Scofield

James and I have loved our church for nearly 11 years. Before he proposed he wanted to find a church home together, and we found that in Scofield. We've learned and loved immensely there. I've met some of my dearest, most kindred spirits in that family. 

 

We shared the news of our engagement with our first Sunday School class at Scofield. We were joined together as husband and wife in that sanctuary. All three of our kids were dedicated on the same stage where we shared our vows. It is the place where my kids have learned of God's unfailing, never ending love for them.

 

And more than all of that, it is where I fell in love with Jesus....where he chased after me.

 

This past Sunday was our last at Scofield, and I'm a little bit heartbroken. As I'm typing this I'm crying all over again. We still love that church, but it's been difficult to be as involved as we want to be after moving so far away, so we knew that it was best for us and for the kids to find a church closer to our new home. During worship on Sunday, I looked over at Charlotte giggling and coloring with her BFF, Amelia, and I was overwhelmed to tears. And again in class when we shared with our friends that it was our last day with them, I sobbed to the point of embarrassment.

 

It hurts to leave such a beloved place, but I was so thankful that we got to have a fun lunch and egg hunt with our class on our last day with them. So to distract from my sorrow, I took an insane amount of pictures;)...

 

I'm not sure what's happening here, but I think Hunter (adult Hunter) must be quieting the kids to give them egg hunting directions...

Grey doesn't have a clue what's going on...

 ...but soon he'll be elated!

I think this is where Hunter (kid Hunter) found out that the little kids got to hunt first;)...

This was Grey's first egg hunt (where he actually participated), so it took him a minute to understand the objective...

But, he finally got the hang of it...

...and was so excited that he swung his basket until all of the eggs fell out...

Luckily, mommy and daddy were there to pick all of them up quickly!

After a couple of minutes, the big kids joined all the littles!

Grey grew tired of it, so we let him go to the shade and open the candy. It doesn't look like it, but he was thrilled!

And just like that it was over!

A million group pictures...

We love Scofield! And Egg Hunts! And Jesus;)

Skate for Eight!

Hunter loves roller skating, so we had his party at Texas Skatium. I went there for parties and to skate with friends a lot as a child and hadn't been since I was a teenager. Either I just didn't realize how stinky and dirty it was back then or a lot has changed. The kids had a ton of fun, even if it was kind of oogy. They didn't seem to notice!

 

Charlotte, Hunter, and Zack were the only kids (from our party) there for a while and they went straight out to the rink as soon as we found our table...

 

After about 5 minutes, Nathan showed up...

Hunter first skated at Nathan's party back in September and has loved it ever since!

They offer face painting and balloons during the birthday parties. Charlotte was the only one that wanted to get her face painted...not surprising since she was the only girl.

In the middle of the party, they called Hunter and his whole party to the middle of the rink to play games and dance...

I loved watching all of  these boys interact...

First, he had a hula hoop contest with this other birthday girl...

Hula hooping in roller skates is hard!

Then they did some dancing...

It was so funny fun...

That definitely tired them out, so they were excited for pizza and cupcakes...

 

Then they headed back out for more skating! Sweet Zack was so helpful with Charlotte...

Hunter wanted to have a sleepover, too, but I told him that only cousin Zack could sleepover since we were having the big party. He was just as excited about just having Zack as if all of his friends were able to come. He really looks up to Zack.

So, we just had a small group to watch him open his presents...

My phone died after that picture (and my camera was dead at the skating rink), so I didn't get anymore photos. He got legos, lots of money and gift cards, this cool Frisbee ball, a nerf football night vision set, some doodle books, chalk paint, and gum:)

 

Zack and Hunter stayed up until 12:30! I think it was a perfect party day for our eight year old!

Eight is Great!

Sweet Hunter,

This has been my favorite birthday of yours so far, so I thought I'd change up your birthday letter this year and re-cap so that you can remember it always.

 

Last night, Daddy and I stayed up late getting everything ready for today. We (Daddy, really) started putting your basketball goal together last night at 9:30 after you went to bed (Cub Scouts kept you up too late last night!)... 

While he started with that, I was inside putting up balloons and making your birthday cake...

We had some after school today, and it was yummy!

Finally, three hours later, we finished your goal and headed to bed at 12:30...

We went up this morning and woke up you and Charlotte around 6:45, and you came down to find balloon streamers hanging in the entryway (Grey LOVED these and kept begging us to lift him up so he could punch them!) and a donut cake that daddy put together...

You were still trying to wake up, so you asked Charlotte to blow out your candles for you...

Then it was present time!! You opened a card from Nanny and Grandad with some spending money...

Clothes from Grandee and Poppy...

And some more money from Nana and Rich. You read all of your cards so quickly and fluently this year!

Then it was time for your card from us...

...with a message that told you to go outside to get your present!

You were super excited when you saw your basketball goal!

Then we headed back in and facetimed with Nana so she could watch you open the special gift from her and Rich and Grandee and Poppy...a new Tablet!

Can you tell it was super exciting?! 

 

You had a field trip at school and then played on your tablet this afternoon while Charlotte was at dance. Tonight, we headed to Red Robin to eat with Nanny, Grandad, Aunt Katie, Uncle Steve, Zack, Grandpa, and Jennifer. Aunt Katie got you 2 Percy Jackson movies...

 Again, you were thrilled with your gift. You are reading the second Percy Jackson book right now, and you told me that you needed to finish it before Saturday because your plan is to watch the movies with Zack that night after your skate party. You are an avid reader, so I bet you can do it!

 

Zack, Katie and Steve came back to our house afterward for a little basketball, cake and ice cream...

The four of y'all had a blast! It was so fun watching you play together...

  

 Hunter, you are the light of my life! I was reminded today while at work just how fragile life is, and I held you just a little tighter tonight while I read On the Night You were Born to you (our birthday tradition). The Lord gives and He takes away, buddy. But we can have peace in knowing that He is good all the time...in joy and in tragedy. You are my joy, son...