A New Look!!

I was ready for a change around here!

What do you think about the new look????

Leave me a comment and let me know!

A Weekend at Mt. Vernon

I know, I know, I know...I am becoming a major slacker in my blogging!! I promise I'm trying to get it together, and keep you up to date a little better. Just stick with me!!

So, last weekend we pretty much spent the entire time at our second home - Mt. Vernon.


Saturday was our annual Fall Fest and we had a blast!!


(Side note: Yes, all the signs were made with the Cricut. If you know me very well, you know my love for the Cricut. But, that's another post for another time!)

We had all sorts of carnival type games, and had inflatables for the children. It was a little chilly, but the kids didn't care - they had the best time!!

And, the adults had about as much fun as the children!

Toby and Brad

Rachel and Jason - this picture just makes me laugh every time I look at it :)
Greg and Amber

Then, Brad shared with the children and youth by using a pumpkin to tell about Jesus. It was really good, and the children were so attentive. I feel in my heart that seeds were planted, and am just sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for one of our sweet babies to surrender their life to the Lord!!

After a yummy chili and hotdog supper, we had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. It was perfect for how cold it was outside!!

We ended the night with a hayride - 2 trailers full!


I love the fall, and the atmosphere that comes with the season! The Fall Fest is such a fun church wide activity, and we all look forward to it!

Then, on Sunday, we had Pastor Appreciation Day. Let me just tell you -

Brad and I are SO BLESSED!

Our Mt. Vernon family always goes above and beyond to show their love and appreciation for the work that Brad does, and it always brings me to remember how the Lord brought us to Mt. Vernon three years ago. We left a ministry that our hearts were so attached to, but just knew the Lord was calling us to serve elsewhere. How BLESSED we have been to heed to His calling at Mt. Vernon...we would have missed out SO MUCH on what He has for us!!!! We refer to our church as our family, because that is what they truly are to us. We love them, worry about them, pray for them, laugh with them, rejoice with them, hurt for them, and cry with them as much as we do our own families.

Besides the numerous cards, phone calls, and text messages sent throughout the month to tell Brad how much he was appreciated, they also gave him some very special gifts. One was a beautiful hand drawn illustration of the church done by a local artist.

Another gift I had a little bit of a hand in - I was asked to write a poem with a theme of God's calling into the ministry, from a child long before he knew he would be in the ministry. The poem was framed with a photo of Brad when he was 3 years old.

And, lastly, the church gave him a money tree for seminary expenses.
Aren't they amazing??!!??

Oh, and don't think I was forgotten!! Oh, but no - I received a gift card to do a little shopping!! They know me all too well :)

I told you - we are are SO BLESSED!!!

Well, that was our weekend - full of fall fun, full of family, full of love, and full of blessings!

I had lots of Halloween fun at school this week...I'll share about it very soon!

Sand, Sun, and lots of Fun!!!

This week is Fall Break, and I was soooo ready for the break! I have a great job, and really enjoy it, but things have been so INSANELY busy that a break was desperately called for! Valerie and Robby always go to the beach during Fall Break, and we decided that we needed to go too! Unfortunately, Brad had to stay home this trip due to school, work, and church...never seems to be any rest for him these days. So, Valerie and Robby, Carolyne and Sam, Mama and Daddy, Lori, and myself all headed down to Gulf Shores on Friday. We had planned to stay Friday through Tuesday, but my sweet Daddy surprised us with an extra day, so we didn't come home until Wednesday. The first few days were cold...I mean REALLY COLD! Like 50 degrees and majorly windy cold - the kind of weather that you only want to have when visiting the mountains snuggled up by a crackling fire! But, we made do by going SHOPPING!! I got lots of pretties, and got some Christmas shopping done! YEA! But, the rest of the time was absolutely beautiful, and perfect temperatures.

I took this picture the first night we were at The Beach Club. My daddy says the redder the sky, the colder the weather. I don't know if that's just an old wives' tale, but it definitely was C-O-L-D that night!!!!

Monday - Wednesday was soooo beautiful!!
Carolyne loves the beach...if given the chance, she would definitely live right on the beach! She plays from the minute she steps foot on the sand, until everyone else is ready to go in. Such a beach bunny :)
Sam flying his kite!
Papa and Carolyne playing in the ocean!
Sam "cautiously" loves the ocean...he wanted so badly to be in the water, but only if someone was holding his hand. Very tightly. HA! But, he absolutely loves playing in the sand :)Lori soaking up the rays! Sam and Carolyne enjoying a train ride at the park.
My mama and daddy - LOVE THEM!Valerie enjoying the bumper boats - haha!
Sam and Robby making sure everyone got soaked that rode a bumper boat!

At the beach or not, we of course had to watch Biggest Loser Tuesday night! Of course, we watched just after we had ate steak, potatoes, and, um...s'mores. Please don't tell anyone of our shamefulness.

Packing up to leave. It's always so sad leaving the beach.

Lori and I stayed on the beach until it was dark on our last day. We watched the sunset, and it was absolutely beautiful!

The beach does something to my spirit that I can't explain. It's a place of respite for me. The sound of the waves, the occasional splash of water on my feet while sitting at the edge of the shore...it just brings peace to me, and draws me to "Be still" (Psalms 46:10) - physically, mentally, and spiritually. Such a place only exists because of its Creator. Thank you Lord for such a gift!

Youthquake '09

Last weekend, Brad and I took our Youth Group to Youthquake. Youthquake is a youth concert event in Cullman, Alabama. This year's line up included Hawk Nelson, Fee!, Skillet, and several others. The day started out a little wet and muddy, but we all had a blast!!!

Waiting ever so patiently in line to get in!!

Brad - our fearless leader :)

Abby was so thrilled to have her PINK PONCHO for the yuck weather!

There's only one word to describe Youthquake outside of fun and worshipful - MUDDY!! Poor Allison had to "wash" her feet in a mud puddle to get all the mud that had caked up on her feet off!

One of our most FAVORITE artists - FEE - was there, and best of all - their newest CD came out THAT DAY! So, we got to get it there! INCREDIBLE CD!!YOU...MUST...GO...BUY...IT...TODAY!!!! I will be sharing some of my most favorite songs soon :)

We all had such an awesome time!!! And, Brad and I were once again reminded how blessed we are to be able to serve the Lord at Mt. Vernon...we have an INCREDIBLE group of teenagers!!

Can You Hear the Waves?

This is what I will be walking on, looking at, and breathing in before the day is over:

We're spending our Fall Break at Gulf Shores, and believe me, it couldn't have came at a better time. My soul needs some rest, and my body needs to relax.

I'll chat (and, of course post pictures) later.

Hope everyone has a marvelous weekend!!

Love y'all!
Hayley

It's OK to gag

Disclaimer: Before you read the quote below...please be advised that it's OKAY to chuckle at this. It's okay because - 1) I am not skinny, and I laughed HARD at this remark 2) My mother is over all the lunchrooms in the school system, and I was completely not offended. So, with that being said...if I was not offended by this, you shouldn't be either, k?

This was the conversation between 2 of my crazy co-workers this afternoon:

Teacher 1: I have to take my son lunch - he doesn't like the food from the lunchroom. If he had to eat it, he would just start gagging.

Teacher 2: Well, let him gag. It might do him some good...he might lose some weight!

HAHAHAHA! Lesson learned - maybe going places that you don't like the food is a good way to shed a few pounds!

I AM Still Alive!!

OK, I know some of you are wondering if I have fell off the face of the planet...but, I have been sooo incredibly busy that I have not had a chance to update my blog in 9 whole days!! I've never been away this long!

I will be back to my busy as a bee blogger self soon, I promise! I have pictures to show you, recipes to share, and thoughts to ponder....

Til I can get back, enjoy one of my most favorite songs in the whole wide world - "Glory to God" by FEE.



Love y'all!
Hayley

Fun with the Fam

A perfect meal for a fun night of football game viewing with the fam...

Sam, are you excited to watch Auburn play football??

How about you, Carolyne...are you ready to cheer the Tigers (and the Canes, Robby) to another victory???

Oh, but wait...

We aren't here just for the game, are we?
I think there may be something else on the agenda...hmmmm...

OHH!!! I remember!! YEA!!!!!!!
It's yet ANOTHER birthday in our family!! Happy birthday, mommy (Valerie)!!!

Valerie's birthday was on Wednesday, so we celebrated during half-time of all the football madness last night! My sister - my dearest friend, my shopping companion, my secret keeper, my prayer warrior, my kindred spirit, and one of my favorite people to laugh with! Happy Birthday, Val-e Jo! I love you, yeah!