Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving at our house this year didn't include the traditional trappings of the holiday. We had no turkey. No stuffing. No large gathering of extended family or friends. Most of us were unable to eat much at all due to a stomach bug tearing through the household.


But Thanksgiving isn't really just about food, is it? It's about giving thanks - remembering the One from whom all blessings flow, and giving voice to gratitude.


So this year, as we listed blessings and thanked God for all He's given, my heart was so full! We hung up our garland of gratitude, each leaf one thing we're thankful for, as a visual reminder of the goodness and faithfulness of God.

Thank you God for...


 Jesus
Aaron

Sarah

Lucia

Joelle

Eliana

Abigail
Family

Steak

Babies

Eggs

Herbs

clothes
Moms group friends
our house 
Uncle David 
Doctors 
diapers 
potatoes & cheese 
different cultures 
our bodies 
stars 
hair bands 
pants 
footsie jammies 
apple trees 
paper 
leaves 
crayons 
cuties 
cups 
books 
scarves 
coats 
jeans 
playdough 
love 
joyfulness 
hearts 
salvation 
eyes 
light 
socks
Jesus 
Holy Spirit 
healing 
songs 
the Bible 
lids 
staples 
bulls 
hair 
horses 
octopuses 
thankfulness 
school 
friends 
people 
prayer 
heads 
ears 
eyebrows 
trucks that work 
conditioner 
homonyms 
learning 
wipes 
lotion 
smiles 
tears 
growing 
sunshine 
Fruits of the Spirit 
sisters 
baskets 
brooms 
pans 
vacuums 
computers 
moms & dads 
Grandparents 
plates 
balloons 
consequences 
rest

Roar!

Lucia roaring at the T-Rex, at T-Rex Cafe

The Lonely Bear

We found a lonely bear at the park today. He was lying in the dirt, and I'm certain a child somewhere is missing him just as much as he is missing them. We decided to keep him company to cheer him up while he waits for his owner to come back and find him.

After brushing him off and introducing ourselves, we pushed him in the swing.

He liked gentle pushes the best, but he's a brave little bear and let Abigail swing him super high - up, up in the sky. They both giggled when he flopped over and peeked at her through the leg hole of the seat.

Seeing how brave he was on the swing, we decided to put him up at the tippy-top of the slide. He is a brave little bear, but the slide was quite intimidating. He said the dirt at the bottom of the slide reminded him of lying on the ground before we found him. He enjoyed the view from the top.

Little Bear was feeling happy about meeting new friends, but tired from all the excitement. He rested until we had to go home.

We didn't want little bear to fall from his hammock after we left, so we settled him onto the bench nearest the road, hoping that his owners will see him soon. Bye, bye, lonely little bear!

(If he is your bear, I hope he's still waiting for you at Freedom Park.)

Pics

Abigail, while eating her toast, exclaimed "Hey, look! It's the United States!"

 

Lucia watching football with Daddy

 

A few minutes coloring, singing, and talking with Eliana & Joelle

                                     Eliana over here                                              Joelle over here

Curly Girls

(Yellow clip = Joelle; Blue clip = Eliana)

 

 

Lucia stacking jars