Thanksgiving, 2011

 Emma enjoying pickles.

 A table full of family.  We had 21 this year and somewhere along the way, Paul and I lost count and poor Renae didn't even get a seat at the table.  But I don't think she minded!

 The 3 girls that didn't want their pictures taken.  Sorry girls.  NOT

 Lots and lots and lots of good, delicious food.

Emma enjoying Aunt Faith. 

The Night Before Thanksgiving

 Emma was helping me make sure I got the chocolate pie just right.

 She had to have several tastes to make sure.

 I think she likes it!

 Sam and Ben make Pilgrim hats and turkeys for dessert.

 I think they might have eaten more than they made.

 But we had fun making them.

 Emma being Emma!

Family Pic

 Our family took a picture for our church's directory today.  With so many of us, it's a wonder we got a nice one!  Take 1...

 Take 2...

 Take 3...

 Take 4...

 Take 5...

 Take 6...

Ah.  Success!  We are all looking at the camera, although some of us could be smiling more!

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

Right now, it is 10:23pm, November 24th, Thanksgiving night, 2011.  I am sitting here in the semi darkness of the living room.  Right down the hall, 2 little boys and 1 little girl are asleep in their beds, their bellies full of good food and their hearts full of good memories.  2 older girls are in their big brothers room, watching Bones on the computer and 1 husband is asleep in bed, visions of deer hunting, I am sure, running through his mind.

It is quiet in the house.  The only sound is the sound of the dishwasher, washing the dishes we used today at our thanksgiving feast.  We had, like you I'm sure, an abundance of food.  None of us pushed away from the table wanting for anything.  We were warm, full and happy.

I am so blessed.  God has poured out his blessings on me, and on my family.  We have everything we need, and just about everything we want.

My children are healthy and happy.  My heart breaks for the mother who puts her children to bed, knowing they did not get enough to eat today, or for the mother who worries about the depression one of her children is battling.

My husband dotes on me and is affectionate and loving.  What about the wife whose husband is abusive?  Or the wife whose husband is involved in pornography?  Or the wife whose husband is in heaven?

It is so easy to get so wrapped up in us, that we don't see the bigger picture.  That we miss the fact of how blessed we are.  The songwriter said it best: "Sometimes in my little mess, I foget how big I'm blessed".

But even in all these blessings, it is easy to miss the point.  The point is not the blessings.  The point is the Gospel.  The point is that everyone who has been called to Christ, is blessed.  It's not about health (although we appreciate that).  It's not about happiness.  It's not about thoughtfulness, food, houses or money.

It's about Jesus.

If we have Him, we are above all people, most blessed.

Have a blessed day in Him!!

Emma at 16 Months

 Emma turned 16 months old a few days ago.

 She weighs 28 pounds.  She says mama, dada, Paul, Bubba, Anna, Ellie, more and some version of Sam, Ben, Schnitzel, Sheba, shoe, and thank you.

 Emma sleeps about 10-12 hours each night and takes one afternoon nap of about 2 hours.

 She is still a great eater.  Her favorites seem to be black beans, macaroni and cheese and scrambled eggs and toast.  She loves her cup and drinks mostly water.

 Emma does NOT like to be left out of anything.  She wants to be included, just like the big kids.

 Her hair is a mess of curls and on humid days, it is a mess of very tight curls!  She doesn't care to be still for anyone to brush it and she doesn't care to leave any bow in it for very long.

Emma is one very busy little girl and she keeps us busy chasing after her!!

Random Things I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me

(Or maybe a more accurate title would be Random Things I Wish I Would Have Listened to When Someone Tried to Tell Me)

• Put away the folded clothes as each load comes out of the dryer.  It is much less overwhelming to put away one load than five.
• Young boys are loud and dirty and nasty.  They do gross things and laugh at silly things. 
• Young boys never seem to tire of fighting/wrestling/competing.
• When there are kids in the house, the housework will never be complete.  There will always be more that needs to be done.
• Time flies when children are little.
• Food does not last long.  Even if you think you bought enough groceries at the store to last a week, it won't.
• Doing small things everyday add up to big things in the long run.
• You will reap what you sow.  You will reap more than you sow.  You will reap later than you sow.
• Children will do in excess what their parents do in moderation.
• The grace of God is amazing.
• Love covers a multitude of sins.

Camping

We went camping a few weeks ago with good friends of ours.  I didn't take too many pictures and it seems the ones I did take were mostly of Emma.  Imagine that?? 

 Her hair was crazy here and she was smiling so nicely.

 Here is our redneck campsite.  Paul was concerned (almost obsessive) that it might rain, so he rigged up this tarp so we would have a place to stay dry.  Thankfully, we didn't need it.

 Our tent.  Paul and I actually brought 2 twin sized mattresses and slept very well.

 Not sure what she was doing here, other than getting dirty.

 She got sooooo dirty during these few days.  When we got home, she had dirt caked under everyone of her fingernails.

 Tending the fire

 It was soooo cold the morning we left.

 The foliage was beautiful.

All tired out on the way home.

The Fair

 Paul took all the kids to the fair a few weeks ago.  He decided on the spur of the moment to go and I already had plans to meet a friend for dinner.  Truth be told, I can take the fair or leave it, so it was really no sacrifice for me to stay home.  (And the several hours alone did more for me than the fair ever could!!)

 Emma watching the circus.

 The petting zoo, although this animal looks like something out of a horror movie.

 Emma takes after her mom and was very unsure of the big animals.

 Blue eyed Emma Grace.

 Ben and his happy face.

 Not sure what he was doing here.

 Getting ready to watch the lumberjack show.

 Mmmm.  Corn on the cob.

 I'm told Emma would not share and insisted on having her own ear of corn.

 Ben loved the corn too.

It was a great day!