Thanksgiving

  "Be cheerful no matter what; 

pray all the time; 

thank God no matter what happens. 

This is the way God wants you to belong to Christ Jesus to live." 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (message)

THANKSGIVING DAY PICTURES

Garrison isn't so sure how he feels when Uncle Tom comes over and this is why...  Adeline (my brother Tom's little girl) thinks it's great fun.  Or maybe she's glad it's not her upside down.

 Josiah and Garrison having great fun trying to hang on to the horse.

 Isn't Ms. Adeline cute?

 My sisters, Joanna and Jackie.

 Joanna and her husband Shane.

 All the kids wanted to be on Papa's lap.  And we're checking out the black Friday deals.

 Sweet little Josiah.

 My brother, Tom, his daughter, Adeline and the G man.

 The three sisters.

 Me getting my baby time with Maggie. 

It was so nice to have family over.  I wish they could have stayed longer, but maybe one day we'll all live by each other and can hang out all the time. 

Be thankful

  

My heart and mind have been swirling with thankfulness.  I've been spending the last week preparing for the upcoming family gathering at my house.  The menu has been written and the turkey has been purchased.  The to-do list has been established and the get-it-done mode has been placed, but I don't want Thanksgiving to be all about how it looks or how well I prepared everything.  I want it to be about all that I have.  All that God has blessed me with.

Many times I jump too fast into seeing the negative.  Seeing the problem before the person.  The pencil markings on the wall before the little fingers that wanted to draw a picture.  The pile of dishes that I'm doing by myself before the laughter of a father and his sons in the next room.  The toothpaste all over the sink before the little boy who just wanted to be independent.  The ceiling falling apart before the kids in the bathtub having fun splashing water.  The broken fence post before the game winning kick.  The unfinished to-do list before the little boys who wanted a story read, a train track built, a board game played, a drink given, an ouchie kissed. And lately with each of these things God has been reminding me to be thankful.  Don't look at the problem He'll take care of the details.  Look at the person and be thankful they are brightening my day with their presence.

Saturday's Saying

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the piles and piles of laundry will disappear soon and that you will, to your surprise, miss them profoundly."  Thomas S. Monson

Learning

Today I learned 4 things...

1.  I will be doing most, if not all, my Christmas shopping online.

2.  If I have to go to the store for some Christmas items I will NOT be taking my children.

3.  I don't need a day away from my kids... I need a whole weekend!

4.  Sometimes I am so organized that I end up being unorganized.

Mr. Polar Bear

We had a front row seat to the polar bears performance.  Garrison loved this (you'll hear him laughing a ton in the video).  Josiah was a little scared so he and I are standing a little bit farther back.  He wasn't as excited that the only thing keeping this gigantic polar bear from him was a huge wall of glass.  Don't blame him.

Our Vacation

Create a slideshow

Garrison has been asking a lot lately about God.  Every time he sees a cross he says, "Mom, Jesus died on that."  He then follows it by asking me why.  The other day I was explaining why Jesus died for us.  When I got to the part about our sins be taken away from us he started crying.  I asked him what happened that made him cry and he responded by saying, "I don't want my sins to go away."  I love these teachable moments!