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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

I'm so excited about this


click on the picture for lots more!
I can't wait to start making Christmas memories with my kids this year. What do you like to do for Christmas with your children? For Advent? Can't wait to hear and see all of the cool ideas.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Merry Christmas

Hope you all had a fabuloso Thanksgiving. We did. Way too much food, per normal. Maybe one year we'll get it right. Our family spent the long weekend at the deer lease. My mighty hunter boy gave it a good try, but there was no deer for the shooting this go around. We'll give it another go after Christmas. He was so cute though. He sprung up out of bed ready to go, even though it was 6 in the morning! One morning, he wasn't as quick to spring out of bed. Kelvin asked him if he was tired and Luke responds, "I'm so tired, I couldn't even hear the people in my dreams talk!" He keeps me in stitches!

I am trying to get in the mindset now of enjoying every moment of the Christmas season. Carleigh sings at our town's historical museum tonight. I can't wait to see her in her choir dress and white tights.

I'm looking forward to Advent this year. I had a box in the porch waiting for me when we got home last night. I can't wait to share it with the family.


click on the photo to read about this Advent wreath


Merry Christmas!

 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thankful day 13

I am thankful for time with my boy in the kitchen today. He helped me make the cranberries for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. He was awesome with the zester tool! I think he might be a future Iron Chef.

I am thankful for girls singing to Christian radio in the backseat...and for a two year old that mocks everything they do.


I am thankful for the time the big kids got to spend with Kelvin at the gun range yesterday and for what a wonderful job they did!


I am thankful...
I've never had to miss a meal
for parents who loved God, each other, and their children (in that order)
for a husband who is patient with my ups and downs
for children who say I love you
for my little doll in Heaven
for my aunt who is demonstrating what it means to "honor your mother" so beautifully
for friends who lift me up
for a break in the everday to focus on the extraordinary...because isn't it all?

May the Lord bless you and take good care of you.

May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord look on you with favor and give you his peace.
Happy Thanksgiving.


Monday, November 21, 2011

Thankful day 12

I missed a couple of days, but I'm back now.

I am thankful I got to watch Carleigh perform with her honor choir at one of the high school bazaars Saturday. What a joy!


Sorry for the poor photo quality. I'm using a little flip phone until we can get that situation settled. (No the other phone didn't work. :( )

I am thankful for time with friends around the fire pit.

I am thankful for good food.

I am thankful for time alone with my oldest child.

I am thankful for Luke's laugh.

I am thankful for Cora's excitement as she discovers new things.

I am thankful for a group of girls who have been together, most of them since birth, who love each other and the Lord. It's neat to watch them grow.

I am thankful for my husband.


Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thankful day 11

I am thankful for my friend, Dena, who is the director of a beautiful ministry called Christian Women' Job Corp. She does a fabulous job of training women and giving them hope when there doesn't seem to be any. I was honored to be a part of their Fall 2011 graduation ceremony this evening. I sang, I Don't Want To Go, by Avalon, upon the request of the graduates.
I don't want to go somewhere,
If I know that you're not there.
Cause I know that me without You is a lie.
And I don't want to walk that road,
Be a million miles from home.
Cause my heart needs to be where you are.
So I don't want to go.

Without your touch,
Without your love,
Filling me like an ocean.
For your grace is enough,
Enough for me
To know that I don't want to go somewhere
If I know that you're not there.
 I am thankful that the ladies had the courage to make the step toward freedom and hope.

I am thankful they followed through with the entire program.

I am thankful for the spark in their eyes, bounce in their step, and confidence they exuded knowing they truly are princesses, becuase they are daughters of the true King.

I am thankful He gives us a hope and a future, and that He who began a good work in us will complete it!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Thankful day 10

I am thankful for precious moments with each of my children today...they make me smile.
 


I am thankful for the courage of the pilgrims so long ago, leaving the comforts of home, loved ones behind, to venture to a new land so they could worship the one true God freely.

I am thankful for a country that sets aside a day to recognize the sacrifices of the pilgrims.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Thankful day 9

I am thankful for Amoxicillin that will make strep throat go away from our three little ones.

I am thankful for thinking it was a good idea to keep Luke home from school today and take him along with Carleigh and Cora to the doctor.

I am thankful we don't have carpet in our bedroom...makes cleaning up the mess from a sick baby girl last night much easier.

I am thankful I didn't have to drag all three kiddos along with me to my doctor's appointment today.

I am thankful I do not have strep throat.

I am thankful for pizza and for a husband who picks up the pizza from the restaurant and brings it home for dinner.

I am thankful for the time our family spent watching The Secrets of Jonathan Speery today and for the precious message it shares.

I am thankful the message didn't bounce off the hearts of our little ones, but rather, sank in.

I am thankful for the warm, yummy smell of banana nut muffins and how it makes my house feel. (Too bad they didn't taste better. That's what I get for trying to reduce the sugar!)

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Thankful day 8

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO thankful my knight in shining armor is home from his elk hunt in Colorado. I missed him terribly!

I am thankful I got to see Luke make the coolest touchdown ever this morning (photos to come later.)

I am thankful I got a little cat napping in today.

I am thankful for my clean house. It's taken a while and I still have a very long way to go, but slowly I am chipping away the organization projects around this place.

I am thankful for the weekend!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Thankful day 7

I am thankful for all the military men and women who make so many sacrifices for our country. I am proud to live in this great nation, and I know it wouldn't be nearly as great had so many not given so much.

I am thankful I got to go to Carleigh's Veteran's Day program this morning...what an inspiration!


My dad got to come to the program too! He served in the Navy. Marvin, Kelvin's dad, served in the Army. I am so proud! I wish I could've grabbed Luke for the picture. His class got away too fast. I always get a lump in my throat when the different branches of the military stand to be recognized. What an honor to be a part of today.



I am also thankful for the fun girls day I had with my friend Lesley at the Nutcracker Market in Houston. It was fun hanging out and eating and shopping and eating and talking and talking some more!

I am also thankful Kelvin is on his way home from a looooong week of elk hunting. I am thankful everyone is safe and had a good time despite the fact they didn't get an elk.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Thankful day 6

Today I am thankful for a clean house...well, mostly. The couch is still loaded with clean laundry that needs folding. Hopefully I'll get to that tonight.

It's been kind of a downer day really. Today marks 12 years since my sister-in-law, Lori, was killed at the hand of her ex-husband. I can't believe it still. My children are just about the same ages as her children were when their world was turned upside down and inside out. I can't imagine their fear.

I am thankful for my mother-in-law who has suffered so but continues to get through each day.

I am thankful for my oldest daughter whose heart is so sensitive to others. She is singing in a Veteran's Day program tomorrow at school and is so excited. Luke is excited to watch Carleigh's program. I love them.

I am thankful for Cora's excitement when she sees me at school or when I return from something and she wasn't with me. Her Thanksgiving Day lunch was adorable.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Thankful Day 5

I am thankful for good food and good friends. Lesley makes the best sliders you ever did eat! I enjoyed our time visiting this evening. I am thankful our kids play so well together.


pretty girls
 I am thankful for massages. I like them A LOT!

I am thankful for fall decorations. They make my house feel warm and cozy....a good thing even if it is 80 degrees out.

I am thankful for people like Hillary Scott from Lady Antebellum who was raised right and does really good stuff with her money.

I am thankful to have known Bruce Brown. He left a mighty good legacy. Hate that we're having to say goodbye. Glad to know we'll meet again one day. Please say a prayer for the love of his life, Debbie and their boys and grandbabies. It's never easy to be the ones left behind.

Thankful Day 4

I am so thankful for the rain. Everything is still so parched. It's good to have rain.

I am thankful for fun memories.

I am thankful for productive days. Finally able to see my dining table after a month of Emma's Bayou Bash aftermath stored in my dining room.

I am thankful for friends who send me uplifting messages.

I am thankful that I will probably have a new-to-me cell phone tomorrow. It's been a looooong couple of weeks without my smart phone with all of my contacts, calendar, email accounts, GPS, etc., etc. I didn't realize just how much I relied on that little gadget until it was no longer working.

I am thankful my children appreciate soldiers and want to write them letters and send them care packages.

I am thankful Carleigh is excited about singing with her choir in the Veteran's Day program at school on Friday. She was a little hesitant about joining the choir. I told her she didn't have a choice in the matter, me being a former choir teacher. Glad she came around.

I am thankful for little snuggle bugs like Cora and big snuggle bugs like Carleigh and Luke. Sad Luke isn't so keen on snuggling very much anymore.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Thankful Day 3

I am thankful for pedicures and belly laughs. They always make me feel better.

I am thankful for girlfriends who share my concerns and worries.

I am thankful for little girls who lose teeth and understand that the tooth fairy got confused because of the time change and missed her tooth last night.

I am thankful the tooth fairy remembered tonight.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Thankful, day 2

Today,

I'm thankful for yummy soup and friends to share it with at the spur of the moment. On the way out of the parking lot at church this afternoon, I asked some friends and their little ones over for lunch. They said yes. My dining room is still a storage space for all things Emma's Bayou Bash, so I threw up a folding table in the living room and spread a pumpkin tablecloth over it. I told Shelly and her crew to ignore the basket of laundry next to the couch, and we chowed down on the soup I made before church this morning. It was pretty darn good, if I do say so myself! The kids seemed to have more fun playing together than eating. :)

I'm thankful for an unexpected phone call from my one true love.

I am thankful for the promise of eternal life for those whose trust is in Jesus. Please pray for our sweet friends, the Browns. Bruce didn't have such a good report earlier today.

I am thankful for down time with my kiddos today. It was nice to hang out this afternoon and evening and not worry about anything.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Thankful

I have seen friends on Facebook and several blogs taking the opportunity to celebrate thankfulness this month. I thought I would join them...

I am thankful for a God wo know we need change and provides it with the seasons. We have had a gorgeous fall so far. The air has been crisp on several occasions, and we had a wonderous sunset the other day during football practice. I even noticed as I drove over the highway the other day that the leaves on the bothersome tallow trees had changed and made a very pretty roadside scape. I love fall.

I am thankful for Kelvin and our children. They are the reason I get up every day.

I am thankful for pretty things that inspire me.

I am thankful for my parents and my mother-in-law.

I am thankful for an extra hour of sleep tonight.
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