What we've been up to...

Life is going on at a normal (busy) pace here at the Crabbs...we haven't had internet at our house for a couple months, hence the lack of posts. Sorry for boring and disappointing all you readers. I'm hoping to get back into it now that I can get online at my convenience! My job is still going great and I'm thankful for God's provision through it. Work is getting slower and a bit harder to come by for Steve with the economy slowing down...but God has been faithfully meeting our needs and providing in abundance! He is so good and worthy of our trust. I have a lot of random pictures starting with Nadine and Dustin's wedding back in September!

They are mainly pictures of people at our table :)

A baby shower for Rebekah at her sister-in-law Christy's house.

Steve and I went on a day trip to Williamsburg the first weekend in November. It was a gorgeous day, mid 70's, sunny and perfect for a drive along Colonial Parkway starting in Yorktown and ending up in Williamsburg. We stopped a few times along the way for pictures.

driving along the parkway.

an amazingly beautiful tree in Colonial...

AND as of yesterday we are now enjoying this baby...

Steve hooked it all up today (which was quite a process) and we are very excited to finally have a tv!

This is Steve after mounting the tv and figuring out all the wiring! He was pooped and ready to sit and enjoy the football game which now comes in on a crisp, clear HD channel :)

I am getting so excited about Christmas! We are having our caregroup Christmas party on the 10th, so I'm planning for that and brainstorming for Christmas gifts...haven't done much shopping yet, but that's always enjoyable for me so I'm looking forward to it.

It's now time to cook up some BLT's for dinner...yummm.

5th Folder, 5th Picture...

The Rules: go to Your Pictures file, go to the 5th folder, open up the 5th picture and post it, then tag 5 people when you are done. I got tagged to do this, so here it is

This was at Rebekah's baby shower when she was pregnant with Duncan. It's Rachael with Brian's mom, Diane, and his Nana.

I tag Rebekah M., Natasha M., Liz U., Leslie C., and Kaitlin R.

We finally have internet now, so I'll be able to post again! Sorry I've been out for so long. I have some pictures and updates to post, so I'll do that in the next couple days.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

a wonderful week off

I was so blessed to have this whole week off! The family I nanny for took a week's vacation at a lake in SC, so I was able to enjoy a relaxing week of lazy summer days. I think the highlight was getting to spend some extended times in the word and in prayer. I'm reading the Psalms and also 1 John. The Lord is teaching me so much about what it means to love Him more than the world. I am finding that throughout my days I'm much more aware of the Holy Spirit and what it looks like to involve Him in every aspect of my day. It is so encouraging. As for the other things I did this week...Monday I met my Mom, Rebekah and Duncan, and Rachael in Greenbrier and we did some shopping and had lunch at Panera. Then I hung out with Rebekah at her house for a couple hours in the afternoon. That night Steve suggested that we head to the beach for a little date. We got coffee and sat in one of the lifeguard chairs and watched a red moon rise. It was so beautiful! I don't think I've seen the moon look that red. Tuesday I got up semi-early (around 7:30) and did some chores before heading up to Richmond to stay with my dear friends Bekah and Nicki. We did some shopping, dinner, the hot tub, a movie, snacks...you know, a typical girls night. We slept at Nicki's apartment, and when the girls had to go to work Wednesday morning, I headed home. Thank goodness for the GPS (a gift from mom and dad Crabb :) I stopped by Steve's dealership to say HI and give him a great big hug and kiss before going home where I cleaned and got ready for my first official CG ladies meeting that night. It was great! The ladies in my group are very open and eager for prayer and encouragement which I am so thankful for! I am excited for many more nights of great fellowship. Thursday I slept in late, then Rach came over and hung out while we waited for my sis-in-law Jess to finish her hair appointments for the day. Then we hit the beach for the afternoon! It was amazing weather and I think we all three fell asleep while lying in the sun...so relaxing! Thur night Steve and I babysat for the Breault kids and ended up taking them to Dairy Queen for ridiculous amounts of ice cream right before bedtime :) It was pretty crazy and very entertaining :) We always enjoy time with those kiddos. Today I watered plants, cleaned my floors, ran some errands with my mom and Rachael, had lunch at Chick-fil-a (yummm) and now I think I'll do some laundry and reading until Steve gets home...tonight's date night. I'm not sure where we're going, but I'm so excited to hang out with my boy. He's had a really crazy week with work, and with everything else going on, I feel like we haven't gotten to hang out much this week.
So there's a synopsis of my week. Sorry if I bored you with all the details. Hope all you readers have a great weekend and rest in the grace purchased for us by Jesus Christ!

I am forcing myself to sit down and update this blog because if I don't do it now, another month will pass with no blog posts =) I can't seem to find the time for blogging these days. Hmm...let me see, what has been happening since my last post? We have been getting more and more settled in our house (which is coming along nicely by the way). Still in the unpacking/organizing/decorating stages, but that all takes time...more so now that I am working four days a week! I started working as a nanny in the beginning of July for twin baby boys. They are four months old and just as precious as can be! I love my job. Most days it doesn't feel like a real job because they are so cute and their little smiles just melt my heart. They're my little buds and we (for the most part) have lovely days together enjoying the gorgeous view from their condo. They live in downtown Norfolk RIGHT on the water...The entire backside of the condo is a waterfront view complete with sailboats docked outside the building. It is a peaceful place to say the least. But working has definately changed my pace of life. It's hard to find time to accomplish everything that is screaming for me to get done. The Lord is definately stretching me and teaching me to rely on Him for EVERYTHING. It has been great :)



Steve and I also have been given the opportunity to lead a caregroup which we started in July. We took over Sean and Jess Derrick's group when they moved to Richmond. We are really enjoying our group and the great fellowship and encouragement we get from it. It has been a real blessing and very exciting to see God working in and through us in this season. He's definately taking me out of my comfort zone and asking me to have faith for what He wants to do in our lives. It is a scary thing for me, but I am so thankful that He gives me the grace to do what he asks me to do. I can totally see Him meeting me in my weakness and supply me with the faith I need to walk the path He sets before me. I am EXCITED to see Him work.



Brian, Jess, Rach, Steve and I just got home from a short trip to New Hampshire this past weekend. Steve's parents had a reception/wedding shower for Brian and Jess for all their friends up North. It was also an opportunity for us to say goodbye to Steve's younger sister Becky and her husband and their two boys before they go on the mission field. They are leaving August 25th, going to Costa Rica for a year of language school, and then moving to Argentina where they will live as missionaries for an indefinate amount of time. They are very excited about this, and so we are glad to see them following God's calling on their lives, but we will miss them for sure. It was good to spend some time with them over the weekend.

On the way home we made a two hour stop in NYC :) We ate lunch at Goodburger and then walked around, saw Time Square, bought a few souvenirs,etc. Neither Rach or I had ever been, and Jess hadn't been since she was little, so it was a fun stop. I definately want to go back when we have longer to explore though.

And before I sign out for the night, can I just say that I'm so excited that I'm not going back to school this month!! I can really look forward to fall without the depressing school factor! haha.

the post you've been waiting for...

Well folks, this is it. Our lovely little home is finished...enough to move into that is. There are still a bunch of little things that need to be done, but they are minor compared to all that has been done in the past 3 months! Whew! We had some of Steve's family stay with us for Brian's wedding, and I think that kind of broke in the house...somehow hosting other people made it feel like our home faster than it would have otherwise...if that makes sense. I'm still getting unpacked and trying to get organized..but that will be a long process =) I am thrilled with the way the house looks! It has so much charm, and is so cozy and homey feeling. One of my favorite things are the wood floors - I can't believe how great they cleaned up. I also love the trim throughout the house. Brian used wide, craftsman style trim pieces, and I really think it gives it more of an "old" house feel. I hope you enjoy all the pictures...I should have done a slide show, but I didn't think of that til I was half way through uploading them =) Oh well. I'll update you on everything else going on in our lives in a later post. It's late and I'm heading off to bed!

(we don't have front steps yet..one of the many projects left to do)

I love the trim on the front door!

this is going to be our art wall..we want to cover it with art pieces. the one on there now is a wood block print by my cousin John.

the breakfast bar...holding all our clutter at present

Trim detail...

my huge pantry...love it!



nothing much in our bedroom yet...

our closet

the guest room/office

one of my other favorites...the bathroom floor.

these are some pics of the wood floors during the process of refinishing them

staining them...

the cutest boy in the world...workin away...

tada! beautiful...