Parties, Parties, and more Parties!

It's still several days until Christmas and we have already been to 3 Christmas parties. We are worn out. Not only from the late nights, but from coordinating babysitting! It's been fun though. What a treat to be able to spend quality time eating and talking with good friends. All of the parties have been different in their own way. With our Home Team, some of us went bowling after dinner. We had such a good time! It has been forever since we've gone bowling. It wasn't the best workout for my hernia, but the granny roll proved to get just as many pins down as my regular throw. I've uploaded my pictures for all to enjoy.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as we are!! The tree is up, the wreaths are hung, and we even put lights on the back patio doors. Noah has only pulled the tree down once, so we're hoping that's all. He is very curious about the ornaments, and has had many trips to timeout for pulling on them. Such a beautiful temptation! He loves it when it's plugged in and lit up.

We have already been to see Santa! Noah didn't know what to think, but it was a better experience than last year. We don't expect perfection, but atleast a good laugh for the parents when we plan this trip! A picture perfect memory. He's starting to understand Santa and today he said Santa was going to bring him toys and a trailer truck. Big dreams this boy has! Hope and Hannah Chayse say they want Santa to bring them candy! I like their thinking.

Enjoy the Season!

It's December and Snowing Outside!

I love the snow! LOVE IT! It brings back awesome memories...begging to go sledding (even into my college years!), hot chocolate, popcorn, snow angels, snow wars, and most recently sharing it with Noah. As I get older, it's easier to worry about snow and the dangers, but I try to let the little girl in me still get giddy with delight when I see it falling from the sky!
Well, as of yesterday, Nathan and I have been together (started dating) for 7 years. What a long time! Are we really that old? He never fails to remind me that I am, and I guess I am starting to feel it! Life catches up with you...work, kids, mortgage, utilities, etc. Where did the time go and how did I turn into an adult? I wouldn't trade it! I love my life and am so blessed. I have the man of my dreams and I still love spending every moment possible with him. He is such a great husband and father. Sorry for the gush- but who really reads this anyway! It's just a cool online journal for me and I guess I don't really care if anyone reads it or not. I love being able to share the moments of life with others, funny or not. We will be adding more video soon. I'm so glad so many of you got to watch the last one. Noah is a trip. You will not believe the things he comes up with.
I started writing the blog 2 days ago and I never seem to be able to sit down and finish it. So, I'll add the latest news. London Royalty was born today. She's a little cutie with lots of dark hair. Welcome London!
I'm 27 weeks pregnant now and into my 3rd trimester. March seems so far away, but 3 months is nothing! I really should start working on her room. She already has more clothes than she needs, but every little girl should have a closet full, right? And she better have hair, because she's stocked up on hair accessories! Thank you KK.
Hope you enjoy the snow like I do. Next time, just remember how beautiful it is before you start fussing about having to drive in it.

Oh my goodness! It's definitely feeling and looking like winter outside! I love fall and it feels like it passed me by. I feel cheated! But, honestly I was probably so busy, I just took advantage of a good thing and missed it. I blink and the day is over. I don't know where the time is going. I'm already 6 months pregnant, Noah is almost 2 years old, I've been gone from the TBC and have been selling Real Estate for over a year, AND it's almost Christmas!!! wow! I'm loving life and have to remember to enjoy every day and not be in too much of a hurry for tomorrow.

Our series at church right now is called Advent Christmas and the theme is Spend Less, Give More. It really is helping me to reflect and focus on true Christmas. I have such a desire for family, tradition, and helping. My heart is overflowing! I love Christmas and I love giving.

Life has been recently revolving around Nathan and his music and I love seeing him work. He is doing exactly what God has called of him. For those in the area, Making Malorie's CD Release Concert at our church, 24 Church, is this Sunday, November 23rd at 7 PM. Come ready to be blessed and your soul rocked! I don't get tired of listening to them! Some of their new pics are posted on our web album. Speaking of pictures, also take a look at all of the new Noah pictures. He went trick-or-treating for the first time and got his first candy- A Reese's Cup. He loved it and wanted more, but one was enough. He was a Race Car Driver for Halloween and was pretty timid about going up to strangers. Nathan and I took turns, but we only drug him to about 6 houses. We were in Maryville for a gig, but I wasn't willing to miss Halloween! Noah is a ham these days and talking about everything. I've added a little video of him talking. Nathan is asking Noah what he wants to drink, and Noah is saying,"Dadgummit Milk!" everytime. Just in case you need to know before you listen. Sometimes it's hard to tell, but it is hilarious! The inflection in his voice adds to the humor.

Stay Warm!

It's a Girl!

Well, here's a picture of our daughter!

Isn't she beautiful? We, of course, are very much in love and in awe that we are actually going to have a little girl around the house. We really thought we were having a boy and were excited about that. We are in cars, trucks, and dinosaur mode at our house. I guess she's just going to have to love what her big brother loves. Hey- I had all of the girls in GI Joe and HeMan! Noah definitely loves the "baby" in mommy's belly, but I know he has no clue what's about to happen. He gets jealous enough when you give the dog too much attention. He's in for a rude awakening!

Thankfully he gets to spend a lot of time with his cousins and he's use to other children. He's a great friend in the nursery. This week he was tattled on for kissing all over a little girl. What can I say? We teach him to be loving!!!

This weekend we went to Walden Farms with my family. We had so much fun and Noah did not want to leave! He loved feeding the animals and seeing the big tractor. He is a country boy no doubt. Here are a couple of pics, but the rest are on the web album.

Also, this weekend, we had another very special occassion. Nathan was ordained into the ministry. You can call him Rev now. It was very nice and extremely emotional. It is such a blessing to sit there and hear so many people say so many wonderful things about your best friend. He is the best and loves God with all of his heart. What more can I ask for?

Have a Happy Fall!

"Where Saints are Sinners"

Well, the time is here! Nathan's band, Making Malorie, has finished their album are it is on PRE-sale. Which means, place your order now and you will be the first to receive it when it is released. It's very exciting and I am so proud! The CD's are $10. Also, you can go to their new website, http://www.makingmalorie.com/, and preview a song. It's just a demo today, but later this week a completed song will be posted.

In other family news, next week we go back to the doctor for another ultrasound. So, October 6th is the date and I'm very anxious. I just want a healthy baby, no matter the gender.

I love fall and am glad that is is here. I love the leaves changing, the cooling weather, and am ready for our trip to the pumpkin patch. Noah has changed and grown so much in the past year (see last year's picture), I can't believe it. He's going to love it and I'll probably have just as much fun as him.

He doesn't know it, but it's been a big week for him. Sunday we bought his new big boy bed. But shhhh don't tell him. It's for Christmas. He's getting a race car bed. As a big brother, he needs to be a big boy! I can't wait to see his eyes light up! He also got his first motorcycle. He's already had one accident, but it didn't deter him. Here's a picture!

Have a great rest of the week. Let me know if you want an album!

St. George Island

Nathan, Noah, and I went on our first "real" family vacation last week. We went to St. George Island, Florida and had the BEST time! Our friends Seth and Michelle rented a house for the month and we were invited to come rent a room and vacation with them for a week. Their little boy, Fisher, is just 6 months older than Noah, and those 2 little boys were 2 peas in a pod! We were definitely on vacation and did nothing but relax and enjoy the island. We cooked together, went to the beach, went fishing out our back door on the dock, and sat on the screened in porch. Our friends Susan, Matt, and Karlene were also there and it was such a blessing. Nathan and I haven't stopped talking about it and we are already trying to plan next year! The weather was perfect and the island was practically empty because it was September. We only ate out once, and it was to a very very nice restaurant where Nathan and I enjoyed the finest quality food. We were drooling over it and asking for more. I was able to get some much needed rest and am feeling pretty good these days. I am 17 weeks and already feeling huge. It's way too early for that! #2 is going strong in there and we are anxious to find out gender. 2 more weeks and we should know as long as hide and seek is not his/her favorite game!

Nathan goes back into the studio this week to finalize some things with the album and then we should be able to start pre-selling this thing. We are excited and anxious to get the ball rolling.

Check out our web album. We have hundreds of new pictures. You'd think I do nothing else, but take pictures of Noah. I promise I do other things. I do have a job selling houses!

Heartbeat!

Today was another doctor's appointment and I got to hear the baby's heartbeat! Watch the video and you can hear it too. It's such a great feeling of relief to know that he/she is alive and well in there. I have lost another pound or two, but my tummy is growing. I'm a little big for this stage, but our initial ultrasound did show only one baby- so atleast that's not a worry!




This weekend we celebrated my brother, Jay's, 31st birthday! We went to dinner at Tony Roma's and then went to pet the sting ray's, and ride the carousel. Those pictures are all online. We had so much fun. It was a wonderful family evening together. Happy Birthday Jay!




This Thursday night at Austin Peay, Nathan's band, Making Malorie, will be playing a mini-concert for the students. It is open to the public and they are going to be doing some of Nathan's originals. They are supposed to play at 8 PM and are very excited for the opportunity. If you're near the area, you should come enjoy the show! But, I will obviously try to post some pictures and maybe video from the evening.

Noah- 18 months

We went to the doctor for Noah's 18 month check-up and he finally grew! He hadn't grown since his 12 month appointment and it was about time! He was so big at first that he needed a little time to level out. He is now 33.5 inches tall (75th percentile) and 27 pounds (50th percentile). Dr. Prine says that is a great ratio and that he is doing wonderful. We talked about his eating habits, his sleep schedule, and answered lots and lots of questions about his progress in social and developmental skills. Of course, he passed all of the tests. He said hi and bye to every nurse and to Dr. Prine and was full of personality. He had a vaccination and cried for about 2 seconds only because he had to lie down on the table. We've been working on getting his allergies under control so his nose will stop running, but it's just that season. He's in perfect health and we don't have to go back until 2 years old! Time sure is flying!

Noah's 18 month pictures are up- check them out! http://picasaweb.google.com/rachelloxley

Right after we had the pictures made, Noah got his first real haircut. He did an amazing job and looks like a big boy now. Definitely not a baby. It was sad to see the curls go, but it was time. I think Nathan dealt with it the worst. He was so proud of his son's cool hair!

Hope and Hannah Chayse turn 3!

Please check out all of the pictures or you won't believe it for yourself! It was a crazy fun party. There were way too many people, but it made it all the more fun. Hope and HC only turn 3 once, right? And who's to say they'll always be in love with Princesses. So, it was the perfect time for a Princess Party at their palace. There were games, prizes, food, AN AWESOME CAKE, and even a moon walk. It was a costume party, so all of the kids and some of us festive adults dressed in our best royal attire. Noah did all he could with his wardrobe, but he was dashing! I wore a bridesmaid dress and thank goodness it still fit. 3 of us in the family, just happened to wear Nanu's pearls- very cool that we were blessed with those gifts! KK was the Queen of Hearts and we talked Pops out of his queen outfit! We had a really great time and Noah slept good that afternoon. From our web album you can link to Jay's web album, where there are lots more pictures.

Happy 3rd Birthday Princess Hope and Princess Hannah Chayse!

We Love You~ NaNa, RaRa, and Noah

Summer Has Come and Gone!

Sorry that I've been a horrible blogger this summer! It seems like it has flown by. It has been an amazing last few months- and it only keeps getting better. I guess one of the last times I wrote we had just added a new family member, Lucy the dog. She's been a great addition and constant playmate to Noah. I have been the skeptic, but it's working out pretty good. Well, since then we have another new addition to the family, but this time it's by way of my belly! We are expecting baby Lox #2! I am due March 4th and am thrilled. I am feeling very good, much better than the first time around. But, my cravings seem to be a little stronger :). We are just praying for a healthy baby, and we honestly would be thrilled with a girl or boy!

It feels as if most of our summer has been spent on the road (even though that's an exaggeration!) Nathan's band, Making Malorie has been playing for several youth camps all over this summer. Noah and I have been to the Cherokee National Forest and to DISNEY WORLD! Disney was a first for Nathan and Noah, and we'll be back! We've driven a few thousand miles this summer, but it's been a lot of well spent time together.

Nathan has also kind of given birth this summer, to his little project! Making Malorie has been in the studio recording their first album. He has had a blast with it, but it's been a lot of work. It is a 6 song short CD, but Nathan wrote 3 of the songs. So, of course, he's a little attached to the project. Hopefully it will be ready in the fall for your listening ears. We'll keep you updated. Until then they're selling several different shirts to help support the cause. They even have baby and toddler shirts!

Little Noah isn't so little anymore. He's already growing into the roll of BIG BROTHER. He's growing and developing so quickly, my baby is gone! He has atleast a 50 word vocabulary and it's always increasing. He's obsessed with cars and trucks and has gained quite a collection. Car rides keep him very entertained just pointing at all of the big trucks and white trucks! He really is a lot of fun these days, even though he's learned the word NO. Man, oh man!

Ok, so I know I've left out a lot of details....hours of swimming, multiple family reunions, birthday parties, and time shared with friends- BUT you can view it all in our web album of pictures. Follow the link that's on the right! And I promise to try and do better on this blog thing!

Having a Blast!

Well, we have been having a blast lately as a family! We have been super busy, but we have really been cherishing the time we have together. Noah is obsessed with being outside, so we have spent a lot of time taking walks, sliding, and going to playgrounds. It is kicking mine and Nathan's allergies into full swing, but it's well worth it. We went to 3 different playgrounds last week and had a great time at all of them. He is very curious and wants to see how everything tastes. You cannot trust him for a minute, because he has no fear!

Here are Noah and Ruthie getting ready for a 4 wheeler ride together last weekend! Ruthie is getting close to pose for the picture and Noah doesn't know how to handle the affection!

This past weekend was Mother's Day and it was a weekend full of time with family. We spent Saturday night with Granny, Sunday lunch with Nana, and Sunday dinner with KK. We will get to see Gran soon when her foot is feeling better and can handle a visit from a very active one year old! And Grandmama will be in town the end of May. We love our mom's and grandmom's so much and wouldn't survive without them. We are so blessed!

We also had a visitor arrive this weekend- a dog! Of course, Noah is thrilled! The dog arrived on Saturday and still hasn't left. We are trying to find her home and until then, we are calling her Lucy. She is so cute and Nathan is secretly hoping we get to keep her.

Sunday at church, our pastor spoke about Birth. He talked about our rebirths as Christians and how we are made new in Christ. It was a very fitting message for this time of the year. Noah, Melody, and I have been working on my flower beds, and this year we are attempting to grow some veggies and herbs. New growth is everywhere. Josie, Kylie, and Adam were all born last week. (Congratulations to those new families!) And life is happening all around us. It is such a blessing to see God at work and know that He is at work on us. It is not the easiest concept for a non-believer to understand how we as Christians are born again- but through Christ we are. Anything is possible and we must just believe and have faith that He will take care of us. Faith and patience seem to be hard things for me lately, but God is holding fast to His promises. He always has and always will carry us through the difficult times. He has never failed me and I have always been taken care of. Why is it so hard for me to remember that and why do I worry? I guess I'm only human! Have a great week and thank God for the ability to be reborn.

Happy Spring!

Written on March 29th and never published:

Well today doesn't really feel like it, but Spring is here! Easter has come and gone and we hope it was wonderful! Our's was very full, but it was great. We are definitely keeping busy. On Easter Sunday 10 people were baptized at our church and we had 411 in attendance! Oh my goodness. It was amazing. We ran out of chairs! God is definitely taking charge and making Himself visible in Pleasant View. We are so thankful to be witnesses.

Noah enjoyed his first Easter Egg hunt with Hope and Hannah Chayse, courtesy of his KK. He soon saw the dog next door and lost interest in the eggs. He didn't know there was chocolate and money in them! (You can see pictures on our web album.)

Real Estate is hopping again and it's keeping Dad and I busy. I am truly enjoying my new profession. On Friday I was helping a client work on a contract for a home she is buying and it made my day to see the joy on her face! She lives in a one bedroom trailer right now and the quality of her living situation is going to be so much better. That's what it's all about!

April 23rd:

We had a great weekend! Friday night, Nathan and I had a date night courtesy of my parents. It was wonderful to enjoy a relaxed evening at the movies. Thank you Pops and KK!

Then Saturday we went to Rivers and Spires in Clarksville.

It is a great festival with activities for the entire family. Jay, Shantel, Hope, and Hannah Chayse came to enjoy the Kids' Zone with Noah and I. Then Nathan and his band, Making Malorie took the stage and played some great music. It included worship songs, cover songs, and some original work by Nathan. They did such a fantastic job and I was very proud. They had a pretty good crowd to cheer them on, but it was kind of chilly and the rain earlier in the day definitely kept people at home.

On Sunday after church, we left for Oak Ridge to visit Nathan's grandparents. They rarely get to see Noah and we hadn't been up there in almost a year. We had a great time and Noah got some fun new presents. It was very relaxing and good for us all.

Noah is growing every day and is bouncing off of the walls. He is climbing on every piece of furniture and he never stops eating! Nathan still won't let me get his hair cut and he gets called a girl atleast once a week. But, his hair is really beautiful. Nathan says he never got to have cool hair when he was growing up and he wants Noah to be cool. Daddys and their little boys! He loves being outside and loves looking for the Doggies he hears barking. He loves doggies! He is talking more and more, and is doing really well at repeating what we say. He's such a smart little boy and we are having a blast with him!

There are a bunch of pictures from the weekend and past several weeks in our web album. Enjoy!

Welcome Home Toby!

Friday night was a highly anticipated night all over Tennessee. Our favorite consignment sale was having its pre-sale, the snow was coming...BUT most importantly---Toby was coming home! For those of you confused, my cousin Toby Fleming, has been a Journeyman missionary in Niamey, Niger, West Africa for the past 2 1/2 years. I wasn't even engaged to be married when he left- so needless to say life has changed just a little since he's been gone. Hope and Hannah Chayse were born, I got married, his brother Drew graduated from college, our grandfather Big Daddy died, Noah was born, we found out our grandmother, Nanu, had cancer and she died about 3 months later. Home is definitely different.

Toby has lived in the middle of the desert for a long time. He has made some really tough decisions and relied on God to sustain him and guide him. I am so proud! Toby was born 23 days before I was, and we were partners in crime growing up. We did everything together...Opryland, Vacation Bible School, the trampoline, swimming lessons, GI Joe. I haven't known life without Toby.

OK- so, He's back and that's what this post was all about. We all went to his little Welcome Back party on Saturday. It was really great to see him and hear just a few stories. His feet are permanently nasty and he's pretty skinny, but he's forever changed. Please keep him in your prayers as he adjusts to being in civilization and makes decisions about what's next in his life.

Be sure and check out our web album. I've posted lots of pictures.

YEC and the Warehouse!

Well, it was a crazy busy weekend. But, it was so wonderful! Friday and Saturday were the Youth Evangelism Conference. This conference used to be my job, but this year I wanted to go as a volunteer. They are always needed, so I rallied the troops. Nathan, Logan, Melody, and I worked the conference on Friday night and then it was just the ladies on Saturday. Nathan's band, Making Malorie led worship Saturday at 2 smaller YEC sessions at Woodmont Baptist. They did an awesome job and I think had some fun while they were there. Nick Vujicic was the speaker at the Main Sessions and he was amazing. He has no limbs, http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/, and he is such an inspiration. Through his words, God touched the hearts of thousands of teenagers. The aisles were packed with people going to the altar to commit a change in their life. He spoke a message of hope and transformation only with the power of God. Hands down the best YEC speaker!

Then, as if we hadn't had a full enough weekend...Sunday was our first service in our new building at church! The Warehouse is what we affectionately call it, since that's what it was when we bought it. We had 354 people there on Sunday! That is a lot more than normal, and it was the best experience. There was just excitement in the air the whole day. I couldn't help from crying and I think Nathan's voice probably cracked a little at one point! I (of course) tried to take some pictures, but the lighting guys weren't exactly working with me on this one. I'll attach what I have.

I think I'm still on a joy high from this weekend. God moved and I couldn't ignore everything that He is showing me and doing in my life. I am so blessed!

I also am going to attach a video of Noah from last week. It's sometimes hard to show his personality in pictures, but you can't hide it in a video!

Home Team and Snow

Good Morning! Noah and I are enjoying a day at home. It is snowing outside and is beautiful! It started last night and has been going off and on ever since. We were slightly worried that it would delay the first meeting of our new Home Team last night. At our church, Home Teams are small group Bible studies that meet at homes during the week. It is a great thing that we really enjoy being a part of. Our first team just split because we were way too big and our leaders had their 4th child- so it was a good point of transition.

The new team is meeting at our home for now, and is going to be great.

Logan and Melody Creasy are leading it, so that's an added plus to fellowship and study with close friends. We had a really good time and not too many people were deterred by the snow. We had 9 adults and 2 kids. Noah has a new best friend. Cade is 5 months younger than Noah, and Noah was all over him. He was kissing him over and over. Cade took it in stride. Our new Bible Study book that we will be going through together is called "Get Uncomfortable" and is about getting out of our comfort zones and making a difference in the world. Nathan and I are looking forward to this! We both have a heart for injustice and seeing it change.

After Home Team, we decided to run up to the church to see the progress on the building. Nathan had been there until 11:30 PM the night before and was anxious to see the day's work. It is looking like a real church (or atleast our kind of church!) Everyone is helping out so much and we are so thankful. While we were there, we heard the good news--We were approved to start meeting under the condition that a fire truck be in the parking lot while services were taking place. A small price to pay and many thanks to the decision makers who made this happen!

So, this Sunday, March 2nd, 24 Church is officially in the new building on Substation Road. Come visit us! http://www.24church.com/ Have a great rest of the week and enjoy the snow in your area!

Our First Blog!

Well, we've decided to discontinue the website http://www.nathanandrachel.com/ and create a blog.

The website was becoming more work than it was worth and I always had to erase stuff to fit more stuff on it! So, here's the latest and greatest~ our blog has arrived!

Here's what is going on with us right now. Noah turned 1 in January and is a mess. He is walking all over the place and talking up a storm. We don't usually know what he's saying, but he's talking! And usually he has a phone up to his ear while he's talking. It's really funny and embarrassing at the same time. I guess he sees it alot!

Nathan has always been super busy with multiple jobs and that has all slowed down in the last couple of months. He is now only working 2 part-time jobs instead of 1 full-time and 2 part-time. He is officially not teaching guitar lessons anymore, but working part-time at the Music Store in Clarksville and still leading worship at 24 Church. After 3 years of having church in a school, we are just over 1 week away from being in our permanent facility. PRAISE GOD!!! This will free Nathan up so much! Nathan has spent every Saturday night for 3 years at church getting ready and setting up, and this is soon going to be over! He can have a weekend social calender now.

I (Rachel) have had a career change in the last few months also. After 4 wonderful years working at the Tennessee Baptist Convention, I QUIT! I left to sell Real Estate. I made the right decision. I knew that I wasn't getting enough time with Nathan and Noah and was spending too much time on the Interstate. Now, Noah can hang out with me while I work. It's great. I love it. I work at Beck and Beck Real Estate with my dad. I said I would never do it, but God had other plans.

Well, this is our quick little update. We're still going to keep our web album so you can see updates via pictures. You can find them at http://picasaweb.google.com/rachelloxley

Good Night!