Giving Thanks

Webster defines Thanksgiving--- "the act of giving; grateful acknowledgement of benefits of favors; an expression of gratitude for something received or done for one."

Biblical Thanksgiving could also be described as not what one does, but rather what one is.

 The spirit in which one accepts "all things".

This year we will start a new tradition. 

We all know that Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, but...do I make it real?  Does my family voice our thanks enough?  Do my children know that God has blessed us beyond measure?

I'm super excited about our new family member.... Squanto the Turkey {name comes from The Berenstain Bears book, Give Thanks. } Sometimes he's called Gobble-Gobble.  Depends on the silliness:)

 

We are big-time Berenstain Bear fans.  We read at least two every night.  It is truly one of the highlights in our house.  I'm wondering what we'll do when we have read them all...which won't be long.  We're quickly working our way through our collection :)

Anyway, here are a few more on our Thanksgiving list...



[The Bear family might not win the blue ribbon for their entry in the pumpkin contest during the annual Bear Country Thanksgiving Festival, but they do gain a new appreciation of the true spirit of the holiday and all they have to be thankful for.]  



[Mama Bear is tired of hearing how many Bearbie dolls Lizzy Bruin has and how many Game Bear video games Cousin Freddy just got. During a thunderstorm, Mama gets her cubs to realize that love and a good home are much more valuable than material possessions.]  



[Stuff in the closets, stuff in the drawers, stuff in the attic--too much stuff everywhere! Mama Bear convinces the family that cleaning out the house can not only simplify their cluttered lives, but also benefit those who are in need!]




[What a fun book! With the familiar syntax of Clement Moore's "'Twas the Night before Christmas", this story combines the hectic pace of preperation with all the familiar elements of the big day.

The story promotes togetherness as family and includes a pause to give thanks for what they have.
The illustations are colorful and a delight to our youngsters eyes].

and for fun:)


I've always loved the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, and this year is no exception!


  I'm excited to get going on our Thanksgiving "turkey", and way excited about our new arrival sometime around Christmas!
We are blessed in incredible ways and the most amazing blessing that I receive day after day is God's GRACE!!!

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To get a little headstart on my Thanksgiving project, I've got a few things I'm thankful for today:::





{simple nights with my loves making s'mores}





{the beautiful sky that captures my eyes EVERYday}





{boys being boys}

Happy Monday~

Simple. I love simple

I would like to be more simple.  Live simple.  Think simple.  Be simple.



I'm very grateful for the modern conveniences that we enjoy, such as, washing machines, running water, indoor plumbing, vehicles with tires instead of hooves, etc. but I really crave the simple in everyday.  The ability to step away from the trends, the pressures and truly bask in the joy of pure contentment.  In. all. things.

Being satisfied -- independent of my surroundings. 



"Where the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surroundings and circumstances are of comparatively little account." 
----Hannah Whitall Smith



God has already given enough.  He always does.



I'm the type of person who rushes ahead.  Going through the motions of the current activity on my way to the next one.  Always looking at what's next on my list.



Being prepared and organized is good.  It's a positive.  But forgetting to relish each moment, each year, each opportunity, each step on the journey is not good. 



That's what I mean by simple.   Simply living in the moment.  Freely.

 

With the Thanksgiving season approaching, I'm being reminded that those "precious moments" will one day be "precious memories".   Time is short.



"Hem your blessings with praise, lest they unravel."
-----Anonymous

Head over heels



I am head over heels for Fall!

 I love the crisp cool mornings. Perfect for coffee and books {or "coffee for sissys" ---Folgers Cinnamon Swirl with Caramel and Vanilla creamer---yummy!}   Listening to the music play softly and the birds singing. As the sun slowly makes it's way up.

Or nights together after the kiddos are tucked away tightly.  Together on the patio with the lantern burning and the crickets chriping.

Ahhh! Love it!

The smell of pumpkin pie candles and a freshly cleaned house.

Big beautiful mums and pumpkins on every corner.

I do love Spring---it's terribly refreshing.  But Fall is too.  In it's own big way!

Makes for perfect cuddles on the couch.  And snuggles with the loves!

Fresh boiled peanuts and laughs together.














{and this I can't believe...hmmmm.}

Simple games on ordinary days.







Late afternoon giggles in a little buggy.






"The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it."
-----William James

10 No-No's for women

1.  Never commit to a man on what he could be. 

• The best way to predict the future is to look at the track record.  Don't marry a "reformation project".  We all fall short, and can make improvements, but don't believe the lie that 'you can change him.'

2.  Never have sex before marriage. 

• One of the biggest ways to disempower a man and cause him to lay down his sword of nobility, is for a woman to lay down her virginity. The woman who holds true to her standards causes the man to step-up.  It calls out the best of him because she represents herself as a prize to be won.

3.  Never submit to anything immoral or illegal.

• Don't ever sign documents you don't understand.

4.  Never stay silent about abuse. 

• Talk to a trusted advisor and seek wisdom.  Pray for a healthy relationship.

5.  Never nag.

• "A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; restraining her is like restraining the wind." Proverbs 27:15,16  

  Don't constantly point out the negative in your husband.  Nagging is jeerleading - it disempowers a man to want to do better.

6.  Never stop being his cheerleader.

• One of the great gifts that we give to our husband is cheerleading.  Other than the word of God, a woman is the most personal mirror a man ever gets to sing who he is.  Say, "I'm proud of you!" It speaks right to the core of a masculine soul.

7.  Never embarass your man in public.

• "A wife of noble character is lher husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." Proverbs 12:4

A man is performance based, and nothing angers or hurts a man more than to feel exposed by the person who is supposed to be his teammate for life.

8.  Never treat sex in your marriage casually.

• Sex is life-giving at the core for a man.  There is a re-affirmation of life and of relationship, and masculinity of a man by the physical responsiveness of his wife.

9.   Never assume that your husband's job is not your business. 

• Have some level of interest in your husband's vocation and appreciate what he does.  It makes you his teammate and gives life to him.

10.  Never fall in love with your kids moe than your husband.

• Don't get too involved with children and grandchildren that you lose sight of the adventure with him.  Your husband should be at the core of your heartbeat.

*These awesome tips are by Robert Lewis  from his book The New Eve.  As a guest on Family Life Today with Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine, Lewis shares some great insight on marriage. 

 

*  Listen to Family Life Today On the Go.  Or visit their website.  It's awesome!

Fun firsts...

I really can't believe that I'm a mama to a little boy that is playing soccer. I remember thinking kids were so "big" when they got to play soccer.  And now, I am officially a soccer mom.  Boo! Hoo!

I have mixed emotions.  I know, weird. I think it's super fun to watch him dressed up in his big boy uniform running around {or staring into space}.  Whichever. But at the same time, it's terribly heartbreaking to me that he is this big already.



Thankfully, John is able to help coach.  It's nice to have him there with us.




And ofcourse, sister is there in all her glory to cheer him on!



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John Luke got to make his first trip to The Plains....it was fantastic! The weather was perfect, John Luke loved it, and we won!













We even ran into Miss Maggie Ruth...what fun!





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My friend shared this on Facebook, and I just can't get enough!

Go ahead, laugh out loud.  I have.  Over and over and over!!!