It's become one of my favorite holidays. With the recent explosion of cooking skills in our family, this year made Thanksgiving a sweet week of working together in the kitchen. Travis and Sam were solely in charge of our desserts and provided us with delicious pumpkin pies and ginger-molasses cookies. Caroline was my sous chef doing most of the chopping, stirring and following instructions with her usual cheerfulness. I might have been a little teary watching her make mom's Sweet Potato Casserole all by herself.
Our Thankful Tree was back in full-force. The day I had to cut out more leaves because the kids had run out and still had more things to write was a sweet day. A few friends and most of our family found their way onto the tree several times and Jack was specifically thankful for his "Beautiful Wife". I told him to name it and claim it! We started a new tradition of choosing one thing to write on our tablecloth just before dinner and Eli's gratefulness for Great Granny slayed me. And a few days later when I told her what he chose to write? It slayed her too.
Sadly, family work situations made it impossible for the Howell/Arnolds and dad to join us this year. Change isn't my favorite, and kids growing up and getting real jobs puts a damper on my holidays. :) But our kid table was well represented and the RHB's and Hildreths did their parts to ensure a festive day.
As always, this year finds us overflowing with blessings to count and be grateful for. Even the hard things are making their way onto my list as the Lord shapes my heart to see them for what they are. Charles Surgeon said that he had "learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages". Our family has had its share of waves in recent years and months, but our gracious God has only tucked us into himself more tightly and repeatedly proven himself to be good. And that's something to be very grateful for.
Our Thankful Tree was back in full-force. The day I had to cut out more leaves because the kids had run out and still had more things to write was a sweet day. A few friends and most of our family found their way onto the tree several times and Jack was specifically thankful for his "Beautiful Wife". I told him to name it and claim it! We started a new tradition of choosing one thing to write on our tablecloth just before dinner and Eli's gratefulness for Great Granny slayed me. And a few days later when I told her what he chose to write? It slayed her too.
Sadly, family work situations made it impossible for the Howell/Arnolds and dad to join us this year. Change isn't my favorite, and kids growing up and getting real jobs puts a damper on my holidays. :) But our kid table was well represented and the RHB's and Hildreths did their parts to ensure a festive day.
As always, this year finds us overflowing with blessings to count and be grateful for. Even the hard things are making their way onto my list as the Lord shapes my heart to see them for what they are. Charles Surgeon said that he had "learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages". Our family has had its share of waves in recent years and months, but our gracious God has only tucked us into himself more tightly and repeatedly proven himself to be good. And that's something to be very grateful for.