reality

Welp- reality has still not really set in yet. God told us to have our house on the market by December 1 and it still is not listed. With Christmas being near, we are constantly having stuff everywhere! We have not been able to get everything cleaned up for the pictures. This is terrible...

So since all of this has not happened, reality is still not setting in. The hardest part is behind us, telling the church, but we are still there and will be until Jan 1 so nothing has changed.

Last night we went to our Sunday School Christmas party and had a blast. We really had so much fun. Our class surprised us with the most gorgeous sign to hang in our house with this gorgeous frame. I need to take a picture to post on here! "The will of God will not take you anywhere that the grace of God will not protect you." It could not be more perfect!

We are just waiting on the next bread crumb  to be given to us from God to show us where/what is next. I am curious to know the next step!

In Him
Ashley

Life...

Life in general is always pretty crazy this time of year. I think that this year beats all, so far. Let me back up a bit and explain...
This past year has been a year of seeking God, a year of seeking his direction and a year of feeling like we are being prepared for something else. It took a long time to place our finger on what was happening. When we did, we realized that God has infact been preparing us for something. This something just happens to be not in Farmville. He is calling us to the next chapter of our lives.

After ALOT of prayer, Ryan told Pastor Ken this past week or so (maybe 2 weeks I can't remember) that he was officially resigning as youth pastor of Worsham effective January 1st 2011. This whole thing is a shock to me so it is certainly a shock to Ryan. He has been a part of WBC since he was a baby. His one and only church...Then yesterday, (Sunday) Ryan announced to the entire congregation that we are leaving. No one knew.....

But, we know that God is in contol and whatever he is calling us to do will be great. We trust in him with that...

Worsham has been nothing but supportive and loving to us and our family. We could never have asked for a better church to belong to and we could never ask for a more loving, accepting and awesome church family. We are going to miss them so dearly. The youth are a whole-nother thing. It breaks my heart to think that I won't have the time with them that we used to have. As long as they know that we will always ALWAYS be there for them....They are amazing kids with so much to offer. The best part is how we have had the opportunity to watch them grow in the Lord. God is so good...

Ryan and I both were hesitant about this for sometime because of the youth. We do not want to leave them nor do we want them to feel abandoned.  But then God had to remind us that he is God. He is the ultimate protector and provider. They will be ok. And with Him we have to leave them.

So before I cry harder, it is time for bed :)

I think I say this every post, but I really do hope to update this more often to keep people updated on where we are and what we are doing.

Stay tuned!


Trusting in Him
Ashley

Carter's Mountain Orchard

Cutest worm ever!

Tristan and Daddy with a beautiful view of Charlottesville, VA

Tristan reaching to pick an apple

I love our family

Ryan's Dad, Pat, me, Tristan and Ryan all trying to squeeze in :)

When Bob and Pat were in town visiting at the end of September, we decided it would be fun to take them to Carter's Mountain to pick apples. I went 7 years ago on a field trip but I have not been back since. Ryan had never gone so we thought it would be fun to try! We had a BLAST! I wish we had taken a carrier to put Tristan in so we could carry him. The mountain was too steep for a stroller or a wagon and his poor little legs were so tired from going up and down so much. He was a trooper, as always, and we all had a blast! We will definitely go back next year!

Tristan's Adoption Day!!!

October 7th was Tristan's Adoption Day. This is a special day for our family because this is the day he was "legally" a Frey last year. We will never forget Kim, our Social Worker, calling and saying she had to come by the house for another signature for more paperwork that was not done. I was so irritated, NOT at Kim, but just because it seemed like a never ending process... which is kinda was! She then preceded to tell us she was kidding, and whipped out the FINALIZED paperwork for Tristan! THE BEST TRICK EVER played on us :) We will forever be grateful for all of her hard work. She helped us become a family of 3!

So, having recapped that special day, we decided it is important for our family to celebrate this every year. This year, Ryan and I both took off work and had a family day. We had a fiasko trying to get to the pumpkin patch, so we ended up somewhere else, but it was a blessing in disguise... that is a wholenother story.

We ended up at a house that sells pumpkins, not what I had in mind, but we had a blast. Tristan, of course, did not care. He was just excited about all of the pumpkins everywhere! Then we went out to lunch, shopped (he needed some fall clothes) and came home for PM naptime. It was the perfect day. After dinner, we gave Tristan his present which was a trainset. He loves trains and he did not have any, so it worked out well! He seems to still love it so that is a good sign. :)

Daddy, can we get THIS one?!?

....and this one.....

just my size

I'm done carrying this one!

The nice lady even had candy! What a special treat!

Tristan, we love you so much. You are our answer to prayer and we will FOREVER be grateful to God for allowing us the privileged of being your parents. We love you!

Lynchburg HILLCATS

Tristan meets the Hillcat whatever that is... Liked it at first then got really scared.

Having a BLAST in the stands

Daddy and Tristan watching the game

Cheering them on!

 So Ryan's office party this year, was at the Hillcats game! We almost left Tristan at home afraid of how he would do there, but we were SO glad we took him. We all 3 had a BLAST! Thank you Navona for taking all of Real Living there this year! We really appreciate it!

Katie and Tim's shower on the river

The 3 of us on Uncle Randy's boat

Tristan goofing off with Granddad

Elise and Tristan sipping apple juice in the Tiki Hut

My aunts threw Katie and Tim a wedding shower at Dawn and Randy's house. We got to spend the day on the river and the evening celebrating two of our favorite people! What a great day it was!

Katie and Tim with the quilt that Dawn made them

Elise helping with the presents

I love our family!

One of my favorites...

This picture is one of my favorites for many reasons. Part of what I wanted with my book was to have my family on the back cover. I did not want to put just my picture because I wrote this with their support. I wanted them to have a piece of the book as well! We tried desperately to get a good family picture. We tried for weeks and nothing turned out well. Tristan refused to even look at the camera for most of them and then he was making an awful face if he did look. I don't know what this phase is but he hates his picture to be taken. So we were at Paul and Sandy's house for dinner and I took the camera in the off chance that he would cooperate. We all jumped on the tricycle and woo hoo! This is what we got! I like it! We have very few good family photos so this one had to do. I wish Tristan had smiled, but oh, well. It will now be on the back of Extra Special forever!