The blondes.

 So there are these two little dudes that completely stolen my heart. I have mentioned my love for them here, here & here... oh & here & here.  Im sure there are others.. but you get the point - I adore my blondes.  They have become such a huge part of my life here in Raleigh.  Both ways the door swings, in that we all have invested so much time and emotion into getting to know each other.  I know their hearts and what a joy I find in that.  These hearts that are honest, vulnerable, loving, caring yet carefree.  These hearts that also know my own.  We pray together, play ninja and football together, sing together, eat together, eat unheard of amounts of ice cream together.  I really can't explain the fullness of my heart when I am with these boys.  

Okay, my throat has a knot in it.. let's move on.

For Christmas, I wanted to order a canvas of the boys for their mama. (PS I don't know how big/small the blogosphere is.. know if you know these fine people, don't tell Kelly her Christmas gift from the boys!)  So today, my roomie, Liza - who also keeps Will once a week, and I had a mini-photoshoot with John & Will.  Here is a sneak peek of the goodness we captured today.

Merry Christmas, Kelly.

The ones Im thankful for.

 I think the Holidays can be stressful.. but in the end - I am humbled and thankful for the stressful schedule.  I am thankful for family.  I am thankful to have both sets of my grandparents.  I am thankful for travel.  I am thankful love.  I did not get to spend much time with Sam this holiday as his family was headed to the beach to celebrate the big turkey.  But I am thankful for his understanding for me to be home.  I am thankful for him, completely - for his love, his heart for Jesus, for his blonde hair & baby blues.  I am thankful for family - for who they are, how they challenge me, and for loving me so well.

 

The day after Thanksgiving is usually one of my favorite days of the year.  During the Holidays I get to see a lot of family, which is great - I adore that time.  But the day after Thanksgiving is a day where us five get to spend pretty much the entire day together.  This day I adore also because it is always chock full of laughter, fun and pure joy.

As scheduled, we went to Reed Island Farm to get our Christmas tree.

 Ashley walked around with this dead gnat on her lip unknowingly for like 30 minutes.  I was dying.  

She has such a good sense of humor and can laugh at herself.. so I know she didn't care if I posted this.

 

 My parent's this year got each other a television for Christmas.  I know this because I was a part of the Thursday night hustle and bustle of "killer deals" (words of my mother).   We stood in line.  We got that Golden Ticket.  We went thru the drive-thru pick up.  & we did it on zero-gas.

Today, when we got back from getting our Christmas tree, we rearranged our living room furniture to set up for our new TV.  & then started to mount the TV -- which was definitely  bigger than a one-man job. 

 

We are excited but more than that, we are thankful.  Not exactly for the television.. but more for the day spent together.  What a joy we found in each other - in jokes, frustrations, happies, meals, fields of evergreens, or sweetly sitting next to each other in front of our new tube.  

I am thankful for those four souls.  & I can't help but think of some lyrics from the Avett Brothers:

...there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name

I am thankful to share my name with these four souls.

I am thankful.

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!