Beautiful Days...Beautiful Weekend

 My heart is full!

What a great weekend!

This was the weekend for Hilary's Fall Mini-Sessions.

It was also Lynnlee's birthday party weekend.

And the weather was beautiful!  Picture perfect (get the pun there?)!!

Even though both days were fun, my focus for this will be Sunday.

Somehow the trees decided to drop more leaves through Saturday night so the yard north of the house was a blanket of yellow and orange.  Glorious for another backdrop for family shots.

Starting at 10:30 and ending around 6 there was a steady stream of cars, trucks, mini-vans in our drive.

Families with children.  Some teenagers, some with elementary children.   

Some families we knew---Megan and Matt, of course; Padgetts; Caleb, Shelby, and Elijah; Amanda and Mark Douglas and their girls.  The others we didn't, but usually Blaine and Hilary had a connection to them through sports, work, or the kids or a combo of those.

Since the day was gorgeous, Blaine and Gary had set up the camp chairs around the firering, plus Landon had started another fire, resurrecting the one from the night before.

Because M and M had scheduled their shoot for the first one Sunday, we also scheduled one for a Mamaw and Papaw and the kiddos.  That meant that our house was bursting with noises from preparation of hair and clothing, then changing into play clothes.  Lunch happened, and it was fun to watch everyone digging into the deli salads, make sandwiches from the deli meat from the 218 Market, and enjoy some pudding cups and leftover Coconut Cream pie.  Helping themselves to drinks from the fridge is common procedure now.  And I could tell that everyone was thirsty judging from the number of glasses and cups in the dishwasher!

But the rest of the day?  So full of fun and memories.

Watching Hilary interact with her clients and seeing their expressions as they were posed into looking natural.  Seeing how good her 'eye' is and how she wants everyone to be happy and satisfied with her work.

Sitting around the fire ring with friends and family.  Amanda Padgett's husband was sitting in one of the chairs and she on the swing while their kids were checking out the goats and rabbits or jumping on the trampoline. Our niece Amanda arriving and making herself at home with the rest of us.  Jan stopping by to take Owen and Tessa to the park and then sitting around the fire, catching up.  Mark visiting with Blaine and Gary while I gave Amanda a quick tour of the property and shared news from Francesville.

It was fun to watch people stepping into the gazebo and select a bag of cookies or caramel corn to much on after their shoots.  Many grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler. 

Very special for me were the many comments over the two days about how pretty our place is, how it is set back from the road, and one person even mentioned the effect when coming out of the lane, just before going over the bridge, which is one of my favorite spots on the drive. 

So as I sat by the fire ring, soaking in the warm summer breezes, I marveled at the blessings we have received in the last three years.  Thanks to Rebecca and Hilary, we found the perfect place and in Rebecca's words, we 'didn't settle.'  Thanks to Rebecca and the other agent, we were able to buy this at an acceptable price, pay cash, and have no debt. We are close to the girls so that they can be here within several minutes, they can stop by often, and they feel comfortable with our watching the kids when needed.  I am SO thankful when I watch Cooper running out the door, across the yard, and to the camper so that he can play with Tessa and Owen.  I am SO thankful when I hear the sound of the tractor starting up, then see it backing out of the Party Barn with Cooper driving it. I am SO thankful when I see Tessa on her way to the swing, where she seems to be thinking and dreaming while she drifts back and forth.  It is fun to watch Owen exploring the base of the barn, looking for Finn.  And it is a blessing to see Lynnlee running after the big kids so that she can be included--especially on the trampoline (TOO HIGH!!! TOO HIGH!!!)

My heart was full.  Thank you, God, for giving me family and fun times full of memories in such a special place.