Fun visit with Kim

My sister Kim came up for the day from Richmond ~ what fun we had!

We visited with Courtney and her crew and Kim loved meeting little Sawyer. What a hit she was with Rebekah, Joshua and Bailey ~ they loved having her!

Kim and I just relaxed and enjoyed a quiet afternoon, before dinner with Alden, Hannah and Leah (Hannah's college housemate from Va Beach).

She also gave us a cooking lesson on making smoothies. Yum!

Thanks for spending the day with us Kim!

Family Celebrating Alden

The family gathered last night to celebrate Alden ~ the wise, gracious leader of our family.

We love him for all he is ~

how he loves and serves God,

and how he loves and walks through life with us.

The whole Smith crew,

minus Andrea and Brittany who are visiting in PA

Not only did we have birthday cake, but Courtney made us a blackberry pie!

Steve enjoying little Sawyer

Phill and Christy loving on Sawyer

(they are due with their son late December)

Pat and Courtney's family of 6! Precious.

Dorian's gift to Alden.......just for the weekend!

Happy Birthday Alden ~ from your family who loves you very much.

Happy Birthday Alden

What a joy to wish Alden a Happy Birthday!

Alden is the man of my dreams,

our children are blessed to have such a father,

and friends and family cherish his friendship.

This day is for YOU Alden. We love you!

It's a BOY and It's a BOY

Alden and I were doubly blessed on July 22

Courtney and Pat have a new son: Sawyer Patrick!

Phill and Christy are expecting a baby in December

and found out Tuesday it is a.............. SON!

We rejoice with these two precious couples............

in their joy, which is our incredible joy!

Blessed beyond measure.

It's a BOY!

Sawyer Patrick Cassada

8 lbs 1 1/2 oz

20 1/2 inches long

9:54 a.m. (July 22)

Both Courtney and baby are doing GREAT! Much rejoicing to be had around here.

This will be brief (as we have Rebekah, Joshua and Bailey)

but wanted to share the news and a few pictures.

Proud grandparents!

Thank you God for watching over this family this day.

heading to the hospital

It is 6:30 a.m. and we are headed to the hospital! Yahooooooooooo! Thanks for your prayers!

Soon to meet baby Cassada!

Excitement is in the air ~ Courtney and Pat got good news today! They will induce on Wednesday morning if sweet baby has not arrived by then. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all for your continued prayers ~ it means so much to all of us.

We can't wait to meet you, little Cassada

In Jesus’ name I pray, and am confident, that the God who gives endurance, encouragement, and hope (Rom 15:5,13) will accomplish immeasurably more than all you can ask or imagine. How thankful I am that His power – the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (1 Pet.1:21) is at work in you, and your family and in the baby you love so much (Eph. 3:20)!

From: Praying the Bible for Your Baby

Friday Fun

Well, our lady is still "in wait", but we all had a little fun this morning. :) Hannah and I joined the Cassada crew at their pool and stayed cool on a VERY hot day. This precious little baby will one day hear of all the "waiting games" played waiting for "its" arrival. We can't wait to meet this precious little baby!!!!!!!!

Praying for you Cassadas!

lady ~ in wait

Courtney and Pat's precious baby is due THIS WEEK! Courtney is being quite a trooper ~ she went to the dr. today and things are progressing, but no baby yet. We all know the baby will come when it is just the right time, but the waiting is hard. Hannah and I went over to help pass the time ~ we had fun! :) We feel like it is the best mystery novel.......wondering what the ending will be! Much anticipation around these days. Come on baby!!!!!!!!! We can't wait to meet you.

Hang in there Courtney ~ God help her to do just that!

special "lifelong" friends

We had the pleasure of being with special friends Sunday evening ~ some of you know them as our "the old neighborhood" friends or "Burke Station friends". These people are precious to us. We have a bond that goes beyond measure ~ we have known each other for 20+ years and have enjoyed watching our kids grow up together, shared joys and sorrows of life, and simply enjoy the company of each other. These people fill us up with contentment.

We also got to celebrate two birthdays ~

Happy Birthday Bernie.

Happy Birthday Ellen!

We enjoyed great food (thanks Anne!), laughter and fun,

and just simply enjoyed being together.

A wonderful evening.....

with special people.

Brad Paisley Concert

Those of you who know our family know we have some REAL country music fans. :) Well, Alden and Hannah got to go to Brad Paisley's concert last night ~ thanks to Christy's friend at work who gave the tickets to them. A big thanks to her friend and to Christy who thought of giving them to us!!! It was a pleasure beyond measure for them ~ they got to be together ~ Dad and daughter ~ AND see Brad Paisley. What a fantastic time they had! Unfortunately, Hannah took her camera to take pictures and her batteries were dead............shucks. So, they took a picture once they got home.

Brad Paisley has a new song out and the video is incredible ~ enjoy.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pvKgnkIN8C8

Watch the whole video ~ it is fantastic!

You can imagine Alden all choked up listening to this. How I love my man!

July 11 ~ special day

Who would think July 11 would be such a remarkable day......

1. Happy 10th Anniversary to Courtney and Pat! What a wonderful day that was 10 years ago ~ perfect weather day, wonderful people, lots of fun, and a couple deeply in love, ready to serve their Lord together.
2. Baby watch continues: Courtney and Pat are expecting their 4th baby any day now!
3. Remembering Allan Brooks........all he was and such a dear part of our family.
4. Happy Birthday to my dear friend Jan Meyer ~ she makes me laugh and what good times we have.
5. 7-11 stores are having FREE SLURPEES to commemorate the "date" of today! Yahoo to all the kids who will love that (and adults too)!

Happy July 11 to all

Fourth of July with family

Alden and Dorian, Susan and Richard, and Kim

One of our favorite days of the year is the 4th of July. Living in Washington, DC we love going down to the fireworks and enjoying the evening with family and friends. This year we had the pleasure of Dorian's two sisters, Kim and Susan, and some of their families join us. We had a ball, even with some rain showers in our day. We enjoyed visiting and getting caught up, yummy food, fireworks, meeting new friends, dodging rain showers (or not!), and just enjoying being family ~ and of course, thankful for the blessings God has bestowed on our country.

Early in the afternoon by the Potomac River

Chris

Brandon and Jackie

Hannah

The sisters :) What a GREAT time we all had!

Kretzer Wedding

Congratulations to Lauren and Jon on the beginning of their marriage!

Alden, Hannah and I so enjoyed going to the Kretzer wedding last night. The Kretzer's live just a few houses down from us and we have enjoyed their friendship now for 13 years. Lauren, her sister Jackie, and Hannah were BEST of friends through elementary school ~ the three of them were inseparable. Lauren and Jon had a beautiful outside ceremony and then a wonderful reception following at Ft. Belvoir Officer's Club. The view of the Potomac, food, friends, dancing, decorations were just wonderful.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Stone :)