I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve wanted to and thought about several different topics. The bottom line is that we have been SO BUSY!!  It’s a crazy time of year for us!!  I do have some posts coming soon in a few different subjects, but I thought that First I should do a general post catching everyone up on life lately for our family.

Football season is always busy! Otis serves as the team chaplain at West Ashely High School. This has opened amazing doors for him to build relationships with these boys and pour into their lives. He is able to go to their Thursday practice and have a devotion with them. He is also on the sidelines for the JV games on Thursday nights and the Varsity games on Friday nights. He leads the team in a prayer after the game.

We have also fed the team a few pregames meals. Preparing chicken, green beans, and pasta for that many hungry boys takes some prep work!! We are so thankful for those that come around us and help us to bless our schools!!

Otis loves these boys and so enjoys the time that he gets to spend with them!!

He is also a part of FCA at the school every other week. If you add all of this to our kids sports, church events, youth group, fall festivities, other family and youth group members athletics…. wowzers it has been a busy time!!

So while we hate to see football season end, we are welcoming a little more free time in our schedule!! 

But back to the catch up–

We have had senior nights for the family members that our unbelievably graduating this year!! Time passes so quickly!! I hate to think that our Allie will be in high school next year!!! We are so proud of these amazing people! 

Fall is my favorite season by far!! I love all things Christmas, so to me the cooler  weather ushers in the holiday season. My heart skips a beat when I hear the first Christmas song of the year or see decorations being out out in the stores!! It is the most wonderful time of the year!! Fall also means Halloween, fall festivals, and the fair! We have taken advantage of so much being offered in our community recently and logged in some much needed family time! 

Our kids have also been playing tennis every Saturday morning with the City of Charleston. This was Gary’s first year and Allie’s second. They both enjoyed it! 

A busy schedule often leads to feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. That can be hard when we are also balancing day to day school work. We had been getting through everything just fine, but I felt like some of the joy/wonder of learning was missing. Plus, the beach always makes things better! We took off one morning this past week and headed to Sullivan’s Island. We visited Fort Moultrie and recited a little Poe on the beach. It was a good day with lots of laughing! 

It was a much needed day to catch our breath!

We had our first family chat yesterday about the menu for Thanksgiving. We do our best to cherish each season of life and take full advantage of all it has to offer!

Hoping you all have a great first week of November!!