others haven't changed at all, but most are covered in shades of yellow and red. It is so amazing to see God's perfect design in the seasons changing, everything dying to be made new again with the spring. Another beautiful picture of how we must die to be brought to life again--as I read this morning: 1 Corinthians 15:36 "What you sow does not come to life unless it dies."

Last week Samy got her first black eye. I was just glad it wasn't her brother who gave it to her :) She ran into one of our bar stools in the kitchen, which she does often, but this time got her eye. She's looked like she's wearing eye shadow all week!

I also had to put in a picture of her with all her bracelets and groovy headband making me think of the 80s (especially with her "blue eyeshadow" right now). Sister, that one is for you :)

Saturday afternoon we headed across Maryland to visit my college roommate and very dear friend and her hubby, Laura and Joel. Always so good to see them!

Sunday we went to the pumpkin patch and ended up picking apples as well since we were there. It was so much fun, but picking apples went way too fast. The kids weren't ready to stop but it was getting expense :) Then the kids each picked a little sugar pumpkin so we could eat it.

You have to listen to this!

Give your view of God a reality check with this amazing message from Wayne Grudem at our church this morning. What a gift from God this man is!

The Greatness of God

Harpers Ferry

Saturday we ventured to Harpers Ferry National Park in West Virginia. It's a really neat park with much of the original old town still standing and lots of exhibits showing what life was like around the late 1700s to mid 1800s. It was home to lots of industry because of the power available through the two major rivers there: the Potomac and Shenandoah. Lots of history and really cool old buildings set along two beautiful rivers and mountains surrounding. Really cool :) We had a great time despite mine and Isaac's not feeling so super and the dreary day. Well worth the trip if you're in the area!
Next time I'll have to dress the kids in more old fashioned clothes for some great pictures!

Missing the pool

Can you tell they miss the pool already?? They were running around pretending to swim in the house :)

Seven amazing years!

Labor Day marked our seventh anniversary! In some ways it's hard to believe it's been that long, and in others it seems like a lifetime ago! Things sure have changed since we said "I do" and all of those changes have been drenched in God's amazing grace to us!! We are so aware of how differently our lives would look if God had not intervened and made our blind eyes see. I don't think Keith would have made it seven years with me apart from the grace of God--I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have made it either. Keith is an amazing man and I see more each year. Particularly evident this past year was his humility and growth in leadership in our home. I am always struck when I see him avoid drawing attention to himself (because my tendency is exactly opposite) and respond to life's difficulties with an obvious awareness of God's sovereignty and love. He knows his giftings and he knows his limitations and there is no pretense of otherwise. I can honestly say I love him more now than I did seven years ago and by God's grace that will only continue to increase over the rest of our lifetime together!

So Keith kind of surprised me for our anniversary...surprised in that he made all the plans and arrangements before he told me, but figured since it meant a night away for the kids I would need some preparation time. We left our kiddos with our dear friends, the Reinkes, that Friday night. This was their first "sleep over" any where other than with grandparents so I wasn't sure how it would go, but they love the Reinkes so much they were both excited to go--even Samy! We went to dinner and walked around a lake without worry of keeping our sitters out late and enjoyed a late night movie with the sound up loud :) Saturday morning we went to The Original Pancake House and had one heck of a breakfast! I don't think you should actually call my apple pancakes breakfast, more like an apple pie! Then we had planned a long bike ride on a beautiful trail that goes from Gaithersburg into to DC, about 13 miles, though we didn't think we'd make it the whole way :) so a couple miles down the trail Keith's tire pops and we had a real nice walk back to the car :)

There's also a couple pictures of a new puzzle Isaac got and Samy with her new headbands (courtesy of Bubbe's Kohl's cash!).

August

So here comes a little catch up after a terribly slack job at blogging last month :)
My dear friend from last year's PC class came with her husband to the Worship God conference so the kids and I got to spend a day with her and Charis! It was so good to see them again!!!!

One Saturday we packed up and headed to Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate. It was so neat! It's more than just a house, it's a whole plantation. Washington wanted to be self-sustaining so he raised his own food, and even had the servants' clothes made there. It was very educational and the kids actually enjoyed it :)

Samy had her first haircut! Isaac was getting his cut and she really wanted hers cut too, so I evened up the back. Then they both got ice cream because they did so well.

After much anticipation, Keith's dad and step-mom arrived safely one Monday afternoon! We had a wonderful week with them and made lots of memories. The kids had a blast playing "wolf" with Grandan in the basement everyday, as he'd jump out and scare them. We all went to DC on Wednesday and saw tons of sights (even ran into one PC family!) in the hot sun, the kids were such troopers! We made a trip to Bruester's for some ice cream, played a few games. We never made it to the pool, much to Isaac's disappointment--he really wanted to show them how he can go off the diving board. It was such a wonderful time and we're so grateful they would make the long drive to see us!

There's also a few pictures from the Pastors College ladies' lunch and orientation day.
Here are some pictures...