Thanksgiving Beyond the One Day.

My Thanksgiving was wonderful - I hope yours was, too. We had turkey and roast, veggies and sweets. More food than any of us could possible eat in several sittings! We were overflowing with family and food.


And blessings. On the second floor of the house, my cousin was lying down because she was having labor pains. Not enough for the doctor to want her to come into the hospital, but enough to make her very uncomfortable. As of today, we still don't have a baby here, but we know it's only a matter of time. What a great blessing! A new life to add to our family.

Not that we didn't already have a new addition - my cousin's baby, River, was the star of the day.  He's so good natured and just downright cute.  Everyone ended up holding this little fellow, and who could resist him?  Next year, we'll be adding Rylan and my sister's baby, yet to be named (since they don't kow the sex, yet).

 My dad and mom, playing with River on the porch.  He enjoyed anyone's attention.

 My brother and sister-in-law, when I finally got my brother to quit being a dork and smile for the camera.  Trust me, I had enough pictures of his hand where he kept blocking me! GRRR!

 My sister, niece and mom.  We were so thrilled to have some extra time with AH, that always makes me happy.  She's such a smart girl and quick witted - such a trip.

My aunt took this picture of me and my mom.  The weather was PERFECT for a sit in the swing.
It definitely didn't feel like Thanksgiving and more like Easter. 

AH and River. AH is so amazingly wonderful with kids. She's much more confident about them than I am, that's for sure.  I know she's going to make a great big sister! :)

So there is a pictorial of my Thanksgiving.  I know I missed Muffin Monday, but wow, life has been a bit busy.  I'll post pictures of my lastest Pressed Clover venture soon. :)

Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday!

Love

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! I hope you are filled with appreciation for the wonderful blessings in your life. I pray that your eyes are opened to the beautifulness that surrounds us all - in nature, in other's hearts and actions and in love (for family, friends and beyond).

Today, I also say a prayer of thanksgiving for our troops, especially those away from their loved ones during the holidays or injured in action. I hope God blesses them, lets them feel the peace of Him surround them and their families during this time apart.

Today is beautiful! Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Wonderfully Thankful on Wednesday

Get your fun paper wreath here.

Today, I am thankful for my loving family, for the blessing of a new addition (due in July!) and hopefully more nieces and nephews to come.  My family is truly one of those fairytale stories, the Norman Rockwell painting, filled with love and care, concern and support, and it's all held together with the glue of God.  I was raised in a very Christian household, blessings before meals and the true Christmas story. We may not have had the money of some but we had love like no other. 

I couldn't be happier with the family I have been given - including the ones who have married into my family - and they are one of the very best blessings I could be thankful for this holiday season.

Thankful on Tuesday

Purchase your own heart banner here!

Leading up to Thanksgiving, I was trying to post something I was thankful for each day of November on Facebook.  I failed. Eh, it's all good because honestly, I don't have to share my thankfulness with the world on a daily basis... I share it with a greater power that matters much more.

But today, I just wanted to say THANKS to people who pray.  Five people who are close to me in life, who I know will take my concerns and to God on my behalf because they honestly believe in this higher power who listens and loves us. 

It's very humbling to have these people to lean on in times of happiness, in times of sorrow and in all types of moments in between.  So thank you, Prayer Peeps, for being joyous Christians who are making a difference in my life! :)

UPDATE:  I just discovered this Bible verse that I really like! 
Philippians 4:6-7 (ICB) “Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.”

Appreciation seemed to be a great word to choose for this year! May I find an equally wonderful word for 2012!

Muffin Monday

For your Monday enjoyment... MUFFIN-LICIOUSNESS!  You get a two-ffer for the holidays, since Muffin really enjoys her turkey flavored wet food she only gets on special occasions.  Of course, she looks like she's in a turkey induced coma in that first picture... so maybe she's already found the stash... hmmm...

Ya'll - have a GREAT week leading up to the Thanksgiving Holiday. Say a prayer of thanks for all the many many blessings that each of us have received this year.  GROUP HUGS!! :)

These seemingly innocent looking clouds caused three deaths in our community on Wednesday night.  This picture was taken about 5: 30 p.m. and by 5:45 p.m. it was darker than night.  The sirens went off, and stopped. Sirens....and stop.  At least three different occasions.  The tornado warning was suppose to expire by 5:45 p.m. but the tornado didn't hit until 6:00 p.m.  So sad.  So devastating.

It makes you think how quickly life can end.  What loose ends are out there? Who have I not let know how much I love them, how much I care for them? What haven't I told God thank you for? What blessings have I ignored? 

It makes my word for the year, "appreciation," so much more meaningful.  Appreciation for those I love. Appreciation for my blessings.  Appreciation for my safety and the safety of my family.  Appreciation.

Thoughts and prayers to those who lost their loved ones and their homes this week.  And to the rest of us, let us show love and appreciation, even more so, during this Thanksgiving holiday.

Muffin Monday

My sweet kitten must have been taken from her mom a bit too soon because she still sucks on anything soft and furry-like. She goes into an almost trance, sucking and kneading and purring. Here, she has chosen my extra blanket for her ritual. 
Happy week and I apologize for bring late! My mom, sister and I took off yesterday and shopped the Southern Christmas Show! Great fun, but now it is back to work for all of us!

Gobbles from the Heart

An Etsy item found here...

As we continue to march right into November, that special day of thanksgiving approaches closer and closer.  The blessings we each have are numerous - way too many to count.  For me, my faith, family and friends rank at the top of my list, with many material blessings (my house, that I love), my job & co-workers, the skills and talents that have been given to me ... the list goes on beyond forever.

Another wonderful blessing is also being celebrated this weekend:  our veterans and their families. Our freedom, this great nation and those who have fought for these freedoms. 

I'm asking you to revisit my birthday wish, because this wish hasn't changed:
It can be found here. 

Please take a moment to drop a line of Thanksgiving to my guys.  Or adopt your own at www.anysoldier.com.  They appreciate it. I appreciate it. And you will be blessed by reaching out to these heroes in harms way. 

The Scenic Drive to Work

I am a very fortunate girl.  I have an amazing view on my way to and from work.  Sunrises and sunsets - most are beautiful and usually, I'm awake enough to appreciate them.

There is this huge hill you go down and then back up on the other side.  And on the foggy mornings, you actually drive under the settling fog and then back up through it as you go up the hill.  It's the strangest thing.

On this morning, these strange clouds were like billows of cloth or something... so hard to describe. But imagine loops of fluffiness and you'll get the picture.  Or, look at the picture - well, you get it. Even the mail lady in our office commented on the strange clouds on the way to work that morning!

I can only guess - sunset? Or sunrise? I'm not sure, but it's awesome.  All these were taken on the same stretch of road, to and from the office. It really is a nice way to begin my day and wind it up on the drive home.  Since I'm usually on the phone talking, I have learned to keep a point-and-shoot camera on the seat beside me.  I don't want to miss the picture! 

I wish I would have taken some good autumn pictures - the leaves are amazing as the sunshine lights them up into glowing limbs of color! But I think I've missed that opportunity this year.  I better pay closer attention next fall, it's too pretty to not take pictures to share. :)

Belated Muffin Monday = Muffin Tuesday

I was a slacker yesterday. Today, I'm geared up and ready to go! :) So here is your Muffin-y goodness on Tuesday.

She still wishes you a happy week.  Thanksgiving is just around the bend with Christmas fast on its heels, so start training now to get your shop on! :)

I've been slack.

Slack I tell you. That's what I've been.

Not that I don't enjoy posting here, because I do. (Not sure why. But I enjoy tossing random thoughts out into the vastness that is the Internet.)  Anyway, I have just been busy!  You can feel the holiday season picking up speed because all my time is getting booked Booked BOOKED!

But isn't it exciting? I love having so many things to do and to see. Family events that aren't holiday oriented, just fell close to the holidays.  A housewarming and a baby shower.  Then shopping at the huge Christmas show in Charlotte.  Somewhere in there a visit to the Renaissance Festival before it leaves - hopefully this weekend.  Two Voter Registration sign-ups, one major Election Day and OH YEAH, the huge Pottery Show that we go to every year.

BREATHE. BREATHE.  Because then comes Thanksgiving. Hm... wonder what I'll cook to add to the festivities this year?  An O' Suzanna pie, for sure.  Maybe some veggies and dip. I thought about a pear something or other, because that's something different for our family.  I don't know - what do you fix? Any traditions or cool yummies that you might share?

Speaking of yummies, since Snapfish was having a sale - buy one photo book and get two free - I thought I'd make a recipe book of family favorites with pics of the family members or stories of why this recipe is special. I was on something when I thought I could pull this off in three days. Might not happen. But I really do love the idea! So... we'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Folks, have a great weekend! And I promise to do better next week!