Thanksgiving Day Pictures

Thanksgiving Pictures

The pictures in the slideshow are from Thanksgiving Day. This year we added a new event to our gathering: Thanksgiving Wrestling! Doesn't every family need this kind of entertainment???

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY (so far....)

Question of the Day:
Camden: Mom, can you teach me how to run like a pilgrim?
Mom: What?
(If any of you have any ideas on this one please let me know!!)

Encouraging story of the Day:
Claremarie told me that today one of her friends got hurt on the playground. She said that after they took her into the office to get ice she and three of her friends stood in a circle and said a prayer for her. I was glad to hear this because this morning Claremarie was disappointed that I wasn't going to Moms In Touch (a group of moms who gets together and prayers for the requests of the school). I think she thought that meant I wouldn't be praying for her today. I told her that even if I don't go I am constantly praying for her. We discussed the verse "Pray without ceasing" and what that means. I also told her that we can all pray anytime, anywhere. It is good to know that sometimes things do sink in!!!

I'M THANKFUL.....

We live in a country and in a time where abundance is all around and yet it is all too easy to focus on what we don't have. This is just a partial list of my blessings in my attempt to focus on what I do have. I never want to take these things for granted. Thank you Lord for all your blessings.

I'm thankful.........
for a wonderful husband who is a complement to me in every way and my best friend,
for a sweet daughter who is kind and gentle and a friend to all,
for an awesome son who is sensitive and makes me laugh every day,
that all of the above are healthy and thriving,
for having grown up in a Christian home,
for my mom, dad, and sister,
for having in-laws who I like and get along with,
for a large extended family,
for lots of great girlfriends who have been such a blessing in the last year,
for the internet so I can stay in touch with my long-distance friends,
for a roof over my head, food on my table, & transportation to get me where I need/want to go,
that I still have my Grandma here to visit and that my kids have gotten the chance to know their Great Grandma,
for being able to send Claremarie to a Christian school,
that this football season is almost over,
for not having had another kidney stone this year,
for not having had any major back problems this year,
that I live in a country where I can openly worship in the way I choose,
that men and women far braver than I think I could ever be are defending our freedom,
for my ancestors who set off on what must have been a scary journey to come to this new land,
that God sent His Son to be the bridge between me and Him,
and that I can talk to my Heavenly Father anytime I want to.

My wish for you this Thanksgiving is that you will have time to reflect on your many blessings!

The "B" Word

I knew it was coming sometime but I was hoping it wouldn't start this year. Yes, I finally heard it on the car ride home today. "Mom, Matilda (name has been changed :-) says George (name also changed) is my BOYFRIEND." NO!! I scream on the inside but on the outside remain relatively calm as I want Claremarie to continue to share with me on these car rides home after school. She goes on to tell me that she hopes George doesn't think she is his girlfriend (Thank you Lord. I wasn't ready for that.) and that she just really likes to play tag and hide and go seek with him. The conversation ended by me saying that I'm glad she can play with both boys and girls. She has never really been one to talk about boyfriends and girlfriends and I was hoping it would not start in 2nd grade.

I am so not ready for her to grow up in this world full of complicated relationships that can bring the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It was a great reminder for me to make sure she is grounded with the truth from the ONE who will never let her down and that Sam and I need to be faithful in praying for her future mate.

So for now we are safe but I guess I need to start preparing. Who knows when the "B" word will pop up again............

The Giant

Yesterday I picked Camden up and hugged him and he tightly wrapped his little arms around my neck and said, "Mom, someday I'm going to grow up and be a giant and then you won't be able to pick me up like this anymore." I started to pretend cry (on the inside my heart really was crying) and he said, "When I am a giant you can't cry about it."

It has been a rough couple of weeks with the kiddos (due to illness and sleeping issues) but moments like that help keep me going.

VACATION

Two football games, a brunch with extended family in Burwell, NE, a birthday party for my sister, Rhonda, a weiner roast, 4 books read by me and 1 by Sam, 2 movies watched without interruption, 1 movie at the theater, playing in two different parks (the kids not us), free babysitting by the grandparents, haircuts from Aunt Arlene, lots of good home-cooked breakfasts (waffles, pancakes, eggs, sausage and bacon, etc.), being able to play outside on their own (again the kids not us), and a visit with my Grandma. This is what we did on our vacation. Not what most people would call an exciting vacation but to us it was a wonderful break and a nice change from our daily routine.

Halloween

Here are the costumes the kids picked for this year. Not sure where the pirate idea came from but it turned out pretty cute. We only hit a few houses because Sam and Claremarie had to get to Awana. Camden didn't get to go because he has been sick. He stayed home and helped me hand out candy. I did post a few more pictures of Park Halloween fun.