Thanksgiving and the Beginning of Christmas

We spent a very relaxing Thanksgiving this year at my parents house, with a nice visit Thanksgiving night with Toby's family! We started our Thanksgiving celebration on Wednesday, so that the guys could go to the beaver ponds near my parents house to fish! Ricky caught more fish than my dad again!!! My dad had said that because it was such a clear "bluebird" day they would not catch anything, but if R. wanted to practice casting they would take the rod and reels. Toby said that they hadn't even gotten the other two boats in the water before Ricky had already caught a fish!

The beaver ponds

On Thanksgiving day we had a wonderful lunch with my parents and grandmother! Gran is 85 yrs old and still getting around very well! My kids have been so blessed to know this wonderful lady! Not every child can have such wonderful memories of their great-grandmother!

The only ones missing this year was my brother and his family! They will not be in at all this year and it makes the celebrating a little sad!

The Thanksgiving crew without me, of course!

The Friday after Thanksgiving is Christmas decorating day at our house!!!! No Black Friday shopping for us! It would probably be a good idea, but I can't seem to get up early enough to really get the deals! I let the kids decorate the tree in the living room and I did the one in the hearth room! Ricky was so surprised at how quickly it was all done this year! Another year older for Kensli helped in the snatching, grabbing, fussing, and crying department! For the last couple of years she has had a meltdown when we decorated the tree! This year she seemed to understand that she can't hang all the ornaments! :)

The kids decorating their tree!

My little tree in the hearth room!

My tree is a natural tree and my favorite! A few years ago I started liking birds on my tree and found out that nests on Christmas trees were good luck somewhere (need to find out which of my kids birth countries that was)! So, I went out and bought birds, a couple of nests, berries, mini grapevine wreaths, and picked up pine cones in the back yard for a natural tree! I didn't add lights until this year and I added them because I can see the tree better!

Christmas is here and there is such excitement in the air! We are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas season! The kids and I talked about keeping Jesus as the reason for the season today during devotion! Hoping for a stress free holidays!

Just Believe

Lately there have been several needs in our life that I felt like was almost impossible to supply! We have been in the need of a music minister for the Spanish work for months now! There has been great spiritual unrest in our world, because when you step out to do anything for God it will make Hell really mad! Also, God has been dealing with me on a very personal issue lately, that I think I want to happen, but have really drug my feet about! Yikes!!!! I have been dragging my feet, because of what others would say or think concerning this area of our lives! And to top it all off, Toby had received very bad news from his job!



I was already feeling very down the other day, when Toby called me to see a virtual pond in our front yard! The line from the main meter and the house had broken, it would have to be repaired pronto and that we were really in need of re plumbing the entire house! All I could think of was how much is it going to cost us! We have braces to pay for, Christmas to buy, we just received bad news on the job front, and my mind just went on and on! I sat down in my chair and begin to weep and pray! Honestly, I can't say that it was the most powerful prayer, more like a grumbling one! About that time Ricky came into the room and said, "Mom, what is the matter?" He was very concerned because this was not the norm! We are honest and open about things the family is facing, but tend try to keep it up beat and positive! For some reason I just laid it all out for him! When I got through, he looked and me and said, "OK, why can a little lady in China, Africa, or Central America, that needs food, believe and the next day it is on the door step? Why can a missionary need money, pray, and the next day a check arrives? If it happens for them, why can't it happen for us? Why are we so different here in America?" I replied, "We're not any different. We have just learned out how to survive without needing to believe for everything, I guess!" He said, "Well, sounds like we need to start believing around here for everything!" Why can't I be more like him, I thought! The rest of the day, I thought more and more on believing! My prayer changed!!!!!!!



The next day, Toby walks in and tells me that his job situation was resolved on his behalf without a problem! This was just the first! This weekend we had a family here that will be joining us as our music leaders for the Spanish services! She is fluent in Spanish and plays the keyboard! Thank you, Jesus!!!! We have been praying for months over that request! Also, our pipe is fixed and we can wait awhile on the rest of the plumbing problems! God is so good!!!

I am not going to drag my feet anymore! I know what God has spoken to me and I know that He will in time fulfill His promise! There is a lady that has so inspired me that I am almost ashamed to admit, even in adoption, I sometimes lack the faith I need to see Him work! So, looks like we will adopt again, just not from the country that I had originally thought! I am now saying yes to another miracle from a country that I have never really wanted to commit to, but that God has been dealing with me about for some time!!!! No longer am I going to be concerned with what people will say! Yes, there will be 5 kids!!! No, it will not be easy all the time!!!! I know how old I am!!!!!! Yes, it will be more love and miracles!!!! Right now I am not even sure, when we will start!!!!! Just watch out, because.......

I am BELIEVING!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Look Around Here

Thursday morning Ricky got braces put on his top teeth!

He was so worried about how it would look and feel!

No worries, he is just as handsome as ever!!!!!!

He starting to get used to the way they feel, and we are learning how to take care our teeth in a new way!

They must be good luck because he went fishing today and caught 5 bass!

Our Thankful Tree

I have been wanting to create more traditions around Thanksgiving for sometime! Christmas is filled with things and events that we hold dear and do every year that brings our celebration alive. Somehow Thanksgiving is swept under the rug, so to speak, except for food! Last year I found the Thankful Tree and really liked the idea.



Our tree still looks a little bare but we are going to add to it up until Thanksgiving! I also figured out that we wrote upside down! Last night at Bible study people were trying to read them with their heads all cocked sideways!

This and That and a Little More

We got a new picture of our little furry baby today! Isn't she absolutely darling! I can't tell if that is a bow in her hair or if it is on the present behind her? Kaitlyn thinks it is in her hair and is thrilled!

Went by Pet Sm*rt the other day and I had not realized all the things that an inside puppy might need! Blankets, clothes, diapers, bags, etc.........she will be one spoiled little thing if the kids have their way! :) If they are this bonkers over this puppy, what will they be like when we adopt again in a few years!


On family weekend I had forgotten my camera, but a friend was kind of enough to send me a few pictures she had taken of the girls! Here are a couple of her amazing pictures!

With the holidays approaching our lives have become quite hectic! Seems that the two oldest have quite a large social and events calendar already and they are not even teenagers! What with retreats, Bible Quizzing, plays, parties, etc. I feel like the a bus driver!

The other day I noticed that K. was abnormally quiet! Trust me, she is never quiet, so when she is something is up! I found her just like this on the couch.......or, half on and half off the couch!

I think that she must have been just a little tired with all the going that we have been doing!


Tonight was Worship Downtown and K. and N. were asked to participate! They are in a interpretive song waving streamers in time to the music. I took my camera last night to dress rehearsal and snapped a few pictures! This is the first thing that N. has ever performed in and he took his part so serious! He did not crack a smile the entire time!

Part of the stage!

I was sitting to close the get the entire stage!

Kaitlyn looking a little confused!

If she was confused, I hope they cleared it up with her before tonight's performance!

N. taking his part serious!

He was too cute!!!!!

I decided not to go tonight to let Lil K rest! Lil K and I sat most of the day waiting on either K. or N. or both! She is conked out right now on the couch! Hope she sleeps tonight!

Introducing..........

TA DA, (drum roll please) here she is..................

Winnie!

Winnie is a Maltipoo!

The kids thought that since she was a "poo" that she should be called Winnie!

Thanks Tammy for taking and sending us a darling picture!

A Night of Fun

Several years ago we quit celebrating Halloween in our home! The main reason is because it scared Kensli to the point that she would have nightmares! She is a very sensitive child and doesn't like anything that looks or sounds scary!

Therefore, I look for things to do on this night that will be fun and make memories for us all! This year the guys went to a football game while the girls went to see a production of Cinderella! Kensli has talked nonstop about the play ever since!

Kensli was able to meet Cinderella and told her how much she enjoyed watching the play! On the way home, Kensli said, "I am so mad!" I asked her why and she said, "I forgot to get Cinderella's phone number in case I need to ask her something!" :)

The girls before the production!

Before the play, we went by a shoe shop to find Kaitlyn some brown flats. Instead we left with two pairs of stylish boots.

They wore them to the play and just about ever since!