Thanksgiving 2013 was a big time for our family. It was a time of firsts, lasts, new beginnings, and saying goodbye to a home I knew and loved for 20 years.
Before Brody and I left I went ahead and put up the Christmas decorations in the house so I would already have them up when we got home from Thanksgiving.
The week before Thanksgiving Brody and I flew to Dallas and then on to Waco. I was pregnant with Lincoln and we were also going to tell my family!
This was a sentimental time for me because Brody and I have been flying by ourselves to Texas since he was 12 weeks old and now we did it for the last time when he was 3 years old. We were doing it for the last time because my mom and dad were getting ready to move to Memphis, TN for dad to take on a role at Harding School of Theology as the Vice President.
When we arrived in Waco dad picked us up from the airport and took us to Mom's school. The way I told them I was pregnant was I asked mom to look in my purse and see the shirt that I bought Brody. The shirt said " Big Brother." It was such a special, exciting time.
Brody and I helped mom decorate her Christmas tree.
One day we went to mom's school and visited her class.
Brody's favorite thing since he's been old enough is to ride the "tractor" with his Poppy.
This was a really special time knowing this was the last week we would ever spend at this house.
Brody helping Poppy fix the shower.
We also enjoyed celebrating mom's birthday a month late.
Having fun playing with Poppy!
One day my dear high school friend Emily and I got together and let our sweet kiddos play together.
Another day Phillip and I spent the day in Austin. We stopped for lunch and met up with my friend Molly McCarthy. We worked together for Wrigley and were very close during that time. She now works and lives in San Antonio, TX.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving Dad preached for the very last time as Crestview Church of Christ's minister. He had been preaching from that same pulpit for the past 20 years. I was baptized in this church, married here, and had a lot of my fondest memories here. This place and people became family to us and will always been a part of us. It was a very hard but a very special day knowing that dad is being called to the next chapter in his ministry as the Vice President for the Harding School of Theology.
After church they had a nice going away dinner for him and then had a special program in the auditorium.
They acted out Duck Dynasty skits and got mom and dad on stage to tease them and love on them.
On Thanksgiving morning we drove to Dallas and met up with Jamie, Cal, and Phillip ( he drove in from Nashville and spent the night in Dallas the night before). We all ran/ walked the Turkey Trot for the last time. Cal and Mom hung out with Brody during the race. Phillip ran the 8 mile race, while me, Jamie, and dad did the 5k.
After this we went to Aunt Becky's house to enjoy Thanksgiving lunch with the Martin side of the family. This picture would be the last picture that we would all take together. Two weeks after Thanksgiving Papa Martin passed away.
Cousins Hunter and Brody enjoying playing together.
I will cherish this picture forever. This is the very last picture Jamie and I would ever take with Papa and Mimi together.
Yummy desserts!
The day after Thanksgiving we went Black Friday shopping and then had our family Christmas that night. That year was the year that we are with our in laws for Christmas.
The next day we met up with our dear family friend Kimm and she took family pictures for us. We loved how they turned out!
