Fall Festivities!

Here are a few glimpses into a few of our favorite fall festivities this year!

cool fall evening on the fields...

all smiles...

yay for mr scarecrow...

preschool fun...

just an ordinary fun day...

tinkerbell shoes...

tinkerbell..

peter pan & tinkerbell

tinkerbell & cinderella...

headed out to enjoy a pretty day...

fun road trip to visit aunt beth, cousin jason, jessica & baby james...

my pumpkins =)

birthday dinner with friends...

on the lake...

birthday dinner with my babies & hubby...

sweet girl...

just a fun fall day...

my little volunteer fans...

my turkeys...

a beautiful sunday morning...

bella's thankful turkey...

small group thanksgiving dinner...yummy...

small group turkey crafts...

gobble...gobble...

Natalie Grant...

I had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with Natalie Grant...along with 30 other women. =)  One of our good friend's works for the Christian radio station here in Columbia and he hooked us with with lunch tickets and VIP concert tickets.  The concert was actually at our church which was fun too!  Here are a few pics from lunch...

Women's Holiday Dinner...

This was my first year participating in our church's Women's Holiday Dinner!  About 55 ladies volunteer to "host" a table...meaning that you choose a holiday theme and invite 8 guests to join you for dinner!  There are a few hundred women who attend this special night which includes dinner, guest musician and guest speaker.  I chose to go with a "Musical Christmas" theme...hence my husband is the worship pastor!  I so loved the opportunity to pull out my china and special decor!

a few favorites...

Sweet baby Jude is here!

Jeremy's brother and his wife just welcomed their second baby into our Lloyd family!  Little Jude was born this month and he is absolutely precious!  I enjoyed sewing a few little gifts for him...as well as for big sister Madelyn!

Intentional Prayer Warrior

I've been convicted lately of the slacking job I am doing as a warrior for my precious kiddos!  Warrior meaning being intentional to cover them in prayer for protection from the evil one as well as praying boldly and confidently for specific areas of their lives.  Like most mommies of toddlers, my day begins with little hands grasping for me and mouths begging for breakfast...then we quickly begin our daily routine of exercise, errands, school time, meals, play dates, chores...and the list goes on. I have just been convicted of the daily need my precious kids need for ME to pray for specific needs in their precious toddler lives.  If their mommy doesn't take the time to pray fervently and boldly....then who will!!?  You may think...seriously!?  What needs can a one year old possibly have!?  Well, let me tell you...more needs than I can possibly begin to list.  He is a sinner...I know!  My tender little snuggle muffin of a guy!  Yep, he was born needing a Savior!!  I am praying for early salvation!  And he needs patience!  I'm praying he will grow into a courageous, God fearing, diligent, hard working, pure young man!  He will need a wife one day...and I'm praying for her right now...

And my three year old princess!  What does she need!?   Oh my precious doll...she needs patience and self-control and respect for authority that only the Holy Spirit can give her.  As she grows it is so important that she has strong Christian friends.  She needs a healthy, close knit relationship with her daddy.  Yes, my friend there are so very many things my children need.  As their mom, I am not to worry or have anxious thoughts about whether their needs are met BUT I have been entrusted with their precious little souls and I am commanded to love them with Christ's love, to diligently teach them His ways and to pray continuously for them.  As Christian moms, we are in an uphill battle to raise our children to love Jesus in this not so loving world!  We must daily approach the throne of grace and boldly pray for these little lives we've been entrusted.  

A quick idea for a strategy to become a stronger warrior for your kiddos...

I  sat down for just a few minutes today and attached their pictures to card stock and began writing specific prayer needs around their pictures.  I will carry these with me...and be reminded to pray fervently for these sweet children God has given me.

Kona Day 7 & Saying Good-bye

I did not want this trip to "Paradise" to end!!  It was such a taste of heaven...such sweet fellowship with my family making precious memories together in the most gorgeous creation that I have ever seen!

We all decided to make the most of our last day...finishing up things we wanted to do before leaving!

So, I started my morning with a beautiful 7 mile run along the coast...

This little guy was once again my beloved date...

After breakfast together, we all loaded up and headed to the Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation!
Kona is well-known for it's pristine coffee...so this was a must for the coffee drinkers in the family.  I don't drink coffee...unless it's loaded with milk and sugar...but this coffee I must say was really good!

After a brief tour of the plantation and explanations as to how the grow, process and create their coffee beans...

We enjoyed free coffee samples and tea!

Such a fun morning together...

You may not be able to tell here...but it was raining!  Once you reach a certain elevation on the island, it no longer stays 80 degrees all day every day!  But it drizzles...which is why it produces such amazing coffee!

We enjoyed our Coffee experience, then headed back down the mountain to make the most of our last day on the beaches!

We splashed and played in the water!  Bella and I enjoyed paddle boarding together!  SO, SO much fun!!

My mom treated us girls to pedicures before packing up and heading to the airport!  What better way to end a nice vacation than a bit of relaxing pampering!




A flight from Kona to LA...from LA to Minneapolis and then to Charolette...and we were home safe and sound!  Our last pilot invited the kiddos up the see the cock pit after the flight!  So fun for them ;)

And we were greeted with a sweet sign on our door from some of our good friends.....never fun for a glorious vacation to have to come to an end...but we look forward to seeing all our South Carolina friends!!!  We sure missed them while we were away...