Beach Vacation

October has flown by, mostly because we were out of town for most of the month. My world traveler husband spent 10 days in N. Africa sharing the gospel with many and encouraging pastors and churches there. I have never been more proud to be married to Matt than putting him on a plane to serve a tension-filled area, knowing it could come at a cost to him and our family for choosing to be faithful to share the Good News of Jesus. I am so thankful for his faith as he follows the call of Christ in spite of risk, thankful for his love for Jesus and people, and his dependence on and love for the gospel that compels him to share Jesus with others. I'm also thankful that even though I don't get to go with him often (sadly), God still gives me the high and holy calling of loving, praying, supporting, and serving him so that he can fulfill the call of God. I'm learning more and more what this God-given helper role looks like, and am encouraged that He gives me a stake in ministry by freeing Matt up to serve well.

While he traveled, the kids and I visited my parents and family in Columbia for a week and enjoyed some time well spent with my parents, sister, nieces and new nephew, grandmother, extended family, and friends. One of our favorite times that week was spending the afternoon with my sister at the zoo - Katherine, thanks again for taking off work to spend some time with us! The kids loved it, and so did I!

 Aunt Katherine & Hudson

 Kiddos on the tiger...lion???

Aunt Katherine & the kiddos - she looks like a natural! :)

We planned a beach vacation for October awhile ago, but it could not have come at a more perfect time. We left just a few days after Matt arrived home from N Africa, so it was a good time for us to rest, enjoy catching up as a family, and recharge before heading back to work again. We spent the week in Hilton Head with Roger and Teressa and enjoyed perfect weather, building sand castles, flying kites, seeing alligators, and a fun Fall Festival complete with bounce houses and a petting zoo! Thank you Roger and Teressa for a fun week!

Hudson accidently sat down in the cold water - you can tell from his face, he did not enjoy it, but I had to snap a picture before I helped him up. :) 

 

 It is IMPOSSIBLE to get three kids to look at the camera and smile at the same time - especially when there are "no-see'ums" (never heard of those until this week) attacking us 

We visited Hilton Head in July of 2009 when Matt spoke for Crosspoint's SummerLink group, and we visited a really pretty seafood restaurant where we took some family pictures.  We decided to eat here again this year and recreate some of those pictures 2 years later...

  July 2009 - with Corrie & Avery

 October 2011 - with Corrie, Avery, and Hudson

Also, ironically, the restaurant's name was Hudson's. :)

 July 2009 

 October 2011 (I need to actually look at the picture next time to make sure it's the same...)

Hilton Head had a Fall Festival leading up to Halloween that we visited. The kids jumped on bounce castles, danced, ate lots of food, had their faces painted, and visited the petting zoo.  They each rode a pony for the first time!  To give you a picture of their changing personalities: Corrie jumped right on and rode about 3 times. Avery was reluctant at first, but enjoyed herself once she got on. Hudson really wanted to ride while the horse was still, but as soon as they started, he cried and pulled on me until I got him off. :)

 

 

 Surprisingly, Hudson LOVED feeding the cows. He kept asking for more food and holding his hand out so the cow could lick it off.

Camels have fascinated Avery since learning that Matt rode a camel while in Egypt. We've read books from the library about camels, and she continually reminded us while Matt was away, "Daddy's riding a camel!" If she saw a camel in a book, "That's the camel Daddy ride!" When we saw the camel at the petting zoo, we had to get a picture.