perfect are His ways

Although we know that none of us are immune, it still stuns when cancer hits someone close.  Our friend, Chad, was diagnosed last month at a much-too-early age and we are still reeling.  We've been so incredibly amazed at the grace that is so evident in their God-glorifying response, but still sad for their hard.  We truly count it joy to pray for and fight with them!  With B's less demanding schedule this summer, we were able to leave pretty quickly and head that way to be with them.  I'm pretty sure that we needed it more than they did.  With other Clanton and Carpenter buds there too, we were thankful for a great visit with them all :)

(While in town, we headed over to the Coopers' new place for a visit one morning.  It is set on 10 acres and is so beautiful!  We loved seeing them and getting a tour and the kids had a blast playing :))

Clanton and Massey kids back at the Clantons'...they had a really great time together :).  We are so thankful for incredible friends who make us feel right at home, even with little notice of our coming.

One evening, the Clantons kept all 7 kids while we went over for some adult visiting with Chad and Kelli.  Their sweet and funny Katelyn snapped some pics and directed our posing for the best silly pic :)

We already missed them before all of this, but we are missing them more terribly now.  It felt so much better to be there with them and talk honestly and cry and laugh and hug their necks and just live life together for those days.  We know that His ways are higher and that His plans are to prosper and we trust in the great story He is writing.  As we've dug into the Word and mediated on different passages together, the one that keeps coming back to my heart is Psalm 18:30-32: As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.  For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."  His way is perfect...this way is perfect.  And though we want to protest the choice of this godly man, husband, father and friend to walk this road...we know that He loves him (and his sweet family) more than we do and that through it all, He will be their refuge and strength.  All glory to Him and much love to our buds...we have already learned much from watching your faithfulness the past few years and are privileged to walk this journey with you now.  Thank you for letting God move and work so much through you!  We love you all :))

bourne reunion 2014

We hit the road in early June for the always fun and memory-making trip to Virginia for the Bourne Family Reunion.  The bigs were consumed with finding every state's license plate while Garner read aloud...a lot :)

Natural Bridge Station.  So beautiful and special to this sweet fam

Much visiting and playing Friday evening behind the cottages...

Saturday, we started as usual with the Breakfast with the Old & Rare

Gehrig and Greer are officially at the big kid tables now...

And then headed on to the gift shop for playing and posing ;)

We haven't actually been to see the bridge itself since Gehrig was a baby, so we decided to head down to see it this year.  The kids were super excited :))

It is absolutely impossible to capture how breathtaking it is in person...truly a natural wonder!  Gehrig loved all of the historical facts...that George Washington carved his initials in it and Thomas Jefferson purchased it at one point.  So neat :)

The weather was perfect for a great hike beyond the bridge and in the creek bed on the way to the falls :)

Cool Indian village :)

Afterwards, we headed out to Cave Mountain Lake for more reunion-izing :))

Uncle Bill is amazing and always stopping to spend time with the littles

Lake fun and ultimate frisbee with the cousins :)

Story-telling time

And this year's crew.  So many missing this time :(

It can't be a reunion without the Virginia Reel...Greer is in heaven

Sweet Garner and Charlie time while everyone dances

Love :)

Aunt Gretchen bought some happys at the gift shop for the kids and had them left for us in the cottage... they were so excited :))

And more games and visiting commenced for Saturday evening

Sleeping with their goodies

And the precious Sunday morning time at Granny's

I played with some video-making on the drive home...

So thankful for all of the effort made to put such emphasis on family time despite the miles that are typically between us all.  The Gs never want to leave...just like their daddy when he was little :)))