Bright Lights Conference

All the girls attended part of a solid, excellent, Bright Lights conference with some friends! Sooo encouraging.

Thanking the Lord for friends pursuing godliness.

A group of girls from Heritage!

A Writing Marathon

This November some of the kids signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month-- when writers all around the world write 50,000 word novels in 30 days). 

 Emma made a 'Happy NaNoWriMo' sign for the first day of November, featuring many of the works-in-progress.

Betsy surprised the crazy authors with delicious snacks and what has been dubbed 'NaNo-tea'!

The writers set up desks and set to work.

Welcome to the deep, dark, writer's cave...enter at your own risk. ;)

Paul and Anna are doing the full-out NaNoWriMo and have been chipping away at their 50,000 word goal. 

The younger girls signed up for the NaNo branch called 'Young Writers Program' where they can set their own word goals, and have been doing fantastically! 

BB's novel is titled "The Candy Shop Kids' and is so adorable! We can't wait to read it!

Word counts for Day 1... you know you're too short when the camera has to be tilted to avoid cutting off your brother's head. ;)

 A silly selfie with all but one of the writers, and their brainstorming buddy, Kate.

Working hard on that novel!

"Where there's a Willis there's a way!"

He DID IT!!!!

A Trip to Cracker Barrel

A huge "thank you!" to a kind member of the congregation for this special treat to Cracker Barrel!

We love the rockers out front!

A heated game of checkers.

Smile!

Root Beer!

 The food was delicious, the family-time was giggly, and we had a wonderful time!

Food, Family, Friends, and a Yard Sale

A quick recap of the month of November.

Thanksgiving at Aunt and Uncle's:

Which of course includes football. Watching football, that is. ;)

 Yeah, you might just be a hick if you can't figure out how to use the whipped cream. :P

It was great to be able to spend our Thanksgiving meal with family after so many years. 

We said goodbye to two very special families. On direction from God, our church sent out the M family as missionaries for the Lord to a tiny town in Mexico. It was a bitter-sweet goodbye.

Pastor M sharing a little with the congregation about the people there in Mexico and what his family's goals in reaching out to them are.

 The father and three of his daughters singing a beautiful song together

Praying over them as we sent them off. We miss you, guys!!

The second hard goodbye was to our best friends from Oregon who visited down here for a month. We've known them for a very long time and highly enjoyed getting to hang out together again. So sad when their stay ended. :( 

Ever since we were really young our families and personalities have just clicked, and we've built many priceless memories together. 

 ...Including silly ones. :)

 We walked to the park so the guys could play basketball like in the old days, and everyone else had fun playing, taking pictures together in the cool lighting, and catching up after so many months. 

 The girlies. :)

And of course you've got to take pictures of your toes with the awesome lighting!! 

And of course, whenever these two are in the same vicinity (for more than two hours) a war always breaks out. Axis and Allies, a board game depicting the second world war between the world powers. Sadly, there wasn't the kind of time they needed to resolve their differences before we had to leave, but there's always another chance. :) :) :)

Can't wait to be with you goofy people again!!

We attended a super wonderful wedding of two longtime childhood friends!! Praise the Lord!

Yard Sale!!

 Wow! Hold your breath everybody, and pray!!! :P

And that was our November! Looking forward to what God brings our way during 2016!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

All of Betsy's family came to town for a couple days, and we've enjoyed hanging out with  them while they've been here. Monday, everyone dropped by our place (with pizza!) and the little Ks came for a pre-thanskgiving get together.
Thank you, Lord, for family!!

Happy Autumn!

Happy autumn, everyone! It truly is the greatest season!!!

 Kate made these deeelicious shortbread acorn cutouts to celebrate the occasion. How did y'all celebrate?