cookin' out.

Another evening spent with some of my favorite people meant another evening to be overwhelmingly thankful for how much the Lord has blessed me with.  Doing life with these folks is the best. The absolute best.

take two.

It had been a year and a half since we hiked up to Rainbow Falls, and we were pumped to travel back to Jones Gap for another adventure in the great outdoors together. We were fortunate enough to have two friends join us in our trek, which only added to our fun + enjoyment. Getting to the top was a workout, just as we remembered it to be (not to mention how my body decided it wasn't satisfied with its breakfast, and my head started spinning), but the beauty waiting for us at the end was worth every light-headed moment. It was, also, nice to have someone with legs more my size to walk with, so that neither of us had to feel pressured to keep up with our long-legged fellas. Hopefully this won't be the last time the Davidsons wander through the woods with us, because we loved every minute of it. The sovereignty of our God never ceases to amaze me, y'all; especially when He blesses our journeys + the conversations we have along the way.

"The lake and the mountains have become my landscape, my real world."

-Georges Simenon

a favorite tradition.

Nothing beats a traditional game of horse after a family gathering. Nope, nothing.

Whenever all the siblings are together, you can bet that there will be proper documentation. I don't know what they'd do without me (or without Teesh, who always gets the honor of snapping the picture). These group shots are the ones I'll treasure forever.

What's a celebration without a closeup of the birthday boy and me? I love my Wilber!

twelve.

Scenes from this past Sunday, the one where the whole Phillips clan got together to celebrate Wilber turning twelve! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, nothing pumps me up + makes me overwhelmed with thankfulness quite like time spent with family.

cover what?

Remember that time I climbed into Teesh's coveralls with him just to see if we could both squeeze in? Two words to describe our attempt? Mission accomplished. Actually, there is a third word that describes it, as well: hilarious. Those crazy Bargerons, always making crazy memories never to be forgotten, especially on those rare days when snow inspires us to do something extra crazy.

round two.

What is it about snow that turns you into a kid again? My heart is still full from all the fun we had sledding + throwing snow balls + building snow men + enjoying every bit of the wintry wonderland that became our beloved city only several days ago.

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?"

-J.B. Priestley

round one.

The first day of the snowpocalypse of twenty-fourteen consisted of some hardcore, no-messing-around, all-or-nothing backyard football complete with our you-better-watch-out game faces. If tackling opponents into the fluffy snow was an Olympic sport, our team would take home the gold, no doubt.

paparazzi.

Five days ago, Pastor Andy came to South Carolina! Yepp, the same Pastor Andy that we spent five weeks with in Haiti just a few months ago. Guess who was pumped? THIS GIRL! Chris, Walt, Teesh, and myself picked him up at the airport on Sunday night holding signs + wearing big smiles, and you better believe I was prepared with camera in-hand to document every second of his arrival. While he was in the upstate, he got to experience the snowpocalypse of twenty-fourteen, something he's definitely not used to in Port-de-Paix!

Instead of sticking to his premeditated schedule, the snow provided him an opportunity to simply be still + rest. Lots of people had lots of agendas for him, but nothing went according to plan because of the snow. Fortunately, we were finally able to conquer the icy roads and spend a few hours with him last night. It was so fantastic to just hear his voice, and hearing all about how the Lord has been working at Hope Vision since we left made it even better. I don't know why our God chose to attach us with Haiti and lead us to fall hopelessly in love with the land + its people, but one thing is for sure: the Bargerons are so thankful He did. I can assure you that you could search all over this whole world and never find anyone else who loves our Father + Lord + Savior quite like Pastor does. Being able to call him my brother in Christ is one of the greatest blessings I've ever received, no doubt about that.

"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."

-John 17:15

twelve.

This handsome lad is twelve years old today! In honor of his big day, the Lord blessed him with no school + snow + bonding time with the greatest sisters + brother-in-law he could have ever asked for. Right, Teesh + Melly? :o) Yesterday, better known as Wilber's last day as a mere eleven year old, we spent the whole morning + afternoon out in all the white beauty, and you can bet that's exactly where we'll be again today on his first day as an almost teenager. Sidenote: how in the world is it possible that he's already twelve? Blows my minds, folks. BLOWS. MY. MIND. End denial. For now, at least. 

Happy birthday, Wilber!

Little brother, I hope you know, on this day + every other day, how much you are loved by so many people!

two more faces.

As if Sunday wasn't already flawless, it got even more so when we went to the Greenville Road Warriors hockey game with two more former kiddos! That sounds too good to be true, huh? I''m still smiling! Gus was in my very first class at City Kids for a few months before I was reassigned to my own classroom + Helene was in my class two years later. Both of these little ones take up a lot of space in my heart, and my Helene-bo-baina is pretty much as close as it gets to my perfect mini-me. I can't begin to count the ways I love this family, their parents included, and I take full advantage of living only a few streets away from them; who doesn't love a good surprise drop-in from time to time? Trips to Publix are always filled with hopes of running into them, too, as we've made that a habit since moving in to the bungalow! :)

I hope I never get tired of trying to love with every ounce of energy I've got inside of me, even when the world calls me foolish. Loving is easy when you realize how much you've been loved first, that's a lesson that every kiddo I've ever taught has been used to teach me.

happy heart.

On Sunday afternoon, Ms. Anna + Mr. Teeshy Weeshy had the pleasure of attending sweet Abbe's sixth birthday party Not only was I able to give hugs + kisses to the birthday girl, but I, also, got to love on my equally-as-sweet Megan! I was giddy all morning as I prepared to celebrate the life of one of my former kiddos, and I made sure to get as many snuggles as I could before it was over. These two little ladies, better known by me as Abs + Meggers, will always be so special to me, and I'll covet every opportunity I have to show + remind them just how much they mean to me. I loved catching up with their mommies, too, and I hope we get to have that play date we talked about very, very soon. Memories like this, which invite dozens of other memories to come along with them, are the best.