Picture Places...

Help me out and recommend an awesome local place to take pictures!

I am interested in taking the NHS cheer pics this year. They'll take a picture as a squad (up to 14 or so people) and then pose individually. I don't really need a location with TONS of settings/ props, but of course I would like a little variety so that not everyone has the same exact picture. I am envisioning something outside, in the country perhaps. It has been mentioned that the College Station or Bryan girls have a calendar with a beautiful setting...maybe a pond or entrance to a housing development or something. Do you have any ideas? Any advice in general?

THANKS a bunch!

ps - Lyns, while its on mind- where's the railroad track that you often use?

More Maddox

Hopefully, I can get some time in with Maddox around the holidays since I have only seen him once since his 1st bday. I always think he needs more pictures! Here's a few of the adorable kiddo while in East Texas for the McMurry wedding. We had so much fun laughing at him as he fed Honey his fruitloops and then ate out of the same hand. What a BOY!

Update

It drives me CRAZY when things are out of chronological order so please check below for what will look like past posts for new blogs. Since this is my life, I want to document its events on the proper date that they took place.

Hope that this makes sense! Scroll down and check older posts!
THANKS!
Sarah

Feels Like Fall

I have so many things to post, but I can't help but share the excitement of tonight. There's a fall feeling in the air and all of our windows are open to allow the cool breeze into the house. In keeping with the fall theme, we carved our pumpkins tonight! It may sound silly to be so excited about this, but I have absolutely no memory of ever having carved a pumpkin - sorry Mom and Dad. I know that we had jack-0-lanterns as kids, but I cannot remember ever having physically drawn the face, carved the pumpkin and cleaned out the seeds. It's my first Halloween as a wife so I'm enjoying the small ways we celebrate the month of October.

The Carver:

Even little Honey has a pumpkin!



Yummy!

Honey's Pumpkin:

All 3!

Alex + Nick = The Lutons

This afternoon, many friends gathered at Alex & Nick's place dressed in their best Halloween attire to honor the soon to be Bride and Groom. SJ planned the perfect spooky shower! We had a blast hanging out, eating and drinking the best treats. It felt good to be in the presence of old friends...like putting on a familiar sweatshirt and just hanging out on the couch all day. The end of the day was probably my favorite....the guests had left and only a few members of our Aggie family remained to lie around in front of the tv watching football or sit atop kitchen countertops catching up on one another's lives. A&N, can't wait to celebrate the love you share as you officially become The Lutons. Girls, many kisses to you! I can't express how wonderful it was to spend qualty time with my best girlfriends.

ps - A&N's wedding photographer is one of my new faves. Click here to view their engagement slideshow: http://www.stacyreeves.com/alexnick/. I promise you won't regret it!

Cooper's Baby Shower

This morning we celebrated the upcoming arrival of little Cooper with his mommy and several other ladies that are just as excited about him. It was so wonderful to spend some time with Jen, SaraB, Corbin, Erin, Hayley and the others. Jen, you look wonderful! Continue to grow that healthy, beautiful baby boy. We can't wait to see him!
Love ya'll!

Busy Bee

I don't even have time to explain...say a prayer that I don't jump from my balcony. I am soooooooo stressed that I'm nauseated and exhausted.

Sarah

Cliff + Elena

We spent the weekend in Nacogdoches at my aunt and uncle's BEAUTIFUL home to celebrate Cliff & Elena's wedding. What a blast! My family always shows us a good time. Congrats to the bride and groom! We love ya'll and wish you many years of happiness.

The front porch:



A few Rehearsal Dinner & Wedding Pics

Click here to order photos: http://www.blogger.com/www.shutterfly.com/pro/sarahshalley/mcmurry

Habakkuk

Prayer Request!

Many hearts are hurting:I have several friends who have recently lost members of their family. I pray that they continue to find peace and comfort. Now my heart hurts with worry.
My Grandma is on the transplant list to receive a new liver. From what I understand, for years her liver has not functioned properly and she has had to take medication for this. A month ago she was hospitalized and a tumor inside her liver was nuked with chemo. She has since been bumped up on the transplant list and has received her pager. Now we're just waiting for it to go off. Grandma's been exercising, eating well and doing everything in her power to stay healthy so that she is in the best shape possible for her new liver.
Grandma went in today for a checkup. She now has three tumors inside her liver. As long as the tumors are contained within her liver, she's still on the transplant list. Typically, liver cancer (a word we've never used until now) spreads first to the lungs and the bones. We're awaiting an "all clear" on a lung xray and should receive that news on Thursday. PLEASE say a prayer that these tumors can be nuked again, that they stay within the liver and that Grandma's pager goes off quickly.


Here's a CLEAN xray of the lung. We need one of these!



Habakkuk 2
I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
The Lord's Answer
Then the Lord replied:
"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald cay run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
it will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.

Jimbo's Bday

Tonight, several HFBC friends gathered at the Larkins to celebrate Jim and his upcoming birthday on the 10th. Homemade pizza, cake, and Halo...what else could we have asked for? We had a wonderful time and feel blessed to have such wonderful friends! Jim, we wish you many more birthdays and hope to have the chance to celebrate with you in the future. Much love!

To order pics from this night, please visit http://www.sdshalley.shutterfly.com/.

ChadO + Stephanie = The O's

Posting SOON!

Amy + Ben = The Vaughn's

Amy and Ben married in Gibraltar on September 18th and then spent a few weeks together in Morroco. Check HERE to see photos from her photographer's blog. He's amazing and in Houston! Upon their return to Houston, we all gathered to celebrate their marriage at a little jazz lounge here in Houston. Great food, great drink, BEAUTIFUL couple!

I'll add more later...just wanted to post my weekend in sequence of events. Love ya'll and congrats!

I Love Saturday Mornings!

I love sleeping in on Saturdays, but not too late because I don't want to miss breakfast! Breakfast is my absolute favorite meal of all time. I'm talking REAL breakfast: fried eggs over easy, bacon, sausage, toast, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, pancakes, french toast, tacos...oh, the list goes on! I can eat breakfast anyday, anytime. I swear that I could eat it for every meal; there are so many options to choose from. Breakfast always makes me happy. Here's ours!







We also LOVE spending quality time together and with our Honey girl. She is the most precious baby dog ever.

Fall Hearts

I came home this afternoon to find a lovely surprise from my husband! Isn't he the sweetest?! Ive been craving the sight of pumpkins in my house for weeks. It's finally October at the Shalleys.

Prayer Requests

Please say a prayer for these families...

The Kolbys - are in Iraq for one year on a mission trip. Pray for their safety, their marriage and that they may be influential in the lives of Iraqi people.

The Phillips - her uncle passed away on Thursday night and his 12 year old little brother passed away on Friday. Pray that they remain strong as the grieve independently and as they support one another through a time of heartache.

The Tourtelotte, Cameron and Barrow babies - we have three pregnant friends...2 of them have husbands in the service. Pray for the health of mamas and babies, and that these families remain close and stay strong even through deployment, pray for the safety of these brave men.

The Squires - that they continue to heal from the loss of dear Spencer, that they find peace in remembering and honoring him. and that they find time to REST!

...and for us too!

My students at school - I want to be IMPACTFUL.

My marriage - that we become servants to the Lord and to one another, and that we SIMPLIFY our lives.

Me - that I improve my organizational skills and make time for the most important things in life FIRST.

Thanks! Lots of love and HAPPY OCTOBER,

Sarah

Belly Update (all moms are due this Winter):

* I did not take these photos.*

Baby C

Baby T

Baby B: your Mama needs to send me a picture of you and your little brother.