Pictures from Thanksgiving...

As taken by 5 year-old Super-Spider-Power-Ranger-Man.

He was the photographer of the day.

Love this man. He nailed it with the smoker again. Two turkeys and a duck. He's an amazing chef! :)

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman and me...love this girl!

My big brother 

Don't take my picture...said Lego Man. Love this boy!

Isn't this cute?

The dog...once again trying to see what there is on the table for her. 

Wonder Woman brought me flowers today.

My handsome dad. Love him.

My beautiful mommy. Love her.

Our neighbors and dearest friends...

We love them!

The photographer of the day...he had to get a pic too! 

Love the photographer's perspective here. Very cool for a 5 yo. 

The neighbor's baby. Husband spent lots of time with this little guy.

My precious sister-in-law. What an amazing woman!

Today I will simply say...

For MY husband...who has held me fast through difficult times, who lifts me up, who loves me and I love him.

For babies...who are no longer babies and bring me more joy each and every day.

For family...who is supportive, loving, caring and always helps me in so many ways.

For Jesus...who loves me, who died for me, who saved me, who restores me, who redeems my life from the pit.

There are no words to adequately describe how blessed I am...

And...we're back...

Back to normal. Huh? What's that.

Back to school...see?

Yeah, we do school in the backyard...in footed pajamas and leotards sometimes.

And so thankful for so many things.

Thanksgiving was an adventure. It always is. Four years ago we set the oven on fire. I say "we."

It was me...I let the bacon grease drip into the bottom of the oven and bam...fire starter. It was impressive. There was the whole backdraft type of thing going on and the door flew open with a flash of fire. Nice.

And then last year we went to the ER with husband about 2:30 a.m. before Thanksgiving. Another exciting time. He was so worried he wouldn't have time to smoke the turkey. And yet, none of us went without.

And this year. Ah, yes. This year. Well, let's just say that we ate on time...never happens. I was impressed. The turkeys were smoked perfectly. We ate on paper plates...yikes. And Superman got shot with a BB gun.

Which brings me back to my thankfulness...I'm so glad it wasn't a gun with serious bullets. A BB gun is still a gun. It's still dangerous. It's still a weapon. Superman could have lost his eye...but then I guess he wouldn't be Superman, now would he?

I'm also glad it wasn't his eye.

But I can't stop thinking about it. What could have happened...how bad it could have been...

And although I we believe (as a family) in the right to bear arms, I can't stress enough the importance of knowing that a weapon is a weapon. It doesn't matter what it shoots, if it shoots, if it's broken, jammed, whatever. Guns are dangerous and deserve our respect.

And, just to clarify...no. The gun was not stored away with BBs in it. It was not loaded. The clips were stored separately. The BBs were stored separately. The guns were put in the closet. And still, accidents happen.

And I'm so thankful, because it could have been worse.

Eucharisteo

Gratitude. Thankful. A heart full. Overflowing. Grateful. Thank you. Blessed. Abundant.

I'm sitting here in the quiet. The hum of the washing machine my serenade.

Drinking coffee. McDonald's. My favorite. The calm before the storm of 25 people at our home. We are blessed. So much to be thankful for. We have food to eat. We have loved ones to share the day with. We are healthy. Mostly.

We aren't alone. We have a Savior.
We have a hope. A future. An expected end.

We have love. We have each other.

I've been working all week to get the house ready for 25 people. If that's even possible. Christmas decorations are up. And projects are unfinished. And yet, Thanksgiving will come and go just the same whether it's decorated or not.

And isn't that the point? To enjoy. To live. Fully.

So thankful for my family. For my Jesus. For salvation. For hope.

Take this world. Give me Jesus. This is not where I belong.

1,000 Gifts - November 18, 2012

We celebrated husband's birthday on Friday. It's a milestone year for us...we were born 14 days apart. That means that mine is coming soon...

Someone asked me how I feel about turning 35. My response..."Eh...it's coming one way or another, so I've decided to not think about the number quite so much."

Problem is, there are plenty of aches, pains, wrinkles and gray hairs to make me think of the number.

And still, I am grateful.

Grateful to be alive.

Grateful to be able to run...long distances or short.

Grateful for my sweet babies.

Grateful that husband was born November 16. 

Grateful that he is my husband.

Grateful for Saturday night church so I can enjoy waking up slowly with my kiddos.

Grateful for Saturdays where we do simple things...run errands...and still have fun.

Grateful for growing up and growing old...I am learning so much. And perhaps if I was still young, I would still be immature and, well, dumb.

We have 20+ people coming for Thanksgiving. And I LOVE it!
I love having everyone here at our home for Thanksgiving! It's such a great time. Usually I do something amazing like set the oven on fire or we have to make an ER run. Yep, good times.

This year we have no plans for excitement...and we decided not to fry a turkey considering all the possibilities for disaster.

I just love having everyone together. Come one, come all.

And I'm grateful...for HIS 1,000+ gifts.