Just some brotherly love!

The First Farewell...

Our friends from college, Chad and Deanna, gave us a farewell party at their home on Saturday, and we had such a great time seeing everyone. It was fun to relax together and catch up on what’s happening in each others’ lives. Caleb loved swimming in the pool, Susanna enjoyed being cuddled and held a lot, and I had fun reminiscing with my girlfriends about the “good ole days.” David enjoyed himself too, and even got “arrested” by Chad, who recently became a police officer. (Guess adults can play cops and robbers too!)
Saying goodbye was bittersweet—bitter because of the leaving and sweet because of the joy we have from knowing such precious people. How grateful we are for those who are in our lives—both the ones who were able to come and the ones who weren’t. We are truly rich people, and I know we will leave with hearts full of love and gratitude for those who’ve meant so much to us over the years.

A Good Father's Day Weekend

We had a special Father’s Day weekend. David’s parents, grandma, sister, brother-in-law and niece came down from North Carolina, and we celebrated at my parents' house by grilling ribs, riding fourwheelers, and enjoying each other’s company. Susanna got to meet David’s Grandma Dedrick, and Caleb got to play with his cousin Kara. I had a good time last week helping the kids make Father’s Day gifts—the previous video post was part of David’s present.
Sunday evening we spent some time with my dad after the Bondys headed home. It was a great weekend with family—only too short! The goodbyes are getting harder as moving day draws closer… But we are all enjoying the precious time we have with each other!

Father's Day!

3 months old!

Can you believe it--Susanna's 3 months old already! And quite the little lady! I'll admit, I'm having a great time dressing her up. It kind of takes me back to when I used to play dolls as a little girl!

To the beach...again!

On our way home from visiting David's family in North Carolina, we were able to swing down and stay at Myrtle Beach for a couple of days, thanks to my great aunt offering us her timeshare at her beachfront condo. So once again, we found ourselves at the ocean! The first night we sat on the balcony, listening to the sound of the waves, feeling the breeze beneath the light of a full moon. It was a perfectly peaceful moment; I'm relaxed just thinking about it!

My mom and dad drove up and met us there, and we had a great weekend hanging out on the beach, enjoying great seafood, and exploring the area. Caleb was giddy at being back at the ocean, and Susanna was just precious in her bright, new swimsuit.

The second day of our stay, the beach was overcast and very windy due to a tropical storm blowing through--great timing! So we headed to Waccatee Zoo instead, where we saw lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!), monkeys, egrets, ostriches, and one of my personal favorites--two tiny baby lemurs clinging to their mommy. So cute! Anyway, it was a nice treat in spite of the weather.

We were so thankful for this little retreat. It was just what we needed to help us rest and unwind a bit in the midst of such a hectic, busy time, and we came home energized and ready for the whirlwind of these last few weeks before we move overseas.

Last visit to North Carolina...

We were recently able to spend a week with David's family--our last trip to NC before we move. This visit was the first time we've all been together in about 2 years, so it was pretty special. Some of the highlights were grilling out for Memorial Day, visiting a nearby park, spending time with Great Grandma Bondy, and talking, laughing and playing games together. Susanna got to meet her extended family, and was thoroughly spoiled by the time we left! Caleb loved spending time with everyone--especially his cousin, Kara. They're best buds, and had so much fun playing in the pool, playing chase, cars, and even dolls (Hey, when you're two, anything's fun!).

I think the goodbyes get harder every time. We won't see David's brother and Grandmother again before we leave, so this one was difficult. But we're thankful for a precious time with our loved ones, and the memories that we'll have forever.