Blake and I snuck away (well, not literally!) for three days last weekend!

It was FABULOUS!

We were traveling teenage style…in Grant’s car! I actually loved it till I hit my head getting in it at one of our stops!

Before we left our area, I had a list of errands to do in town.

Things like getting my glasses adjusted. Important stuff.

We also stopped at my favorite second hand store to shop for clothes for Eliza.

Our sweet baby is growing SO fast!

On our drive to the big city, I already had my notebooks out!

We use this trip every year to plan our budget, school, activities, and usually our farm ventures – although this year we are planning a move instead.

Once in the big city we stopped for a quick lunch – fresh smoothies. Ahhh. My kind of lunch!

We made a Target run…

By then it was snowing, so we stopped for these…..

We had a suite for the weekend so we could cook our meals! Grocery shopping at the local co-op was a treat!!

Our meals were INCREDIBLE! Blake cooked for me all weekend! Thanks, honey!!

Even though it was freezing, and snowing, we did a lot of walking!

Sometimes we had motivation for our walks. Don’t judge – at least it’s not ice cream!

We managed to get all of our planning done. And all next year’s school books ordered!

We had help staying motivated with all of that too!

The view from our suite was very city like. We were not in the country anymore!

We also stopped at Costco for some family sized groceries! Wish we had a Costco near us!

We went to see a movie, and even considered seeing a second one! Miracles from Heaven was very good!

We Skyped the kiddos twice a day. They LOVED that. They usually were all taking at once! It was so cute!

We also visited a beautiful church on Sunday morning! It was a breathtaking service. Left us both in tears!

And just like that, it was time to head home! I was getting antsy! I was ready to get home!

We are now saying for our 30th anniversary we will go somewhere warm! And far away!

But I think we said that for our 20th. And 25th!!

Goes to show what I say is true. It doesn’t matter where you are, as long as you have your people!

Blake is my person! (Lane is watching me type this and said “He’s my person too!!” Cue the Kleenex, please!)

And I love spending time with Blake!

We work hard to keep our marriage strong and healthy!

It is SO worth it! To be heirs together in the grace of life!

Praising the Lord for 27 years of marriage!!

And for a FABULOUS get away!!

Blake and I had a little get-away trip this past weekend!

We have been going on an anniversary get-away weekend trip every year now for six years!

I always look forward to it SO much.

While we were away, the kiddos had a good time – and the littles did great!

We were not far away, just in case.

Addie Mae took some photos….and I want the photos to be in my scrapbook!

So here you go!

Craft time is always a hit!

It snowed where we were too, but here on this ridge, the volume and accumulation is always more!

There were donuts for breakfast one morning! Our donuts are baked, not fried, and actually very healthy!

Blake and I heard about these when talking to the kids on Skype! Eliza said “We had donuts, like a sandwich with a hole, and I not know how work it!”

They headed out one afternoon to hit the library. These kiddos devour books.

The scenery was SO beautiful after a wet, heavy snow!!

Our time away went quickly, for all of us.

I do not take it for granted that Blake and I can have a get-away and not have to worry about things at home!

These big kiddos can run this place better than I can!

It’s been a busy week around these parts, with many things needing my attention – but I hope to get caught up on this little scrapbook of mine soon!

Hope you all had a GREAT week!!!!

First of all, I am overwhelmed.

The comments, texts, and the endless e-mails this past week…….oh my goodness, you all.

Thank you for reaching out.

For sharing encouraging words with us.

You have been such a blessing!!

Next, here is my heart.

This past week was rough, rough.

We have spoken amongst ourselves about selling our home and farm for over a year, but once we said it out loud to everyone else, the reality set in for all of us and we had a lot (a lot!) of tears.

Every single one of those tears was needed, and served a purpose.

I can say that our hearts feel more connected then ever before.

And I am so thankful.

I also will share that I did not realize how much Tate’s appointment on Thursday was weighing on me.

But now I know it was.

BIG TIME.

The thought of that surgery was too much for me to handle.

We are SO thankful for the Lord’s doing in Tate’s life.

I just heard today that God shows His miracles here on earth so we know He is with us.

I really have not ever thought of the way He shows Himself to us always as “miracles” – but I DO see God with us.

He shows Himself to me every single day in some way.

That, is what is called FAITH.

We are going to continue to walk by faith and not by sight.

The amazing news about Tate’s improvement was the Lord showing Himself to us.

He does not want us to question for ONE second whether He is with us.

He is.

Thursday night when I gave Tate his bath, it was like I was seeing Tate in a whole new light.

I can’t explain it completely – but it was PURE JOY.

No worry – JUST PURE JOY.

I think you will agree that that is what this precious boy is.

JOY!

When we fell in love with the photos and video of this child of God over two years ago now, we could have never imagined this.

Our cheerful young warrior who is filling our hearts to overflowing.

We cannot even imagine what the Lord has for us as we wait on Him for this next season in our lives!