Florida Smiles

The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice;

Let the multitude of isles be glad!

The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,

At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

[Many of you have noticed Hannah's haircut. Yes! She donated another 10" of her hair to Locks of Love. In addition to the benefit of helping these children who are fighting cancer, we're enjoying her cute, new look!]

The heavens declare His righteousness,

And all the peoples see His glory.

For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;

You are exalted far above all gods.

You who love the LORD, hate evil!

He preserves the souls of His saints;

Light is sown for the righteous,

And gladness for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,

And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Excerpts from Psalm 97

Where is Rachel?

Many of you faithful, dear blog friends have certainly noticed a change in our blogging -- or lack thereof -- over the past few months. You have very possibly wondered aloud, "Where IS Rachel?"

Yes, I know. My life and thoughts have not been revolving around the online world as of late. And the joyous new season of *engagement* has been filling my days with wonderful distractions. This trip was the longest stretch Alan and I have gone without spending time together in person since we first met last fall. Six weeks can seem to last forever!

But this past week we had the delightful pleasure of seven whole days together as Alan flew to Florida to spend time with our family. Our days were filled with long walks, starting our wedding registry, engagement pictures, bike rides, snorkeling, moonlit campfires, and lots of conversation. I'm so grateful for this godly man who diligently seeks the Lord and encourages me in truth!

Thank you for your patience with me. This is a delightful, new season and I'm learning so much, which I hope to share as we write out our love story. [Now with engagement pictures done we'll be digging into that project soon!]

So, if you notice a lull in the semi-regular posting around here, its possibly because I'm enjoying time with my man. We're currently working on getting the younger ones involved with photography and sharing, so thanks for sticking around as we embark on this new adventure together! For now, here are a few pictures captured from this past week:

Poolside chats

Taking pictures of the younger kids

Bike rides

Bonfire picnics

Tropical delights

Having fun with Alan's sporty rental car

In the orange groves

"The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it."
Prov 10:22

Susanna

Happy 15th Birthday Susanna!

Personal highlights from the past year:

• Having an adorable nephew
• Work in the irrigation fields last spring
  
• Getting and taking care of our chickens
• Being able to stay home last summer and have a large garden
• Getting to tease Alan (Rachel's fiance)
• Going to the Husker's red-white game
• Enjoying time with family and friends

"And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation."
Psalm 35:9

Andrew & Kori

Happy first anniversary, Andrew and Kori!

We love you!

Orange Groves

This past week we had the pleasure of spending several days with our dear friends and family in Orlando, Florida. The days were filled with fellowship, fun, and wonderful family moments and slipped past far too quickly! But for a update, here's a few shots of our annual trip to the orange grove.

Nathanael enjoyed watching these unique birds

Alaythia getting ready to pick oranges from the tree tops.

There's nothing like eating a fresh, juicy orange on a sunny day!

And yes! Alan was able to fly down for our week, too. Certainly my personal highlight!
(More on that later...)

This trip has been a precious time together as we recognize the upcoming changes in our family. Good and happy changes but an adjustment for everyone nonetheless! New seasons bring new joys and new challenges. And a deeper gratitude for the fact that the Lord is the Faithful One who directs our paths as we trust in Him!


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."
Prov 3:5-6