What an amazing family trip we had. It could not have been more beautiful, relaxing or fun. Mikey and Billy told us all sorts of incredible stories from their childhood memory banks. (Billy really did ride miles to school on a horse as a VERY young little boy) , we heard of ice boxes--literally, boxes with ice blocks for food to be kept cool--and all sorts of creative childhood adventures that only children without x-boxes, WIIs (is that how you say it?--and television could have conjured in their minds. Mike, Evans, and Elizabeth told hilarious stories of "apples" that were very hot. (Ask Evans) and a vicious dog that had to be put down for attacking "children" and eating the neighborhood pets. We drove around Lake Tahoe "37 times" as Avery would say, we visited the local ice cream shop in Camp Richardson. It was wonderful and had a line to the door. We ate yummy food and went on beautiful hikes. What fabulous memories were made!

Family Pics In Lake Tahoe, CA

Tahoe Fun

We had such an amazing time with the family on Lake Tahoe. We went on a great boat ride that was full of historical information (of course, I LOVED all that). There's Billy and Evans, The Rosenblooms, and us...Uncle Mike taking pictures.

Maui Day 3

to be added soon....:)

...We are In Maui...

Well, what an amazing gift to be able to come to Maui! Angie and Jenny are quite the tour guides. The Ritz is beautiful. This morning we saw the most incredibly created bird with a red cap. It was similar to a black capped chick-a-dee (thanks, Mom, for the Bird Recognition class in school!) but with a red head. God must have had so much fun making him.
The waves are beautiful and the sound is so relaxing. So, there's the beach, the pool, THEN THE OCEAN!

Home Notes:
Evans put Olive on the phone for us to hear over speaker phone...she snorts just like a pig. If anyone at home needs a pig fix (not like bacon) I'm sure she'd love a walk.
Thanks, Caleb, for taking care of her! You're the best piggy-sitter ever!

Vivian's 15th Birthday

Little Vivian is 15! It seems just yesterday my little cousin Vivian Ann was born. Lori and I were so excited, we couldn't stand it, we were about to jump out of our skin! Vivian means FULL OF LIFE. She is a gift in our family. Together, with her brother Eddie, we are so glad to call them family. Vivian, we pray God's sweetest blessings upon you and your life. We pray that you always follow the dreams and direction God puts on your heart. Never feel you cannot accomplish great things. You can. God made you wonderfully. You and Eddie are God's gift to each other. There's nothing better than a sibling for a best friend.

Olive

So Evans got me a micro mini potbelly pig, named Olive, for my birthday. Our friends, Ben and Brooke decided they were NOT going to add to their farm, so they helped us begin ours! Thanks, guys! We love Olive. She is really sweet and cuddly and likes butter lettuce. 

So I Hear We Need to Blog

We are back to blogging and MUCH has happened since May of this year.

One of the most exciting events, was our recent trip to Israel and Turkey with many members of our church community. Right now we are readjusting to the time zone and trying to process all we learning on the 17 day long trip. God blessed us witht he opportunity to go with That the World May Know Ministries on a trip that basically followed the footsteps of the disciples.

Spurs Games in the Neighborhood

Can anyone guess how we have all spent Spurs game nights? With E and Hink leading the way almost all of us have been in Spurs gear. I think they even got Jenny is a spurs sweat shirt...mind you, it IS summer weather here in Texas, but Hink was adamant that everyone be in proper Spurs attire.

More Wedding Picts

Brother and Sister

Evans and Elizabeth

Es and Pam and Chuck

...they've known me since I was born...

How awesome to have them there.

The "something borrowed" was Auntie Pam's pearl bracelet...

Es, Avery and Ryan

Tony, Jack, Billy, Caleb

John, Mike, E, Robert, and Jim

Evans and "Pops"

E is happy now!

Felt like a movie

The James Class Girls

Es, Mom and Dad

Esther's new brothers...Rick and Mike

Es and Avery (Evans' niece)

Evans is MARRIED!

Our sweet friends took tons of great photos~ thanks Serena, Paige, Hanna, and Ben!

Never would we have imagined that the Lord would do such amazing things for us. Truly, we felt His hand upon our lives in exceeding and abundant ways the day of our wedding and all those leading up to it. The Lord blessed us incredibly through so many of our friends who loved and served us tirelessly. Michele and Carol wonder if their feet will ever be the same again after that wedding reception. Because of them, my mother, sister, Jenny, and I stayed out of the funny farm. Thanks to you all--countless of you --dear ones who helped make the wedding such an amazingly beautiful reality....and all my Chicago family, who ironed clothes and carted flowers back and forth and did who knows what else to make everything happen.

Wedding Memories

The walkways leading up to the doors of the church are inscribed with verses and parables about the Kingdom of heaven. When we walked around the town looking for a place that set well and felt right for us, we stood in the front of this building and I cried (Es) reading the very phrases on which our Pastor has been teaching for the past few years....the Kingdom of heaven...the kingdom of heaven...the kingdom of heaven....heaven on earth....heaven invading earth... THIS was the place! I just knew it!

We have a lot of best friends!

Notice the girls smiling, Scott laughing and Tony clapping!

We are married!!

'Wherever two are three are gathered in My name, there I AM in the midst of them."
Lots of twos and threes honored us with their presence; indeed we felt the

presence of God in our midst.

"And friend are friends forever...if the Lord's the Lord of them..."
Pastor Scott, Tony, Jack, Caleb and Evans' dad surrounded him in prayer right

before the ceremony.

My eldest cousin on the Class side, Brian Hayes,read Scripture that he and his finance, Emily picked out, (the day before the wedding, I sprung choosing it on him...sorry, Bri...)It was wonderful and so cool for me to have him speak God's word over us, our marriage, and all who came to witness and prayerfully uphold our covenant before God to one another.