Thanksgiving Day ‘12

We woke to a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l morning on Thursday morning – a morning to be thankful for, surely!  We journeyed to a local park to help clean up leaves and trash as a way to give thanks to the community that we live in.  We went with our fr-amily and the 4 kids that were along ‘helped’ with the leaves.  It was such a sunny morning that halfway through we shed our coats and hats and basked in the warmth.

We returned home in time for Mama to put the turkey in the oven and then spent the afternoon enjoying one another.  Anna loved on Laura’s dog, Reiley, and Laura helped Hudson and Anna make place markers for the table.

The turkey was done and it was time to eat!  We each filled out a feather for our Thankful Turkey (see here) and sat down to “sup” together. 

As we finished up the main course, more friends arrived to enjoy dessert with us.

Our day after Thanksgiving tradition is to put our lights up on the outside of the house….and to begin putting up the tree.  The kids were ecstatic, and Hudson was ready to be Daddy’s big helper.  He helped to stretch the lights and check that they were working.  He handed them to Daddy as he climbed the ladder.

We have so much to be thankful for.  More than I can list.  More than I could fill a book with.  For my heart overflows with how He has blessed us, how He has provided for us in the good times, and in the challenges.  My prayer is that we do not just model for our children that thanks is only given on one day of the year, but in every moment, on every day as we journey through this life that God has given to us.  For it is a gift, and I am ever grateful – may I sing His praise and give thanks.

Hadleigh 4 months

(Hadleigh’s first Halloween)

Happy baby, happy girl.  That pretty much describes Hadleigh.  The dr. says you are growing right on schedule and doing very well – and you are a long string bean like your brother and sister…you are in the 97th% for your length and the 75th% for your weight.

I love that you still think I am the funniest person in the world – I am sure that will change too soon.  You can roll 3/4 of the way over and back, but don’t totally make it all the way.  We think you realize you may lose sight of the people in the room so you just flip back over.  You give smiles freely and have an adorable giggle.  You’ve gotten very good at grabbing your hanging toys on your Baby Einstein playmat and get frustrated when they don’t reach your mouth.

You’ve captured us all…..hook….line….and sinker….

Who needs hallmark?

Who needs a card store when you have a willing master artist in residence?

party of five

I like that.  Party of five. Seems like a nice number. A full number. A number that I am so blessed that God has given to me.  And our party of five went on our first family trip this past weekend. 

It was time. Time for us to be together with no distraction. No schedule. No expectations.

Time for Daddy to be on sabbatical. To think. To prepare. To ready his heart for the upcoming season of ministry.

Time for Mommy to enjoy her family. To be washed in the blessing of who I’ve been entrusted. To laugh. To smile. To play.

Time to be outside. To hike. To gather leaves. To explore.

Time to reconnect. To recharge. To love.

And to the family that blessed us with the gift of their second home?  I pray that God may overflow their hearts and lives because they gave us an amazing time away…together…as a party of five.

the answer….

the answer you’ve been holding your breath for…

did you guess correctly?

Can you tell who is who?

All three of our peapods have been picked from our garden in Arizona or here!  SOOO….can you tell which pea is in which pod?

To play along….make your guess and leave a comment….the results will be posted soon!

the colors of fall

There is a hike not far from our home that we love to frequent…particularly in the fall.  Year round it provides a gorgeous view of the river and the beautiful surroundings that God has provided for us.  The hike is not to challenging for the kids and it has a grand payoff at the top.

For Daddy and Mommy, it is about being outside in the Creator’s garden with those that the Creator has graciously given us.

(her joyfulness and expressive face…gotta laugh most of the day!)

(his freckles, his eyes…they get me every time…)

(we’ve yet to see what this angel brings us in personality, but her calm and gentle demeanor thus far has captured our hearts.)

I am so grateful for the creativity of a God that is a master artist….from living in the rugged beauty of the Southwest to the resplendent seasonal changes of the Northeast, His gift to us in nature is truly awesome.

Stop, admire, and breathe in His goodness.