Thanksgiving in pictures

{WARNING: way too many pictures here, but I'll just go with it.} 

Friends, we had a great Thanksgiving this year at the Gilchrist house. I had many reasons to be thankful, but I'd like to share the 5 most important ones.

1. Our sweet 89 year old grandmother, "Mama", who has been in and out of the hospital over the last year, was able to "check out" of the hospital and come to our house to eat with all of us. I cannot tell you how big of blessing this was to all us. I truly believe it was the Lord giving her extra grace and time with us. Her sweet smile always bring joy to my heart. She is such a wonderful, strong lady. Which brings me to number...

2. Our sweet cousin, Nicole, was also able to fly down to see us for an early Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday night, with Mama. We have so enjoyed getting to know our cousin again, and feel like she could be the our 4th sister:) I mean, she looks just like us:)

The Gilchrist Clan, with Allie and Bjorn, Mama, Vivian, Jerry

 3. I'm also super exited that my twin sister (and her hubby) have been visiting the states for the last week. Allie...it's so fun to have you here. I miss you terribly when you're gone. I wish I could skip work this week and come stay with you in Dothan:)

4. Sweet Parents: This year both of us married couples will be at our spouse's home for Christmas, so Mom and Dad thought it would be nice to do a little not so  spontaneous gift-giving. I'm so thankful for parents like them....super generous and thoughtful. Love you both:)

excited about her boots.

super excited about my saddleback leather purse.

 5. Last but not least: my siblings and husbands. Yes, the siblings (and husband) can drive me crazy, but they (he) are pretty cool at times. (Sam is awesome all the time:) I've especially enjoyed seeing Logan grow about 4 feet over the last 2 years. Seriously, 6'4" at 16? He was also quite the comic relief during our most recent "family photo op" as you can tell.

 

Bjorn, Austin, Sam, and Logan

Bjorn, Allie, Me, and Sam

Sam and Whit

Bjorn and Allie

Mary Jo, Bjorn, Allie, and Dad

 I've also really enjoyed seeing this guy go off to college and become a grownup. I finally feel like I have "older" brothers now. Now if we can just get this kid to study a little bit in college. haha. Just kidding, that's about all he does. However, he has managed to do well and have a social life. Keep up the hard work Austin:)

Allie, Austin, Whit

Logan, Lindsey, Allie, Austin, Whit

Logan, Mom, Lindsey, Allie, Austin, Whit, Dad.

 Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Whitney

"You'll have to do without the Sweet Potato Casserole"

That was the text message that we got from Krystle, my sweet friend training me at work, on Thursday morning a couple weeks ago. I knew this meant two things: She had had her sweet baby girl, and she wouldn't be making the office Thanksgiving party this year. In fact, the day before had quickly become her last day of work, and I was "officially" taking her spot, ready or not.

I have a had a little over a week and half to get transitioned into my new desk, and my new role, answering questions that I had to ask Krystle about before and although exhausting at times, I am loving it. I expected this job to be challenging, and it has proved to be in so many ways. But thankfully, Krsytle did a great job training me literally up to the last minute she was there.

Our friends from Small group, and the guys at the office, couldn't be happier for Krystle and her husband Michael-Luke. They welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Noah.

June Vahrenkamp meeting her new friend.

Krystle and Noah

Me and Baby Noah

Danny, one of the talented Architects who sat by Krystle at work for 5 years, and now keeps me sane, came up to the hospital with me after work that Friday to see this sweet little girl.

June, 2.5 months. Noah, 2 days 

Congrats to Krysle and Michael-Luke. I thank the Lord for the blessings He's given you this year!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

a lake side weekend.

Fifteen hours after I returned from a 3-day work trip to Cincinnati, Sam and I left early Saturday morning to drive down to Lake Martin to meet Mom for Ashley's wedding. A few weeks ago, Mom and Dad asked the Lolley's if we could stay at their lake house, and they graciously gave it to us for the weekend. It was the perfect spot to step out of the daily routine for a weekend. The Lord could not have given us better weather for a weekend away....even though it was a little chilly in the shade...there was not a cloud in the sky most of the weekend. It was so refreshing. 

Our view from the Lolley's back Porch.

Since we got up to the lake a little early, Sam and I decided to go for a little hike around the area and see what we could find. I haven't been on a "hike" in I can't remember when....but it was fun. It was a little strange to see the water so far below the normal level....probably 7-8 feet, but it made for some interesting discoveries while walking on the shore line...things you wouldn't normally be able to see. We then starting realizing that some of the odd things we were finding in the sand beds, i.e. pillows, baskets, car parts, roof gutters, were a direct result of the April tornados ravaging through the area. Al...there were houses not far from where we were staying that were completely demolished by the tornadoes.

It was really sad to see...but the rebuilding process has started, several homes are under construction. Sam and I found a house on a peninsula being built and decided to do a little exploring. (Although dangerous, I love going into houses under construction for some reason..maybe because I feel a little mischievous?) We walked into this house Al, and were blown away by the view they will have right in their living room:

This is the view they will have from the upstairs great room:

So beautiful. Well...after our little adventure, it was time to head back, eat lunch and get ready for the wedding. I would like to add that our sweet brother, Austin, did make a quick appearance at the lake, long enough to eat some food, watch the last part of Avatar, and then decide to peace out because he was "afraid" that our t.v. wouldn't be able to pick up the AL/LSU game. (We were having some spotty coverage issues with the dish.) I try to show little brother some love but this face doesn't really say "I love you" back. haha.

Ok....so we actually did go to the wedding. It was very sweet and simple. They had it in a little white chapel in Lake Martin called "Children's Chapel." It was so good to see Ashley, Morgan, and Kallie.

A little lighthouse was in our view as you walked out of the back of the church....I could not get over how beautiful the sky was as the sun was setting. From there we drove about 10 minutes over to a beautiful restaurant for the reception.

(I'm kicking myself that I didn't get a better picture....the iphone camera is not great in low light...and the red-eye corrector went a little crazy here. apologies.) However, Mom and Ashley looked beautiful!

Mrs. Basset, Mrs. Viki Mitchener, and Mom

Morgan, Me, and Kallie

The reception was great fun and it was good to visit with old friends and see Ashley in her wedding dress finally married. Morgan and Kallie are all grown up and in college! Crazy how fast time flies. We wished all of the family could have been there to visit with them too. Maybe at the next wedding! 

By the time we got back to the house Saturday night we were exhausted, and cold...so it took me about 5 seconds to get in my pj's and fall asleep on the couch. We slept in a little this morning and got to take in the view on the porch for a minute before it was time to pack up and head home. 

all naturale in the morning.

All in all....it was a great weekend. We missed you, Dad, Lindz, and Logan. We look forward to seeing you soon! I want to hear about your Island adventure with Naomi!

Love you!
Whiggle

My favorite fall things.

Al...no worries. I'm still here. With a new job, new schedule, new work friends, and not a lot of free time in the afternoons....alas, the blog suffers.

I thought I could at least tell you about some of my favorite fall things right now....we are definitely enjoying the beauty and coolness of a little fall weather over here, and you better believe right when that sweater has to come out, a warm coffee based drink is what I start craving...One of my favorite things right now is:

yumm.

Oh. yeah....I do feel a little bad about the fact these babies are $4 bucks, so I have to get them sparingly. But they are soo good:)

Second are the colors of the trees changing right now......

And third, is sitting on my porch on my little couch on the weekends and reading a book while drinking a pumpkin spice latte. I do not have a picture of my porch handy at this moment, so I found one that I like even better:

Yes, please.

Lovely:)

Well...enough daydreaming....I'm going to Cincinnati, OH with 4 other work folks to visit a project site. I'm sure it will be an absolutely crazy enjoyable 8.5 hour ride up to our hotel. I have never been to Cincinnati before so I'm kind of looking forward to seeing a different city.

I'll have to give you updates when I get back:) Maybe you could tell me three of your favorite fall things in the meantime!?!  Looking forward to seeing you soon!

-Whiggle