Saturday, November 29, 2008

November, in pictures

Ryan's birthday kicked off the month. He got to take some friends to see Madagascar 2 at the theater. Best kid party ever! Meet at the theater, go sit in the dark for 90 minutes. Parents pick up. Everyone is thrilled. Who needs streamers and screaming??





Not sure where the fork came from, but I'm sure Josh has a story for it!


The Poetry Feast is a big deal in 2nd grade. Every child memorizes a poem and presents it to the class with parents and all there. Ryan did a great job! If you ask him, he'll even share the poem with strangers.



And a big hug for a job well done!


And Thanksgiving.. We have so much to be thankful for...

Football



Music.. of sorts


Wonderful food lovingly prepared. Thank you MiMi and Papaw for sharing with us. Just look at those rolls!


Family traditions and characters. This is cousin Tommy, Uncle Layne, and Papa.. more personality than one couch can handle.


Yum-O desserts.. Papaw, make sure that you stay 3 feet away from the chocolate pie.


And new life.. "Ok Averi, I'll tell you how all this works, but you can't tell anyone, cuz it's a secret. OK? I'm really just glad I'm not the youngest around here anymore, but you're gonna have to like light sabers and legos."


So much to be thankful for.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Where has the time gone?

So, almost a month has passed. In that time, Ryan turned 8. Chris still doesn't have a job. We have Thanksgiving tomorrow. My dad turns 62 tomorrow as well. School has been a roller coaster of events and relational issues. But I did get the kitchen table cleaned off. We had several wonderfully relaxing weekends. I got to take Josh on his first "date". I even started buying Christmas gifts. We have our holiday plans mostly settled. And everyone is mostly healthy.

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. People who know our circumstances shudder and offer sympathy. But we are learning to be content in our lives of lower financial status. The fact that we still have means to eat, sleep in warmth or cool at our discrestion, play video games, have cable, use cell phones, and still love others means we are rich beyond measure.

I don't know what the future brings, but as our study of Revelation in Sunday School shows, the future is set and the present is just temporary. Christ reigns supremely over the hearts of those who follow him. And God the Father is in charge. There is a lot of comfort in that.

I'm ready for celebrating. I choose to live in the joy of Christ and his security. I will continue to serve him and my family humbly and in love. I am thankful for all I know to be eternal truth. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my stuff. I am thankful for my job. I am thankful for coffee. I am thankful for kindnesses given to me and my family by friends. I am thankful that I live in a place where I am not persecuted for my faith or lifestyle.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

A Happy Halloween

It was a fun day. Crazy school day, kids were bouncing off the walls. Home was pretty serene. Chris took the boys trick or treating while I handed out candy and caught up with my Rachael Ray episodes on the DVR. Here are some pictures of the day.
This was the 2nd grade team dressed as Fancy Nancy for the storybook parade.


Here I am with Ryan at school



Here is the compulsory pre trick or treating pose.


And this is the post candy bash. Josh is covered in sugar goo. Who knew you could liquify a Kit Kat just by holding it in your fist??