North Georgia State Fair

Every year we say we are going to go to the Fair and then we never do for one reason or another. This year I said "We are Going!!!" And we did!

Unfortunately John had to work last minute and was not able to join us. :(

They have specials everyday and Wednesday night was an unlimited ride pass for $18. Each ride takes 2 to 4 tickets and they cost $1 a piece. You can imagine how quickly that adds up!!!

Plus this would have been the last year for Xavier to get in free. Free is our favorite price! :)

So, David and Rachel Fox went with us. It was great because David LOVES Fairs and took Xavier on as many rides as he was allowed to ride. There was even a kid friendly area and Addison got to ride lots of rides too.

We did bring John home a funnel cake!

Xavier summed it up the best over dinner, "Best day EVER!!"

Going out on Faith

Our sign that Dean Fox of Ohio made for us not too long ago.

Pastor John giving his last sermon in the old church building. (He was of course in Acts. :)

Praising God through song.

The old building.

The view from the road. This was Sabbath morning.

Just a few more pews left to move.

One corner of the old sanctuary already empty.

Michael's job was to make sure the pews didn't slip and fall. :)

Moving a pew out of the church.

John and Henri moving a pew. They were super heavy.

Addie and Rachel watching them load the truck.

Henri resting on the last pew to go.

This past Sabbath, September 25, was our last Sabbath at the location at 1934 Hiram Sudie Road, Hiram, GA. The church had been meeting at this property for almost 30 years. Back in the spring, the congregation voted to put the property up for sale with the understanding that it may not sell or take up to 18 months before even getting an offer.

After just a few months we had 2 offers on the property. After a lot of praying and discussions, we voted to accept one of the offers. The closing date was set for October 15, however, God has his own plans! After voting on September 6th to accept the offer, we closed on the property on September 17th. Almost 1 month early!

John, my husband and pastor, worked quickly to find us a temporary home with Holy Cross Lutheran Church. They were the church where we held John's ordination service back in 2009. They are allowing us to rent their church for very cheap on Sabbath afternoons.

Today, the 26th, we moved all the things we intend to keep for a new meeting place. Our garage at the new house is plenty big enough and is now the new home to 13 wooden pews and some other important items.

As a church we have been praying for God's will. I truly believe he is speaking to us with everything that has transpired in the last 2 weeks. There also appears to be a possible new property for us to purchase. We won't know more until January, but we are praying that if it is God's will, it will be done.

Praise God!!!

Dance Anyone?

Strike a Pose! Vogue!

(This makes me laugh so much, it was totally spontaneous on both their parts.) Glad I had the camera all ready to go.

The only picture I could get of them dancing. I LOVE how they are dancing together.

Xavier and Kayla! (She is a cutie)

Sponge Bob! (personally, I do NOT like this show.)

Addison at the dance. See how happy she is?

Bowling on the Touch.

Mr. Kevin had an ipod Touch.

Hanging out before church.

Munching on strawberries!

Xavier's school had a dance Friday night and he just HAD to go. Mr. Kevin from WI was in town as well for Sabbath Recorder meetings at our church. He and John went out for dinner while I took the kids to the dance. They missed a lot of fun. John would have had a blast dancing to some of the songs.

Xavier found his friend, Kayla, at the dance. She sits at the same table as him in class. So, let's just say that my son is going to be trouble when he is older. Not only did he spend most of the night hanging with Kayla, but at least 3 other girls too. It was super cute.

The dance was a lot of fun. They had Sponge Bob show up and dance with the kids and parents and teachers were out on the floor dancing the night away. For the most part a lot of kids were running, but mine were dancing. Addison had a ball as well.

Some Family Photos

A New House, A New School, and A New Life?!

My Tiger Cub!

Home from school. She is adorable in her uniforms.

John and X getting ready to try some skating.

Addie watching Daddy and X skate. She was not a fan of doing it herself.

All ready to skate.

part of the backyard. (Yes, we have a lot of red clay. :( )

The back of the house. I love that we have a back deck.

One side of the house.

The front of the house. See my rocking chair? I can't wait for it to get cooler and then I will be spending a lot of time sitting there. :)

The past few weeks have been almost heavenly. Yes, we have been super busy and swamped with work, but yet there is a peace filling our home and we LIKE it!

We knew our summer was going to jam packed with activities and places to be then we added a move to a new home into the mix. What were we thinking????

2 years ago my mother and my niece moved in with us and after a few months it became very clear that we needed a bigger house. We found a 6 bedroom 3 bath house close to my job in Mableton, GA. It was a great house and we have so many found memories of that place. It was really hard to make the decision to move. But, with my mom and niece moving to Seattle, WA there was no need for such a large home or such a large rent payment every month. We decided it was time to down size and found a nice 3 bedroom 2 bath home in a great neighborhood in Dallas, GA. But I don't think it is just the house that has made life more enjoyable, I think it has to do with us getting to spend more time as a family.

Before the move, it was a rare occurrence to have the whole family together in the evenings or weekends. John worked far from home on a different schedule every week. He tried so hard to get a regular schedule but it always seemed to change once we got use to it.

Now we live very close to both of his jobs: Sears and the church. I, however, must travel to and from work, but at least it is a set schedule that doesn't change.

Even though I must leave the house by 6a.m. and don't get home until 3:45ish, we are still getting lots of family time and time with our children. It use to be me and Xavier together and then Addison and John together along with Grandma. Now I am getting to spend more quality time with my daughter since she has started preschool at my school. John is now in charge of getting Xavier up and off to school as well as being here when he gets home. Their relationship is starting to grow leaps and bounds.

With John being so close to Sears and not working as many hours, he and I are getting more time together as well. Once the kids are in bed, we have been watching movies or sitting and talking with one another. Before the kids go to bed, (weather permitting) we will either walk around the neighborhood or sit on the front porch and let the kids play. It has been fantastic!

Xavier's new school is even keeping us busy. Their PTO is super and has a whole year already planned out. I think there is an event almost every week. Xavier has started Cub Scouts and since he is a Tiger Cub, one parent must attend meetings with him. John and I will be taking turns depending on his schedule. But this is yet another opportunity for us to share as a family.

David and Rachel have also been a tremendous blessing. They volunteer to keep the kids for us and even hosted John's birthday dinner.

God has his plans and purposes for our lives. He is certainly blessing us and we couldn't be more grateful.

On an end note, I have posted some pictures of the outside of the house and some random ones from the month. There are also some from the photo shoot with Mandy Henry.