The Last Few Summer Weekends!

So I never got around to writing about the last few weekends of summer! They were some of the most packed weekends of the summer! So lets jump in! 

The second to last weekend in August, we got to accomplish my dream, go to a water park with my "new eyes"! I tell you, It made a world of difference being able to see after all of these years walking around "blind" at water events. 

So on Saturday, August 19th, I woke up very early and drove to my moms house at 7:00am to pile in the car with Mom, Morgan, and Nana to head to Six Flags White Water in Atlanta! It was the best trip I've had in a long long time. 

Me waiting on them in the car trying my best not to get sunscreen on the car seats. (Yes I'm wearing shorts, it's just hard too see with my over sized "sun protection shirt" #paleskinclub).

On the way up we stopped at McDonalds for a quick breakfast and arrived in Atlanta around 9:55am. The parking opened at 10:00 and the park opened at 10:30. You have to be the first one in or it doesn't count! ;)

Of course we had to stop for a quick picture in front of the sign in the background. We unfortunately couldn't get Nana in the picture because we were in a mad hurry to be first in. 

After we got in the gates we got our fast pass bands and reserved our spot and locker in the kids area and ran across the park to stand in line for our first ride. Throughout the day we probably rode close to 50 rides. We had an absolute blast! We didn't stop running from 10:30-6:00! By closing time, we were exhausted! But we packed in as many rides as possible. We loved our favorite rides and the two new funnel rides and the mat racers! None of us got sun burned or injured and had a very smooth day! The longest time we stood in line was 30 minutes with only 5 minutes being the average wait time for us. Those fast passes were the best investment in the world! (It did take us 1 1/2 hours to get lunch which was irritating, who knew you needed a fast pass for the lunch lines more than the rides?!? :(  

On the way out, we were sad to leave because we could have easily stayed another 3-4 hours but were excited to get home and wash our hair. Below just shows how stiff and weird my hair was from after all of the chlorine. It was stuck like that stiff as straw. 

Back at home Sasha sulked because she didn't get to tag along but was so happy to greet us when we came in!

Moving on to the next week....the solar eclipse! Wow what an experience! I was at work when it reached total totality at 2:33pm and it was such an odd thing. The crickets started chirping, gnats came out, and it looked like 9pm at night for just a few minutes! Crazy! I was so nervous about looking at the sun I could barely even look with those special glasses. 

I was a little jealous because Mom and Morgan got to drive to Cleveland TN to watch the eclipse at 100% totality and at my location in GA it was only 97% totality. 

Moving on to Soddy Daisy football! This season has been a whirlwind! I can't believe it is already half way over. Every week I look forward to Friday to see Cody coach! That is one of the greatest perks of being a coaches wife, watching Cody do what he loves. This has been a good season, so far Soddy is 4-2! We beat East Hamilton and Ooltewah, our old stomping grounds. Cody and the other coaches work so hard each week to prepare for the games ahead.

It was so strange feeling sitting on the visitors side at East Hamilton. Wow what a good game!

Cody waiving to us after the big win! He does that after each game. That's also one of the best parts, running to Cody after a big win!

I am LOVING my new stadium seat that Nana got me last Christmas! I can finally put it to use!

Coach Raborn calling plays from the coaches box! 

It has been such a neat treat having family come to visit us on the weekends. We love to show off our church!

Me and sister 😊 BFF's

I felt so cool being so (accidentally) coordinated. 

Another celebration is Morgan starting her senior year at UT! She can see the finish line! Gigi, Mom, Nana, Edgar, and Granddad helped move her in to her dorm on campus. Morgan is so close to graduating with her double major. I am so excited and proud of her! She will graduate December 2018 with a degree in Education and Electrical Engineering! She has been busting her butt these college years!

Stay tuned for another fall blog about what's going on in the Raborn family currently and in the near future! 

With so much love,

Kayla Raborn

9-23-17

September Favorites!

Ahhh...September...almost Fall time, the best time of the year. It's no secret that fall is my favorite time of the year and you better believe there will be a post about Fall time coming up! So with the months leading into my favorite season, I thought I'd share my September favorites and what keeps me going until I officially get to Fall....

Amen!

Oh my goodness.... I can't even!!! Just look at those leaves and that roadway. I could get lost in that forest for days just admiring God's beauty and cooler weather he gives us! It sets such a peace to my heart.

So I've been hearing so much about essential oils and how beneficial they are. I couldn't help but at least check them out. I have ordered the lavender essential oil to test it out and hopefully help me sleep better. I will keep you updated.


Peonies!!! As everyone knows, my favorite flower (any color) any time of the year!!!

So I love a good book. This series I have been really into lately. I know it is a little teenage-ish but it is science fiction and I am a sucker for science fiction! Plus I love keeping myself a kid at heart and this series by Cassandra Clare very much pulls you in! I will usually read as I eat my lunch at work! (I love reading so much)

Next on my September favorites list, my sprinkle pb graham cracker creation, inspired by my favorite childhood snack made by mom. I love making these little delicious bites to work to much on at lunch! They are so delicious and colorful!

My favorite September dress is this gorgeous blue jean dress from my mama. It is so loose and flowy, perfect for hot weather. 

Walking tacos! I am so proud to say I have really stepped up my wifey game with Cody starting school, ending his summer masters degree class, officially starting football, and occasionally teaching our Sunday school class. After I get home from work, roughly 3 hours earlier than Cody, I start dinner and when he gets home we eat! So a few nights ago for Cody's first day of school dinner, I made walking tacos! They are so amazing and I credit Morgan and mom for the idea and Pinterest for the inspiration of it all.

So the walking tacos consist of ground beef with taco seasoning and all of the typical taco toppings all dumped into a Nacho Cheese Doritos bag, shaken up and enjoyed straight from the bag without even a fork needed! Below is what it looks like shaken all up about to be devoured (yes I cheated and used a fork #neatfreak).

So with summer coming to an end, I am trying to get as much swimming in as possible (one of my favorite things to do). I found this bathing suit that I am going to be ordering for next summer. It is so precious and relatively modest. 

My current cake obsession consists of this gorgeous marble themed cake that I am seeing all over Pinterest. I would like to have a slice every day for the rest of summer lol! So beautiful! Also I must note that my absolute obsession any month out of the year is Pinterest. Best. Idea. Ever. #goingstrongfor6years

On a side note, not too long ago we celebrated Sasha's first birthday. I dug up this little gem of her when Gigi and Granddad first brought her home. Look how tiny she is compared to the picture below! It is so hard to believe she is the same dog!

And of course, to end my September favorites, Sasha enjoying a little nap with her lovie. 

Quote of the month: "Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen"

- Unknown

Love,

Kayla 

9-16-17

Baptism!

Cody and I finally joined our church! What an exciting day it was! We had been thinking about it and discussing it for the last 6 months. Knowing both of our jobs, and settling in, we decided this would be a great time to take the next step. We love our church so much especially the newlywed Sunday school class. What a blessing that has been to us. 

Right after we joined. If you can't tell we were a little excited (Cody not pictured due to lack of picture excitement).

So the next Sunday I was scheduled to be baptized. Now I have been baptized as an infant and had my reconfirmation baptism at 14 years old but by being sprinkled (Methodist church). Being a part of a baptist church, that is one of the things that stands it apart from the other denominations meaning I needed to be baptized by submersion to be a member of the baptist church. I thought long and hard about that decision too and had always felt led to be baptized by submersion. I had many sit down discussions with the preacher and felt good about my decision. 

So after helping Cody fill in for the week and teach Sunday school, I went in the back before service and got in my robe. Cody was able to come back there with me and watch which was a really neat blessing since I was a little nervous. 

I was given a little handkerchief with my church's initials on it and got to sign the baptism wall! 

Then it was time for me to get in the water and be baptized as an outward symbol of my faith, love, and dedication to Jesus Christ to my church and family. What an absolute glorious day. All I could think of was Carrie Underwood's song, Something in the Water. It is an amazing thing to be a Christian, following Jesus' example to us all. I thank God every day for my faith, it is the biggest part of my life that I strive to be better at every day. Also Cody and I can't wait to raise our future kids in a Baptist church.

1 Peter 3:21.

Preacher Doug has is an amazing preacher. His sermons reach you at such a deeper level and you can truly see his passion towards Christ and sharing the Gospel. 

I was so thankful to have Mom, Gigi, and Morgan be able to witness and celebrate this amazing day with me!

I was so beyond thrilled that Cody's family surprised me and came to watch also!

To celebrate and spend more time together, we went to eat at my favorite restaurant after church, Bonefish Grill! And yes that is lobster. I never get lobster (it was a special occasion) and btw, lobster is my all-time hands down favorite food. Unfortunately I have expensive taste....literally.

Afterwards we decided to get some ice cream at that new 8 degree's ice cream place. Being science people, Morgan and I were so intrigued on how it was made and prepared we HAD to go and check it out.... I mean, in the name of science and research of course! ;)

After ice cream, we went back to the house to visit with Granddad and Sasha. I loved being able to catch up and take Sasha on a walk for Granddad. 

We ended the day with mom giving me a very sweet baptism letter she wrote and a little cross ring to go with it. I haven't taken that gorgeous ring off since then. It is absolutely stunning! I have never seen anything like it!

(This pic is Sasha trying to go with us to church in the morning). She was a little sad to realize we weren't going on a walk or taking her with us to church. She stays like this behind the window every time and it breaks your heart a little bit. I just can't imagine how it's going to feel when Cody and I get our own dog in a few years. We are going to be crazy obsessed dog owners. ;p

Quote of the day: "Nothing can ever separate you from the love Jesus has for you". What an amazing thing!

Love,

Kayla R.

8-13-17

Big News for Cody!

SURPRISE!!! Cody is officially a teacher and coach at Soddy Daisy High School! Cody is teaching freshmen World History and Geography along with Leadership class. For the past few weekends we have been spending time in his classroom helping him get all ready and set up. I am so proud of him and am so incredibly excited he is so happy. I so look forward to this school year for him; he loves his classes so far! The kids are so sweet! 

His makeshift desk.

Gotta have his football helmets ;). 

My sister and mom so graciously came and helped Cody set up, and they were such an amazing help! 

P.S.- I am so surprised how much alike we look in this picture. I never thought of us looking that similar. 

Cody's mom made him a congratulatory yeti mug decorated with all things Soddy. I love the Coach Raborn part! 

Sissy putting the finishing touches on his room! I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many teachers in my family!

And on to football!!!! Cody is so ready for the season to start and I am so ready to resume my roll as a coaches wife cheering the Trojans on!

Cody is the defensive line coach and has his own locker!

On our way for the official coaches pictures. 

Cody surprised me with some Soddy Daisy earrings to wear for the picture and along with my game day attire!

Here is the official picture! I don't care too much how I am angled in the pic but hey that's not whats important. It is a beautiful picture and I am so proud to be standing next to Cody on this life-long journey. (I seriously do wonder why the photographer had us stand far apart)

Here's to a great 2017-2018 school year and football season!!!

Kayla Raborn

8-13-17