On the road again...

The last 2 weekends we have been on the road.  2 weekends ago David and I left the kids with the grandparents and drove to Middle Tennessee to spend the weekend with my best friends from college.  We try to get together at least once a year if not twice.  This year we were blessed with 2 weekends, 1 in Boston just the girls and this one at the lake with the couples.  It was truly perfect.  Perfect weather, perfect friends, perfect relaxation.


This past weekend we loaded up the boys and drove to Knoxville.  The boys did great on the drive there and back.  It took over 7 hours to get there because of a terrible wreck on I-40 which meant the entire interstate was diverted to Hwy 70.  We thankfully made it home closer to 6 hours.

We stayed with one of our favorite families...the Robinsons.  We have been friends with them through most of our marriage and it is always such a blessing to be near them.  We lived in the same city for 5 of the last 9 years and are sad we are 6 hours apart now.  We hope to continue visiting them every year.  The boys LOVE Kate and CC and talk about them all the time.  (Unfortunately I didn't get 1 picture with the kids or us together).

Saturday morning we enjoyed breakfast at the Robinsons and then drove to campus to experience game day.  It was so great to be back where so many wonderful memories were made.

Before the game we met up with some old high school/college friends who were so sweet to let us use their tickets for the game. They were perfect seats and the boys enjoyed the view of the field. Thanks Tyra and Eric!

After we met up with Tyra and Eric we met up with 2 of my high school girls who are now freshmen at UT. It was so great to see them and hug their necks.
We then headed to the stadium to see one of the best sites...the running through the T. Love it!
We did lots of things to entertain the boys when they got restless...took pictures of ourselves with the camera.

and enjoyed a lot of food.

We made it through halftime and then threw in the towel.  The boys were not going to make it that much longer.  When we left we were up 21-7 so we felt pretty confident that we were going to win but boy were we wrong.  What a terrible loss!  We made the long journey back to the car to head back to the Robinson's.

We spent the rest of the afternoon outside enjoying the perfect weather.

Sunday morning we took 3 of my high school girls out for breakfast in downtown Knoxville.  It was such a treat to spend time with them.  I am so proud of all my girls and love seeing them enjoy college life.

2 great weekends spent with wonderful friends making lasting memories!

Zoo Boo and Halloween

To finish that weekend with a bang...the whole crew went to Zoo Boo on Sunday night.  David's brother and sister in law were in town so they joined us along with David's parents and my mom for a fun night at the zoo.  At one point David and I looked at each other and realized there were so many adults watching our children that we should just walk off and have a date.

We started the night with some kiddie rides.  Riding the airplanes,

driving the boat,

and a ride on the choo choo train.

Afterwards we walked around looking at the sites and collecting a little bit of candy.
That Wednesday Austin's school had a Harvest Party so Miller and I went to join in on the fun.  Everyone was so sweet to include Miller in all the food and activities.  He was in Heaven sitting next to his big brother at school.

That night the boys dressed up as a doctor and a monkey for Halloween.  They definitely got the whole concept of walking up to a door, ringing the door bell, saying trick or treat, and receiving candy.  They loved it!

These next 2 picturea crack me up because it is definitely life with boys..always jumping and moving.
My precious doctor in training.

Such a fun week with family in town, David's work events, and Halloween!

Weekend before Halloween

Three weekends ago we had an action packed weekend.  We crammed tons into a long weekend.  It was fun and exhausting all at once.  David's work had a 3 day/night event that we attended plus we had extra activities for the kids to celebrate Halloween.

Thursday night started with a dinner at the Rendezvous for a meet and greet with the people in town for the work event.  It was so great to be reunited with 3 of the wives from David's classmates.  We missed the other 4 though.

Friday morning the wives and children came to our house for a playdate.  It was a cold and rainy day so it was a perfect day to have everyone over to play.
Friday night was supposed to be Austin's final soccer game and soccer awards party but the game got rained out. We still had the party at a pizza place and had a great time. Austin's soccer picture is one of a kind. Probably going to pull it out for his rehearsal dinner one day.

 After the soccer party we changed into our cocktail attire and jetted down to the Peabody for a cocktail party on the top floor.  They had a photo booth with props to take pictures with a cardboard cutout of the founder of the Campbell Clinic, Willis Campbell.  As you can see, the 3 wives had fun with it.  
After the cocktail party we went to dinner with close to 30 people from numerous residency classes.  It was such a fun night.

Saturday morning started early with David working so I took the boys to a Halloween Hike at the Botanic Gardens.  We met 2 of Austin's best buds and enjoyed a morning together.  David finished work early and met us for the last hour or so.

We went on hayrides...

Painted pumpkins...I love their faces in this picture...intense concentration.  
We dug bones out of owl poop.
We were silly and cuddly.


The kids had a great time just being together!   
That evening we had the final evening celebrations for David's work.  It was a gala and unfortunately I did not get one picture of us.  It's probably for the best.  By this point my feet and legs were so swollen from all the activities that weekend plus trying to squeeze my pregnant feet into dressy shoes, it wasn't a pretty site.  I did get a picture of the beautiful table decoration.

It truly was an exhausting but fun weekend.

November 4th

Yesterday was hard...like really hard.  I didn't think I would be that sad but I was so down.  I guess the 5 years hit me hard.  5 years seems so long ago and the more years means the longer since I held him or touched him.  Before I went to bed I read Jesus Calling and it spoke so strongly to me.  Here is the excerpt below:

Walk peacefully with me through this day.  You are wondering how you will cope with all that is expected of you.  You must traverse this day like any other: one step at a time.  Instead of mentally rehearsing how you will do this or that, keep your mind on My Presence and on taking the next step.  The more demanding your day, the more help you can expect from Me.  This is a training opportunity, since I designed you for deep dependence on your Shephard-King.  Challenging times wake you up and amplify your awareness of needing My help.

When you don't know what to do, wait while I open the way before you.  Trust that I know what I'm doing, and be ready to follow My lead.  I will give strength to you, and I will bless you with peace.  

And the scripture that went along with it:
The Lord replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." - Exodus 33:14

The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days." -Deutronomy 33:25

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. -Hebrews 13:20-21

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. -Psalm 29:11

I am so thankful I have a Shepherd who walks with me and leads me, who gives me strength and peace.  Thankful that His mercies are new everyday.

If you look closely in the background you can see my little guys with David climbing the tree.  They love "Forrest's tree".

Thank you for the prayers, comments, texts, and love on such a difficult day.  We are thankful for each of you who have walked this road with us over the last 5+ years.

5 years

It's been 5 years since:
- I held his hand
- I kissed his face
- I slept beside him
- I held him in my arms
- I touched him
- I prayed beside him

Some days it seems so long ago and some days it seems like yesterday.

David and I spent this weekend with friends at the lake and it was so good to just get away for a little bit. As we were driving and seeing the change of leaves on the trees, we were reminded of a similar drive 5 years ago when we drove to Montreat after Forrest's funeral. During that drive we were so broken and in so much pain. It truly felt like we couldn't breathe without feeling like we were being crushed. God has been so evident and so real these last 5 years. He has been our comforter and healer and showed us His love when it was hard to even see through the tears.

We are so thankful that God entrusted us to be Forrest's parents. What a privilege and honor to be called his mommy. We are so thankful for the 55 days we spent with him and for the privilege to carry on his legacy and memory through the Forrest Spence Fund.

I miss you sweet boy. I would give anything to hold your hand one more time, kiss your head one more time, lay beside you one more time, and just breathe in the smell of you.

I love you now and forever...to the moon and back.

Five for Friday

So sorry about the lack of posting...our lives have been crazy  busy and don't really slow down for a couple more weeks.  Hoping around mid November to settle in a little bit and take some time to work on baby girls room and the rest of the house.  For now we are enjoying the Fall and spending time with friends and family.

So a little random Five for Friday for you...

1.  Starting to purchase a few pink things for baby girl.  LOVE the pink and can't wait to see her in it.

 2. Feel like I do alot of waiting at doctors offices lately. I am now every 2 weeks at the OB plus once a month at the Urologist so I feel like I spend hours of my time waiting.  She is kicking and moving a ton so its fun to sit and rest for a little bit and feel her.  Truly an amazing thing to know I am growing a child in that belly.  Only 8.5 weeks to go!

 3. We had a great weekend and it deserves its own post that I hope to get to next week but for now a couple pictures to recap.


4.  Dr. Spence and Curious George (again for the 2nd year in a row) enjoyed trick or treating and all the fun things that went along with Halloween.

5. Getting ready for a great weekend. Will post more next week.

Happy Friday friends!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.