windy gap weekend

Curtis and I love Windy Gap, Young Life's camp in the mountains of NC. It is beautiful, cozy, super-fun, and full of memories for both of us. For that reason, we were so honored and excited when Curtis' cousin and her husband asked if we would come help out with their city's weekend. So, after a quick and just-because trip to Knoxville (just the kids and me), we met up with Curtis in Weaverville for a non-stop and exhaustingly wonderful weekend.

 The great thing about our job/role for the weekend was that Curtis and I were able to not only serve together but also to enjoy time with our little family. 

 And how can you not enjoy that smile?

 

We enjoyed the gorgeous, chilly October weather with a few walks around camp (with our very authoritative walkie-talkies clipped on behind us). 

 Cooper pushed...

 ...while Annabelle chilled. 

 These boys felt right at home. 

 Cooper loved the adventure of the camp/giant playground. We even took a trip down to the horse corral!

 Cooper was about the same size as their heads. Surprisingly, he wasn't too intimidated!

Wild at Heart, right?

Scott and Susan (our cousins) provided an incredible babysitter, Jess, for the kids. While Curtis and I were heading up a leader meeting or "sweeping" through cabins looking for campers, she was entertaining and taking great care of Cooper and Annabelle. This is sadly the only picture that we have of her (she's the girl on the left)!

 Cooper especially loved getting to hang out in back of the club room (where the big group meetings happened). He was enthralled with the "silly mans" (guys who put on funny skits).

Side note: the "silly mans" often wore costumes featuring bleach blond mullet wigs. Several weeks later, while at Chick-fil-a, Cooper suddenly points his whole arm and yells out, "LOOK MOM! The silly man!!" I turned to see to whom he was pointing and then wheeled around as quickly as I could to shut him up. It was a woman. (In Cooper's defense, she was sporting a pretty intense bleach blond mullet hairstyle!) :)

I often joke that the main thing I miss about being on YL staff is having summer assignments (a month each year spent working at a YL camp). I really do wish that somehow our kids could grow up running around camp each summer as Curtis did.... exploring the outdoors, interacting with crazy teenagers, being loved on by staff-people from around the country, and experiencing Jesus. What a gift! Having the privilege of seeing our kids in that environment for even a few days truly blessed me. As did seeing Cooper's plumber crack. Ha!

sam

The kids and I took a quick trip to Knoxville to visit dear ones. It was fast and furious, but we had a few sweet visits with people that we love: definite good time with Marmee and Papa, a quick and crazy lunch with old friends at Chick-fil-a, a few other quick friend-sightings.  The most significant and meaningful visit, however, was one of the main reasons for the trip to TN in the first place... to meet Sam.

A little over a year ago, our dear friends Matthew and Emily began a glorious and relatively quick journey down the road of adoption. In October, they were able to travel to Taiwan and bring home their new baby boy, Sam.

 I was delighted that they allowed us to sneak in and spend a few minutes with precious Sam, just days after they brought him home. 

 Wouldn't you be delighted to see that face, too??

 I just kept staring at him, feeling so thankful that God gave this little one to my friends.

 Maybe even more so, I am thankful that God gave my friends to Sam. I have no doubt that he will be cherished, protected, and enjoyed.

 I know this because I know this little girl... Sam's big sister, Abby.

She is an adorable spitfire of a girl who has provided ample amounts of laughter, anxiety, love, sleeplessness, and joy for Emily and Matthew in her short two years of life.

The new siblings are cuter than cute together and I know that Abby will love this little boy fiercely.

 Cooper loved jumping into the mix and meeting this new baby friend.

 But Miss Abby is still his go-to buddy. We are hoping that is the case for a long time!

This newly expanded family is so dear to us, and they remind me of God's redemptive love... how He chose me and calls me His daughter.

My hope for Sam is that he would grow to understand the deep love that compelled his parents to pursue him and bring him home... and that, through that love, he would glimpse the Father. 

I know I have.

pumpkin farm

We had the best time last night. After wavering for a few hours, we decided to take the kids 25 minutes away to Razz & Tazz Farm for some pumpkin-hunting and fall fun. We had no idea what to expect, having never gone anywhere like this, but it was awesome! These folks really knew what they were doing. There was a huge corn maze and long hayrides that we didn't even attempt, but there was a gracious plenty for us to enjoy!

Cooper ran right to a cute little cow train pulled by a tractor.

(and we are apparently doing some marketing for Kimbers Restaurant!)

There was a big hay-bale "mountain" to climb.
The sun was setting over the cornfield and it was gorgeous.

 

A cool picture in silhouette.

I am going to try to take all of my pictures with backlight from now on... I think it takes off about 20 pounds!

Off to the next adventure!

Cooper was thrilled with basically every single part of this farm.

Even Annabelle was enjoying herself!

This, however, took the cake. It was literally a huge bin of corn to play in (think ball pit with corn kernels).

Cooper was beside himself....

the whole time. 

You could almost swim in this stuff!

Partly because it looked fun and partly because I wanted a good pic, I got in too.

I'm not sure we got the pic, but it actually was really fun.

Annabelle sat outside the Corn Bin and just squealed. I think she inherently knew it was awesome.

We tried for a family shot. True to form, it wasn't the best.

But it was something, which is more than we usually get!

 

From the moment we arrived, Cooper had begged to go on the "Thomas train", which was actually a tractor & trailers decorated to look like a train. When he finally got the okay, he sprinted all the way there, yelling the whole time!

It was about as exciting as a 5 minute tractor ride through a corn field can be.

To Cooper, it was a huge adventure. He looked like he might jump out of his seat a few times. Literally.

I told Curtis on the way home that I just enjoy our children more when we are out & about and having fun. I need to be proactive more often and take my kids on these kind of outings...
I think it brings out the best in all of us.

If only this place was open all year round!

Note: if you have small children and are in Greensboro next weekend, GO! You won't regret it.

new york new york

When Curtis needed to pick a seminar location to attend for work, we were pumped when we found out that New York city was an option! We jumped on that and decided to both take advantage of it. His seminar was Friday to Sunday, so on Wednesday afternoon we boarded a plane together and headed to NYC, giving us all of Thursday just to play.

Cooper was fairly unfazed with our leaving, especially after we explained that we would be going to the "big city" like Curious George did. Not only that, but he and Annabelle got to spend a few days with their Marmee. Curtis' mom came in town just to keep them for us and it was such a gift!

Apparently they all had a blast, which is the best news a parent can hear from afar.

Even little Annabelle handled it all in stride, with only a little fussiness here and there. 

Yay for Marmee!

With everything going so well at home, Curtis and I were able to breathe deep and cram in every bit of New York that we could handle. Here are my highlights:

1. Wicked. 

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We didn't want to waste our first evening in NYC, so we booked the cheapest online tickets we could find to see Wicked on Broadway that night. Though I wasn't thrilled with the plot (to be honest, I found it a little contrived and lame at times), the production was amazing. The set, the atmosphere, the voices... oh my word. They were powerful enough on their own. It was a fabulous way to get out feet wet, that's for sure.

2. Salad bar-market-buffet-grocery places:

We ran into one of these markets on our way to Wicked because we only had a few minutes. Also, since we were on a budget, we had decided not to spend all of our money on food. Anyway, I don't know what these places are called and I can't remember the actual names, but they were delicious and affordable (two things that I didn't think could exist together in New York!). So much variety, from sandwiches to salad to sushi, and it all looked delicious. Except the sushi. Not to mention that it was a small grocery as well! What I wouldn't give to have one of these on the corner of my block!

3. The David Letterman show:

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We scored tickets to the David Letterman show as well! After we left out "interview" (it's a pretty thorough audience selection process... because they tickets are free, they can handpick their audience), we thought that there was no way that they would pick us. We were pretty lame. I guess "lame" is what they were after, though, because not only did they give us tickets but they gave us an audience "upgrade" to the first two rows! We were shocked. The taping of the show was a surreal and very cool experience. I love to see behind-the-scenes and Letterman is always entertaining (though getting really old!). I think we even got a little camera love a few times!

4. H&M

 

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H&M... oh, how I love thee! Curtis gave me a surprise shopping spree when he went to his seminar on Friday and I spent almost every penny at an H&M in Union Square. It was super overwhelming, being a less-than-average shopper, but so much fun! Fashionable and affordable... it's hard to beat. I know it's not specific to NYC, but it just feels "big city" to me. Anyone up for a trip to Raleigh soon? I hear that's the closest "big city" to me.
 

5. Next to Normal.

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I'm not sure I could say enough positive things about this show. We tried to get lottery tickets (put your name in a hat a few hours before each show for the chance to buy two $20-25 tickets) for several different shows, but only our first try- this show- was successful. I am so grateful that it was! It was a beautiful complement to Wicked, as it was all plot and emotion and dialogue and depth. One of the most powerful shows I have ever seen, I was still thinking about it days later. Not only that, but the raw talent was absolutely breathtaking. I was so sad to see the news tonight that it has just closed, only two days ago. There is still a tour, which I'm sure is nearly as amazing, and you should definitely check it out. I love a show that has something to say.

6. The vitality:

 

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Forgive me for this somewhat-cliche statement, but I was honestly struck by the pervasive feeling of energy in New York. I sensed it from the beginning and yet could never fully put a finger on it. There was just a vitality that was completely unique and different from anywhere I have been. You could feel it around every corner, and it draws you in and makes you want to be a part of it.

Speaking of being a part of it... we barely took any pictures and only had our little junky camera, but here are a few just to prove we were there:

The vitality of New York and the trip as a whole has left me a little addicted. Thankfully, I was able to con my college roommates and dear friends into declaring the first weekend in June our "30th birthday weekend" and joining me in New York city. I've already got the Jay-Z song playing in my head...

"These streets will make you feel brand new,
Big lights will inspire you...
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York."