Thanksgiving Recap

My favorite story over Thanksgiving concerns this first picture. According to my 24 year old youth pastor brother, it is very cool to wear old work shirts. Well, his says, "Gavin," as you can see below. Cade walked in and after seeing Kirby's shirt, said, "Your name isn't Gay-vin!" So, you can guess what we called him for the rest of the trip!

The "B" Family

This is a fun family! Look at this fella...isn't he a heartbreaker??

My Mini

This is my sista, Amelia, who is officially now my favorite subject to photo! Look how stinkin' cute she is! We are going to start a new tradition. Our Nana gave me some perfume that was too strong for her and Mini had a fit that she gave it to me and not her. So, in order to diffuse a little sista fight and in order to create some long lasting memories...we are going to do something a little different! The name of the perfume is Clinique Happy Heart. So, everytime we see each other, we are going to bring the other some "happy heart." Fun idea, huh? We switch using the perfume and have a little fun in the process! My Mom and I switch out our little silver Christmas ball ornament. Whoever has it for the year buys the other something special...it doesn't even have to fit inside. One of my favorite things I ever received "in" the ball was a Santa teapot and sugar and creamer set. I am all set to give her the ball back this year...with a special gift attached!

My Cousins!

These are some of my cousins! I claim each and every crazy, fun-loving one of them...and their spouses, too! I had such a fun time, everyone!

Thankful!

With Thanksgiving in 2 days...I thought I would get my mind thinking about all the things I am thankful for. Here are just a few:

• I had 6 opportunities to make a little cash-o-la just in the past week!


• I have clean sheets on my bed


• I have good out of town friends coming to see us mid December


• My Grandparents' birthdays are both this week...I am thankful to get to see them and celebrate with them!


• I get to take pictures Thursday of a whole slew of second cousins...some I haven't seen in a long time!


• I get to see tons and tons of family (ALL whom I love!) this week!


• The Thanksgiving MEAL!!


• I have great friends to share life with


• ALL my laundry is done


• My house is in order


• Sam let me hold him for like 10 whole minutes today


• A lot of my Christmas shopping is done


• There are wrapped presents under the tree


• Gas is cheap right now!


• new recipes that become favorite recipes


• soft and plushy sleep socks (that I usually discard at 2 am when my feet get hot)


• the humongo sasanqua (sp?) tree in my backyard that is in full bloom

And some more spiritual things...

• Kiley is having the tastiest Thanksgiving dinner that we could ever dream up


• God is always good...even when we can't see it clearly


• He always provides...even when it isn't in a way we would expect


• There is always hope!


• My healthy, fun family

HAPPY Thanksgiving to you and yours...may you be blessed beyond imagination!

The "W" girls...holiday style!

The "W" girls are gearing up for the Holidays! You should have seen the sugar rush these two had after the humongo lollipops! They started wrestling with Daddy and I think they could have taken him! This first pic is my favorite! Thanks for a fun time, gang!

Calling all Prayer Buddies...

For those of you who don't have a clue as to what Eric does in the work world, let me try to explain. He does a lot of consulting and business development for other companies. His main client is based out of Omaha and he has worked with them for 5 whole years. This client has been the main source of income for our family for those 5 years. Well, this morning, they called my man and told him they would no longer be needing his services. Wham, bam, just like that. They even had the audacity to say that our last paycheck would be at the end of November. Eric managed to plead "Christmas" to them and they agreed to one more check in December.

Let me vent a little. Is there no decency anymore? I mean, 5 whole years and they couldn't even come up with a two week notice or anything? I understand why they are letting him go. They have wanted us to move there forever and we have said no over and over again. So, we could both see this coming...but they could have given a little warning!

With Thanksgiving in 3 days, we are actually ecstatic that this has happened. We have been praying for at least two years that God would remove him from this environment and bring about something different. Well, part one of the prayer has been answered and now we are looking forward to part two: bringing about something different!!

If you don't mind saying a little prayer that God would establish the work of our hands.

In the meantime, we are really OK. Being income-less is scary, but we are choosing to trust in our Father who is our real Provider, anyway! I am sure as a woman, my emotions will range from trust and security to absolute panic. Pray that God gives me the grace to live out these upcoming days in a way that will bring Him glory.

Thanks, everyone.

Not already!

Ummm, I just spent 10 minutes in front of the mirror. Picking out GRAY hairs! Are you kidding me? I am barely in my thirties. Why is it that I only noticed my first shiny strand about a year ago and now they are trying to take over the brunette fort? If you notice them, you can pretend they are expensive and intentional BLOND highlights!

I don't want to start down the "color my hair road" quite yet. I am not at all against getting my hair colored, I just can think of 101 other ways to spend $101!! I think my Mom breaks open a box of "Ash Blond" and it covers her grays quite well. Never mind the fact that her hair is as dark as a gorgeous lump of coal. (Can coal be gorgeous? Well, it is in this case.) Well, in reality, she really doesn't have any gray hairs, because she is still only 39, you see.

I kind of have "blond envy" for the first time in my life. I mean, my sister is going to have shiny strands that look extremely natural. No fair. Of course, she already colors her hair in order to maintain the perfect shade of blond, but that is beside the point.

I think I am going to have to rethink my "pulling them all out" method or I am going to be bald in 3.2 months. In the meantime, maybe everyone will think I am wise. Don't the proverbs say that those with gray hair are the wise ones?

Hi Sir and Mim!!

Hey Sir and Mim! We can't wait to see you later this week! We are so thankful to have awesome grandparents...4 grands and 3 great grands! Hey, we were wondering if we could do some cool stunts at your house like in this first picture? Do you think we might accidentally fall and smoosh Bruiser? Well, just an idea. See you soon! Love, Cade, Eli, and Sam