Photo Essay

When Ryan and I were in fifth grade, we had to do photo essays for school. The assignment was to do a poster board with a day-in-the-life style essay about something people might find interesting about our lives. I did mine about my dad's radio program. Ryan did his about his mom, who was a nurse. He went to work with her one day played the part of the patient so he could show what she did. 

Who knows? Maybe that's when my love of documentation began! 

While this isn't a day-in-the-life post, I thought I'd share a few photos from our September. A few may have popped up in other posts along the way, but I'll try to make them fresh finds for you!

We live in a small town that may not have much, but it does have four restaurants! (Impressive, right?) Throughout our first year here, we'd tried all of them but The Woodhouse. It's only open for dinner, and it can be hard for us to get away for dinner. But just recently they started opening up for breakfast two days a week. So we went one day! I wasn't super hungry, so I just ordered a scrambled egg and a bowl of fruit. I'm so used to fruit bowls at restaurants being two grapes and some bland melon served in about a half-cup sized bowl. Look at this serving of fruit! It was like an actual bowl of fruit!! And it all had flavor! I was impressed. 

Maybe this is going to be a photo essay about food. I'm not sure. :) Nah, just kidding. I took this photo at the coffee shop one morning when I settled in for a work meeting. Ryan and I are IN LOVE with the cake at this coffee shop. I got a piece so I could surprise him with half. And their southern pecan coffee is pretty much the best thing ever. Also...can we pause to appreciate the ambience of the upstairs? It's in a log cabin, so...

I'll have to go back now that this is complete, but I grabbed the picture quickly as I passed through the parking lot and saw the giant mural underway. It's on two sides of the building and is so striking! We didn't have any murals in town before, so this is kind of a big deal!

Who loves encouragement mail? EVERYONE!! :) We have been so very blessed with kind notes and gifts in the mail, and this was a super fun one to find one day. It's from our good friends out west...and look at the card! It's all of us!! :) Ahhh, memories of the ranch. 

Ahhh...mums!! We haven't had any flowers at all this year at WillowBridge, because Ryan and I were overwhelmed/gone last May when we normally would have planted summmer flowers. SO I was excited to get some mums for the front yard. The building looks so happy now!

Sweet Braeya still loves to drink from the faucet. She's been doing this for years. She has a water dish. We keep fresh water in it at all times. She does drink from it. But if she hears anyone going anywhere NEAR the bathroom, she wants a faucet drink too. 

Phoebe and Ryan running up the hill one night. This is about the extent of Ryan's running right now, thanks to his ankle. (It's killing him to not run!) But they did have fun conquering Mt. Grabill. (For those of you who may be confused, this is the town's sledding hill. But it's really pretty in all seasons.)

Her ears laid out on the pillows...I can't even. Too funny!

Ryan sent this of our beloved lake - when he went to the men's retreat. Ahhhh. This is my favorite place to meet with the Lord.

Sitting on the sidewalk waiting for Ryan to come home. She got to him faster only in real-world time. I got there faster in my heart. 

Yesterday we sang hymns in church. From a hymnal. Who knew there would be a day in life when this was a treat?

And because I feel I should conclude with a food item...everyone needs friends who makes AND DELIVERS these:

(I only had one sliver. Ryan gets the rest.)