SC vs SC

We celebrated the Big Chickens and the Giant Paw Print (annual Palmetto Bowl) with our dear friends and neighbors again this year.

The paw prints won – boo.
But we had a blast with some of our favorite people.

A Southern Reception

We had ourselves a little party out at the New Butler Place…

 

We were able to introduce Noelle to some of our local friends and co-workers,

and also give them a glimpse of their new home.

 

 

 

Beyond blessed to have our NY church family meet our SC church family.

 

And who doesn’t love an outdoor party on 10/28?

Cider Day

We were invited to join our friends the Wares for their family’s annual cider making day.  In a contraption older than any of us, we expressed gallon about gallon of cider.

 

Marie, Tabitha, and Nigel had to work, so it was just Johanna and Katriel that joined us.

There are multiple jobs within the process.  Someone puts the apples in.  Another helps to line them up with the blades.  Another turns the gear.  Someone has to watch the output bucket where the liquid goes while also keeping their eye on the scrap bucket.   Both of these need regular emptying.  Then we have to pour it into containers.

Johanna took a turn at each station, and repeated a few of them.

 

 

It was such a cool experience. 

Friends are God’s hands and feet and wheels!

I was grabbing coffee with a friend and mentioned how crazy the car-shuffle was getting as we waited for the insurance company to do something about our car…  she looked at me and said, “We have a truck we aren’t using,” and just like that, life got 91% easier.

Games with friends…

We have been blessed with wonderful neighbors…

who are not afraid to play games with this brood.

 

Victorious is 3

We were three for three celebrating with Victorious.  Marie met us later while the rest of the family was scattered or working.

 

the way things ought to be…

The boys’ bestest buddy from NY graced us with a week long visit.  I can barely dig up the words to articulate the joy it provides me to see these clowns together.

Yes, they are playing Bible Outburst!   Not sure who won, though I got yelled at more than once for “helping.”

Let’s Get Together!

We’ve been super intentional with Marguerite and Jeff about getting together each month for fellowship.  It was a PERFECT weekend for it, as Noelle and Nan were visiting.  The other two in the photo are Joseph’s girlfriend, Katelyn, and her daughter, Kaia.

PLUS!  Our friends Karl and Mary were visiting from NY.  They are looking into moving to Greenville later this year.

It was a VERY busy weekend – but such a joyful one.

A little bit of Christmas with the Hoyts

Starting life over again has been a little gentler with these pilgrims in our midst.

Fountain Inn Christmas Parade

For the second year in a row, we watched the Christmas parade with Paisley and her mama.  We got there first this year, and it was a beautiful evening of catching up and celebrating this fabulous little town we live in.  I cherish having been asked by Melissa both last year and this year.  We don’t get to see Paisley too often, but Katriel has a sweet spot for this creative girl.

Post Thanksgiving good things

I worked again last night.  And then slept in the morning.
The kids had a LOT gong on…  And so did we.

John drove Johanna to join her AHG friends ringing bells.  Technically it is not an AHG event because it includes fund raising. 

Meanwhile, I got myself awake, and around, and we walked down to Anna and Condy’s to watch THE BIG GAME!

What is THE BIG GAME?

OHHHHH – How could we never had known about THE BIG GAME?!

It was the annual, Saturday after Thanksgiving football game between the University of South Carolina Gamecocks (the underdogs) and the Clemson Tigers (the favorites).

And the Gamecocks won!  As people who don’t really know anything about either, we were strongly encouraged by Anna and her kids to root for the Gamecocks.  It was very exciting, and the Richardson’s had a feast. 

We headed home for a while, and then later they joined us for dinner at our house (originally we’d all imagined the game would have been at dinner time).

Oh – and here are our trees for the year.
The theme of the year was, “Um.  Yeah.  Let’s get some decorations on the trees.”

Katriel and Nigel were big helpers this year.

Dynamic “Duo”

Google Duo keeps these two buddies in contact.

I’m grateful for technology and for Asher.

A fabulous day out for Johanna!

Johanna’s friend Claire’s family has a membership to Top Golf. It’s a place where you take an elevator UP and practice teeing off from WAY up.  Claire invited Johanna and Beretta to join her. 

Many hours later, Johanna joined her friend Rebecca for a trail ride.  Rebecca has been taking riding lessons and has been asking Johanna to join her. 

We can’t afford something like this routinely, but my heart was so glad to see her have the chance to try something new.

Oh the Places We’ll Go….

On the road again – Tab and I headed to and from Weston, West Virginia today to meet up with her friend Ava to bring her down to visit for a week.

Like 14 hours later we were home with Ava!