Giving Thanks

I believe it's by no accident that Thanksgiving precedes Christmas. As if it were a preperatory holiday, filling my heart with gratitude for the many blessings that I have been given as we roll into the holidays.

I admit that Thanksgiving does bring some anxiety. Maybe it's just the fact that a good portion of  my Thanksgiving dinners were spent away from home at soccer tournaments in Las Vegas. Many a turkey dinner came from the buffet table at Excalibur where I was aptly entertained by the sound of slot machines the smell of cigarettes and waiters calling me honey.  Even though I was with some good friends, it made me realize how much I valued this holiday with my family.  Even more so, it made me realize that Thanksgiving more or less became a feeling in my heart, regardless of where I was or who I celebrated with.  

And I am thankful for that.

Around this time there also seems to come a better appreciation for religion in my life.  Of all things, this is one thing I am very grateful to have a knowledge of.  Without it, I would feel that accomplishment would have little value, morals would be a waste of time and hope would not exist.  I can't imagine a life in which the love and care of God was unknown to me, or had no real direction in which to steer my children and no incentive to progress spiritually.  It is the source of all my peace, love and confidence that there is great order and direction beyond this seemingly chaotic world.  Knowing this, and that all will be well in the end brings happiness to my soul. 

And I am most thankful for that.

 

(PICTURES: Thanksgiving Day and the annual family bare butsman 5k race.  Morgan was sooo excited for his first bike race and did the whole race on his bike.  Wes pushed carson and Malia in the stroller and I just tried to keep up. It was a very nice day.)

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So is it better to have a private blog or a public one? 

just another fine day at the spa.

Today went something like this. First, a new hair-do.I awoke to my fantastic three year old twisting my hair in knots, it is a habit and he does it while he's half awake, sneaking in my bed as not to wake me...needless to say I had 3 good knots to untangle. Next, the milk bath.  I was holding Malia above my head. need I say more.Following that, Morgan and Carson proceeded to play doctor, I, the patient. "At least I can lay down for a few minutes," I thought.  Morgan took the blood pressure toy and said he needed to do CTR on me.  So he took out his toy chainsaw and proceeded to cut my leg off.  Luckily he had to rush to the potty and left Carson in charge.  He yelled from the potty, "Carson!  I need you to giver her the electric shock while I'm gone!" So Carson did, and I pretended to cry out in pain.  Morgan came back and said, "did you give her the shock?"  Carson said,  "yes but it hurt."  Morgan said, "well you forgot to put it on the no pain level!" Then they were nice enough to give me a back massage.  This is where they walk up and down on my back (which actually feels pretty good). Then Morgan made lunch while I was nursing and was so proud of his PB and honey sandwich.  (Which also showed up on 18 different spots on the kitchen floor.) He had also managed to make chocolate milk using chocolate syrup and pouring it into the gallon of milk. Also, being the kind brother he is, poured a whole bowl of the syrup for Carson who, of course, had it all over his face.  How else do you eat chocolate syrup from a bowl? I even got to stay in my jammies the whole day. We are all getting over sickness. again. It is so physically draining esp. when I am lucky enough to get whatever bug they caught at school last week- which I did-But more so it is emotional draining- wondering if they are ok, and how I am going to get three kids to the doctor this week, and realizing getting myself to the doc isn't happening in the near future.  I am just glad the worst I felt was on Sunday, when Wes was home to help.  Otherwise it's enough just trying to keep my head out of the water for another day, (and I'm hoping that day brings us all feeling better.)

Here came Halloween

Morgan has wanted to be Jack Skellington all year, ever since he saw Nightmare before Christmas at Abbie's house.  Carson was set on being a bat, not batman, a bat.  Grandma Julie made his costume and he wore it almost every day.  Morgan insisted I be Sally and so I was.  Malia was a strawberry and Daddy was the farmer who picked her.   Here is Halloween.