Project 365, Week 46

This week was fun as we got the first snow of the season and kicked off the holidays with wrapping presents and eating food. I'm so thankful for the gift of family and also for the small moments that often go by unnoticed but add up to memories later.

November 12

It was discovered that teeth-brushing maybe wasn't happening exactly as it should, so I got involved. Youtube has a collection of fun 2-minute songs to brush your teeth to. :)

Aiden and I have been doing a Sudoku puzzle or three before bed. I adore him in his PJs.

November 13
Taco Tuesday. Amanda takes great pride in putting her plate together.

November 14
Apparently she worked in the kitchen quite a bit this week. :)

November 15
First snow of the season, Winter Storm AVERY! :) The kids were beyond excited.

Amanda got us all into the hot tub, while the snow was coming down hard. Crazy! And fun. :)

November 16
Hanging out on the couch in his bathrobe reading a book.

November 17
We gathered together first thing in the morning to put our Samaritans Purse shoeboxes together. The girls were so excited about helping, the boys were so excited about wrestling. :)

Super sweet cousins.

At noon we headed to my sisters for my side of the family's Thanksgiving. Amy and Colombo always  do such a nice job hosting and making everything perfect. It was a lovely day of being together. My SIL said one things she loves about the family is that we do a lot of laughing and there was plenty of it around the table.

J was at a horse show and K was at work. We are blessed.

Just as we were sitting down to eat, Maddy walked in a surprised nearly all of us! She's been in California since September and leaves a big hole when she's gone, so we were so thankful to get that time with her and hear her stories.

2006 Club

3/4 of the 2009 Club

I took the cousins out for a group shot, telling them dessert was being withheld until they cooperated. ;) I stare at this picture and wonder how in the world they are all so big!

I try to explain to my kids that what they have with their family is very unique and special and rare. The fact that they have SO many cousins close to their age, who they love dearly and see often is not common-place. On this day, they played with 18 (eighteen!!) cousins, who they get along with and adore. Amazing.

The two eldest boys could not stand by and watch the younger guys innocently, peacefully chopping away at a snow bank....they were compelled to go out and start a snowball fight. :)

November 18
A recently vacated apartment, so we spent a couple hours airing it out and making it presentable enough to show. The kids worked hard, mostly, and got rewarded with a little cash. And after showers and a quick dinner we took them to see the Grinch.

Classic. Civil Engineer is a definite possibility for Aiden. :)

Project 365, Week 45

November 5

Avery and I were struck by this beautiful sunrise the day after the time change.

November 6

The girls asked Pop and Kiki for a date night to Costco, like old times.

J, Aiden and I played Scrabble. When I put down a well-placed "quite" and scored a whole lot of points, Aiden said, "Argh...this is why I don't play with old people!"

November 7

The evening homework lineup.

November 8

Love means stealing an hour and having the hard conversations over smoothies.

So. many. leaves.

November 9
Cool morning.

A big reason God called us to foster care, I'm certain, is for my sanctification. Sanctification means to be intensely focused on God’s point of view. It means to secure and to keep all the strength of our body, soul, and spirit for God’s purpose alone.  I used to be judgmental and prideful, thinking I had a handle on the "right" or the "better" way. But being has pretty well stripped me of thinking I have a place to be judging. Now that I know more, I judge less and love more.

I had these thoughts sitting in the oral surgeon's office with J and D. Anyone who saw us together wouldn't have be able to accurately size up our situation. I'm thankful for the things I've experienced that have helped me see that I am who I am, where I am, simply because of Grace.

November 10

Church is one of the things that we do regularly at the same time that helps us measure daylight. Its a little sad when we're on our way to Saturday evening service and its dark.

November 11

Love watching Amanda lead worship for kids church.

We were raking leaves and Ginger got ahold of Amanda's scrunchie. They played chase around the yard for quite a while, both having a blast. :)

At barn pickup, I was watching the American flag blow in the wind on Veteran's Day, praying thanks for the sacrifice of so many to make that possible, particularly my brother and Shaun's grandfathers. So grateful to be an American!

My view from the stove in my kitchen. My heart is full!

November's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month (Saturday).

{Document a snapshot of your life; find beauty among the ordinary things in your day! }

My 3-month trial to Crossfit ended, so I am back in the basement starting a new 8-week program with FitnessBlenders. I'm also loving the Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel. Maybe because my life is so wild and unpredictable or maybe because I'm getting old, but I love the reliability of the feel-good, light-hearted, every-thing-works-out-in-the-end story lines. And Christmas is packed into as much of each scene as possible. Just don't tell Shaun, since its still well before Thanksgiving. ;)

I don't spend time with God each day because I'm super spiritual. Seriously. Left on my own I am selfish, judgmental, critical, impatient, self-righteous, and fearful, just to name a few. I spend time with God because I am acutely aware of my need of a Savior.

Shaun was a corporate sponsor of a local road race and J and I volunteered at the registration table. Runners are such a great group of people!

We were there a couple hours and it was nice to see all the ways that veterans and military personnel were honored. So, so grateful to them for their service.

Scrabble and boggle have been the go-to games lately.

We went to pick up items to add to the shoeboxes we'll be putting together next weekend with our extended family. The items will be sent internationally to children who have been affected by poverty, war, natural disasters, disease.

The girls all got puzzle books too...sudukos and word searches were the favorites.

Amanda helped me put dinner together so it would be ready after church.

Still more games...

I love teaching in the 2 & 3 year-old class, especially when it happens to be a small, super-chill group (which happens about once a year).

Amanda had a sleepover with a friend from church.

Hot tub! Not pictured, but I should video it...at some point, Aiden and Amanda will get out of the hot tub and see how long they can stand shivering in the cold air (this night it was in the low 30s!). Its hilarious!