Truly Thankful and Going to Carolina in My Mind

If you know me, you know Thanksgiving is my favorite. We were so looking forward to heading to NC this year to do the usual of visiting with my family in Winterville and going to my 96 year old Grandma's for the best thanksgiving meal ever (oh, I can taste the dressing!!!). We also were going to have a "little pumpkin" baby shower that my mom and sister worked so hard to put together for family and friends. It was all planned out and my pregnancy had been going well so we weren't worried about travel.

On Saturday, my perfect little pregnancy hit a speed bump or two and our best laid plans were changed. God's ways are higher than mine and his plans are perfect. I am so thankful this year that He, in his mercy, revealed to us a very serious problem before we tried to travel. Sunday was the scariest day of my life, but I am thankful for His goodness, grace, and provision. Our little boy is fine. He is doing really well and is 33 weeks and a day today! Last night, he caused me a little more trouble again, but we are spending thanksgiving in the hospital to make sure I am ok and he stays in my belly a little longer! We are still in a wait and see time, but things are going well for him and me. We are so thankful for the doctors and nurses here at Norton Suburban who have made us feel like we are in the best place we could be right now.

So yes, this year Casey and I will be more thankful than ever sitting in our hospital room and going to Carolina in our minds. It's worth it to meet that little guy healthy and happy soon!

Please pray for us and the doctors for wisdom and discernment.

Hello October

It's no coincidence that my name is Autumn...really.  I love this time of year--crisp air, leaves changing, pumpkins, scarves, blankets, hot tea and coffee, birthday, holidays coming.  I enjoy taking in all the sights, smells, and changes this time of year brings. This year is no exception.  We'll be going to the mountains this weekend to spend some much needed time away with my family and I am so excited!   I hope to take time to truly enjoy it and thank God for the season's change.


Time has flown the past month. We found out that baby Croy is a boy! He's been moving a lot and making us smile as we both can feel (and see) his kicks and jabs now :). We also registered for baby stuff.  I'm still feeling great and loving this time.  We are so excited to meet our little boy soon!

Here are the last few weeks of baby growing:

Looking forward to all that lies ahead in this new season of the year and of life.

This Summer

I realized this week that August is quickly coming to an end and my favorite time of year is just around the corner!  It's hard to believe how fast the summer has gone already.  It's been a good summer with a couple of family visits and other new things.

In May we headed to North Carolina to see my family and celebrate my Grandma's 96th birthday.  I always like to make it back for her birthday because she's one of my favorites.

My parents visited us back in April and again just this past weekend.  Casey's mom came at the beginning of July, but unfortunately I don't have any pictures from her visit!

Visiting the Slugger Museum in April

This summer I have enjoyed the Big Four Walking Bridge over the Ohio River.  Casey took me for a Saturday morning walk there over to the Indiana side and back.

When my parents visited last weekend, we took them exploring in Indiana and back to the Big Four Bridge at sunset.  We walked over during the sunset, got ice cream, and came back with the bridge lit up.  We had a fun time!

 Somewhere along the way this summer I got a hair cut :) I have wanted to donate my hair for a while and I finally got it long enough to send! I had around 10 inches cut total and 9 inches given to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

We have still been working hard at our jobs with Casey picking up extra hours while he was out of school this summer.  Casey has now settled back in to his semester of seminars. Please be praying for him as he tries to finish up most of his course work this semester.

We also have big changes on the way in the Croy house--we are having a baby in January!  This summer has been fun watching my belly grow and getting to hear the heartbeat at doctor's appointments.  We find out this week (20 weeks!) whether we are having a boy or a girl!  I have been so fortunate not to have any sickness or problems so far.  Please pray that baby Croy will be healthy and pray for us as well. We are so very excited but also want to soak up this time before baby comes. 

The Pacific Northwest

At the beginning of May, I got the opportunity to visit one of my dearest friends and see a part of the country that I had not seen before. I was not disappointed.  Washington and Oregon were gorgeous!  Though the Pacific NW is known for rainy days, I had the best possible sightseeing weekend with sunshine and clear skies.  It was also so exciting to see my friend, Letha, and to visit with her and her parents--though I wish I had longer to spend catching up! 

When I arrived in Seattle, we went to Pike Place Market.  I loved the flowers, especially all the tulips they had!  We also saw the original Starbucks.

Then we went to Wally's, a seafood and burger place, near the Puget Sound.  

Best burger ever.

Saturday was Oregon Day-- Tillamook Forest, Tillamook Cheese Factory, and the Oregon Coast, but not before eating at the infamous Pancake House in Longview, WA.  Yum!

Cheese!

Then we made our way to Astoria where we climbed the Astoria column and saw amazing views!

On Sunday afternoon, we went to Mt. St. Helen's.  We were there just before the 35th anniversary of the eruption in 1980.

 I had such an amazing trip and am thankful for Letha and her parents being gracious hosts and tour guides.  I wish I could go back!

Snow and Birthdays Take 2

We are right back where we started last year.....

We just moved to a new apartment (which we love!!!)

We just celebrated Casey's birthday with carrot cake.

We just had a big snow (bigger than last year) that has stuck around all week and is still on the ground. 

I still love the snow and Casey still hates it.

Some things come back around every year and we look forward to them....birthdays, anniversaries, special visits with family and friends, holidays.

Some things are just the everyday norm....not anything special, neither good nor bad, just life.

Over the last year we've had a lot of just everyday normals. I have a wonderful job at the seminary that I enjoy, and Casey is really enjoying his PhD program so far. We love our church here and are so thankful for it! These are the things we've been up to. 

We had a few visits from family and were able to go visit them for the holidays, but we really wish we weren't so far away.

Even still, we are thankful for the big things and the everyday normals that this new year brings to us in KY....

For a few of my favorite everyday moments from 2014 (and before), I'm on Instagram as travelingcroy.

Snow and Birthdays

We've been here one month this week. We can only think of three days where there hasn't been snow on the ground. I (Autumn) love snow. Casey hates snow. Casey usually doesn't hate anything and even tells me not to use the word hate, but he hates snow. I will admit that the snow and cold have been a little more than what I would normally love this year. We had another "big" snow last Monday and I got the snow-hater Casey to go outside and build a snowman with me. He must love me more than he hates snow. :)

We enjoyed the snow but I think we can safely say we are both ready for spring and some warmer weather. 

Last week was also a milestone for Casey. He turned 30! I bake him a carrot cake every year for the special day. So thankful for him!

We've Moved!

A week ago today we left Raleigh and started heading toward Louisville, KY.  We arrived this past Monday afternoon and have gotten settled in nicely.  Casey started his classes on Thursday and we're in the process of looking for jobs and a church.

My (Autumn) parents made the trip with us to pull the trailer and get us packed and unpacked.  We took them to see a little of downtown and the Louisville Slugger Museum on Tuesday before they headed home.  We really appreciated their help and couldn't have done it without them!

Louisville Slugger Museum 2014

I traveled to Louisville for an FBLA trip my senior year of high school.  My favorite things were the Louisville Slugger Museum and Churchill Downs. I recently ran across the pictures I took and thought about the fact that 13 years ago I had no idea we would be moving to Louisville, KY.  However, God knew every step I would take and every path He would lead me on and I take great comfort in knowing that He is in control.

Autumn with random bronze bench man in 2000

Recreation of above in 2014....also learned that random bronze bench man was a former mayor of Louisville, Charles P. Farnsley

Oh, it has snowed at least three of the days that we've been here.  Here's a view out our back door on Friday....

Looking forward to what these next few years in KY will bring and how God guides our way.