A Texas Sized Thanksgiving

My thankfulness post for last week are all wrapped up in this post!
It was so good for my heart and soul to get to take the long trek to Texas!
We went to Ft. Worth @ to my grandmother's house. The boys love GG's house! We used to only live 2 hrs away and stopped by frequently. They were so excited to play with the toys, run around outside, and play games! By Wednesday, my dad, sister, and brother in law got there. More for them to be excited about! They wore David out with playing Ninja Turtles game and space with him outside. The great thing about toys is everything I grew up with is making a comeback and Gg still has all the original versions of the toys that have made its way back. We got to spend more time with my cousins which are all so great with the boys! They are spoiled with all these great playmates in my family since they are the only kids.

We took a day trip to Abilene and that was AWESOME! It's still home to us-even the boys said so! "Sweet home, Sweet home!" It was a quick day of friends & food! Just perfect!
My heart was full!

Our friends and photographer, Debbie met us at Botanical Gardens for some Christmas Card pics! So excited to see those! And great to see them!

A little Whataburger for Michael and a stop at Pappasitos ( which was sooooo great and accommodating to my eating needs!) rounded out the quick Texas Sized Thanksgiving!

Think Pink. I need an inservice!

Dear God,
Please bring us a sister.

The boys prayed this prayer a long time.

It has been answered down to every request!

It's a girl!

We are so excited, but I seriously haven't thought about anything girl.

Today I went to our town's Christmas market and bought my first girly things. I was so overwhelmed! Bows, leg warmers, bloomers, Oh My!

I just don't know the first thing about this! So I need bloomers every time she wears a dress. Then I learned she wears bloomers, leg warmers, and a onesie.

Where do you buy girls clothes? Accessories? Bows & Bloomers?
With the boys it's hard work to find adorable matching clothes and now after 5 years I focus all on the boy.

After finding out a months or so ago it was a girl, I made our own little reveal party. I really wanted to have a party, but we just moved in the house and to Arkansas. So we did a family reveal. We both set up Skype on the computers for the moms and the boys had a tub to open. I had told them it would be a surprise and right now surprise translates into toys.
(do you see how this is going to go...)
They had been begging for silly string so we each helped the boys spray each other on the count of 3.
Blue string-it's a boy!
Pink string-it's a girl!
1,2,3, PINK!
Screams from the computer and crying from the boys. It scared them or they weren't prepared. Let's celebrate with Tears! Good call, mom.
Then they opened the tub. Out popped pink balloons, glow sticks, and pink cupcakes for the boys.
There was no toy so the other boy threw a fit.
Party, party.
It wasn't exactly liked I planned, but still sweet news.

So mamas of girls-
Share your secret tricks of the trade!

Day 15: sharing a meal

I have done a few days of Thankfulness on Fb, but today I'm back at the blog.

Today was the Thanksgiving Feast at the boys' school. They were so excited about the feast. I heard squeals of excitement on Tuesday when I picked them up. Mom, we made headbands with feathers to wear at our feast!! Mom, I made a necklace for our feast!!!
Mom, will you sit by me at the feast?!? (best date I've been on in months!)

There is something so intimate and special about sharing a meal with people. Michael actually did a sermon a few weeks ago that touched on that.
It's something that has really changed in my life recently. I really am not able to go out to eat anymore with my food sensitivities. It's such a social thing and I can't bc i cant do "lunch", it leaves me feeling isolated at times. I haven't taken communion since June and it's so weird to "share" in that meal every Sunday, but not physically partake.

Today I'm grateful for the meal my family shared today. I may have not been eating, but I loved every minute of " Mom! There's my friend!" and proud faces as my bubbas shared a meal with their Mom, Dad, and school family.

Also shared today:
The 3 items that we won in the silent bake sale auction.Each boy picked one, including Michael. We thought maybe we would win 1. So I made sure we shared the cupcakes, cookies, and pie with our new neighbors. :)

Tales from the Cript

Stinky, patowie, owie cadowie-Brody
Stinky, patowie, alacazam-Brody
Sweet Potato Pie! -Brody
To Michael: Come on, old man! -Dylan
Stupid and whatever are bad words. Only bad guys and the devil say words like that. Not policeman and people.
-Brody
I'm thankful for all the colors of the world.-Brody
Go, go, go Packers! Mom, they threw the ball and ran him into the sideline.
-Dylan
I don't have green packers so I call these guys my red packers.-Dylan
That's where we go golf coursing. -Dylan
"inean" (Indian) Brody
Hey dad, I'm good at temple run. I'm gooder than anyone else in the world at temple run.-Dylan
Stop driving like a man, Dad. -Dylan
I'm thankful for Santa. -Dylan
God,
Help the boy that has nothing get everything he needs and a bath.
Amen
-Dylan

Day 11: Sunday Snooze

Today is one of my most favorite things: Sunday rainy afternoon naps.
I am so thankful for a nap. And today I'm lucky enough to take my favorite kind!

Everyone is home. No meetings. No events. Nowhere to be.

Just my sweet family of 4

Snug as a bug in a rug
Cozy for a nap like a cat
On a stormy and rainy Sunday afternoon.

Ahhh....better than a piece of chocolate cake!

Night, Night!

Day 10: home sweet bed!

Taken straight from my FB post:
After a day of a garage sale and a Fall Shindig, I'm thankful for my bed and hopefully many hours of rest!

Ps: After spending 2 months in this bed recently, I really am thankful for my bed! Seriously! It just makes me feel better!

I'm thinking I might need an elephant pregnancy

Gosh...I'm 22 wks.

This pregnancy has FLOWN by!

We are still franticly trying to get settled! The baby's room is full of boxes. We haven't talked about names, I don't have any nursery plans, I haven't bought any clothes or even made a list of everything we need.

I don't know if I spent so much time sick that I'm enjoying "wellness," how different a singleton pregnancy feels, or what-but I just don't FEEL halfway done pregnant.

I don't remember anything.
I forget what I'm trying to say all the time.
It hurts to be on my feet to long.
I even lose my balance, skin my knee in front of a handful of strangers.
So I'm definitely acting pregnant.

I just can't believe March is coming and we will have a party of 5!

Wow-zers!

So I'm franticly going pregnancy obsessive (does that happen to anyone else? The small stuff becomes larger with the hormone influx?) and trying to get more things unpacked and room painted so I can win this race.

But, I'm totally considering an elephant pregnancy. I really could use the extra time!

Day 9: prayers of peace, comfort, and mercy

We have been praying for this sweet boy and his family for many, many days. My good friend and officemate is his cousin and I have followed his journey right besides her.

Deep sighs, tearful eyes, and heavy hearts can describe this Day 9.

Cancer is not from the Lord.
This darkness is not from Him.

Today I'm thankful for the power of prayer. In a sea of darkness, when grief suffocates all breath, there is power in prayer. He is able to give and provide things that only a whisper of a prayer
Can do.

As you spend your time in Thankfulness today, whisper your prayer for Rex and his family.

http://caringbridge.org/visit/rexfleming

Day 8: Teacher Conference

Today we had our teacher conference at school! I have had a lot of mom guilt and worry about their Pre-K. We loved Young Children's World in Abilene.
Starting a new school without knowing much about it was nerve wrecking.
Today was our parent/teacher conference. Why is it that little 15 minute meeting brings so much peace?!
It's actually my first time on the other side of the table. I'm always the teacher. This time I was the parent of 2 of the students. I was excited to hear how well the boys are doing, to see their work, and to hear how independent they are.
Today on Day 8 I'm thankful for the teacher/parent conference. Good remedy for the worried parent.

Day 7: it's a beautiful day

I'm thankful for crisp, sunny days when leaves blow across the grass. I'm thankful for the play fort in the backyard and the great imagination happening while playing. I'm thankful for this beautiful day!

Day 6: a quick post of Joy!

I'm thankful for laughter! The older the boys get the more their humor develops! I have some funny, funny boys!

Day 5: Let the Rain Fall!

Coming from the desert (Abilene) and years of drought,

the sight of 

RAIN

is always a welcomed sight!

Day 4: Freedom

I was brought up in a home where we would go to church every Sunday, Sunday Night, and Wednesday Night.

I was not always so excited to be at church all those times.

Many of my friends didn't go to church as frequently, go at all, believe in Jesus, or even believe in God.

I appreciate this now because I was exposed to a world with great blessing of Freedom of Religion. ( it wasn't so appreciated when you wanted to be just like everyone else.) No one ever told me that I couldn't believe in the things I do. No one ever stopped me from worshipping in the way i chose. I was able to have friends that believed in things that differed from me. We didn't have to worry about bombs going off or meeting in secret. I wore a James Avery cross ring and was never chastised for it.

Beyond the Freedom found in being able to worship is the powerful freedom of Christ. How great is this precious freedom! Gone is the guilt and shame replaced with the freedom of Grace. Gone is hate replaced with Freedom of love.

Day 4: Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom. And I am thankful!

Day 3: Never enough minutes in the day

I'm always chasing my tail.
But with an extra hour today...maybe I might get a little caught up. Ha!

Lots of unpacking an organizing today.
The garage is being tackled and we will need all day to accomplish this one!

Lots of scratch cooking today.

Loads, loads, loads of laundry now that we have water!

Today on Day 3 I'm thankful that we are "Falling Back" and we get an extra hour! I need it!

Day 2: The dreaded trip to the Grocery

I hate going to the grocery store. It's my least favorite "chore." I really spend an entire day meal planning, listing, shopping, unloading, organizing, and preparing.
I have bought groceries with no budget and never looked at the price tags.
I have shopped the store with only $20.00 cash to buy food for a family of 4 for the week. Calculator out figuring prices and holding my breath as we check out. It was stressful.
I am thankful for the food that we always managed to have. Whether the loaf fed us for 7 days or just a meal we have always had what we needed. My kids have never had to eat dirt. We have never had to fight for our food.
We are blessed when so many out there are so hungry.

40 days of Thankfulness

Michael is launching "40 days of Thankfulness" and while drowning in my personal sea of crisis I'm going to join the challenge. Even in the mist of suffering there is always joy to be found. So I'm claiming JOY and THANKFULNESS!

Kicking off day 1 is:
My sweet boys! They light up my life, bring me the greatest joy, and fill my heart in a way I never could have imagined 5 years ago. They are one of the greatest blessings to my life! I'm thankful I was chosen to be their mama! Even through the simultaneous blow out diapers and double tantrums I have been blessed!

So Thankful!

Now your turn! Are you up for the challenge? What does ypur 40 day challenge look like? Is it a FB post or tweet for you? A daily blog entry? A journal? Encouraging notes to all those you are Thankful for? Find your blessings and jump on board with me!

P.S. I'm hoping this blogger app helps me achieve my goal.