And the Adventure Continues

As I have stated before life is an adventure, some of life's adventures are ones we look forward to and some are ones we would like to avoid, and some times they are both.  Things don't always go as we hope or plan.  In an ideal life we would have everything happy and joyous full of perfect people who never say or do things that offend us, and we all just get along, and there are no good byes, or tears, or frustrations.  hum.  But that I hope is heaven, and this is here.  Here we get on each others nerves, we find out the people we think are amazing turn out to have flaws, to get to the joyous time we have to go through some tears, and good byes can be painful.  I guess these things help us grow and become who God wants us to be if we allow him to work in our lives.

So, I am going through growing pains again.  :)  It feels like we have been saying good by to our son for the past four years.  First it was his high school graduation, a joyous time but also a time of letting go as God directed Alex's path.  Not too bad as he stayed in town to go to school.  Then Alex decided God was leading him to a college over 1500 miles away.  Those good byes were a little harder and our family, being a bit on the emotional side, always shared a bit of tears.  Once again we were happy for the adventure Alexander was embarking on but we hated to see one of our own leave.  Then there was the wedding and releasing him to be the leader of his own family and no longer just my baby boy, but a man of God that was now a husband.  Well today we said another good by.  Once again another good by that is both something we have looked forward to and prayed for but also a bit painful.  The newlyweds and families loaded up their belongings and off they go to their next adventure.   This is the opening of the dream that God placed in Alex's heart many years ago.  I watch in awe as God opens petal by petal the plans he has for Alex.  This is his first paid position as a youth pastor and music pastor.  Two of the passions of Alex's heart.  It is so exciting as he embarks on this new chapter of his life.  Will God keep them there for the next little while or will they be there for the rest of their lives?  We shall see.  Yes, I had tears as he said his good byes, but they are both happy and sad tears.  Tears that say I am so excited for your new adventure, I wish it could be a bit closer, but God knows what is best for Alex and Ivy, and I rejoice in all God has in store for them.

Well, here are some more picture of the last week and of Latisha's progress.  Latisha's and Brent's baby will be here soon and we are so excited.  We are so blessed that we haven't had to have good byes with Brent and Latisha, but you never know what God has in store for them.  Have a blessed day,
Alicia

Cars packed, Uhaul trailer already on the road, and now off they go.

Danika and Aidric waving good by

Cassandra waving good by 

Sierra and Isabella saying good by

Just before they left we took a little camping trip, here my daddy
is teaching Aidric the correct way to make and eat smores.

Quite the fire pit

My mom and Aidric

The newly weds headed off down a path

Sierra and Isabella enjoying a little time by the river

Isn't she just glowing!