Happy Halloween

Caroline has truly gotten to enjoy this Halloween!  Tonight was her second time trick or treating AND she will be going again this weekend at the beach.  It was a pretty night and we enjoyed hanging out with our friends.  The kids in our group were really good about sticking together and watching for cars.  Thanks to our friends Rhett and Farrah for hosting us and allowing us to hang out in their neighborhood...it's always more fun in a group!!!!

first stop-Pop and Peeps

 The kids L to R:

Griffin, Rylie, Caroline, Gray and Liam

 shear determination

 Caroline LOVES pulling  a wagon

 our sweet family

Acorns

Last night when I was cleaning up the kitchen, I found a cup full of acorns...hmm not sure where they came from.  Anyway, I sat them to the side and kept working.  A little later I took some clothes out of the washing machine and found more acorns at the bottom of the machine.  At this point I am pretty sure that Caroline has an "acorn collection" that I know nothing about.  It gets better, when I took the clothes from the dryer I FOUND MORE!!!

So this morning I asked her about it.  She said "I found them at church and thought it would be good to add to my collection!"  Yep, I know my girl all too well...sadly for her, most of her collection had already gone out with the nightly trash!  Oops...

Halloween Weekend #1

We had a wonderful weekend camping at Ocean Lakes!  It was perfect Halloween camping weather.  It got down to between 35 and 40 both nights but into the 60's during the day!  AMAZING!!!!    We got to visit with my brothers and their families (except Daniel who had to work-boo).  Jennifer and Randy were also there with Jenna minus Jared who was visiting his girlfriend...these kids are growing up!

our first camp fire

 Caroline trying to stay warm while our burgers cooked in the fire

 Randy and Andy cooking breakfast.  There is NOTHING better than camping breakfast!! 

 Pumpkin carving

 We took a little break and went on the scavenger hunt...we got about 12 answers!  Not even close to winning.

 We were blessed to be able to enjoy over an hour on the beach...beautiful!!!!

 shell collection

 mid afternoon snack

 The Doc is IN and ready for some treats

 I see a very close resemblance

 After trick or treating, we went over to my brother Bob's camper for dinner.  The kids had a great time playing together.

 No camping trip is complete without feeding the ducks

 Our Jack O Lantern

Fun on the train

Ooops almost forgot this picture...we stopped at an outdoor shopping mall after the apple orchard.  We enjoyed a light snack and Caroline got to ride the train.  Fun days

American Doll Store

Since we were close sooo Tyson's Corner once leaving DC, Uncle Ed thought it would be a great idea to stop at the TWO STORY American Doll Store.  I honestly think Caroline was OVERWHELMED for the first 10 minutes we were there.  She loved exploring each and every inch of the store...it took all we had to not cave in and buy a doll or accessory.  Santa may or may not be bringing an 18in non American Doll Doll. :-)

one happy girl!!!!

After sorting through little tickets and the catalogs of each doll, Caroline finally decided on the one she wanted.  It had straight brown hair.  I asked her "OH you don't want the one that looks like you with curly hair."  Her response "No ma'am, I can't brush my hair and if she has curly hair, I can't brush hers ether."  Smart girl...at least we know she is given some serious thought to this whole process. :-)

When God is silent

This morning I was spending some time on Facebook and saw a post about a miracle...someone was told they would never have children and just found out they were expecting their second child.  A friend commented "what a miracle."  It was like someone knocked the wind out of me...Yes our GOD is in the business of preforming miracles...but what happens when he chooses to stay silent?  Why hadn't God chosen to work that very same miracle in our life? Then I thought about my dad...People overcome cancer and live in remission every day...but not daddy.  His cancer took him from us...God chose to stay silent...What about the young mom who continues to get bad news about her cancer...What about the teenager who was killed in a car accident?  God stays silent...What about my friend who LONGS to find a wonderful man, settle down and get married?  God stays silent...He can preform miracles if he chooses but sometimes he doesn't.  Sometimes his plan is far greater than ours while we just can't comprehend it or how a negative thing could bring such a positive outcome.

My dad showed great strength in the Lord as he battled cancer...he was a testimony and gave encouragement to so many others.  The young lady who is the mother of 2 fighting cancer is a witness to her co workers and students. If we hadn't struggled with infertility we wouldn't have our sweet Caroline!!!

So while somethings are just too difficult at the time, we know that we serve a MIGHTY GOD who loves us...for me I just have to see the miracles He has performed and know that when He is silent, He is still at work...and when he chooses to stay silent, I have to place my trust in HIM, even if my flesh selfishly cries out in anger...remembering that "He is before all things, and in HIM ALL THINGS hold together." Col. 1:17

Backyard Fall Fun

It's weird...Caroline has really been acting out with me.  I haven't been able to put my finger on it...something just hasn't been right.  So the other day, it occured to me that she and I need some mommy/daughter time together.  We are use to two whole days together and now it's just the afternoons.  So we created a list of things that we would like to do together, just the two of us.

One thing that Caroline absolutely LOVES is playing in a pile of leaves.  I got dinner in the oven and we headed out back to rake and play.  I started raking and she asked if she could take over.  She loved it!!  It did my heart so good to just enjoy my daughter...no expectations of either of us, just lots of fun!

jumping in

laying down

one happy girl!!!!

Afternoon with Jay and Ansley Kate

Caroline and I got to pick Jay and Ansley Kate up from school today.  Carline is my girls favorite thing to do!!  It was a beautiful fall day and we enjoyed a fun afternoon outside.  

 racking a leaf pile for them to play in

 going on a leaf hunt

Thankful for fun days!!

Washington, DC-Arlington Cemetary

As I said before, Arlington was my favorite on Saturday...the trees were so pretty, the cemetery was well taking care of and of course the changing of the guards was breathtaking...If you ever get to DC, be sure to see this!  As we looked at row after row of white headstones, I was reminded of how many people gave their life for ME to enjoy the freedoms I experience each and every day.

The Grant girls on Grant Avenue

Pictures do NOT do this justice

We arrived about 15 minutes early...complete silence as we watched.  I was so proud of Caroline for demonstrating self control to be quiet the entire 30 minutes we were there.

There were two large groups of veterans in attendance...so special!  Especially since both groups were very old men.

We are blessed by these individuals that we have never met...