The one tonight.

Tonight, is the first Friday night I've spent the night in my Raleigh house in 5 weeks!!  Whether it be my fall break, Victory Junction, weddings, Windy Gap or like last weekend... the beach.  The beach in October is my favorite time to go.  My family didn't get to take a family vacation this summer and used my little brother's fall break to take advantage of a small getaway.  I left Thursday morning, skipping a couple classes to spend a long weekend with my parents and brother.  My sister had a charity walk for work and Sam had his own family plans.  We stayed in a friend's condo, where I slept happily on the pull out couch.  Early Friday morning.. let's say around 6:20-30.. my parents woke up to their usual circadian rhythm to enjoy coffee and the sunrise.  How thankful I am for early bird parents because every morning I got to watch the sunrise.  What a blessing?!

 Also, my family are food people.  We like to try the favorite local spots and we hit jack pot (or shall I say steam pot) with Duffy Street Seafood Shack.  There my family & I engorged ourselves with calamari, oysters, clams, scallops, crab legs, and low country boils.  More specifically, my family are seafood people.  We are thankful for aquaculture.

When we weren't shoving our faces with local seafood goodness or drinking multiple cups of coffee to cheerfully bring in the sunrise we were soaking up them rays, fishing, and sleeping in our Vitamin D.

 

Yes, you are allowed to be jealous of my sweatshirt.  My sweet grandma got this youth large sweatshirt for my 6'4'' brother a couple years ago.  Thankful he was never able to fit in this comfy, shark-surfing sweatshirt.

 

Im missing the beach this Friday night.  I miss the idea of knowing a coffee cup and sunrise will be there to greet me in a couple hours.  I miss hilarious scattergories at night.  I miss the weather.  I miss being with the most laid-back people in the whole world. 

However, I am thankful for this Friday night back in Raleigh.  Thankful for sushi suppers with my roommates.  Thankful for a warm house and a TV that constantly plays FRIENDS.

Good night, Raleigh.

The one year old twins.

Coming in real quick to celebrate these little dudes.

 

These sweet little pumpkins turn ONE today!

 

Oh happy day, sweet boys.  What a joy you are.  Love you, kiddos!

the ones without broken pots.

 

Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to some time in Weaverville, NC.  Weaverville is the home to one of the most gorgeous places in North Carolina.. Windy Gap, a Young Life Camp.  I can't tell you how majestic this place is.  It's like a little hidden valley within glorious surrounding mountains.   It has a giant willow tree.  It has a swing that makes your stomach drop.  It has triple layered bunk beds.  It is incredible.

So during my sweet weekend, I got to spend my time with these girls...

I love Fall Camp at Windy Gap.  We do crazy things like have flour bomb battles at ten o' clock in the morning, create human snakes in the damp, damp ground, and scream our lungs off to the new tunes.

 

 

 

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 We also get to do things that are completely perfect for the soul..  like spending time around a table, where talk is sweet and food is good.. and hearing the gospel and then spending time in circle discussing it.

 I got to catch up on old friendships and create new ones.

 I got to spend time with my own Young Life leader.

 I got to see two of my roommates completely in their element - leading high school girls to the truth.

Last weekend, I got to spend my time hearing the gospel, living the gospel, and having sweet talks with high schoolers about the gospel.  What a blessing?!

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you so much for Windy Gap.  Thank you for the work crew, program and leaders that are able to make Fall Camp happen.  Thank you for Ben, who did an incredible job explaining how to find full life in You.  Thank you for replacing our broken pots with the perfect pot of Jesus.  Thank you for Surry County.  Thank you for Wake County.  Thank you for Young Life and the lives that you impact through it.

Love, Courtney 

The one lately.

Life seems to be moving a hundred miles a minute lately.  But in the midst of the rush, I have found joy in so many things.  

I have gotten to see one of my best friend's first Young Life talks.  He did sooo good & he spoke such truth to so many high schoolers!

I have volunteered at Victory Junction and met some sweet loves.

 I have taken Sam on a surprise picnic to Jordan Lake.

I have babysat my favorite set of red-headed triplets.

 

 I have been home..where the moon delivered a view of Pilot Mountain I've never experienced and where we ate outside next to a fire.

An incredible weekend to come -- headed to Windy Gap with some of my fave gals!

The one for our fall bucket list.

I had the best weekend -- I will post about it later this week.  But this post is about fall.  Of course I love it.  Every single aspect of it.  Weather, clothes, spices, warm food/drinks and pumpkin everything.  Last night, Sam & I made some coffee, hung out outside and talked about things we want to do this fall.  So we created a fall bucket list.  We used his phone to record our ideas & today I used a template to create a print of our bucket list.  I got the template from here.

So here's whats on tap for Sam & I this fall...

Here's to fall!