A HAPPY weekend - we are gaining a daughter!!!

 

Linking up with Holly and Sarah to spread the good news throughout blogland - ha!

Glad I have this digital diary to keep up with these happy, happy times :)

There are few things as GREAT about parenting as your kids finding the person they want to "do" life with and watching their siblings surround one another with love and support and genuine joy for them.  This mama is starting this fourth week of July, just 21 days after her 30th anniversary, basking in gratefulness for the life I get to have.

Our flock is growing. . .and we couldn't ask for more.  Ellie is just the best!!!  Let me tell you. . .the one to the far left rearranged her schedule and drove 3+ hours to make sure she was there for the engagement party.  Her sister helped her brother with a "ring snafu" (the original one didn't come in in time so he had to Facetime her to help pick out another one for the big ask) and created that great poster for the photos, and his brother planned this entire party together with some friends.  Sincerely, watching your kiddos love and serve one another well is just incredible.

A closer look at the "first" announcement :). She "had a feeling" that the question was going to come this weekend - Robert wasn't very subtle about asking her about her nail appointment (!!!) but she said the party was a COMPLETE surprise - her brother caught both the engagement and arrival to the party.  She, too, has an amazing supportive family.  

Robert told all the sisters (he has two and she has two) a few days ahead of time, so her sisters were already booking appointments to tour venues before she even knew a ring had been purchased - ha!!  They are both married and really excited to plan another wedding :)

A few more pics because all the siblings did such a good job putting this together for them.

Her first text to me on their way to the engagement party!!

The party was at their gym - such a great space, although not air-conditioned.  It fit the crowd (30-40) easily.

The additional future Bell sister!!

And Stephen and Rachel with the happy couple.  

We had already had plans on the calendar to celebrate a friend's birthday that evening - they were going to come to Knoxville but we asked if they would mind going to Chattanooga instead because that was where we were going to be.  The answer was "sure!" and then we decided to make a weekend out of it, get a room at the Read House and spend extra time together :). Tom and I had never stayed there but everyone else was familiar with it.  The boys ended up staying also because there was another person who was going to celebrate the birthday with us but she extended a trip elsewhere so gave her room to the boys.

There are two parts to the hotel - originally we were booked here and had a nice room. . .

But then the boys saw their room, didn't want to sleep in the same bed (we had two queens) so we moved the luggage from the 3rd floor on one side to the 10th floor on the other and everyone was happy!

View from our room the next morning.

Anyway, dinner that night (Hennen's) with our traveling friends, the boys, and the bride-to-be:

Happy Birthday Alan!!

And HIS beautiful bride of 25 years. . .

Pictures down by the river afterwards. . .

And the RARE chance to get a pic with each boy :)

And, truth be told, the only reason we were down by the river is because this girl was trying to capture every moment of her engagement day :)

It was so sweet, when we were leaving the restaurant my mom called and I put her on speakerphone so she could talk to Ellie too.  When we hung up, a complete stranger sitting on the outside porch called Ellie over to see her hardware.  So much fun to show it off!!!

Ellie was tired so the boys took her home, then they met up with us for a nightcap at Whiskey Thief.  

Alan discovered that they had a Redbreast 21.  He ordered Redbreast 15 (he's become quite the connoisseur since our Ireland Jameson tour) and they didn't have any so they gave him a "taste" of this liquid gold.  This is something maybe Santa can bring him someday.

This rooftop bar is in another beautiful downtown hotel - they have this great map of the city to look at.

Susan and I did a little exploring at our historic hotel before heading to bed that night.

Sunday morning we met the boys in the lobby at 8:15 and walked to Robert & Ellie's church downtown.  I love being in a city where we can walk everywhere (we were able to walk to dinner, the river, etc. the night before also).  We always enjoy visiting the churches our kids attend.

We went back to the hotel, checked out, and met Alan & Susan for brunch at everyone's favorite brunch spot in Chattanooga - State of Confusion.

From here Tom and I headed home and I collapsed with a 2-hour nap.  The boys headed out with one of Robert's friends to go boating, Susan & Alan went to check on their boat, hoping to go out but it wasn't fixed yet, and Ellie went to her mom's house to meet up with her sisters and begin wedding planning :)

Such a full, blessed weekend!!

This week I will go into work today for a couple of team meetings, then will head to Ohio early tomorrow morning to spend some time up there while also working during the day.  It worked out that all my meetings/trainings are online this week so it was a good week to go.  My old Waynesville teacher friends are having a get-together, I'll get to see my dad, stay with my sister, see my mom, and am planning a trip up to Columbus to see my aunt and uncle.  It will be a busy but full week :)

Thank you everyone in real life that has made this engagement weekend special for our family :). Can't wait for all of the upcoming festivities!!

Love,

Jenni