Thankful for...

I am sitting on my couch in a very quiet house, while Chad and Harry make their way up to NWA and Georgia Kelley naps in her little bed! We spent, what could be considered one of the best days with my folks yesterday and now we are getting ready spend the rest of this day with the Ware family. I sit here thinking of all the "things" I am thankful for and what I am most thankful for is the feeling of contientment.  Now, I do not know the "secret of being content" that Paul talks about in Phillipians 4:12; but I have it right now at this very moment.  I believe when Paul says it is a secret, he is not exaggerating!  My favorite thing about Paul is his passion and I think if we all "got" the secrets and understandings he did about Christ and our true idenity as Chrisitians, we would be as passionate as him. Contentment is what I think of when I think of being grateful.  Gratefullness breeds contentment..would you agree?  I would love to say I am always content but, that would be a lie, I don't know anyone who is completely content....that is why Paul says it is a secret.  Isn't incontentment why Eve took the bite? This is getting to deep...moving on...
I am not content in many aspects of life but today I am grateful for what Christ as given me.  I never dreamed my life would be as "rich" as it is right now. I laugh at how little my plan for my life was just five years ago. It was so simple and with Christ it is so much more! This year I am not going to write down all the "stuff" I am thankful for because frankly I am so tired of hearing about stuff! If people are talking/writing about it, they are showing it in pictures. I am guilty as well but today I am going to just show my thanks in things you cannot buy!
I am thankful for my church family who put their extra effort into serving each other and those in need. The more I get to know them, the more I want to be like them!
I am thankful for my time with Harry before he goes to kndgn.  I love hanging out with him and Georgia Kelley during the day more than anything else in this world! Our time together is truly treasured and I NEVER take it for granted.
I am thankful for my two year old! Georgia Kelley is a pure joy! A life without her whould have no color.
I am thankful for my job! I work for a school that really desires to serve God with their teaching! I supervise student teachers and it may be the most rewarding job I have ever had. I get to see them start off being "novice" instructors to very confident and efficient instructors! It is by far the best job I have ever had! I would do it for free!
I am thankful for a few friends I do have! I feel like I have a handful of true blue cloese friends!  People like me have to have girlfriends, and God has blessed me with the best! I would love to write them all out, but I just can't! I will say, I have had quality time with every one of them this year and I have treasured it! 
I am thankful for my friend/mentor Kathy Cherry! She has invested a exhausting number of hours in the last two years! The understanding of God's word has hooked me...and I will never be the same. 
I am thankful for my family! I had the most amazing time with my family, minus Emily the last few days! I went up early Tuesday and Mom and I went to the movies and had such a good time, just us two! Wednesday, I spent the morning cooking with my mom and then the rest of the crew came! My brother and I laughed so much, I am sore! It could be the Insanity workout I did with Paul, Chad, and my Dad this morning!  It was so fun hanging out with all of them! Nothing can beat family time!
I am most thankful for my husband Chad! Speaking of being content, it is so easy to be content with a man like Chad by my side!  He is an amazing example of being a provider, friend, father, and especially husband.  I do not deserve my Chad! I am mostly thankful for him and everything about him!  What an undeserving blessing he his! I love him to pieces!

I am also thankful for dinner tonight with the Wares!  More to come!  Once again...I love family! I love love family! I hope I always strive to bring peace when it comes to family! They are tough bonds to break!

A Very Thanksgiving

We had memorable and sweet Thanksgiving at Grandmother Georgia's house. With the whole family there we were able to keep the family traditions alive!

 Okay, so Baby Bo...cutest baby ever!  He kept turning away from the camera!

 I love this picture of my sisters and mom!  The laughing never stops!  I have to say that is one thing I am VERY thankful for!

 Caroline LOVES "Grandmother Georgia" or so she calls Georgia Kelley.

 We brought games and Tessa they brought games and GAMES they played!

 On the eve of Thanksgiving we sat on the deck and went down memory lane!  While out there Harry and Caroline hit the screen running in!  SO FUNNY!

 Olivia put on a concert for us! You can't buy this type of entertainment! I know it is hard to believe but I passed hte torch to her; that was my job as a little girl at all family events! I made my stardom from "Just a Swingin"!  I am happy to give the job to Olivia!

 Emily told the best stories and stayed to savor those memories!

 I can't tell you how many times we had to stop this jumping on the bed!

 Paul took the job as the cuddler for Grinch!

 I was the BINGO caller!  I am not wearing a lamp! HA!

 I love Grandmother's house because we have so many great memories and traditions! We eat the exact same foods every year!  We go around the table and say what we are thankful for.  This year we went around four times! The rule is you have to be specific...not general.  I would write what everyone said but, Chad said not to put that on my blog.  I  will tell you that I said: Mom(it was her birthday), Grandmother's dining table (so many traditions and fond memories there), Harry's cousins, and Tessa(she fits in so well with our humor and she appreciates it)!  There are so many more things I am thankful for but at that time those fit!  Harry said he was thankful for Mommy, daddy, and the whole wide world!

 Caroline came on home with us to spend the night! She is so funny and loves Harry and Georgia Kelley so much!  They had a ball!  She cracks me up!

Caroline was a blast and we will have to make it a longer trip next time!  Like I said, we LOVE our cousins!

For You, I Am Thankful

God, because his mercies are new every morning.Chad, because he  loves me unconditionally and for being my true love.Harry, for his love for life and his family!

Geogia Kelley, for showing me how capable I am of loving and giving me such an adorable baby to dress!  

My family, they are my favorite people to be around and they adore my husband and kids! 

Chad's family(no recent pic) for thier kind acceptance of  me and all my flaws; they also adore my kiddos!!

A Week of Thanks

After a week of Thanks, Harry talks about only a few things constantly, those being Bobo, Coco, Mimi, Papa, football, and Elmo! Although football has been a big hit, Elmo has been introduced to Mr. Harry by his 3 girl cousins who are all obsessed with that little monster! I got on to Harry for messing with the Christmas tree yesterday and he said "Mimi?" Of course he thinks she will let him mess up the tree and when I say no, he went down the grandparent list! He called the Salvation Army guy ringing the bell Bobo, the guy looks nothing like Bobo and when I told him that he said "he bobo?" in other words "does he know BoBo?"! When he put on his cap he pointed and said "Papa?"! I replied "yes, Papa likes to wear hats too". When we were driving through the Sonic drive through a couple of days ago he yelled "Coco drink?"! This cousins are talked about constantly, Brooklyn was what he wanted for breakfast! This is a quick summary of our week, but here is the extended one!
On the Friday before Thanksgiving Harry spent the night with Brooklyn and then Brooklyn stayed with us! Chad and I had a great date with our friends Matt and Holly! The real fun started when Miss Brooklyn came to play! I will start off with how perfect she is! If she is tired she quietly sticks her thumb in her mouth and lays around! It is absolutely precious! She and Harry loved reading books, they play great together! Before bedtime they were eating their bananas and kicking the wall, too funny!

She she not just plain precious????

Here they are watching ELMO!

This is a picture before church, Harry was in no mood to get his picture made, but Brooklyn was sweet to give him a kiss.

I begged for Brooklyn to stay another night but, unfortunately we had to give her back on Monday morning! We can't wait for her to come back! We packed our bags on Wednesday and left for my Grandmother Georgia's house! She seriously lives in a ghost town and we had to take pictures of Harry in his John Wayne attire. Emily took pictures, I think that is why we don't have any of her!

These were taken in "down town" Poughkeepsie, which is less than a block from Grandmother's house.

Harry was very generous with his love towards Grandmother, I could not be more proud!

I made our Thanksgiving dinner! Well, Grandmother bossed me around and I made the ham, mashed potatoes, rolls, and sweet potato casserole. Chad's favorite was the gravy, grandmother got up to make that! Olivia and Caroline played great with Harry! Harry and Olivia are the more active ones, they are so funny together! Here they are eating their meal!

Usually it is Bobo giving Harry junk to eat, this time we caught Coco sharing her ice cream!

Bobo played football with Harry and let me tell you, they were out there FOREVER! I don't know who was having more fun!

Harry got lessons on technique from both his uncle and granddad!

Uncle "Paw" had to join in on the football fun! Caroline went along for the ride but, Olivia was right there in the middle of it, she is not afraid to tackle! I love this picture, notice Harry has the ball and he is off!

Looks like Daddy needs to stick to the court, he got knocked down quite a few times! They had a good time climbing on the wood pile, Grandmother's house is full of adventures!

I don't think they are watching Elmo here, if I had to guess it would be football!

Harry tried to tackle mommy but, unlike daddy, she can take him! This picture is in front of the old firehouse, I am telling you this place is a ghost town!

I love this picture because it is a good picture of him and his new favorite accessory, he loves his ball cap! I think he gets it from Papa!

This is our goodbye picture, we were leaving Grandmother's house and off to El Dorado! I am disappointed in the amount of pictures we have of El Dorado, there were great opportunities for pictures but, I just kept forgetting! Harry meets his new best friend, the loud singing dog from Mimi!

Harry plays with one of his other best friends, Papa! Papa is always up for playing with Harry, no matter how tired he is! I know Harry appreciates this because he is constantly teasing Papa!

The best story of the week was our little wrestler! Harry just started this pose that you see below when he is ready to wrestle. Harry made this face and stance at Mimi, pointed at her, and then pointed to the floor! In other words "you, me, wrestle, now"! I have never laughed so hard! Mimi was a trooper and got right down there with him!

Harry ran to Papa if he was getting chased!

This is the end of our Thanksgiving post! We are so thankful for our family and how we got to spend time with our favorite people on the planet. I feel so blessed to be related to people I enjoy so much! We are also thankful for our friends and how good our God takes care of us, we are no deserving!

The next 4 weeks are going to be crazy with Christmas parties, church activities, showers, family trips, birthday parties(one being Harrys) and family get togethers! I can't wait, this is my favorite way to roll, with lots of things to roll in! I need to remember how thankful I am when I am tired and overwhelmed!