What Owen's been up to

Here are three of the things we like to do in Richmond.

First, we found a GREAT park to go to. Great swings, running trials, slide, toddler friendly toys, etc. One thing Owen enjoys is eating his snack while he watches the big kids run around.



We found a pack of play dough at Target for only $0.99! So we bought it to see if Owen would like it. Well, consistent with his personality, he enjoys placing the playdough balls that I make into the container, putting the lid on, and taking them back out again. It still smells like it did 2 decades ago!!



Last night we played out in the back yard for the first time. I think it was the most fun that I've had here yet. It was very special. Owen sat on this bike while Matt and I kicked a little play soccer ball to each other. Owen laughed and laughed. He really liked it when we'd kick it up in the air. One time Matt kicked it up and it landed on Owen's head!! Owen laughed SO hard!!

Our New House

Some pictures of our new house - we are thankful that the Lord has provided abundantly more than we could ask or imagine.

- NOTE - we have only been in the house for one week. Thus, it is still a work in progress. We wanted to share it with you none-the-less.

Here is a picture of Move-In day. We had about 10 - 15 folks from the church help us unpack the truck. It went so quickly! Thank You West End!



Here is a picture of our Family Room.



This is the Kitchen and eating area. We have a dining room too that we'll use when people come over - we'll get to use my grandparents dining room table and chairs.



Here is a picture of part of our bedroom - we decided to have our desk in there too.



Owen's room.



The Living Room.



Owen admiring his new back yard.



Matt enjoying his first time grilling burgers on our new grill.



Matt's first day of work.



Overall we are doing well - there are certainly sad moments. It's hard to move, but the Lord has faithfully met us in the midst of us. We covet your prayers as we continue to settle in here and learn what life in the ministry and in Richmond will look like. Thanks!

To the Beach!

After we drove to Richmond and closed on our house we went to the beach for 2 days with part of Matt's family. It was a good break from all of the good byes and the packing. Owen enjoyed the beach too - it took him a while to adjust to the sand, but after a bit he was grabbing handfuls to put in his truck. We didn't go in the water, but there was a pool, so that was fun! Thanks Noelle, Scott, Patricia, Grams and Grampop for a great break at the beach!

This is Owen after he's warmed up enough to sit on the sand. So sweet.



Owen, Ashley (L) and Madison (R) enjoyed sitting in this little pool right near the ocean. Sometimes a wave would bring water up to them and the adults would make more sound than the kids. It was quite a site I'm sure! 7 grown adults surrounding these 3 kiddos. What fun!

Final Good Byes

We have arrived in Richmond, and are finally able to post some pictures!

Here are a few from our final times in Charlotte. It was so hard to leave these people we love so dearly, but we trust the Lord to meet us in that and to provide all that we need here in Richmond.

Matt had wanted to have an "Apple Pie and Ice Cream" night for the longest time, so we decided to do that our last Saturday in Charlotte. We wanted to introduce our friends to the wonderful treat of a Costco apple pie and ice cream. It was also a good excuse to hang out!



On truck packing day we had about 9 guys helping out - they packed the truck in about 90 minutes. We ordered some pizza and invited spouses and kids of the truck packers to join us. It was great to have them all in our home one last time. We had many good byes all in a row. It was tough. Our final good bye was to the Hunt's - which I think was fitting since they were some of our first friends here! We are blessed to know all of you and look forward to keeping in touch and coming to visit!

Fun Times

The Lord has continued to bless us with some great times with the people we love in Charlotte. Here is a sampling. (NOTE: This will most likely be our last post in a little while since we move Wednesday, go to the beach for 2 days, and then move into our house. We'll post pictures as soon as we can!)

The McCann's came over last weekend and we ate dinner after the kids went to sleep. It was a great time of chatting and just enjoying time together. Here are Owen and Lucy before bed time.




After the guys took their last final, a group of us went to the pool to celebrate. Here are the ladies and babies.



This past Thursday I got to go out for dessert with Mary, Lindsey and Melissa. We enjoyed chatting and hanging out AND eating delicious desserts. I'm going to miss you ladies!



Celia Kulp had her first dance recital yesterday. It was so sweet! Owen and I went and enjoyed watching Celia dance. Here is a picture after the dance of Mary and her girls (Celia and Bennett), me and Owen and Melissa and Sam).



At one point during the recital both Owen and Bennett were restless. We spent some time walking (with my help) and crawling around outside with Bennett. Here is a picture of Bennett giving Owen and hug. So sweet!

Calzone

Owen enjoyed his first calzone recently - he loved it!

A picture of our family of calzones.



Owen's face after eating his calzone!

Anniversary Trip to Charleston

After graduation weekend, Matt and I went to Charleston, SC to celebrate our 5 year anniversary (May 11). My parents stayed in Charlotte with Owen - they had a great time. We had a great time too! We were glad to spend some time just the two of us, but were equally glad to return home to our boy.

Here is a picture of us on a carriage tour of Charleston. We learned a lot of neat things and saw a lot of the city.



Here is a picture of one of the churches in Charleston - there are a ton! You will notice on the right of our picture the profile of Winston - our horse. He did a great job.



At night we ate dinner at a place called Poogans Porch and then walked around near the water. We finished the night off with some yummy Ben and Jerry's! The next morning we ate breakfast at our Inn on the 4th floor terrace and then went for a run near the water. We spent part of the afternoon at the beach and then headed home. This is us at the Water Front Park at night.

RTS Graduation, May 26th

Sorry for the great delay in getting this post up! With our move date 3 days away, I've been busy packing and Matt has been busy studying for his ordination exams. So, here are the much anticipated pictures from graduation.

It was a great weekend - my parents came down, and almost all of Matt's family (we missed you Anna!). It was fun to have them in town to celebrate with us and to visit Owen of course. The graduation ceremony was a great time of worshiping the Lord and hearing a great charge from a professor. It was a blessing to see where the Lord has taken us the last three years as a family, and for Matt as the graduate.

Here is Matt walking up the aisle after receiving his diploma. Can you tell he's excited?!



Matt Owen and I after the ceremony. Owen went to nap at the Kulps shortly after this picture was taken.



Here are all of our family members that came for the weekend. What a group, huh?!



Mike and Melissa Kruger have been a big part of our last three years. Mike is a professor at RTS and also a pastor at our church. Mike mentored Matt for the last three years and has taught him so much about the ministry and the Word! Melissa met with myself and a few other seminary wives and taught us so much about being the wife of a pastor! We will miss them a lot!



This is a picture of us and the Hunts and McCanns. Matt has been in class with Jake (Hunt) and Sean (McCann) for all three years. They along with their wives and children are some of our best friends here. We can't imagine our seminary years with out them.



Matt and I at the RTS sign.



Here are some of the guys and their babies - all of which have been born while we were at RTS! Sean and Lucy, Jake and Sam, Tyler and Maggie and Matt and Owen.



In the afternoon, we had a cookout for some graduates and their families at a park in Charlotte. It was a great time. I forgot my camera, but got this picture from Lindsey. It's of myself, Carrie and Linley.



Back at the house we enjoyed some good cousin time! This is Owen with Madison (of Ashley and Madison - Matt's sister's twin girls). we get to see them at the beach for a few days this week! We are excited about that.