Thanksgiving thoughts...

Ephesians 5:20

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

I have so much to be thankful for...first and foremost Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Shield, my Portion, my Deliverer, my Strong Tower, my Shelter in the storm.

Secondly my thought go to my family. This man is the blessing of all blessings...

He is the greatest dad in the world. His children never doubt his love and devotion. He is always there for them. I am so very thankful to have him as my husband. We have shared heartbreak and triumph. We been on adventures in far off places. We've moved 5 times, the last 3 of which included all 4 kids. We've witnessed God's hand in our lives. We've laughed hysterically, cried just as hard. Thank you David for walking this life with me by your side.

Next in line would have to come our 4 children.

Then there's these 2 sweet people...they raised the most incredible son.

Next would be our extended family members. Sadly, I don't have a lot of pics of them. One actually 2 of them are anti-picture taking. So I will just have to say there are too many blessings to tell everything about each one. Brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins all so very special. "Family" is one of the most beautiful words ever spoken.

That leads me to the fabulous friends who share our lives. We are blessed with treasured friends from Tennessee to Romania. When I look at our friends I see a well used map that traces every path our lives have taken. Each person entering our lives at a push pin marked destination and then joining our adventure for a short time or the long journey. Thank you friends for caravaning through life with us.

Last but not least, today I am thankful for 2 very special ladies. My heart misses them so. It was Thanksgiving Day 1995 when my sweet Grandmother went to be with Jesus. This lady was a treasure. She raised 12 children of her own plus countless grandchildren off and on. I was lucky enough to live with her. She was the most selfless, God-honoring woman I have ever known. I wish so much she had know my children.

The next lady I so miss is my mom. She made a decision to bring me into this world. She loved me and did what was best for me. Despite what she wanted for herself. She never gave herself enough credit. She battled cancer valiantly. She worked hard and devoted herself to her husband and girls. My Mom was the strongest woman I have ever known.

Yes, that is me when I was 3 months old.

My mom was so proud of her grandchildren. I remember all little jokes she had with Alex. "I love you more than mud"..."Breakfast? Mt. Dew, chips?" She was a great grandmother. She died when the boys were only one. Olivia was 2 but already talking about "NooNoo". They are really great kids, Mom. I wish you could be here to live life with them.

I am so very blessed...by those in my life and by those who have gone on to be with the Lord.


On a side note... we try to instill thankfulness in our children everyday but especially during this season. Olivia is by far the most vocal in her thankfulness. But Thanksgiving morning's revelation really took me by surprise. We were watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Rockettes started their traditional kick line...Her face lit up..."Who is that, Mom". I told her about the Rockettes...the most famous dancers in all the world. Her response, eyes glued to their every snap-like head turn and kick... "Oh, Mom I am most thankful for them, they are so beautiful".

So Happy Thanksgiving from all of us! We pray your holiday was filled with the joy of family, friends, food and especially the Rockettes :)

Whatever it takes

My twins are very sensory hypersensitive. They are bothered by smells, sounds and touches that most of us don't even notice. When they are sick these senses are even more sensitive. This last week has brought on an avalanche of nebulizer treatments. First Joshua and now Lucas. Apparently, all of our boys have reactive airway issues. When Alex has breathing treatments it is no big deal. The twins turn it in to a monumental event. They can't stand the "smoke" in their eyes. The screaming and crying completely drown out the motor sound on the machine. This has brought us to a new level of creative parenting. The boys must have the treatments so we have had to invent motivation and accomodations.

For Joshua....we invented a superhero tale...

As long as you are wearing your Robin costume and dinosaur mask you can do anything...

even having supersonic mist blown in your nose.

For Lucas...the superhero thing just didn't work. He didn't care about super powers.

Lucas wanted his eyes shielded.

Can you be any cooler that wearing a dinosaur mask and Daddy's sunglasses?

When your babies are sick, you do whatever it takes to get them better :)

Qualifications of a Pastor...according to a 5 yr old

This morning was a very important Sunday in our church. Dr. Steve was here to preach in view of a call (for those not in the Southern Baptist world, that means he was here to preach and then the congregation would vote on him as our senior pastor). The days leading up to this morning have been both trying and uplifting. We spent the first part of the week with Joshua in the hospital. He had a respiratory issue that required IV steriods and breathing treatments. It was a difficult few days. Needless to say we were mentally and physically exhausted from that experience. David's parents came in to save the day on Thursday and stayed through weekend. They were here to give breathing treatments and play with grandkids so David and I could be involved in the activities scheduled for Dr. Steve and his family. With all the running around and such, I should be spent. But really I am quite the opposite. I have an excited, renewed spirit. There is an explosion of spiritual energy when you see God's hand at work. That is what I see happening now.

You can probably understand the conversation I needed to have with our kids on the way to church this morning. Alex understood the process and the importance, so he was good to go. The little kids required a little more time. Being a mom, I wanted them to understand what was going on and be on their very best behavior. They listened intently to my explanation of what was happening at church. They nodded in obedience to my instructions to walk calmly beside me. It was my final instruction that got them. "Now, when you meet Pastor Steve I want to say hello very politely". Olivia and Joshua both said yes ma'am. Lucas didn't answer. I could tell his mind was working so I waited for the question he was brewing. "Can I just wave at him?" My answer was of course "No, you need to use your voice and speak clearly so he understands you". Then it came...everything a 5 yr. old needs in a pastor... "Well, if he is going to be a pastor he ought to know what a wave means." Funny words from a little boy. I am sure our new senior pastor knows how to wave:)

We are all very excited about this new chapter in the life of our church. I pray God will richly bless our church and each of us that worship and serve there.

Halloween

Halloween was lots of fun. The twins were Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Cat in the Hat. They were so cute and well, it just fit them. Olivia was Hannah Montana and if I do say so myself, she was a great one. Alex, well he is too cool to really dress up so he donned his Titan wear. He later conned Joshua out of a wig and that was his costume.

I think this is the first year that the little kids really "got" the trick or treating thing. After the Fall Festival at church, I took them around the neighborhood. I couldn't help but smile when they came running back to the van laughing and screaming about their sweet treasures. It was as much fun for me as it was for them...one of those "really glad I am a mom" moments.

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Hannah Montana

All my little kids

My big kid Hannah and Mommy in a hula hoop contest

(I think the lady in the background laughing sums up that event :)

Hannah celebrating her loot

A successful visit to a neighbor

Lucas loved trick or treating!