Thanksgiving Week Wrap Up

I am up to my ears/eyeballs in christmas card orders which is a GOOD thing, but it has put my blogging on the back burner!  Anyway, even though I am soooo tired right now, I am determined to do a real quick post on the end of our Thanksgiving week. 

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with my family on Wednesday night and then drove to Birmingham to spend the day with Jeff's family on Thursday.  They have a big family reunion type thing and it was really fun.  This year, it was at a nice learning center in Bham and so all the kids got to run around and play which was perfect!

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Jeff and his uncle and cousins and Samuel with crazy hair 

Nonnie and Granddaddy (whose bday is today:))

 

sweet baby Davis...he's is as adorable as ever!

yummo!

this little gal loves her some baby Davis

Nonnie and her 2 sisters (we gathered with all of their families for Thanksgiving) 

I couldn't get my own 3 wild ones still enough for a pic with Big Papa and Dede so I got one of them with Davis instead.  Davis will soon enough be wild himself I'm sure:)

After the debacle of a game Friday when we (Alabama) lost to our rival Auburn, we began to decorate for Christmas.   I let Samuel and Ellie Kate have a tree in their room this year and I let them decorate it themselves with some fun ornament balls I got last year on clearance after Christmas.  They loved it! And since they got to do that, I pretty much took over the main tree and told them they couldn't help me with that one (I'm mean and controlling like that...but I can't help it really:)).   Anyway, here is their cute little tree....

 

 

 
And we are now back in the grind of school and life.  Tomorrow is December 1.  I am ready and excited for this season of Advent.  I'm excited to truly focus on my Savior and not get caught up in all the other stuff.  I am really excited about doing a Jesse Tree this year and using Ann's (from A Holy Experience) devotional for it.  I am praying that the Lord would use it to point our eyes, minds, and hearts on Christ each day from tomorrow until December 25. 

Oh, and a big happy birthday cyber hug from us to my mom who also celebrates a birthday today:)!!!

A Different Kind of Giving

I read THIS blog every once in awhile.  I am always challenged when I read Ann's words.  She is the one who sort of challenged me to be more conscious of my everyday blessings and write down all the little things I'm thankful for this month.  I want to continue to do it not just this month of November that is nearly over now.  Anyway, a recent post of hers (HERE) talked about a different kind of giving at Christmas.  It really challenged me.  Our family has already put a shoebox together for Samaritans Purse.  Samuel had fun picking out little toys, socks, toothbrushes, candy, etc. for the little boy who would receive it.  Jeff & I have already also been talking about sponsoring a Compassion International child this year for Christmas too.  After reading Ann's post though, I'm even more excited about "shopping" through some of the links she posted and giving gifts to those in need around the world.  For that is what Christmas is all about.  And as our kids are getting older, we really desire for them (and pray for them) that they do not fall prey to the consumerism and commercialism of this most holy holiday and believe that it's all about what cool gifts they can get.  It's Jesus' birthday after all so shouldn't we "give" to Him by following his teaching....

Luke 12:33
Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

And should we not also remember the words of the wise man Solomon...

Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

What about you?  Does your family have any cool tradition of giving to those around you during Christmas?  I challenge you to read Ann's blog and think of something you can do this year to make a difference in the life of a child or family who doesn't have as much as you!  I'm excited for our family and for hopefully helping our children's (and our own of course) eyes be opened to a world around us that is in need. 

The Thanksgiving My Dreams Came True...

The day began cold and snowy.  We were thousands of miles away from home.  When we woke up, our families back home had just finished their turkey and gravy and giving thanks.  It was the kind of Thanksgiving for us that held emotions and the giving of thanks like no other.



It was the day that my dreams came true.

It was the day my prayers were answered.

It was a day of anticipation, joy, frustrations, and nerves. 

November 25, 2005. 

It was the day we picked Samuel up from his orphanage and welcomed him into our arms forever.

Years of pain and grief and waiting and praying all culminated to this point.  To this day.  To this moment where my empty arms would finally become full. 

"I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify his name with Thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

"Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families." 
 Psalms 68:5-6

Simply put, adoption is beautiful.  Hard? Yes.  But it's worth it.  5 years ago our lives were blessed through this amazing and wonder filled legal act.  Words can't do justice for what fills my heart and my soul when I think about the way God brought us to Samuel and him to us at the end of November.  I am so so thankful. 

 "O give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people."

1 Chronicles 16:8

Happy Adoption Day Samuel!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Week Fun!

We are enjoying some holiday time with my family in Atlanta. Yesterday we went to The Yellow River Game Ranch which is always a hit with the kids. It was Abigail's first time and she loved it!! It's a petting zoo type place with deer, rabbits, roosters, etc. that you can feed and come right up to you. We had a blast and of course I took a lot of pictures...

The kids also had a campfire yesterday and roasted marshmellows! I think EK had 8.  YIKES!  Ellie Kate was cracking us up because she kept doing this pose because she said it was "pretty."  Where do girls learn this kind of stuff so young?  Oh my!

We also made oreo turkeys last night which is always a favorite activity too!

this is the one I did:)

Today we are cooking and tonight we will have our feast as Samuel calls it!  Tomorrow we are headed to spend time with Jeff's family and then back to Ttown for the annual showdown between Alabama and Auburn!!!!

A Beautiful Weekend

We've had pretty warm temperatures here the past few days, we we took advantage of a no football game weekend and spent most of Saturday outside and just enjoyed a relaxing weekend!  We even got to enjoy a night out with friends sans kids Saturday night!!! That is always a favorite treat!  Before that though, we went to the park and had a picnic lunch which the children loved.  I took a bazillion pics and am "only" posting 21.  Ha! Enjoy a glimpse into our beautiful day with three wild monkeys....

Guess who it is?

{Abigail}

I tried to get one of those cool sun glare pics, but clearly I don't know how to do it...still a cool pic though

My Abbie is serious about her food:)

Samuel ended up going outside the playground to dig around.  He found some cactus looking weed...

Daddy even got in on the fun (I did too but it wasn't caught on camera of course)

 I just love this girl and love the funny and spunky diva she is

{good job Jeff taking this picture!}

my 2 handsome guys

I'm so thankful for days and weekends like this one.  These are the days that truly remind me I am living my dream.  The days I will long for when they are all grown and gone.  The days that are etched in my mind and heart forever.  I love spending good time with my family just watching my kids and realizing they are mine {well, not really all mine...but you know what I mean}.   I am so in love with them and so in awe at the family God has provided for us!