Our New Home

This morning as I was making some food for Anna, I looked out the window and there was a turkey in the driveway. Yesterday there was a deer in the same spot. Our home borders the state forest land, so I am sure it is a surprising open spot of civilization for many furry creatures. Anyway, when I saw the turkey I tried to take a picture of it. Since I had the camera out, I took some more pictures to show you all our new house that we are absolutely enjoying. The location is perfect for us. We can walk to downtown Lake Lure where there is a beautiful park and access to the water. There are amazing walks around our neighborhood too. Yesterday Anna and I walked to the small farmer’s market and the post office and then we went for a jog in the park. It felt so metropolitan (ha ha). We have posted some pictures, though we haven’t done much decorating yet. I’m sure some of these shots could be candidates for the “before” photos on an HGTV interior design show. But, we love it. I am constantly amazed that we live here. We believe that the Lord provided this home for us. We’ve been looking and waiting for a house for about 3 years now, but the market in this resort town has been way out of our price range. So, when we purchased this house at an auction, with no one bidding against us, it felt like an unexpected gift!

Of course, no blog update would be complete without pictures of Anna. She is at the stage where she constantly wants to walk (with our assistance) and climbing stairs is her favorite pastime. When I’m not helping her walk, I’m honing my skills as an object interceptor. Sometimes I fail at that, which is how I have become a professional at the finger sweep.

Hot Fun in the Summer

From 7.13 blog update

Camp Lurecrest is in full swing for the summer. As I write this from Tom's office, I can hear him out on the basketball court playing dodgeball with some campers. It sounds a bit painful, but he is enduring the bouncing ball, as well as their yells of, "Come on preacher man!" This is Tom's second week as the camp pastor and it is going really well. He is keeping the campers laughing, as well as communicating God's love for them. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for him!

Anna is also enjoying the joys of summer. She has been swimming in the pool at camp, as well as the lake. Below are some pictures of a cookout we had at the lake with our good friends and Anna's little friend, JP.

We also just purchased our first home last month! We are really enjoying it and feel so blessed to have received it. It's on a mountain and surrounded by trees. In the winter, there is a view of Rumbling Bald Mountain (very rocky and beautiful). Below are just a couple pictures of the house on the day we bought it. We had a bunch of friends over for ice cream and they are sitting on the floor of the empty kitchen there.

Beach Fun!

Hey Everyone!

We are hanging out at Ocean Isle for a few days. Anna loves crawling around in the tidal pools and splashing in the waves. It has been a while since we've posted pictures, so I also posted a few pictures of her from back in April. She is growing fast. Right now she is crawling around, pulling up on everything, and she loves to walk when we hold her hands. She says, "hi", and waves to everyone, and her vocabulary also consists of the words, cup, cat, dog, and bye.

Great Grandparents in Virginia

Here's Anna with her great grandparents in Virginia, Helen and Linnie. As you can see, she isn't too sure about that avacado.

Having Fun in March

March has been a busy month for Baby Anna. It snowed almost a foot in our area during the first week of the month and we went on a fabulous blue sky hike. Only a couple weeks later, Anna woke up from her car seat to find herself in Florida with numerous members of the Wilsie clan loving on her. (Pictured are her great grandparents, Patsy and E.B., and her 2nd cousin, Andrea.) Anna also celebrated Grandma Phillips' birthday with her and hung out with her rock star Uncle Jon and Carolyn in Asheville (check out Jon's music at http://www.myspace.com/jonathanlindsaymusic ).

Wait a second...do you mean to tell me that I am actually 5 months old?

From Boone weekend 2/22

Yes! Baby Anna is 5 months old as of Tuesday.  She is having so much fun being a baby.  We just introduced her to rice cereal and she is devouring it.  She also laughs now when we tickle her. She is such a sweet girl and loves to smile and be around other people.  

Lots of friends and family have given Anna hats as a present, so today she decided to model a few for everyone.  There are also some pictures of Anna in her backpack during a walk we took with her buddy, JP.