Celebration Weekend!

We have had a fabulous weekend. Chappy leaves for Africa on Monday morning, very early. To celebrate his mission trip, he and I enjoyed an overnight "get-away" stay at the Opryland Hotel on Friday. The hotel has already decorated for the holiday season, so there are beautiful lights and decor everywhere. It was so much fun, and a wonderful opportunity for me to honor my husband. I made a concerted effort to make it all about him! So much of the time, Chappy has to share me with our five little "gremlins", and he often gets the leftovers after I have had a long day of meeting their needs. He is such a great husband and father; it was nice to remind him how much he is appreciated for just being him.

Saturday night, Chappy and I took our older three out for a "date night"; we try to take them out at least once or twice a month while leaving Charlie and Hopey with a sitter. Caleb, Lydia, and Natalie are good to help with our two little ones daily; to reward them, we plan "Big Kid Date Night" and do some things they enjoy. A local church raises money for missions by having a swing dance two weekends a month. The church offers a live big band, a good size dance floor, and dancing lessons, too! We attended last evening and danced from 7pm until 10pm and had a blast! Several students from the homeschool tutorial we are a part of attended the dance, so our kids had friends to dance with (and Chappy and I danced with each other). On the way home, Caleb asked: "Mom, where did you and dad learn all of those dance moves?"......Chappy and I laughed and laughed.....we've still got it!!!

"Live life joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life....."

(Ecc. 9:9)

P.S. Thank you to all who have signed the map below....I love showing Hope her "Prayer Dots".