Day 4,301

The Hobe Sound Beach Day

Day 4,300

The Higdons Are Here for Thanksgiving!

Auntie Shelby snuggles!

Sheeba snuggles!

Fellar, you're jealous? We'll keep snuggling you too!

Thanksgiving means TONS of cooks in the kitchen. 

Ella Mae was looking up her jello pretzel "salad" recipe on Pinterest

And while some of us cooked, others got to learn Cribbage and play other fun games!







Happy Thanksgiving!

We were so grateful to be celebrate such a special day with my younger sister and her family. What a blessing it was to cook and laugh and spend time alongside her after so many years! The Lord has so richly blessed us and this year, we are most thankful for His church, our shepherds, our marriage, and our growth toward Christlikeness. 

Day Seventeen Hundred and Twenty-Five

The Mama's Night Out. Sorta. 

This precious child. 

You are so good to me.

We bid a sad farewell to Auntie Shelby yesterday after a very encouraging, exciting, and relaxing week. We sure enjoyed our time together and are already looking forward to the next time! Thank you Shhheeeeebeee!

On our return from the Fort Lauderdale airport, Mimi and I stopped by Nordstrom Rack and bought a pair of $200 jeans...FOR TWENTY DOLLARS (I don't think I've stopped dancing about this STILL), drove home, got ready, and headed to the Park excited about the potential that the night would bring. I wasn't expecting it in the least, but Amelia stayed in the family room with the nannies for THREE AND A HALF HOURS without crying while Mama got to enjoy some lady time with all the other Marlins wives!! It was such a sweet couple of hours and everything I didn't know I needed or wanted. I've yet to leave Amelia longer than two hours with anyone because she just ends up crying and it hurts my soul knowing she's upset and needing me. So the fact that she was every bit content playing with all the other children while I had a couple glasses of champagne made me well beyond proud and thankful for her sweet gift to me. The girls and I enjoyed a nice dinner at Marlins Park in a special dining area called the Diamond Club and then at around the ninth inning, we decided to walk over to the Clevelander to see what it was all about. I can't even post a picture of the inside of that place (it's literally a club in left field at Marlins Park) because any picture I could've taken was well beyond PG-13 even. I was stunned - to say the least - and though I won't be visiting that place probably ever again, I was glad to be spending so much time with other mommies and ladies who can relate so closely to me. 

Thank you, my friends, for helping me to enjoy a much needed night "out!" I really am blessed by a group of women who are genuine and kind and a pleasure to be around!

Day Seventeen Hundred and Twenty-Four

The Eleventh Start

Better than how good Adam pitched yesterday was how beautiful our morning unfolded. For years, I've been praying over each one of my siblings, that they'd each have an encounter with Christ and that their lives would be forever changed - eternally - by it. That they'd each come to know and love the One I call Savior as their own. As we were sitting down for breakfast yesterday, our conversation from the night before spilled over, and right up until Adam left for the field, the three (four including Amelia!) of us sat at that table and talked about life and Jesus and eternity and marriage and love and sacrifice and salvation. It was by far and easily the best part of my week with my sister and I'm so encouraged by her openness and willingness to hear our hearts. God is SO good. Ah! Adam sent her home with a page of notes and verses to consider as she explores what the Bible has to say about Jesus and our humanity. Please, friends, be praying with us over Shelby as she wrestles with the truths we shared with her this week! 

Yesterday just couldn't be beat. After such a sweet conversation with Shelby, we got all dressed up in our new clothes (because shopping with your sister is an obvious MUST when she comes to visit!), and headed to the game, where we were met with THIS surprise! This month's Marlins program (new month, new program) is highlighted by a five page story about Adam, as well as a cover photo of him pitching! And the coolest thing? In the story they wrote about him, it talks about JESUS! Seriously. Jesus' name is in the Marlins program this month! I couldn't have asked for a better ending to my day. 

Well, until he threw six innings of two-hit baseball with 9Ks against a very good Pirates team. 

That ending was just a cherry on top! 

Adam took another no-hit bid into the sixth inning last night, but with two outs, he gave up a single to end the no-no. Not that he would've gotten the no-hitter anyways (he was at like, 100 pitches by then and it was only the end of the sixth inning), but it sure was nice to see him finding success again! 

He left the game to a standing ovation from the crowd and though he wasn't proud of the three walks he delivered, he found a lot to be encouraged about. 

His line:

6IP, 0R, 2H, 3BB, 9K and a No Decision, although we DID get the win eventually! He's still 3-3 but now with a 3.72 ERA. 

We love you SO much Auntie Shelby! 

Thanks for coming and being our good luck charm <3

Day Seventeen Hundred and Twenty-Three

The Ocean Blues

I took my two girls to the ocean for the very first time.

One of them HATED it.

She wanted absolutely nothing to do with the sand, the waves, the people, or the seaweed. Nothing! Like, c'mob kid! Amelia's definitely NOT Mama's girl when it comes to one of my favorite places on the Earth. Might need to work on that.

So, we worked on it.

And as long as she was squeezing me to death, she was happy-ish. I can work with that. I guess.

Meanwhile, Girl #2 LOVED the ocean!

Yaaaay!

Glad I made a believer out of one of them! Love this pretty lady with all my heart! Such a beauty!

Day Seventeen Hundred and Twenty-Two

The Baseball Family

Baseball with my girl!

Baseball with my girls!

So much to be thankful for.

I love having my sister here. It's been nice having some new company around - even though I do enjoy the friends baseball has brought me - but there's just something about having your sister by your side that recharges your battery and offers rest. 

Also, Adam pitches tomorrow! *Happy dance*

Day Seventeen Hundred and Twenty

The Three Pretties

Guys. 

THIS is what I get to wake up to every morning!!!! Like, total swoon, right?! Ah! My baby is perfect!!

All the heart eyes, all the time! Goodness, my heart just overflows for this girl!

Yesterday, we went swimming, played pool volleyball, and got lots of sunshine. 

Auntie Shelby did get a tiny bit burned, but it's already looking better today! She seems to be enjoying herself, even though we probably half drowned her during volleyball! She's a trooper though and did well for her first time playing with our competitive bunch. 

Since it was Shelby's last night home before leaving to Miami, we decided to get out and show her a little bit of our town! We took her to dinner with some friends, enjoyed the balmy ambiance, and forced her to take her first sip of sangria ;) She didn't much care for it. And the same goes for how Amelia is feeling about her NEW TOOTH! 

Little Miss Thing just got her first molar! It popped through yesterday and since, she's been taking it like a champ! The only symptom she's had is a slightly runny nose! Sweet girl. So strong. Just like her Mama and Auntie. 

We love you Auntie Shelby! Thanks for coming to visit us at home at the last second! We'll miss having you here, but at least we get to enjoy you for a few more days down in Miami!!

Oh and...since we're having painters come paint our house, we needed the safe moved. Since Adam was missing, I enlisted the help of our next door neighbors (and Trent) to push the 800 pound safe a whole 5 feet. It took all their effort. And then some. (John is using his pointer finger haha!)

Day Seventeen Hundred and Eighteen

The First Family Visitor!

Saw this stunning redhead on the side of the road and decided to bring her home!

Kidding! Last night at 12:30AM, we walked through the garage door with Auntie Shelby in tow. She flew in last-minute to stay a week with Amelia and I while we're home!! It was a decision we made literally 24 hours before her flight departed and we're SO happy she's here!! Nobody from either of our families has been able to visit us yet, making her the first!!

Our white-Washington-princess (hopefully less white by the time she leaves ha!) is a welcomed change of pace around here and we're loving our time with my middle-youngest sister. She brings smiles and giggles and stomach that can down a gallon of apple juice in one day!! Loading up on sweet memories and a few more gallons of juice - we're going to try orange juice this time...she's diabetic, and apparently, orange juice elevates her blood sugars better than apple juice does!

Thank you for coming and keeping us company! We love you and LOVE that you were able to come on such short notice!!

Day Sixteen Hundred and Eighty-Five

The San Fran Fam

So much fun. 

So SO tired.