Project 365, Week 48

This week had some hard in it, as we said goodbye to our house of 20 years. It was a good and necessary thing to sell it, but still emotional, though all of those feelings are wrapped up in gratefulness. We have so much to be thankful for! And we had Thanksgiving this week to officially stop and remember our blessings.

November 20

Such a sad/happy, bitter/sweet time as we did a final pack-up and clean-up of our old house on North Street before the closing the next day. So much hard work and amazing memories tied up with that place. One final time we stood in the kitchen together, the kitchen that we gutted and then built back, the kitchen that has the custom-built cherry cabinets my dad made, all those years ago.

Saying goodbye to the girls' pink and yellow room with the window seats around the turret.

I wanted to recreate every picture, but we settled on this one from 8 years ago, when they were all in diapers (at least at night).

November 21
The reason we still had stuff at the other house was because we don't have a good place to put it where we are. So we moved things around and got creative.

November 22
Preparing for Thanksgiving! The kids were a huge help and it was fun to work alongside them.

November 23
Tradition! Thanksgiving morning run! This year I ran with two girls who were doing their first ever race...my daughter J and Amanda's friend/classmate/teammate. What an honor to inspire the next generation and hopefully to show girls what it means to be strong and healthy.

Three cousins with birthdays on November 25, 27, 29. 

November 24
A nice chill day playing games and decorating.

November 25
We like to decorate the tree with Nana, especially since 3/4 of the ornaments were gifts from her. :)

With all the family still in town, we gathered at Sarah's house. I am "that" family member who is pesky about pictures. Someday they'll thank me. ;) Cousins are such a gift!!

November 26
It had been an emotionally taxing day, so K and I (and Gavin and Ginger) went for a walk. The cold air and the pink sky were just perfect.

Thanksgiving, Vol 1

Our 13th year celebrating my Thanksgiving for my side of the family on the Saturday before. My sister and I love tradition and hold to it (sometimes too) tightly. For the past many years, Amy has hosted it at her house and she does an amazing job.

Work-in-progress and all, I'm so grateful for family!!

The birthday girl.

 2006 Club, looking shockingly old.

As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. ~Ann Voskamp

Project 365, Week 47

There have been lots of moving parts to our lives, as we warp up the sale of the other house, move offices, transition sports, and begin rehearsals in earnest. November always has me extra mindful just how very blessed we are. So grateful for life!

November 13

The kids had a day off of school and we ended up with just Avery and Amanda. They did homework at the office in the morning with us and then we went to lunch and did a little shopping. It was fun and different to just be the four of us.

November 14
I took a picture for my dog-crazy teens. These two hang out at my salon everyday.

November 15
My new do, that my teen has been urging me to do for many months.

The kids like to read in the corner of the kitchen, right on top of the heat vent. :)

November 16
Aiden had a bad experience at a basketball camp a couple years ago and has since sworn it off. But its something we think he'll enjoy and would be good for him, so we've worked through it together. After the second practice, he was feeling great about basketball and is so excited he's playing.

An amazing, full-arch rainbow! Aiden and Amanda hopped on their bikes to see if they could find the pot of gold at the end. :)

November 17
Everything is moving along with selling the other house, so it was time to clean our stuff out. Three stories of carriage house (with no place to put any of it)! It was a hard process sorting through old things, remembering times gone by.

My niece Madison was did a featured dance at a women's conference, right after Meredith Andrews lead worship. She is amazing in every way and loves to use her talents for God's glory. It was an honor to have my four girls there with me too. God had a special message for each one of us. 

November 18
There was a free fun run for the kids and Aiden and AJ did the 1-mile together. SO cute!!

Sarah and I were both sporting our newly acquired full marathon shirts, inspiring the next generation.

Later, Amy and Colombo hosted our side of the family Thanksgiving. Yay for cousins!!

November 19
Once again we took advantage of Sunday open houses and went to look at a couple. This house had many positives, including this amazing back deck. We continue to trust that God has just the right house for us, in just the right timing. In the waiting, he's changing my heart.