Happy Father's Day!

I am extra blessed because I have three wonderful fathers in my life! I have been looking forward to this Father's day so much because it will be Jordan's first. Also, it has been amazing to watch my dad and Jordan's dad be such wonderful granddads for the first time! She is a VERY blessed and loved little girl with so many doting men around her who will be wonderful examples of the man she should look for in a future husband. They also each have such uniquely different talents and will have so many things to teach her and Lord-willing, her future siblings! So, I thought the only right thing to do to commemorate this event was a photo montage :) 

Dad, it has been nothing but a privilege to grow up as your daughter. You are a really good man. And by that I mean that I've always watched you try your best to do the right thing, be an incredibly hard worker, provide for our family, and uphold high values. And along the way we've always had so much fun together! I love you!

In Sydney Harbour

At Luke's graduation

Being a great puppy grandpa first! Look at cute baby Reese!

Dad and Grandpa already showing their love for Avery, putting together her crib!

Grandpa  (or Grandbob!)

Daddy Peace, you are the best father-in-law a girl could have! I am so thankful for the dad you were (and still are) to Jordan and how you've exampled to him what a great dad looks like. You have also been so gracious to welcome me into the family and treat me like your own. I love you.

Family pic in Australia, at the Twelve Apostles

Love these three together - always lots of laughs. 

Feeding the birds - they loved him

And he loved making fun of me for days about my reaction!!

This was such a fun day

Grandaddy Peace

Jordan, this year watching you become a dad has been so incredible! You are seriously the best dad ever to Avery. You've been right there with me every diaper change, sleepless night, enjoying her first smile and most recently belly laugh, and it's been the greatest joy! I know that this little girl is just going to ADORE you (not that she doesn't already - you always make her smile). I'm so thankful God gave me you to create a family with. Thank you so much for caring so much and for putting your role as husband and father at the top of your priorities. You're the best. I love you!!!

Meeting his girl

 

 

Like father like daughter :) Watching the TV

Clearly these two are my favorite photography subject!! Can't get enough of the two of them together.

Christmas card pics!!

My 16-year old cousin took these for us! I thought they turned out really well for a 3 minute photo shoot! We ended up using the B&W smiling one (the 3rd one in the post) for our Christmas card, which we got from pear tree greetings. I really love them! Hopefully when I get them in the mail tomorrow I still will. :)

Welcome to the Family!

Friday night we got commissioned into the religious order of Campus Crusade for Christ!!

YAY!

This is Jordan getting his certificate and getting ready to shake hands with Steve and Judy Douglas - the president of CCC and his wife. When we shook their hands, I swear, with the most tender heart, they told each one of us welcome to the family, and thank you for committing your life to Christ. It was really special. I cried 3 times during the ceremony. It just feels really good to be needed and wanted. And it feels great to be done with New Staff Training! On to the National Staff Conference! Woo!

Road Trip Recap:

Okay, I know this is bad. It's been about a month since we got to Colorado, but I sorta despise long blog picture posts. But then when I'm done I love them. And Anne Parker got on my case for not posting, so out of love for her, I am abandoning the procrastination :)

These are all of our 26 hour road trip from Blacksburg to Ft. Collins....starting with the crazy huge cross in SWVA...I love us.






Sadly, I only got pictures of 3 of the state signs out of the 6...I thought about cheating and getting them off line, but I can be honest. We just weren't quick enough!


















Us, drivin' along - with all our stuff for the summer! The car was so heavy.














In Nashville, we stopped at the Opryland Hotel - which I kept calling the Grand Ole Opry. It was so cool and a great hour-long break for us. If you've never been there - and are in Nashville - you should definitely visit. It is filled with indoor gardens, shops, pathways, restaurants. It's really a resort town all in one place. You wouldn't even have to leave if you were there for a week. We got Haagen Daaz while we were there! I love their honey vanilla flavor.




































Random bridge in Kentucky, I think. Maybe Illinois. But it's pretty.






















YAY!






In Carbondale, we stopped to visit Colleen. I haven't seen her in 2 years and it was awesome to stay with her. Her family was so hospitable and sweet. And Colleen and I stayed up til 1 talking - I love friends I can pick up with right where we left off. Happy Marriage in 16 days!!


















Driving into ST. LOUIS! The arc. Which we didn't go up in. We were trying to stick to free stuff.







Got this the second time around - when we had to turn around cause we got on the wrong highway -- oops!











Busch Stadium - the St. Louis Cardinals. You could practically see into the stadium from the interstate.







Then we stoppped at the St. Louis Zoo - which was free :) and so fun! We stayed for a couple of hours and had a great time



These were HUGE turtles!!





Love him.












These were statues - in case you didn't know.











In Kansas City, MO, we happened upon an AWESOME outdoor integrated shopping center/mall thing - kind of like Carytown in Richmond but way cleaner and bigger - and with shops you would see in a mall.






Isn't that crazy that they have the doggie bar! Such a good idea though for an outdoor mall.















All of the architecture was Islamic which was kind of weird - but i loved it!!











































Too bad we didn't go to PF Chang's or Fogo, but it was cool to see them!!
















































Amazing windmills that I was obviously obsessed with.








These were in Kansas, while we drove the 464 miles in one day.




The huge Van Gogh painting in Goodland, KS, where we were planning to stay. We decided to drive through to CO that night. But notice the scary clouds. While we were there eating, there was a tornado warning for the area - and the locals were telling us they'd take us to their shelter and stuff. Kind of unnerving, but after our near death experience, we made it out alive. :) whew.


Now we're in Ft. Collins - this is our lovely dorm room! I brought our sheets and comforter and stuff from home which makes it way more homey. And we have an awesome view!!
















See...I told you, this is from our dorm room. :)