Farewell

After a six month span of no blog updates, this announcement surely does not come as a surprise (or even necessary, I suppose), but I thought I ought to make an official farewell to this dear blog of mine, just for any sweet friends who may still check from time to time.

With Ryan's hectic schedule, growing boys and their schedules, and a now a home to keep, the blog simply has not been a priority for me or something that I am able to make time for anymore.  I have so enjoyed occupying the space of these pages over the past few years, especially while we lived further away!  It has been a wonderful way to keep our family updated of life happenings, and I am thankful to have each post documented for me to reflect upon as well.  But, for the foreseeable future, I will no longer make any additional updates to this blog.

I have, however, started an Instagram account--it is a quick and fun way for me to post photos of our life and kiddos, and takes just seconds!  It is much easier and more achievable for me at this time than sitting down to compose and upload an entire blog entry.  Please feel free to follow me there at: https://www.instagram.com/alyssa.funk/

Thank you for joining me here!  Until we meet again, 

"May the Lord bless you and keep you, May He cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious until you, May He lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace."  Numbers 6:24-26.

Life Since Christmas

I just cannot keep up with this blog! Apparently, life gets busier when you have more kids and they start getting involved in activities and your husband has a very harried work schedule.  Though my priorities regarding the blog have seemed to shift somewhat, I am grateful for the memories that have occupied this space and enjoy looking back at them. Thank you to those who have followed along with us (and have born with my recent negligence) for so long! 

Christmas morning:

Daddy's home!

I read shortly before Christmas that one of the greatest sites of the season is the living room floor after presents are opened, and we shouldn't be in too much of a hurry to clean it up. And so, we didn't!

Spending some time reading during break from school:

Moving on into January, 

Fun in the snow--it is so wonderful to just send them out the back door, compared to our upstairs arrangement the past four years!

Sweet Theo wishing he could go out, too:

Busted!!

Riding 'Sandy' at Meijer after a smooth shopping trip:

Basketball!

Hanging out during a practice:

First place in his den and second in his pack at the Pinewood Derby! Such a neat project he and Daddy got to do together:

The boys first snowman!

Trying to destroy what is left of the snowman:

Cool dude dressed up in his outfit of choice for Chad's graduation:

Valentine's Day party at Abe's school:

This sweetie was the only one up with me for a while on Valentine's Day:

Horse rides at Kaiser's--we had the most wonderful day there!

First signs of springtime!

Hyacinths, I think, on our mound!

This kid is becoming a bottomless pit after school lately, and he is only 6!!

The shooting range at Scheel's:

The aftermath of chocolate chip pancakes:

And thus ends my camera roll. God bless!

A Wedding

We traveled to Atlanta last weekend for a very special and much-looked-forward-to wedding. It was a fast and furious weekend, but we had a wonderful time! I was so thankful to have my parents there, too, to help us with our boys since Ryan and I were both in the wedding party.  They served us so selflessly the whole weekend!

This goofball helped me pack up and thought he would just ride in the suitcase!

Sweet Theo all dressed up!

Elise walking up to meet Isaac:

My handsome hubby and me at pictures:

The Funk family:

Rehearsal Dinner!

The reception was at an old train depot and was so pretty!

Love these boys!

And these boys: 

What a blessed wedding weekend! Congratulations, Isaac and Elise. Words hardly begin to describe our love and excitement for you both! May your marriage be a stunning display of the Gospel, for the glory of Christ.

Christmastime is Here!

I can't believe we are a week away from Christmas! We are savoring each moment, and I am so filled with peace this season. I feel like this year, more than any of the past years since becoming a mother, had been the most intentional and joyous. 

Our family is settled and thriving here in Springfield, despite the challenges that residency holds at times. God has opened up opportunity for good conversations with our boys recently, and I pray that we are shepherding their hearts with much wisdom and grace. We have had music on nearly round the clock, and have had such fun baking, watching old Christmas classics, and delivering goodies!

We are so thankful for Jesus this Christmas season and hope that you, too, are filled with the joy and peace that only He can give.

Of course, some pictures:

The Funk family Christmas was held early this year since Isaac and Elise are getting married (this weekend!!!):

Excited boys:

Theo opening his 1st Christmas gift!

Abe started basketball and really loves it:

This one is getting into EVERYTHING!!

Case in point:

My card stamper:

We tried cinnamon caramels this year--yummy!

And peppermint macarons--these were my favorite!

Oh, how I love these boys!!

Fall

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving!  We have had a full and wonderful fall here in our new town and home.  The weather has been just incredible, so we've been able to savor a lot of time outdoors as we head toward winter.

Some photos:

This tree--I have LOVED looking at it each morning outside our front window!  It is like one giant flame and so gorgeous.

Abe took this picture of Sweet Theo while we worked in the yard on a beautiful fall afternoon:

Raking--my goodness, do we have a lot of raking to do here!  I happen to enjoy it, though, and the boys enjoyed jumping in the leaves!

Charlie came out dressed like this the other morning.  He is so funny! Notice his bow tie, too!

Oh, and in case you wondered, we never got around to that hot cocoa stand.  The weather didn't cooperate to begin with, and then Abe began to wonder if maybe not many people would come.  While I didn't want to discourage him from carrying out his idea, I agreed and thought maybe it would be better to do it at our neighborhood garage sale, when more people would be out and apt to buy his cocoa.  And besides that, the boys kept wanting to drink it, and our mix was beginning to run low!  

Lastly, the table ready for our first Thanksgiving here.  The boys have been asking if they can help me get ready (even offering to help pick up/clean--NOT normal!).  They've also been dying to put up Christmas decor....I think they are just so excited for the holidays in our new home!

Have a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 136:1