Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  We had a great day.  Lots of food...not sure why I cooked for 20 when it was just the 4 of us...practice I guess.  We'll have lots of leftovers!

Here are a few of my most thankful thanks for the year (or today anyway):

• I'm thankful for my relationship with Jesus.  He saved me and it's a privilege to honor and serve Him with my life.
• I have a great husband.  Yes, we argue and fight - even today, but I wouldn't trade him for anyone or anything.  He's such a good husband to me and father to his boys.  He has a strong work ethic and works hard at whatever he is given to do, even in school.  When he isn't swamped with work and school he helps out around the house with laundry or dishes.  I thank the Lord for a husband who loves the Lord and wants to serve Him.
• Ethan, my sweet first born son.  It's hard to believe he's a fourth grader who knows everything.  Well, the 4th grade part...he's known everything since he turned 4.  He is smart and caring and wants to do the right thing.  He's funny when he's not trying to be and makes me laugh at some of his quirkiness.  
• Josiah, my sweet baby boy.  He is a delight - most of the time.  He has such a personality it's hard not to smile at some of his antics.  Every meal we have together is adventurous when he's there.  We call him the bull in the china closet.  He doesn't mean to cause havoc, but sometimes it follows him.  He has such a tender heart though it's hard to stay frustrated with those previously mentioned antics.  
• Our church families. Plural.  We have so many people who have loved us and invested in us and just shaped who we are now.  Some have gone on to be with the Lord and some our still in their wee 20's and every place in between.  So thankful that the Lord has shown us good through His family.
• I'm thankful that the sun shines a lot in Texas.  Sunshine makes living so far away from family and friends a little bit better.  I know, that's a little cheesy, but it's what I've got.  Vitamin D makes me happy.
• I'm thankful that the Lord provides.  Not always how I expect, but He always does and just what we need.  I'm not going shopping tomorrow (Black Friday) because it's not in the budget.  (SAD face).  But, I have a warm house, food in the fridge, a place to lay my head at night...I'm good.  Although I think I want more, I'm trying to be content with what I have.  Because honestly, what I have is more than enough.  I just have to remember that!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Thanksgiving Eve

Well, today is Thanksgiving Eve.  It's been a great day.  Casey was home today, ALL DAY!  And, he gets Thursday and Friday home too (maybe even Saturday!).  We are definitely enjoying that time! 

We started the day by sleeping in.  Then, I made french toast - because I'm an awesome wife and mother.  HA!  Gluten free for me and Ethan using some free GF bread we picked up at the church and "real" french bread for Casey and Josiah.  I'm putting Ethan on a mostly GF diet as a trial...but that's for another post.  Then, we went to the earliest showing at the theatre.  We saw the Muppets!  It is super cute.  If you grew up watching the Muppet Show and loved it, well, then you will love this movie.  It's cute and cheesy, but I laughed out loud several times.  We have borrowed the Muppet Show from the library a few times so the boys are up on the Muppets.  And, side note, there is a new Snow White movie coming out with Julia Roberts as the Queen.  I think it will be really cute.  Oh, and the awesome thing about this theatre is it is SO cheap!  We got 4 tickets, large popcorn and medium drink for a total of $19.00!  Sweet!

After we got home I went back out once more to pick up a few things at the grocery.  It was relatively uneventful.  Then it was time to get busy cooking!  It is a Gluten Free Thanksgiving around here, which means tweaking old recipes and trying new ones.  I made some rolls tonight.  The cranberry apple cake is in the oven.  Pie crust for a chocolate mousse pie is being refrigerated.  Onions are diced and sliced, same with the celery.  I spent hours in the kitchen, so I must have done more than that, but I can't remember now.

Now, for the best news of the day!  It's a girl!!!  Well, it's not ours, but we've been praying for her.  See, our good friends are adopting.  They've been on the list for months (like 16!).  Waiting, waiting, waiting.  And, they got "The Call" today with their referral.  Yay!!!  We are so excited for them, I can hardly contain it.  I keep crying (maybe it's the onions too), but what a joyful time!  So, it's been a good day. 

Thanking the Lord for the grace He freely bestows upon those who believe!

Thursday school

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I found a homeschool coop at the beginning of the school year and I just love it!  We haven't had opportunity to be a part of all the activities, but we've really enjoyed the ones we have done.  On Thursday they have "school."  Basically it is moms and dads who teach a class.  The classes are very inexpensive and most of all the boys love it.  Actually, I love it too because I get to enjoy fellowship with other homeschool moms.  Yay!  We are almost through with our first semester.  Both boys took a hands on science class where they made things fizzle and explode, as well as make things like silly putty, play dough and slime.  Yeah, they loved it.  Ethan also took a basic art class too.  Yesterday we had a Thanksgiving feast during the lunch break and a lot of the dads and other family members came to participate.  It was a lot of fun.

So, next semester should be great too.  AND, I signed up to teach a class.  I wasn't going too, but as I talked through it with some other ladies (and they thought it would be great) my arm was twisted.  Well, not too hard, actually because now I am really excited about it.  So, what am I going to teach?   Drum roll....... World religions for 7th-12th graders!  Since this is what (one) of my degrees is in I thought it would be fun for me to refresh myself as well.   It's amazing what you forget you knew after 12+ years!   It will be fun to learn about some of the world religions and then (since it's a christian school) bring it back to a Christian response to those of other faiths.  Yep, I'm excited!

Giving up - an honest confession

Sometimes it's good to give up.  This week I decided it was time to give up.  Not everything...just one thing that tends to make me miserable even though I love it so.  You see, I'm a sugar addict.  Yep, there it is.  Chocolate is my nemesis.  There is no such thing as "just a bite" of chocolate, if there is in fact more than a bite to be had.  What brought this up?  Well, I've been feeling crappy.  Physically, emotionally, mentally...all of it.  And, if I'm already feeling the grumps what do I want to do?  Eat more sugar.  I think it finally clicked last week when I made (within a span of two days) oatmeal cookies, chocolate cupcakes and banana muffins (with chocolate frosting of course).  And of course they were gone within a couple of days.  I did have help...the sweet tooth runs in the family. 
On Tuesday night I decided enough was enough.  Some people might be able to live off sugar (I won't name any names here), but I certainly cannot.  I remember last year feeling so much better eating whole foods and no sugar.  So, I told Casey to be sure and remove all the chocolate that doesn't have any wheat in it and bless his heart he did.  So, I'm only a few days sugar-free, but I already feel SO much better. 
Here's to my sanity!

Funky-ness

Sometimes I get in a funk.  Sorry.  Perspective is everything.  Sometimes I forget that.  I'm reading through 1 Peter (again).  I go back to it a lot.  I just love Peter's testimony that is shared through the Scriptures.  He was bold, he failed, he was bold, he failed....  I want to be like Peter (who wanted to be like Jesus!).   I'm going to fail, but I want to fail in being bold for Jesus and not because of apathy or weakness.  You know, the hot or cold...no lukewarm for me.  Just thought I'd share a little of my quiet time this morning in the next verses. 
 
1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God ; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God ?  AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?  Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.