Friends at the beach

Our friend and previous neighbors moved to Wilmington several years ago. It's such fun to visit them. The boys really get along well.

Visit to beach and silly boys

Clemson volleyball

This weekend we visited our friends (and the new head coaches for women's volleyball) at Clemson University. Josh, Hugh and Steph go way, way back and have the funniest stories of coaching together. We had such a great time and are so proud of them and the hard work that has earned them the opportunity to coach at the top level.
We were able to watch 2 games on Saturday and on Sunday morning took an abbreviated tour of the athletic facilities.

Shilling memories

Our best friends live in Germany but came for a month long visit in July. We loved spending time with them and our kids got along so well.  ♡

Sprinkler fun

Our friends are visiting from Germany and we are having so much fun!

Mommy Date

Josh surprised me by making plans for a day long visit with my girlfriend and her family. I took Zach and we had a great time!  The pictures give you a glimpse of the fun.

Playing in rain puddles..

Eating a big breakfast. .

Riding bikes. .

Happy Birthday Betsy!

Betsy is *finally* turning 30 today and celebrating at home in Germany with her sweet Littles.
If she were still local, we might celebrate with a play date, singing, balloons and cupcakes. Also, a moms only date to Maxie B's  and more singing. :)

Play Date

I hosted a spontaneous breakfast play date at our house one Friday and these are the pictures.

There were a lot of kiddos running around!

it was a pj party, but not everyone embraced the dress code.
Zach loves his jammies though!

there were 4 babies and it was so fun!

So, total, there were 5 adults and 9 kids!  It was a fun kind of loud/chaos/busy!  We hope to do it again soon!

Surprise Arrival!!

My best friend delivered her baby this morning at 6:44am IN THE CAR while her husband RACED to the Birthing Center!!!!!  I cannot stop the tears of JOY for this life and for my amazing friend.

We saw them just yesterday and Zachary and Sophia has such fun running around the yard, squealing and playing together.  Sophia gave Zach his first kiss (oh my word) and we had the nicest afternoon play date.

Praising the LORD for His goodness and faithfulness!  OH my word!

Jacob Matthew Shilling, we love you sweet boy!

Happy Birthday Betsy!

This sweet lady's birthday sneaks up on me every year!  Maybe it's because she's so young that I tuck this day away.  Shame on me.  There's so much to love and celebrate about her!!

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness- secret riches. 

I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, 

the God of Israel, who calls you by name.

Isaiah 45: 3 

Betsy is one of the treasures hidden in the darkness!  She and her husband Eric are two kindred spirits.  We met during a very difficult season in both of our lives.  Our friendship was built on brokenness and despair- but also on the Lord's faithfulness and goodness.  We walked through the dessert for several long, hard years.  But the God who loved us enough to bring us together, had great plans for how He would turn our sorrows into dancing.  

The Lord, in His goodness, blessed us with first born children on the very same day, 2 hours apart.  It brings tears to my eyes to think of it and reminds me again, that His plans are good and His timing perfect.

The following photos are so fun, but also a testimony to the Lord's goodness.  :)
Enjoy and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETSY!!!

Hughes, Zach, Sophia- 2 weeks old!

strolling in the park

grocery shopping 10 mo??

~12 months

silly

if you're happy and you know it

love these 2!!!

celebrating Andrew!

be still my heart.

Friends

My sweet friend Misty came over to meet Andrew and to reunite Zachary and Mercy!  What FUN it was to hang out with them for a morning!  Look at how they've grown!

Aren't they the cutest?!?!

Our Friends are Moving!

Our dearest friends in the world are moving.

They've been uniquely chosen and called to Kandern, Germany to serve at a boarding school called Black Forest Academy.  They have a beautiful history at BFA and will likely share it on their blog.  It sounds wonderful, amazing and exciting.  

You can read more about their adventure at their new blog- Shilling's at BFA.  

And to see beautiful pictures of babies, keep reading.

 Zach and Sophia  (center, right) with their buddy Hughes.  

right around 12 months 

sometime this summer

Friends

Sophia (Life is Full) and Zach were destined to be buds.  Josh and I are close friends with Sophia's parents, Eric and Betsy.  The Lord ordained that we would walk a difficult journey together.  He also ordained that our first born children would be born on the exact same day, within hours of each other.  God is good.

Zach and Sophia often have play dates.  Notice Sophia's 'twirly toes'!  Maybe she'll be ballerina?
Here is a video from recent one.  :)


Friends from Katie Morin on Vimeo.