July 4th Trip to the Mountains

We spent the 4th of July in the mountains. It was a special weekend, because all the Folse family was there AND I got to see one of my best friends, Carrie, her husband and two precious boys. What a sweet blessing to watch our kids have so much fun together!

Turner, Parker, Bennett and Graham

Sparklers and fireworks


Beautiful mountain stream at Waterville (just over the TN line)

God bless America!

Cow Appreciation Day

We continued our tradition of dressing up for "Cow Appreciation Day" and had an UDDERly awesome time! (Cow Appreciation Day was the day Thomas got his job offer from CFA, so it is truly a day of celebration and thanksgiving for us!)

Mountain Swimming Hole!

Here's a movie of my dare devil mountain hiking girl and Daddy taking a BIG plunge!

Swim Team Banquet

Turner had a great first season of swim team! She loved getting her participation medal, and she won a trophy for "Most Improved" for Girls 5-6. We are so proud of her determination and great attitude! And thankful to some sweet coaches and big girls (one of whom is pictured above: Presley) who loved on her and worked with her.

Last Swim Meet

Parker and Joey -- Even they find lots of fun at the meets! :)
Turner and Anna -- Sweet buddies!

Getting ready for her relay

Take me out to the ball game!

We went to our first Braves game on Friday night! It was perfect weather (overcast and cool), and we all had so much fun. It was a 7:30 game, and everyone made it until the bottom of the 8th inning!

Turner and Parker and their friends, Trip and Mady, enjoyed sampling cotton candy, snow cones, pretzels and peanuts. All four kids did so good sitting in their seats, dancing, cheering and taking it all in. A fun time was had by all!

The "OC"

"The Lord will guide you always; he willl satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." - Isaiah 58:11

So...God has called The Guerard family to a new place. A place I'd never have thought we'd be going in a MILLION years. And I am chuckling as I type it...

The "OC," or Orange County, CA!

It's crazy and happened pretty quickly, but the decision was bathed in prayer, and we really feel like it is something God is calling us to do as a family. Thomas will be working in a small office out there and will be doing his same job. It is a growing market for Chick-fil-A, so it is a neat opportunity.

Southern California is a place I would never pick to live, but it is truly a beautiful part of the country, so I know we can have some neat adventures in the three years we'll be there. I keep laughing when I think about how God must have smiled over me in Community Bible Study this year, knowing full well that He'd be calling me to "Egypt," and I'd be equipped to recall his promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., etc. "I'll be with you!" "I'll go with you!" "I'll be with you!"

Honestly, these promises are exactly what I've heard His still, small voice whispering over and over to me the last few weeks: "Alison, I'll be with you. I'll go with you, Alison. Trust me. Follow my call. Put those Bible study 'words' into 'action.' I have prepared you for this. You can do this."

I have so many mixed emotions, because I love our community here so deeply. I love being a drive away from our family. I love our neighbors. Our friends. Our church. The blessing in this, though, is that I don't have to say "goodbye" -- I truly get to say, "see you later!" We'll be back to visit and back to live in three years.

I cannot wait to see what God has planned for our family during this time away. I know He has prepared us for this next step, and we'll be forced to trust him fully as we shed the "known" for the "unknown."

"Here we are, Lord."